Box cricket auction: run a quick player auction for your turf league

Why auction a box cricket league

Most box cricket groups pick teams by captains taking turns, which takes ages and always ends with the same strong players together. An auction fixes both:

• Balanced teams. Every captain has the same purse, so nobody can afford all the big hitters.
• Fast. With software and keyboard shortcuts, each player takes about a minute.
• Fun. Friends bidding for each other is half the entertainment, and the results go straight to the group chat.

Teams and squad size

Box cricket squads are much smaller than full cricket. Start from how many play on the field:

Set a maximum squad size so no team buys extra players, and register a few more players than there are slots so the last picks still involve a choice.

Purse and base prices

Points work better than money among friends. Give every team the same purse, for example 500 points for 8-player squads, and put players into three groups with one base price each:

Keep bid increments simple: +5 below 100 and +10 above. That is enough for a box league. For larger tournaments, see how to conduct a cricket auction.

Simple auction rules

1. Every team has the same purse and can never bid more than it has left.
2. Each captain may retain one player before the auction at a fixed price (an icon player).
3. Bidding starts at the player's base price and rises by the agreed increments.
4. Once the auctioneer says "sold", the sale is final.
5. Unsold players come back at the end at a lower base price; anyone still left joins the team with the fewest players.
6. Optional: limit each team to one or two players from a special group (for example, league regulars or guest players) using the per-team limit, shown as "overseas" in the settings.

Running it at the turf (or online)

• At the turf or a clubhouse: one laptop runs the control panel; connect it to a TV, or open the live view on a second screen.
• Everyone on their phones: share the live results link in the WhatsApp group. Squads and purses update with every sale.
• On YouTube: add the overlay to OBS and stream it, so players who could not come can watch. Streaming guide.

Step by step

1. Create a free account and a new auction. Choose points, set the purse, the maximum squad size and the increments.
2. Add the teams with their names and colours. A logo is optional.
3. Add the players: type them in or import a CSV from your registration sheet. Set each player's base price.
4. Assign any retained captains or players as icon players.
5. Open the control panel: N brings up the next player, 1–9 bids for a team, S sells, U marks unsold and Z undoes a mistake.
6. After the last player, run the unsold round, finish the auction and share the results link.

Running an office league instead? See corporate cricket auction.

Frequently asked questions

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