- T20 Blast 2026 fantasy cricket picks and team previews
- Expected XIs, wildcard picks and young players to watch
- The Cricket Draft guide to England’s biggest domestic T20 competition
For the opening weeks of the summer the focus across the county game has been fixed on the Rothesay County Championship, with The Cricket Draft fantasy game tracking every major performance and storyline from the red-ball season. Now, attention turns to England’s premier domestic T20 competition.
The Cricket Draft game will once again cover the Blast in full, with managers preparing to build squads around explosive overseas stars, proven county performers and the next generation of white-ball talent.
From Somerset’s pursuit of another title to Lancashire’s star-studded depth and Surrey’s search for a first Blast crown since 2003, the race to Finals Day promises another thrilling campaign.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire enter the new campaign searching for a long-awaited white-ball revival after several underwhelming Blast seasons. They have not reached the knockout stages since 2022 and last summer’s return of five wins from 14 matches exposed a side short on consistency and cutting edge.
There is cautious optimism at Headingley though. Moeen Ali arrives with vast experience while the possible early availability of Joe Root and Harry Brook could immediately raise the ceiling of this batting unit. Dawid Malan’s departure is a blow while Will Sutherland’s injury absence leaves a hole in the balance of the side.
The sense around Yorkshire is simple. They have enough talent to surprise teams but they desperately need their stars on the park.
Fantasy banker: Jonny Bairstow
England commitments are easing and that makes Bairstow one of the safest picks in the North Group. He struck at 165.42 last season and his partnership with Adam Lyth could finally explode into life.
Wildcard: James Wharton
An aggressive middle-order player capable of changing matches in 20 balls. Already owns a T20 century and feels primed for a breakout campaign.
Young gun: Will Luxton
One of the best budget picks in the game at £6.2m. Struck at 155.24 last season and played every group game.
England watch: Jafer Chohan
The next great Yorkshire leg-spinner? Plenty believe so. Dynamic, fearless and increasingly trusted in franchise cricket.
Expected XI:
Bairstow, Lyth, Root, Brook, Wharton, Luxton, Moeen, Van Beek, Rashid, Hasan Ali and Chohan
Lancashire
Lancashire once again look built for the latter stages. North Group winners last season, they possess arguably the deepest squad in the competition and their batting resources are frightening when fully available.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are expected back after IPL duty while Liam Livingstone could feature more regularly following his recent England omission. Even without those names Lancashire can still leave out experienced senior players.
The balance is impressive. Power at the top, flexibility through the middle and a seam attack packed with variety.
Fantasy banker: Chris Green
Exactly the sort of player Draft managers love. Wickets, lower-order hitting and guaranteed involvement every game helped him produce 21 wickets and 180 runs last year.
Wildcard: Jack Blatherwick
Quietly excellent last year. His lower-order striking gives him sneaky upside beyond his bowling returns after striking at 155.07 in 2025.
Young gun: Charlie Barnard
A left-arm spinner with genuine control and wicket-taking instincts. One to monitor closely early in the season.
England watch: Saqib Mahmood
Fit again and eager to remind England selectors what they have been missing.
Expected XI:
Salt, Buttler, Jennings, McDermott, Livingstone, Wells, Green, Wood, Blatherwick, Mahmood and Anderson
Nottinghamshire
After bottoming out in 2024 the Outlaws took encouraging steps forward last summer and now look capable of pushing back into the knockout picture.
George Munsey arrives to replace the explosiveness lost with Alex Hales while Benny Howell adds the kind of reliability every successful T20 side craves. George Linde also strengthens the all-round options considerably.
Notts may not have the superstar depth of Lancashire or Somerset but there is a strong core developing again at Trent Bridge.
Fantasy banker: Joe Clarke
One of the cleanest ball-strikers in county cricket. Scored 420 runs at a strike-rate of 160.30 last year.
Wildcard: George Munsey
The Scotland international has earned this opportunity. Since the start of 2024 he has averaged 37 in T20 internationals with a strike-rate of 145.7.
Young gun: Farhan Ahmed
Calvin Harrison’s exit opens the door. Ahmed already looks comfortable at senior level and is priced at just £5.9m.
England watch: Olly Stone
Back fit and bowling quickly again after another frustrating injury spell.
Expected XI:
Clarke, Munsey, Haynes, Lyndon James, Moores, Howell, Linde, Patterson-White, Tongue, Stone and Ahmed
Read more: Hampshire sign Delano Potgieter on short-term deal for Championship and Blast
Durham
Durham were one of the most complete sides in the competition last season and there is little reason to think they will fade away.
Ryan Campbell’s side finished second in the North Group and remain packed with dependable performers. Their flexibility is one of their greatest strengths with Ben Raine capable of filling multiple roles while David Bedingham’s availability gives them serious batting punch.
The spin pairing of Nathan Sowter and Callum Parkinson could again prove decisive on tired surfaces.
Fantasy banker: Nathan Sowter
Consistent, reliable and heavily involved every game. Exactly the profile you want in fantasy cricket after taking 15 wickets last season.
Wildcard: Sam Conners
Still waiting for his true breakthrough season at Durham but the upside remains obvious at only £5.5m.
Young gun: Ben McKinney
An elegant left-hander who could force his way permanently into the top order.
England watch: Matthew Potts
If available he instantly becomes one of the best seam options in the Blast after taking 16 wickets in only nine appearances last year.
Expected XI:
Lees, McKinney, Bedingham, Clark, Ackermann, Robinson, Raine, Carse, Potts, Sowter and Parkinson
Derbyshire
Derbyshire face another uphill battle after finishing bottom of the North Group but there are still reasons for optimism.
Aneurin Donald was one of the most destructive players in the Blast last season while the arrival of Matthew Montgomery from Notts could prove a clever bit of business. The temporary loss of Mohammad Ghazanfar hurts but Sufyan Moqim arrives with serious momentum after starring in the PSL.
Qualification may still feel ambitious in such a strong group but Derbyshire should at least be entertaining.
Fantasy banker: Aneurin Donald
Pure chaos at the top of the order. No player hit more sixes in the competition last season with 31 and he scored 449 runs at a strike-rate of 216.90.
Wildcard: Matthew Montgomery
Listed as a batter but his off-spin brings hidden fantasy value after taking 15 wickets in 2025.
Young gun: Rory Haydon
Has impressed consistently in second-team cricket and could emerge this summer.
England watch: Shoaib Bashir
Still learning the format but his international reputation ensures attention will follow.
Expected XI:
Jewell, Donald, Came, Montgomery, Madsen, Whiteley, Andersson, Chappell, Moqim, Brown and Aitchison
Leicestershire
Leicestershire narrowly missed qualification last year and look capable of pushing even harder in 2026.
The top-order could be one of the most entertaining in the country with Sol Budinger and Stevie Eskinazi likely to attack from ball one. Rehan Ahmed remains the jewel of the squad while Ashton Turner adds calm and experience.
There is batting depth everywhere and if the young seamers hold up this side could surprise plenty of people.
Fantasy banker: Sol Budinger
Fearless powerplay hitter and one of the fastest scorers in the competition after striking at 163.47 last year.
Wildcard: Liam Trevaskis
A useful left-arm spinner who can also contribute valuable lower-order runs.
Young gun: Sam Wood
Cheap at £5.1m, talented and potentially stepping into a larger role.
England watch: Rehan Ahmed
Top-order batting plus leg-spin equals elite fantasy involvement. He scored 300 runs at 42.85 last season while also taking eight wickets.
Expected XI:
Budinger, Eskinazi, Patel, Rehan, Turner, Cox, Green, Mike, Trevaskis, Scriven and Ajaz Patel
Gloucestershire
The fairytale champions of 2024 endured a difficult title defence but there are signs of recovery.
Dawid Malan’s arrival brings authority and composure to the batting while D’Arcy Short remains the engine room of the side. Gloucestershire lost important seam options over the winter though which increases the burden on David Payne.
If they rediscover their confidence this team still has enough quality to challenge.
Fantasy banker: D’Arcy Short
Runs, occasional overs and huge consistency make him a premium fantasy asset after producing 551 runs in 2025.
Wildcard: Matt Taylor
Likely to take on greater responsibility with the new ball this year after taking 10 wickets in 10 matches.
Young gun: Tommy Boorman
Extremely cheap at £4.6m and could become useful if injuries strike.
England watch: David Payne
Still one of the smartest T20 bowlers on the county circuit after taking 17 wickets with an economy-rate of 6.77.
Expected XI:
Malan, Bancroft, Short, Hammond, Price, Jack Taylor, Charlesworth, Van Buuren, Matt Taylor, Miles and Payne
Glamorgan
Glamorgan came painfully close to qualification last season and look stronger heading into the new campaign.
Sean Dickson arrives after an excellent year with Somerset while the overseas pace pairing of Nathan MacAndrew and Fazalhaq Farooqi gives them serious threat with the new ball.
The balance of this squad stands out. Plenty of contributors with both bat and ball and no obvious weak link.
Fantasy banker: Dan Douthwaite
One of the most involved all-rounders in the Blast. Wickets, late hitting and huge upside after 20 wickets and 226 runs last season.
Wildcard: Ned Leonard
Outstanding numbers last year with 20 wickets in only 10 matches and an average of 13.90.
Young gun: Ben Kellaway
Ambidextrous spin and aggressive batting make him uniquely valuable.
England watch: Asa Tribe
A breakout campaign last year has put him firmly on the radar after scoring 312 runs at 34.66.
Expected XI:
Carlson, Smale, Tribe, Dickson, Kellaway, Douthwaite, Van der Gugten, MacAndrew, Crane, Leonard and Farooqi
Also read: Middlesex bring back Rossington as injury cover amid wicketkeeping concerns
Warwickshire
Warwickshire continue to be one of the most consistent white-ball counties in the country, reaching the knockout stages every season since 2021. The frustration is that they have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle five years running.
Jordan Thompson arrives to strengthen the seam attack following the departures of Danny Briggs and Moeen Ali. The core of the squad remains strong though and there is a sense the Bears are close to another deep run.
Fantasy banker: Richard Gleeson
A proven T20 wicket-taker who looked sharp again during a winter of franchise cricket.
Wildcard: George Garton
Bowls important overs and can float anywhere in the batting order, making him a valuable Draft option.
Young gun: Tazeem Ali
An England Under-19 spinner who could benefit from Briggs leaving the club.
England watch: Dan Mousley
One of the most exciting all-round prospects in county cricket after scoring 354 runs and taking 12 wickets last year.
Expected XI:
Davies, Yates, Mousley, Bethell, Hain, Webster, Barnard, Thompson, Garton, Gleeson and Usman Tariq
Worcestershire
Worcestershire narrowly missed qualification despite winning four of their final five matches last season.
The arrivals of Sikandar Raza and Usama Mir significantly strengthen the side while Ethan Brookes looks ready to become one of the competition’s premier all-rounders. There is a healthy blend of youth and experience throughout the squad.
Fantasy banker: Sikandar Raza
One of the most reliable all-round performers in world cricket and likely to be heavily involved in every game.
Wildcard: Ethan Brookes
Explosive with the bat and increasingly important with the ball after a breakout 2025 season.
Young gun: Isaac Mohammed
A budget option at £4.9m who impressed in the second half of last year’s Blast.
England watch: Tom Taylor
A consistent wicket-taker capable of thriving again in T20 cricket.
Expected XI:
Mohammed, D’Oliveira, Kashif Ali, Raza, Hose, Roderick, Brookes, Waite, Taylor, Mir and Allison
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire head into the season after another strong white-ball campaign which saw them reach Finals Day.
David Willey remains the heartbeat of the side while Chris Lynn returns and Louis Kimber adds even more power to the middle order. The Steelbacks once again look dangerous.
Fantasy banker: David Willey
Runs, wickets and leadership. One of the safest fantasy picks in the Blast.
Wildcard: Ben Sanderson
Consistently among the leading wicket-takers in the competition without attracting superstar attention.
Young gun: Raphael Weatherall
Returning from injury and priced attractively at £5.5m.
England watch: Saif Zaib
A multi-skilled cricketer capable of scoring quickly, bowling useful overs and collecting points in the field.
Expected XI:
Vasconcelos, Lynn, Willey, Zaib, Kimber, Proctor, McManus, Harrison, Weatherall, Scrimshaw and Sanderson
Essex
Essex endured a miserable 2025 campaign but hope the signing of South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder can spark improvement.
Jordan Cox and Michael Pepper will shoulder much of the batting responsibility while Simon Harmer and Sam Cook remain key figures with the ball.
Fantasy banker: Wiaan Mulder
An experienced international all-rounder with a proven record in county cricket.
Wildcard: Paul Walter
Listed as a batter but regularly bowls, making him an attractive Draft differential.
Young gun: Luc Benkenstein
Played every Blast game last year and offers excellent value at £5.7m.
England watch: Jordan Cox
A destructive batter capable of producing huge scores when in rhythm.
Expected XI:
Pepper, Walter, Cox, Mulder, Critchley, Benkenstein, Thain, Harmer, Snater, Akhter and Cook
Kent
Kent enjoyed a solid campaign in 2025 and reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Lancashire.
Tawanda Muyeye continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting batters on the county circuit while Zak Crawley’s availability could dramatically raise Kent’s ceiling.
Fantasy banker: Tawanda Muyeye
One of the most productive openers in the competition after scoring 516 runs last season.
Wildcard: Grant Stewart
Offers dual-threat value with bat and ball and remains surprisingly affordable.
Young gun: Ben Dawkins
A teenage talent with serious power and an excellent Second XI record.
England watch: Zak Crawley
If available for an extended spell he could dominate attacks across the Blast.
Expected XI:
Muyeye, Bell-Drummond, Crawley, Billings, Denly, Evison, Forrester, Stewart, Rogers, Klaassen and Parkinson
Middlesex
Middlesex desperately need a reset after another disappointing Blast campaign.
The departures of Kane Williamson and Stevie Eskinazi leave major holes to fill while Eathan Bosch arrives as a key overseas signing expected to contribute heavily with both bat and ball.
Fantasy banker: Eathan Bosch
A high-energy all-rounder who should bowl important overs and finish innings strongly.
Wildcard: Ben Geddes
An aggressive top-order batter who scored at 156.62 last season.
Young gun: Caleb Falconer
A rising England Under-19 star capable of becoming a genuine match-winner.
England watch: Sebastian Morgan
Still only 18 but already attracting attention for his raw pace and all-round skillset.
Expected XI:
Cracknell, Geddes, Holden, Du Plooy, Falconer, Higgins, Bosch, Gohar, Hollman, Morgan and Helm
Sussex
Sussex narrowly missed the knockout stages last year after a late-season collapse but still possess a squad capable of challenging strongly.
Jack Leaning adds batting depth while Danny Briggs returns to the club. Tymal Mills remains the leader of the attack and Jofra Archer’s availability would provide a major boost.
Fantasy banker: Tymal Mills
Still one of the best death bowlers in domestic T20 cricket.
Wildcard: Brad Currie
Excellent international numbers for Scotland and could become a regular starter.
Young gun: George Thomas
A powerful young opener who could force his way into the side.
England watch: James Coles
One of the brightest young all-rounders in county cricket after starring last season.
Expected XI:
Hughes, Ward, Clark, Coles, Alsop, Simpson, Hudson-Prentice, Briggs, Robinson, Mills and Currie
Hampshire
Hampshire came within touching distance of the trophy last season before losing in the final to Somerset.
James Vince remains the standard bearer while Tristan Stubbs arrives to add further firepower. The Hawks again possess one of the strongest seam attacks in the competition.
Fantasy banker: James Vince
The leading run-scorer in Blast history continues to produce elite numbers year after year.
Wildcard: Toby Albert
Last season’s leading Blast run-scorer still feels undervalued in fantasy cricket.
Young gun: Ben Mayes
An England Under-19 batter pushing hard for greater involvement.
England watch: Scott Currie
One of the most dangerous seam bowlers in the Blast after taking 27 wickets last year.
Expected XI:
Albert, Vince, Prest, Stubbs, Cartwright, Fuller, Dawson, Currie, Turner, Wood and Baker
Somerset
The benchmark. Again.
Somerset have reached Finals Day every year since 2021 and arrive as defending champions after another relentless campaign. Their batting depth is extraordinary and Riley Meredith’s return ensures the attack retains genuine pace.
Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were among the leading scorers in the competition while Tom Banton’s England resurgence only strengthens an already stacked line-up.
This is still the team everyone else is chasing.
Fantasy banker: Daniel Sams
A classic high-involvement Draft player. Wickets at the death and brutal finishing power.
Wildcard: Lewis Goldsworthy
Quietly effective with both bat and ball and likely under-drafted after taking 13 wickets last year.
Young gun: Thomas Rew
May need opportunities to appear but the talent is obvious.
England watch: Tom Banton
Back in England contention and playing with real confidence again after helping England reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
Expected XI:
Smeed, Banton, Kohler-Cadmore, James Rew, Abell, Gregory, Sams, Overton, Goldsworthy, Meredith and Shaw
Surrey
Surrey remain one of the most intimidating squads on paper despite another frustrating knockout exit last year.
The challenge is often availability. England call-ups and rotation regularly disrupt continuity but the sheer depth of talent still makes Surrey title contenders.
Will Jacks remains the heartbeat of the side while the Curran brothers, Jordan and Abbott provide all-round strength few counties can match.
Fantasy banker: Will Jacks
Opening batter and part-time spinner. One of the best captaincy picks in the game after smashing 504 runs at a strike-rate of 164.70 in only 10 matches.
Wildcard: Ollie Pope
Could benefit from increased availability this summer and may surprise plenty in T20 cricket.
Young gun: Ollie Sykes
Explosive and fearless. If he secures a role his value could soar from only £5.1m.
England watch: Tom Curran
A global T20 specialist who still has plenty to offer with both bat and ball.
Expected XI:
Jacks, Smith, Roy, Lawrence, Sam Curran, Evans, Tom Curran, Overton, Jordan, Abbott and Topley
T20 Blast 2026 fantasy picks to watch
As the Blast returns, fantasy managers using The Cricket Draft app will once again be balancing proven stars against emerging value picks. Somerset remain the benchmark after another dominant campaign while Lancashire and Surrey boast the deepest squads in the competition if player availability falls their way.
Will Jacks, David Willey, Daniel Sams and Chris Green stand out as premium high-involvement picks capable of delivering points with both bat and ball. Meanwhile younger talents such as Will Luxton, Ben McKinney and Farhan Ahmed could become some of the most valuable low-cost selections in the game.
With international call-ups, overseas arrivals and franchise schedules all set to shape the summer, adaptability may prove just as important as star power in T20 Blast 2026. For fantasy players looking to stay ahead of the competition, The Cricket Draft app will again be central to following every twist of the Blast season.
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