#CT17 Fantasy Preview: position by position

A large degree of your fantasy team selection strategy comes down to maximising the value of each position. We take you through each part of the team and try to steer you in the right direction of who has impressed in the Champions Trophy warm-up games.

Openers

India’s Rohit Sharma (7.5), Shikhar Dhawan (6) and Ajinkya Rahane (6.5) all had a chance to impress at the top of the order, with the former two seemingly most likely to open in the ICC Champions Trophy. Dhawan was the most impressive of the three, scoring a combined 100 runs from his two innings. Australia’s Aaron Finch (7), the top-scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy warm-ups, and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill (7), who had a strike-rate of 150.60, look worth the outlay after their impressive tons. Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (6) also looks in fine fettle and Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s opening batsman priced at just 4.5, will also attract interest. Australia’s David Warner (9.5) posted just 30 from his two innings, but that’s unlikely to deter too many fantasy gamers.

The Middle Men

Australia’s Travis Head (5.5), New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (8), India’s Virat Kohli (10) and Dinesh Kartik (3.5), Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik (3.5) and Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes (5) all looked in good nick ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. India and New Zealand’s skippers would have already been dead certainties for many fantasy managers but the other quartet could provide real value. Of those who are perhaps a little undercooked going into the tournament, Pakistan’s Babar Azam (6) and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (6.5) only made one and 11 respectively in their solitary warm-up innings.

All-Round Joy

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews (6) was in the runs versus Australia. India’s Ravindra Jadeja (7), who was top wicket-taker in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, made contributions with both bat and ball, while Australia’s Moises Henriques (4.5) outperformed Australia’s other speedsters. New Zealand’s highly promising slow-left arm allrounder Mitchell Santner (5.5), ranked 10th in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, struggled to make an impact.

Who’s For Keeps?

New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi (3.5) and Tom Latham (4.5) were both given a chance to open the batting in New Zealand’s two ICC Champions Trophy warm-up games and the sight of two low-cost, in-form wicketkeepers getting plenty of time in the middle will no doubt have piqued the interest of fantasy gamers. They’ll be competing against each other for the gloves but it appears likely that Latham will keep and open, with Ronchi providing some power in the middle order. Matthew Wade (3.5) and MS Dhoni (6) failed to make meaningful scores but Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal (5.5) reached 50 against New Zealand.

Wickets-Takers & Run Starvers

Pakistan’s Junaid Khan (3), Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep (2.5), India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar (6.5) and Bangladesh’s Rubel Hossain (2) were some of the stand-out bowlers in the ICC Champions Trophy warm-up matches. Bhuvneshwar’s five-over spell of 3-13 was particularly impressive in India’s rout of Bangladesh, while fellow countrymen Mohammed Shami (3) and Umesh Yadav (4) were also economical.

CLICK HERE TO START BUILDING YOUR TEAM NOW!