Captains, Wicketkeepers, Bowlers, and Match Fitness

Match setup

Captain and vice-captain are selected for each match and must be different players. The wicketkeeper must be one of the Playing XI. A wicketkeeper can bowl only after another Playing XI member takes the gloves.

Wicketkeeping growth

Every player starts with a 5.00 wicketkeeping rating. Keeping wicket in a completed match adds +1.00. Not keeping reduces the rating by 0.25, down to a floor of 1.00. Better wicketkeepers are more reliable for catches, stumpings, and pressure moments.

Age and retirement

Players can start between age 16 and 35, defaulting to 20. Every completed match moves the whole squad forward by two weeks, so 26 matches equals one cricket year. Players cannot start matches after age 42 and must be replaced.

Bowling limits

10-over matches allow 2 overs per bowler, 20-over matches allow 4, and 50-over matches allow 10. Test matches allow longer spells, but heavy repeated bowling drains health and can make a bowler unavailable for the rest of the innings.