Get involved with the Ashes with The Cricket Draft's fantasy cricket game. Choose your squad now before England and Australia do battle
The tickets may have sold out months ago, but there's still a way to be involved at the centre of the action in this year's much-anticipated men's Ashes.
The Cricket Draft has just launched its fantasy cricket game for this summer's epic battle between England and Australia.
Partnering with The Cricketer, The Cricket Draft lets you play the part of chair of selectors. Working to a strict salary cap, you need to predict the players that will be top of the run scorers and wicket takers, while also working out who will deliver the best value.
Head to The Cricket Draft website now to enter for free
The Cricket Draft is absolutely free to play and it only takes a few moments to select your squad from the best players the England and Australia men's squads have to offer (note that a women's Ashes game will open later in the month).
Once your team is finalised, you can join - or start your own - public or private leagues to play against friends and families, colleagues and club members. And look out for The Cricketer's league, where you can go up against our readers and writers!
1. Head to The Cricket Draft website and sign up for free with a few basic details (or sign in if you've played before)
2. Select the men's Ashes game
3. Build your squad. Select at least 15 players, with the make-up and balance of batters, bowlers and allrounders up to you... just remember to stay within the £2 million 'salary cap'
4. Create or join a custom league to compete against friends, family or clubmates… or just play against everybody else
5. Pick your starting XI before Friday, June 16 to ensure that you'll score points from the very first minute of play at 11.00am at the first Test at Edgbaston
For more information, check out our dedicated guide on how to play The Cricket Draft.
Marnus Labuschagne and Ollie Robinson have already been in form in our County Championship game [Quinn Rooney & Steve Bell/Getty Images]
Whatever side of the debate you sit on county clubs giving Australian tourists the ideal acclimatisation ahead of the Ashes, the players we'll see battling it out for the urn have already had a massive impact on The Cricket Draft.
"The story for us in the last few rounds of the County Championship game has been the presence of some of the big Ashes names," said Dante O’Reilly, co-founder of The Cricket Draft.
"Ollie Robinson has surely been the standout pick – his record breaking haul of 570 points for his 14-wicket haul in gameweek 5 was quite glorious. Of his England team-mates, Matthew Potts (988 points), Ben Duckett (728) and evergreen Jimmy Anderson (616) have been the best performers.
"From the Aussies, look no further than Glamorgan. Marnus Labuschagne will carry a hefty price tag in our Ashes game, but has already notched up 920 points. While even the world's best batter has been eclipsed by the on-song allrounder Michal Neser (1,036) who is surely knocking the door down for a Test place."
O’Reilly picked out his three men to watch:
Ollie Robinson (BWL) £148k
"Simply, a wicket taking machine. When picking a fantasy team he is the 1st man on my team sheet, when available. He also seems to love the big occasion and has the added bonus of already knowing he has the ability to knock over the whole Aussie top order, from his performances in 2021."
Cameron Green (ALR) £134k
"The only 'genuine' allrounder playing in The Ashes (with ben Stokes unlikely to be bowling much and Chris Woakes probably not making the starting XI). With five half centuries in his last 11 Test innings and his first Test 5-wicket haul recently acquired, his reputation is growing! He will also likely pick you up a number of catches as well."
Ben Stokes (ALR) £163k
"He probably won't bowl many overs, but it just feels like we are living in Ben Stokes' world at the moment. This will be a heart-over-head pick - but just imagine if you miss out on a Ben Stokes special!"
Head to The Cricket Draft website now to enter the Ashes game for free
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