Not very often does a player making a comeback after a long layoff do so in such great style.

In his first series after injury, Flintoff topped, both, the bowling and batting averages. Quite an achievement for a guy who wasn't even in the picture at the start of the series. So how many of you had Flintoff as your Trump Player at the start of the ODIs? I had him in my team as a Trump Player as soon as he made a comeback.

It's a different matter that I didn't get the rest of my fantasy team composition right, but at least I didn't run out of transfers during the course of the ODIs. Not that bad an achievement considering I had none left after only two of the four Tests.

All this to say, it makes sense to pack your fantasy teams with all-rounders for the ODIs. As always the Tests are a completely different cup of tea. Something to keep in mind when we meet again for the next fantasy series.

Congratulations to the VVinners of the the England v South Africa edition of the fantasy game. For the moment, the only prize we can offer you is pride of place in this post and the promise that we'll have some cool prizes in our future editions.

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 league 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.

England v South Africa (2008) - The final standings:
VijayDodia
Dock_ers
MOConnor

Just today, I got rid of Stuart Broad from my fantasy side for the England v South Africa ODI at Trent Bridge. And look what he ends up doing to SA and yours truly. Only goes to show, as Lawrence Booth said, making predictions is a mug's game.

I mean, what were the odds of Stuart Broad running through the South African top order? After his insipid bowling displays in the Test series, next to nil if you asked me. I had Harmison in my team. I had Flintoff. I had Collingwood. I even had Prior. On past performance, they all stood a better chance of returning with a good performance than Broad. But it was not to be.

Well, as they say, that's how the cookie crumbles. Alongwith my chances of making major progress with my fantasy team. In other words, business as usual.

Don't forget to rejig your fantasy teams for the England v South Africa ODIs commencing today. More all rounders, new faces and whole new set of transfers to help you get your combinations spot on. It's not going to be easy. But that's what makes it all the more engrossing. Right? Right.

And to help you make up your mind, here's the preview for today's match at Headingley. Just so you know who among the injury-prone is in and who's not. For starters, Sidebottom is out. Again.

It's time to transfer.

Between the end of the Test series and the start of the ODIs, all fantasy players are given the opportunity to rejig their teams. In order to do this to the best of their ability during the duration of the ODIs, players are given 6 transfers to play around with. Until then, 'transfer away' all you want.

Not that it makes much sense to spend too much time thinking about these things. Just make sure you don't run out of options at the end of one or two ODIs. (That would be me.)

Check out the fresh players who have been added to the respective fantasy pools and at what cost they come. The Indian team in particular has a lot of new faces and it'll be interesting to see which of them provide maximum value for money.

the ODIs are a very different cup of tea and it might make sense to put a little more faith in the teams that didn't do so well in the Tests because they aren't the same teams any more. Time then to put on your thinking caps.

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 (0.044)
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)

And that was how the SWESAW looked the last time we met. For those of you who are coming in late, the SWESAW is a most prestigious, albeit mostly unknown, award handed out to players with the highest return on investment. It is named after the Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and was instituted after he ran away with the most valuable player tag at this year's IPL, this after he was ridiculously undervalued. Inspired by the incredible returns players who invested in Shane Watson enjoyed, we thought it only right to immortalise this wholly unexpected 'maxi'-performance with the SW____award.

Last time we looked at the SWESAW standings, and before the momentous third Test in which Graeme Smith made a huge play for the leaderboard, Mornie Morkel was leading the race for the top award that nobody knows about. Has he been dislodged from the top? Let's find out.

The SWESAW leaderboard as at 5th August 2008:
Mornie Morkel: 618/85000_FMs (0.0072)/3 matches
Graeme Smith: 540/95000_FMs (0.0056)/3 matches
Ashwell Prince: 490/85000_FMs (0.0057)/3 matches
James Anderson: 502/95000_FMs (0.0052)/3 matches

Honourable SWESAW mention:
Andrew Flintoff: 411/90000_FMs (0.0046)/2 matches

At the end of the third Test, Morkel continues to lead the SWESAW table. As expected, Smith has made a strong run for a final place in the SWESAW top 3. The English players on the other hand who dominated the race in the initial stages of the series have fallen away, mirroring the way this series has developed.

Crucially, the appearance of Flintoff on the SWESAW radar after featuring in only 2 Test matches (both of which his team lost) makes one wonder what might have been - both with respect to the SWESAW standings and the course of the series - had he been fit enough to play in the first Test at Lord's. See you after the final Test when we will find out who wins the most prestigious and mostly unknown SWESAW for this England v South Africa series.

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.

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 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 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.)