h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, folks, we're into the budding phase.

Those of you with funds remaining may now bid for any unattached players, again by email. You may start the season with any number of players, as long as you have at least 13 - any team with less than 13 players will not score any pints until the situation is rectified. Please give your email the subject 'Bid for [player name]' or something similar to avoid confusion with bids for previous rounds. The bid will be made public (but not the name of the bidding team, nor the value) and the player will take a few days to consider the offer. A few things could happen:

No-one else bids and the player is happy with your offer, in which case he will sign for you.
Someone else bids; in this case the transfer thread will contain the line 'Second bid for' - this doesn't necessarily mean you've been outbid. You may wish to increase your offer. The highest bidder after a few days gets the player.
The player, in the absence of any other bids, might ask you to increase your offer. If you do so, you get him.

You may also contact other team captains if you wish to buy players from them, either by direct contact or via me. You can do this at any time through the season.

You must also notify me of your team selection by midnight on Tuesday/Wednesday. Pick your first XI, and make sure you pick seven batsmen, four bowlers (of which, as per the rule change, no more than two may be spinners). You must include in your email your choice of wicketkeeper and captain - if you do not, you will not receive bonus points for either player. This means that if you don't have a wicketkeeper, you won't get any extra points for your captain either, and vice versa. Again, please ensure your email has an appropriate subject line to avoid confusion.

The Krikkit season starts with the first ball of the County season -

Can I clarify something, or help sort it out? Can your wicketkeeper also be your captain, and would this mean they would earn four points for each catch/stumping? Or is this cheating the system somewhat?

Your wicketkeeper can indeed be your captain, but he would only score double points away from his main discipline. A wicketkeeper actually has two of these, as he is selected both to score runs and make catches and stumpings (or, in Geriant Jones' case, to do neither). He would, however, score double for any wickets he took while bowling. See where this is leading?

I thought it was about to be more straigtforward

It is:

You're a batsman short. So go through the list and pick another one, then email me a bid.

When you're ready, but before next Tuesday at midnight UK time, email me your favourite XI - seven batsmen, one bowler. Pick one to be your wicketkeeper and one to be your captain (ideally, a bowler who scores a few runs or a batsman who bowls a bit. And that's it!

okay, well I've done that, but also added a couple more players, cos you said I could

And please can you tell me how many *pints* I get once I have my 13+ players?

I like the idea of alcohol accumulating for me somewhere

As many as you want, but you have to come and get them. And it's rough cider

Ooh, I do like a bit of rough

Well, you know where I am. Just make sure you bring your tail

Rest assured I'm rougher. And closer.

And probably quicker.

I thinks its a bid unfair on those of us who have yet to get 13 players if say someone outbids us on a player. Especially when 5 of by picks previously were only won by less than £15k.

Yes, it probably is. But then, I didn't make your bids...

Does my liquidity need to cover my bids? Or can I put in a spread?

You can put in a spread, as long as you don't go over budget.