It's a bright, sunny day. The sky is the perfect shade of 'cricket-blue, the kind that commentators love to refer to. The kind that a batsman looks forward to. The kind that come with good batting wickets. And the kind on which Harmison might be asked to bowl the first ball of his return to the English team. What will he serve up this time?

Fortunately for Harmison, this is a home series. Unfortunately for him, that also means his favourite excuse for an erratic performance is no longer available. England are one down in a four Test series. Only two more to go. This is not what England might have expected after dominating the opening exchanges of the first Test. Thoroughly.

But now, come Edgbaston, Smith might win the toss for the third time in three matches. Since there's a good chance that this will happen on a day with the 'cricket blue' kind of skies batsmen love, he will bat. Vaughan, on the other hand, will have at his disposal Sidebottom, Flintoff, Broad Anderson and Harmison. On paper, it looks like a good attack in which one of the five mentioned are going to have to sit out. At the time of starting this piece, I didn't expect Steve Harmison to be benched. Now, I see that he's not likely to be drafted into the playing XI.

Perhaps it's going to be a good batting wicket and England don't want to go into the match with their wicket-keeper Ambrose batting any higher than number 8. Optimistic fantasy players and eagerly waiting fans looking to take a punt on Harmison, again, will have to wait for the next Test match to see how the tall, temperamental fast bowler copes. This time.

I of course have no use for these fresh permutations and combinations. As regular readers of this blog already are aware, I'm out of transfers for the rest of the Test series. Here's hoping you're not. Knowing England's penchant for a 'horses for courses' policy, the always present possibility of another 'Flintoff breakdown' and the inevitability of final Test call up for Harmison, it looks a shrewd move to save a transfer or two for the fourth and final Test match.

PS: Even more sorrowful news for people like me who are left with no option but to go into the Test with the same team, there might be a change or more in the South African side. Graeme Smith may not play. England will not mind that because the inspirational Smith's absence will do no harm to the home side's chances of winning the third Test and the likelihood of a classic final game climax in the fourth at The Oval next week.

Congratulations to the VVinners of the County20 Cup edition of the fantasy game and Pick 'em for the same. Unfortunately, the only prize we can offer you at this point in time is pride of place in this post and the promise that we're working on it.

Hopefully sooner, rather than later, we'll have rewards for all the top performers that go beyond verbal kudos and virtual 'pats on back'. Until then, please put your hands together for the stellar performers in the County leagues and put your heads together to try and unravel what is it about them that makes them better than the rest of us at fantasy cricket.

County Twenty20 Cup fantasy edition top 3:
1. 'bestof15' with 'goodie' at 9280 points
2. 'MOConnor' with 'Sparkle XI' at 8862 points
3. 'trampie' with 'DOLLY DROPS' at 8646 points

County Twenty20 Cup Pick 'em top 3:
1. 'fight' with 'HAT' at 620 points
2. 'sush12' with 'Kent Keys' at 610 points
3. 'gilkumba' with 'gilkumba' at 600 points

Not floods and pestilence. Not corruption and inefficiency. Not drought and farmer suicides. Not another day of life in a country that only knows how to go on. Because life must … go on. But it needn't, always, without acknowledging some of the things that matter, just a wee bit more. Like the serial bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

Never before in the history of independent India have two major cities been hit in such a massive way in such quick succession. There was Hyderabad. There was New Delhi. There was Mumbai. There have been bomb blasts before. But there's something different about this time.

I was travelling by the Brindavan Express from Bangalore to Chennai enjoying a packet of chips and a cup of sweet coffee trying to log on to the net from my Tata Indicomm portable net connection without much success when, in the middle of a rare period of slow connectivity, I was 'pinged' by a friend of mine on chat - who, oddly enough, happened to be in China - with the news that the city I had just left behind had been crippled by fear, panic and more than a handful of explosions. In a moment of inappropriate levity, I felt like a terrorist fleeing from the scene of the crime.

Tasteless jokes apart, the incidents didn't touch me all that much. I had seen worse. I had been in Mumbai in 1992. Besides, this was happening while Murali and Mendis were crippling another 'India' at the SSC, Colombo. Already stunned by the events in Sri Lanka, I found it hard to muster an appropriate reaction to the 'Bangalore blasts'. (Besides, the news channels did say the blasts were of a 'low intensity'.) The only logical thought of some seriousness I managed being Chennai was likely to be next on the radar. How wrong I was.

The Indian second innings is what was next. And Ahmedabad. Now, after two 'Indias' have been laid waste by the twin terrors of Murali and Mendis at the SSC and, allegedly, the 'Islamic Mujahadeen' in Ahmedabad, one is again left wondering how one is supposed to react.

Does it matter that India were not good enough for Sri Lanka? Does it matter that I picked the extremely limited, LOTR-sounding opener, Vandort (not Voldermont) for my fantasy team and he let me down? Does it matter that The XI Downing Streets' performance so far has been less than inspiring? Does it matter that I need to ring in a few transfers before the start of the next match now that I know what some of the 'value picks' from Sri Lanka are capable of? Does it matter that thanks to the Jayawerdene, Dilshan, Murali, Mendis and Vaas also being IPL stars for Indian city teams, the thrashing doesn't hurt all that much? Does it matter that a cricket Test match I had primed myself to watch for over five days left me high and dry with a foregone conclusion in less than two and a half? Does it matter that Harbhajan, Kumble, Sachin, Dravid, Sehwag and the rest of the Indian stars need to start taking Test cricket a little more seriously?

Does it matter that the world's largest democracy has been shaken by a series of explosions so disturbing it leaves even someone as self-absorbed, cynical, insensitive, stone-hearted and desensitized as you awake to the magnitude of the event, even if only momentarily? Perhaps one ought to bring out a black armband or two to express one's condolences.

Right then, this post was written wearing a black armband to protest against the barrage of terrorist bombings in India. And double-digit inflation.

Just so the comments don't get too far ahead of themselves (and 'entries'), this one post to keep things neck and neck.

Entry number 21 (Take that comment number 22!): Thankfully, there's more to this than just one-upmanship. Like what is India going to do today with their tottering first innings and the daunting prospect of a second innings following on against the twin menace of Mendis and Murali and - as one of Captain's readers so incredulously asked - why I have Mendis in my fantasy side instead of Murali?

Even a brass monkey will tell you that at the SSC, Murali has more wickets than is humanly possible for a bowler to take. Only an ignorant fool will choose not to pencil in the old pro in his own backyard, the SSC? No Murali and Mendis? Brave. No Murali? Incredible.

First things first, why not both: Simple rule of mouse for fantasy players and captains in a Sri v Anyone series in what looks like the start of fortress Serendib (old name for Sri Lanka): When in Sri Lanka, pack your fantasy side with the best of Sri Lanka. Then, curse the 'not more than 'X' number of players from one country' rule. Then, pick up the best of India. Then, curse your limited budget. Then, that's why I have Mendis in my side instead of Murali. And not both. I had limited _FMs to play with. I had to make an 'either Mendis or Murali' punt. And I got it wrong in the first innings. But the game is not up. There's still the second half. Mendis might still bag me a hat-full of wickets.

Then, looking at the way Mendis is shaping, it's always going to be the threat of a 'one-two' Sri Lankan knock-out from now on, whenever any side plays them. Especially in Sri Lanka. What with their batsmen never looking like getting out on their home wickets and, now, with two 'magic' bowlers in their side, it's Sri Lanka - not India - which promises to be the next 'final frontier' for overseas sides. Question: Which side in the world looks most likely to beat Sri Lanka at home?

Until yesterday, I thought it was India. If the old pros in the Indian side can help it might still be. Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Laxman ... even though, India doesn't have a great record when called upon to bat out of their skins to save a Test match, would it be too much to expect four great batsmen who have a combined aggregate of over 30,000 runs to unravel the spin conundrums being posed by the wizardry of Murali and Mendis? In Sri Lanka, at the SSC ... maybe.

No, you cannot change your team just because the start of this Test match has been delayed by rain and a wet outfield. There are better things to do with your time when such natural disasters strike and lay waste to your carefully planned day. Like watching more cricket.

Yes, you have time on your hands. Yes, a day's play lost to rain is a massive hole in what otherwise seemed like a mighty promising day ahead. And yes there are always other games of cricket being shown on at least two or three other channels on the television. After all, in India the cricket never stops.

So please, for the sake of your wellness, happiness quotient and future of your fantasy team, don't make any hasty changes, no matter what you do - from now till the end of this Test match - it'll will not make any difference to the fortunes of your team.

Regular readers of this blog will have by now realised I am dishing out these pearls of wisdom on fantasy team management only after having learnt them the hard way during the ongoing 'Eng v South Africa' fantasy edition of the series; in which I made a horrible mess of a 'settled' and winning combination.

Then it's decided, when in doubt, when you have free time on your hands, when you're having a harebrained thought, don't make any team changes. Just change the channel.

8. 00 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma.
8. 01 am (IST): Bought Rohit Sharma.
8. 02 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma.
8. 03 am (IST): Bought Rohit Sharma.
8. 04 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma.
8. 05 am (IST): Bought Rohit Sharma.
8. 06 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma.
8. 07 am (IST): Bought Rohit Sharma.
8. 08 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma.
8. 10 am (IST): Took a deep breath and thanked my stars I still have unlimited transfers. (But not for long.)

At 10.15 am (ST) the first Test between South Asia's two biggest teams will commence. And at 10.00 am (IST) a world of unlimited transfers will cease to exist. After 10.00 am (IST) today, you'll have to buy and sell players carefully. Not like I've been bumbling through the last 10 minutes. Which brings us back to the issue of Rohit Sharma. Buy? Sell? Hold?

8.15 am (IST): Sold Rohit Sharma
8.17 am (IST): Bought Vandort.

I think the Sri Lankan opening batsman, Vandort has a better chance of playing all the Test matches than Rohit Sharma. The 'old firm' of Sourav, Sachin and Laxman are too well entrenched for Rohit Sharma to stand much of a chance of breaking into the middle order. (Not just yet.) His time will come. Very soon.

The XI Downing Streets as at (23rd July, 8.17 am, IST):
MG Vandort
LPC Silva
TM Dilshan
DPMD Jayawardene *TP
SR Tendulkar
V Sehwag
KC Sangakkara
BAW Mendis
Z Khan
I Sharma
Harbhajan Singh

Old SWESAW leaderboard as at 20th July, 1 pm (IST):
Ian Bell: 396/90000_FMs (0.0044)
Mornie Morkel: 339/85000_FMs (0.0039)
Ashwell Prince: 324/85000_FMs (0.0038)
KP: 287/100000_FMs (0.0027)
James Anderson: 258/95000_FMs (0.0028)

Has AB de Villiers broken into the top 5? How much lower has the star of the swtch-hitting KP sunk? And is Bell still leading the SWESAW standings? Let's find out.

The SWESAW leaderboard as at 22nd July, 3 pm (IST):
Mornie Morkel: 438/85000_FMs (0.0051)
Ashwell Prince: 432/85000_FMs (0.0050)
Ian Bell: 390/90000_FMs (0.0044)
James Anderson: 344/95000_FMs (0.0036)
SCJ Broad: 326/90000_FMs(0.0036)

Honourable SWESAW mentions:
AB de Villiers: 310/90000_FMs(0.0034)
Dale Steyne: 330/100000_FMs (0.0033)
KP: 303/100000_FMs (0.0030)

A little over two days back, the SWESAW top 5 featured 3 players from England. As the series has gradually swung South Africa's way, the SWESAW leaderboard too is reflecting these changes. The top two SWESAW contenders are South Africans, by some distance. And two of England's fast bowlers have made it into the top % on the strength of their returns as batsmen.

If England are to stop the South African safari, their bowlers are going to have to start earning their keep by scoring points for wickets, more than runs scored. Luckily for England, and people like us who like to see these kind of things go down to the wire, it's still early days in the series. And the race for the SWESAW far, far, far from over.

Addendum: There is a school of thought that believes matches played must be considered as a factor for the SWESAW. I agree. In which case, you need to divide the individual SWESAW ratio by the number of matches played to arrive at the final standings. In this case, all the contenders for the SWESAW have played in all matches. So nothing much changes ... for now. (Phew! Glad we got that sorted out.)

So here's what I've just been told: I have a fresh set of 5 transfers still left to use during the ODIs in the current Eng v SA series. And here I was under the mistaken impression that I had exhausted all my transfers. Actually, I have, but only for the Tests. I've just been under the mistaken impression that six transfers is the limit for the whole series. It is, but only for Tests. Shouldn't there be a little more flexibility?

For instance, shouldn't I be given the option to use my ODI transfers during the Test series if I want to? I need to. I've got no transfers left. There's 2 more Test matches to go. Sidebottom is going to be back. Given the workload he's being saddled with, Flintoff might break down. (Again) Now that the second Test is over and done with. Ntini might be dropped. Nel could come in. And I can't do a fig about any of all this important chopping and changing. But as a committed fantasy player I should be allowed to, no?

So here's what I'm asking myself, and you, why can't I use just one or two transfers from my ODI quota to inject some much needed life into my Test fantasy team? Can not desperate, unskilled, careless players like me be given the leeway to?

In other significant news about this blog: We just crossed an important milestone today. For about an hour - until this post went up - Fantasy Post had more comments than entries. Thank you.

The first match of India's tour of Sri Lanka against the Board XI has not gone well for the visitors. And they can't even blame jet lag. Sri Lanka is not that far away from India.

In fact, the lusciously Caribbeanesque South Asian island of Sri Lanka is just a hop, skip and short flight away from one of India's most important cities, Chennai. (Not China.) But when it comes to conditions, it's a world apart. Which perhaps explains why it tends to take Indian batsmen more than one might expect to get used to. Often, a trip to Sri Lanka has a lot of matches being played on wickets and under conditions that feel remarkably different from those in India, which I still, after all these years of cricket watching, find odd. Because Sri Lanka from the other side of the Palk Straits is just next door. And yet, when it comes to pitches, quite far removed from the kind you find in India.

Put differently, when playing in Bangladesh, you encounter surfaces that are a lot similar to those back home in India. But not in Sri Lanka. To think both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are only a handshake away from India.

A small part of me also sees in Sri Lanka a bit of England, Australia and a lot so of the Caribbean. Which might be the reason you find a lot of English and Australian people owning properties in Sri Lanka and using them as long-stay getaways. Conditions in the Caribbean though, especially in the last 5 to 10 years have turned unusually batsmen friendly. Thankfully not so in Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, you will find seaming wickets, you will find flat wickets, you will find square turners, you will find high altitude wickets and you will find mystery bowlers who will bamboozle you on any wicket. That's why every fantasy team you're thinking about will do well to have put money on Sri Lankan batsmen, Sri Lankan 'freak' bowlers, Indian bowlers and Sachin ... for the first Test. At least, on current form.

In the game against the Board XI, the Indian bowlers have looked good, but in patches. The Indian batsmen, on the other hand, have coped quite poorly. In the past, India normally underperformed most in the opening games. If the second game of the tour happened to be a Test, India almost always struggled to survive it. The Sri Lankan players, after a triumphant Asia Cup campaign look eager, energetic and daunting. The Indians, without Dhoni, look uncertain, wary and unsettled. The first Test is only 3 days away. The signs look ominous for Kumble and India.

Depending on how the Indian batsmen perform in the second innings of the Board XI match, I'll decide whether I should start going loco or not over the composition of The XI Downing Streets. I still have unlimited transfers. Albeit, only for two and a half days longer. Something I should keep a hawk's eye on after my shoddy management of them during the 'still running but personally transferless' England v South Africa series.

The Shane Watson of the England v South Africa Award (SWESAW) is a prestigious honour bestowed upon a player who maximises his or her 'performance to cost ratio'. Instituted to celebrate the startling performance of Shane Watson in the paradigm shifting IPL tournament, it trains the spotlight on performers who deliver more than what their price-tag demands of them. It gives us great privilege and pleasure to bring you this prestigious, ever changing name of an award in every series.

As you may not recall, the SWACAW for the not-so-memorable Asia Cup held in Bangladesh was won by the unforgettable Ajantha Mendis, who staved off stiff competition from Suresh Raina and Sanath Jayasuriya to bag the said honour. This post, we take a look at the front runners for the SWESAW in the ongoing England v South Africa series.

At the end of the first Test at Lords, Ian Bell was the clear leader in the SWESAW standngs. One and a half innings later and halfway into the second Test at Headingly, he retains the top spot. But only just.

The SWESAW leaderboard as at 20th July, 1 pm (IST):
Ian Bell: 396/90000_FMs (0.0044)
Mornie Morkel: 339/85000_FMs (0.0039)
Ashwell Prince: 324/85000_FMs (0.0038)
KP: 287/100000_FMs (0.0027)
James Anderson: 258/95000_FMs (0.0028)

You might call that a pretty tight fit. Bell, on the strength of his mammoth 199 at Lord's, leads the rest by a bit and then some. But Prince is not yet done with his first innings heroics at Headingly. He's still batting and he's only about 40 runs away from taking over the top spot on the always exciting, always fascinating and always number-crazy SWESAW leaderboard. Keep an eye out for his 150.

If you ask me, the steely Prince is also my odds-on favourite to record the first double hundred of the series. I've no idea how he slipped under my acutely sensistive fantasy picking radar not once, but twice; both while finalising my team and when I was being needlessly profligate with my transfers.

PS: SWESAW calculations courtesy this set of player statistics.

1.45 pm, July 19th: More than 75% of the series to go and only 1 transfer left in my bag to play around with. Obviously, this isn't the best way to play fantasy cricket. How did things come to such a sorry pass?

1.47 pm, July 19th: At the beginning of the series, in fact, at the end of day 1 of the first Test between these two intensely competitive sides, a certain gent we know was at the top of the standings of the fantasy league organised in his office. From then on, things have been all downhill.

Transfer 1: What on earth possessed me to sell Pieterson on th second day of the first Test? An erroneous belief that the Trump player could be changed for every day of the Test match. And an irrational conclusion that KP was not likely to do much for the rest of the series.

Transfer 2: It's a good thing players can be bought and sold rather easily. On second thoughts, it's not. It only means I ended up wasting one transfer to sell and buy back KP. Along the way, I also bought Smith. But the whole maneuver cost me two precious transfers for nothing. (People like me should be shackled.)

A few furrowed brows and 3 transfers down the line: The simple realisation dawns that to play the game properly one must have a good grasp of the rules. Or else, one ends up wasting a whole lot of buying and selling for nothing.

Transfer 3, first Test: Flintoff is expected to return for the second Test. Right. (There goes another transfer.) That means 3 transfers down before the second Test has commenced.

Transfer 4, first Test: Why didn't I have Sidebottom in my original team? I need him for the second Test. Let's buy Sidebottom. He's definitely worth his transfer price in gold.

Flashback to 2 minutes after buying Sidebottom: Sidebottom is likely to be ruled out of the second Test. And that means another transfer, my fourth, wasted. Of course, I could have saved myself the 'Sidebottom transfer' by waiting till 35 minutes before the commencement of the second Test. And of course I didn't.

Transfer 5: Somewhere along the rocky road my team currently finds itself in, I lost Stuart Broad, picked up Hoggard and left myself with a solitary transfer and a handful of straws to clutch at. Only to have the England selectors bring Pattinson in out of nowehere. Like I said, this fantasy campaign has gone down the tubes. Very quickly. (To think it started so promisingly.)

Moral of the story: 6 transfers are far from adequate for such an important and uncertain series. Especially, if you happen to be a bit of a 'trigger hippie'. Must launch a 'comment campaign' to redress this anomaly.

First of all, I don't agree. I am appalled. I am upset. I am in trouble. 3 more Tests to go. 5 ODI and I'm down to my last transfer. How unfortunate is that? Very. Guess I'm just going to have to employ my shrewd upper stroey to carve out a fairy tale win for The Harry Potters purely on the back of the most precise Trump Picking (TP) ever seen in the short history of fantasy cricket. Watch this space. History is about to be made. You're about to get a sneak preview into how the best Trump Pickers* (TP*) in the world do their thang. Prepare to be wowed.

The Artificial Intelligents by RTP (6 transfers pending)
AN Cook
IR Bell
KP Pietersen
GC Smith (TP)
SCJ Broad
JH Kallis
MV Boucher
CT Tremlett
MJ Hoggard
DW Steyn
M Morkel

Thanks to a Test's headstart, currently The Harry Potters lead The Artificial Intelligents by 1704 points. But for the purposes of ratcheting up the interest in this little gig of ours, let's turn the meter down to zero for The Harry Potters and see how they end up in a race they start at the same time as the AIs.

The Score: (HPs) (0); (AIs) (0)

The Harry Potters (1 measly transfer left)

KP Pietersen (TP)
AB de Villiers
HM Amla (TP)
IR Bell (TP)
GC Smith (TP)
SCJ Broad
MV Boucher
M Morkel
DW Steyn (TP)
MS Panesar
MJ Hoggard
Andrew Flintoff (TP)

What do you mean I'm not allowed to pick 6 Trump Players? You take my transfers. You make me mess around with my team. And now you won't let me pick 6 trump players? Fine, five? Four? Three? Two? Please.

I'm beginning to think the most stress free way to play fantasy cricket is to let the RTP do everything for you. At least that way you won't end up being left with one miserable transfer one Test match into the series. Nor have to suffer the ignominy of pleading with your inner player. This, all because I was overcome by a bout of panic trading. I know what I need. I need a 'Safe mode' setting in fantasy cricket. A setting that doesn't allow a certain kind of player from messing around any more than what is required with his team. Like Mallya.

SWESAW of the Series standings:
My punt - Hashim Amla (155/85000_FMs)
Current leader - Ian Bell (370/90000_FMs)

The XI Downing Streets

LPC Silva
TM Dilshan
RG Sharma
DPMD Jayawardene
SR Tendulkar
V Sehwag (TP)
KC Sangakkara
BAW Mendis
Z Khan
I Sharma
Harbhajan Singh

What do you think of the name of the team, the team and the sad fact that a 3-Test and 5 ODI match series has only 6 transfers?! I think after all that hard work, I need a drink. And a second opinion on team selection from the new, improved, Random Team Picker (RTP).

The last time I tried The Random Team Picker (RTP), I lost my mind. This time, I'm losing no time in recommending it to those of you who still don't have fantasy teams. The industrious 'elves' working behind the scenes - also known as 'Tech' - have drilled some sense into the RTP and now, it throws up teams that don't try to do a 'Rajasthan Royals' on you and actually use upto 99.5% of the stipulated FM_s sensibly. Here's what RTP came up with for me.

The Artificial Intelligents (6 transfers pending)
AN Cook
IR Bell
KP Pietersen
GC Smith (TP)
SCJ Broad
JH Kallis
MV Boucher
CT Tremlett
MJ Hoggard
DW Steyn
M Morkel

Thanks to a day's headstart and KP's heroics, currently The Harry Potters lead The Artificial Intelligents by 573 points. Though I suspect not for very long.

The Harry Potters (4 transfers left)

AJ Strauss
AB de Villiers
HM Amla
IR Bell
GC Smith (TP)
SCJ Broad
MV Boucher
M Morkel
DW Steyn
MS Panesar
RJ Sidebottom

The Harry Potters
AJ Strauss
IR Bell
HM Amla
AB de Villiers
KP Pietersen (TP)
SCJ Broad
MV Boucher
M Ntini
MS Panesar
DW Steyn
M Morkel

This time, I decided not to go with the option of picking two fantasy teams. I realised the last few times I hedged my bets I ended up weakening both my teams. For this series, I'm putting all my eggs in one team. Keep an eye out for The Harry Potters Trumped by KP.

Shane Watson of the Eng v South Africa Series Award (SWESAW) of the series:
Hashim Amla - 85000_FMs

ACRONYM Helper (AH): The 'Shane Watson Followed By The Name Of The Series Award' (SWFBTNOTSAW) is a prestigious honour instituted in the name of the legendary IPL Star Shane Watson for profoundly impacting the Price/Rewards equation in the sphere of fantasy cricket; suggested reading for those who'd like to acquaint themselves with the Shane Watson Effect (SWE).

HAT-tip (HT): To the guys who've worked out the _FM cost for each of the players. Unlike in the case of the Asia Cup where it turned out to be too easy to put together a team of players with the allotted _FMs or in the Australia v West Indies series where it was too hard, the _FM player-value equation in this series has been just right. Or so it seems. (Maybe it also helped that I chose to assemble only one team.)

I would like to request you to update the stats and records of Nepalese Cricket player, Such an M. Alam, having perfect 10.
I hope you will update soon.

Sincierly
Chandramani kalfe
Your regular reader...

The winner of the Australia v West Indies Series 2008 Edition of Cricinfo Fantasy Cricket is Dinsh_rangarrajan and Gunners who blast their way out of nowehere to grab the top spot in this topsy-turvy fantasy edition that saw the lead change hands with metronomic regularity.

In second and third place are Marksmen and Marksmen and slayer11 and sLayER. One after another. Clearly, there aren't too many women playing fantasy. Note To Self (NTS): Must redress the fantasy cricket boy/girl balance. Must get Ms. Noodle Straps phone number. Must discuss work with her.

One Un-important Observation (OUiO): The loss of Gilchrist hurt Australia. Everyone said it would, and it did. Shane Warne may not care much for Gilchrist's skills, but Haddin (404/85000_) would need to double his contributions to make up for the absence of his illustrious predecessor. In this series, when it came to picking wicket-keepers, it came down to 'wish we didn't have to'.

The winner of the Shane Watson of the Australia v West Indies Series Award (SWAWISAW) - in which we don't just look at which cricketer scored the maximum points for their fantasy teams, we also look at what cost - is not Simon Katich (510/80000_), not Sarwan (565/105000_), not even Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (849/105000_), close but not bravo Dwayne Bravo (909/95000), not Symonds (834/105000_), not even the partly-eponymous Shane Watson (584/90000_). It's the Golden Boy of Australian cricket: The brilliant Brett Lee with a gorgeous PFM return of (1261/110000_).

Better-known Big Name (BBN) that didn't come good: Andrew Symonds with a modest PFM yield of 834/105000 FM_. (Probably still suffering the after-effects of a humbling IPL.) Big Name that did come good: Dwayne Bravo who nearly grabbed the coveted SWAWISAW from Brett Lee with a stunning PFM reward of 909/95000_. (Obviously still living his happy IPL dream.)

What's Next On The Agenda (WNOTA): Who will win the Shane Watson of the England v South Africa series Award (SWESAW)? (Link)

Before We Go (BWG): Thanks for playing. Hope I didn't bore you with the Numbers and Acronyms (TNA).

The IPL edition of Cricinfo Fantasy Cricket (CFC) was the biggest game in the history - in terms of sheer numbers - of CFC. After 'Modi's Maxtravaganza', the rules of the games changed. Forever. It's not good enough to be a star. You have to be a Maximum Value Star. (MVS)

An MVS is a star who surprises you with Maxi Performances (MP). An MP is not a Member of Parliament who wastes everybody's time but an outstanding cricket player who makes a series of emphatic statements on the big stage - with bat and ball. only - at no extra cost. In other words, returns. No, Big Returns (BR). BRs and MPs maketh an MVS. Shane Watson was the world's first MVS. Because until then, people really didn't think all that much about the cost of players in such an ... shall we say obvious manner. Except in fantasy cricket.

Fantasy cricket managers can, off and not on, afford to take their eye off the ball but they can never lose sight of the numbers. That's the why the sharpest ones know which player is going to end up MVS of the Series. Bought for a pittance, as we all know, Shane Watson was the MVS of the IPL. Going for less than 80001 FM_s, Suresh Raina (726 points) is the MVS and winner of the first Shane Watson of the Asia Cup Award (SWACAW).

Why Shane Watson Award (SWAW) and why not just MVS? Shane Watson dominated the IPL. The IPL was very important to CFC. We already have MVP. And the world can always do with another ACRONYM.

The winner of the Asia Cup 2008 Edition of Cricinfo Fantasy Cricket is BigBrown and The Coolies. How politically incorrect is that? You gotta admit, though, it's a pretty clever name. And right here, right now, to it goes the award of The Most Powerful Asia Cup Name Combination (TMPACNC) Trophy.

In second place and third place are AM11 and AMXI and QY74 and SL-I-P 2. one after another.

One Un-important Observation (OUiO): They all had the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in their fantasy teams. The MVP is the winner of the Shane Watson of the Asia Cup Award (SWACAW): In which we don't just look at which cricketer scored the maximum points for their fantasy teams. We also look at what cost.

And The SWACAW goes to SK Raina for racking up a thrilling 726 points at a modest bill of 80,000 Fantasy Monies (FM_). On the basis of the Points(P)/FM_ ratio (PFM) that throws up the MVP, Raina runs away with this Prestigious Award (PA) in the face of stiff competition from Better-known Big Names (BBN) like Sanath Jayasuriya (694)/(105000_), Sangakkara (643)/(105000_) and MS Dhoni (654)/(105000_). Unsuccessfully.

What's Next On The Agenda (WNOTA): Who will win the Shane Watson of the England v South Africa series Award (SWESAW)? (Link)

Before We Go (BWG): Thanks for playing. Hope I didn't bore you with the Numbers and Acronyms (TNA).

Bouquets And Brickbats (BAB): dopppsy AT gmail dot com for all your prizes.

Correctional Faclity (CF) The PFM must factor in the number of matches played. The current PFM doesn't. It thus follows that the current PFM must be divided by the number of matches played to arrive at the new PFM, to determine The player who wins the Shane Watson Followed By Name of Series Award (SWFBNASAW).

Ajantha Mendis 879/80000( No. of matches) is a stronger 'Maxi Performer' than the currently anointed SWACAW holder Suresh Raina.

Thank God for CF. It's a bit like the other CF (Confession box). A place where you can come and correct all your mistakes. Confess your sins. Beg for forgveness. Sorry Ajantha, please don't come after me. Never again will I mess with a black mamba.

DYK? Animal Planet Legend has it, a black mamba attacks humans for fun. Repeatedly. (Rest In Pieces Yuvraj.) Here's your SWACAW sna ... Sir.

While the Asia Cup might well be a series of mostly one-sided run-fests, the fantasy edition of it is turning out to be quite a nail-biter. Only 25 points separate the top 3 teams at this stage of the game. Let's take a quick look at their chosen ones before the India vs Pakistan tie later this afternoon.

As I write this, all the three have Indian players as their 'Trumps'. Is that likely to change for this match? Going by the comic state of affairs in the Pakistani camp, unlikely. The beleaguered hosts have spun a surprise of sorts by announcing their XI well in advance of the game. As the great old men of cricket lore love to say: Pakistan are at their most dangerous when down. If conventional wisdom is anything to go by India better, if not beware, at least, be careful.

Spotted but not ribbed:

1. Suresh Raina. At 80k, the boy has been the most valuable player of the tournament so far. It has been a hard road back into the Indian team for the brilliant batsman and fielder from North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This time, the young man looks determined to make it count. He has been my Shane Watson of the Asia Cup.

2. The Random Team Picker needs to get its head re-examined. Or find a very good reason to tell me why I shouldn't have more than 1 star player in my fantasy team despite having the funds to buy 3. I mean, it's all very fine to want to be like the Shane Warne and the 'Rajasthan Royals' and put together a winning team at an unacceptably low cost, bu ... hold on. That's it! I get it! That's pretty much what the Random Team Picker has been trying to outdo for us all this while!

The subtly brilliant thing is bent upon engineering a 'Rajasthan Royals-style' selection heist for the Asia Cup. Check out how an adventure with it pans out. Always. A la Shane Warne and his team in the IPL, the Random Team Picker spits back teams full of unknowns plus one 'big name, leaderlike' player. So, you can either have MS Dhoni and nondescript company. Or Sangakkara, etc. Or Tom, Dick and Yuvi. Always only one or - in a moment of Random Team Picker weakness - two big names. Never, ever more than two. Someone, please bung in a piece of code that penalises the Random Team Picker every time it 'permutates and combinates' teams for way less than the aggregate team price. It might work in real life, in the IPL, but it just doesn't work in the world of Fantasy.

3. Ajantha Mendis is here. And the first time you see him do his thang, you can't help but want to talk about it. He's mesmerizing. He's organic. He's primal. He's tribal. He's poetic. He's adjectival. He's a spinner's fantasy. And a leaden-footed batsman's worst nightmare. It'll be interesting to see how the Indian batsmen tackle him. Especially, a certain Mr. Yuvraj Singh.

Almost every time Yuvraj has batted against Murali, the great Sri Lankan 'freak spinner' has made the Indian middle order batsman look very foolish. I shudder to think what Ajantha Mendis has in store for him. Much in the manner I fear for the Indians' safety when they comes up against Shahid Afridi. Like Pakistan, Afridi is unpredictable, brilliant, infuriating and, of course, most dangerous when down.