http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/ en Copyright 2009 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:13:30 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss India v England 2008 series. A very close series it may not have been between the two teams on the field, but not so in the race for the fantasy standings. Shown below are the top 3 fantasy team managers and teams for the series. Congratulations Guys and, as I've often requested, I urge you to share some of your fantasy picking secrets with us. Until the next series, thank you for playing and contributing to a most exciting fantasy series. Top 3 managers, their teams and final points tally: 1. Rajeswaran_Super_Kings whenwilliwin2 with 8583 points 2. andysith Glorias light entertainers with 8349 points 3. hbkjj4u HBK11 with 8249 points]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/meet_the_vvinners_2.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/meet_the_vvinners_2.php Ind v Eng (2008) MTVV Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:13:30 +0000 series home. You'll find that Australia are likely to bring in a few new players to strengthen their bowling. They might even be tempted to rejig their batting. Injuries notwithstanding, the South Africans can be expected to stick to the winning combination. You have till December 25th before the traditional Boxing Day Test match kicks off the day after X'mas. As always, if you need any help, feel free to ask me. Adios. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/transfer_time.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/transfer_time.php Aus v SA 2008/09 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:42:11 +0000 India v England - Today's top 3 Apoc: Nebuchadnezzar: 2316 The_Hit_Squad: English Charm: 2162 coolsuhas: Humka yeh match jeetna hi hoga: 2158 New Zealand v West Indies - Today's top 3 parthii08: nzy: 1582 Ossieruledfootball: OSGOODWASGOOD: 1553 GilokingofSpain: Gayle Forcast: 1538 A quick piece of advise: Check out the top performers' teams because tomorrow is the last day of both Test matches. After that, it'll be time once again to ring in the transfers. So a few tips from the leading teams will prove quite useful. Speaking of the top fantasy team managers, only Apoc has managed to hold his, or her, place at the top of the Test match standings. Obviously, he, or she, got pretty lucky. If you ask me, luck, more than anything else, plays a massive role in fantasy cricket. As always, feel free to disagree with me. (At your own peril.) ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/the_parting_shot_fluctuating_fortunes.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/the_parting_shot_fluctuating_fortunes.php Ind v Eng (2008) NZ v WI (2008/9) The Parting Shot Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:30:08 +0000 a. Form is temporary class is permanent: For those who still aren't quite sure what this hoary old cliche means, it means that while it's all very fine to pick on form, and very sensible too, you'd be well advised not to ignore the greats, even if they don't happen to be in great nick. Hint: Ricky Pointing, Matt Hayden and Brendon McCullum b. Don't take your eye off the ball, and the series home page: Seeing the way players are being picked and discarded in these fickle times, if you don't make it a point to keep track of squad changes you're going to end up with a pretty useless fantasy team. c. Form is temporary, temperament is permanent: This is a series between two sides that play an aggressive and, sometimes, brutal brand of cricket. Before you pick a guy for your fantasy team, make sure he's not the lily-livered, mentally fragile sort. He'll be of no use whatsoever to your fantasy team. Well, that's it for now. Feel free to share your picks with me. That way, we'll have something interesting to talk about. And argue over. Adios and let's chat soon.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/a_very_quick_primer_on_how_to.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/a_very_quick_primer_on_how_to.php Aus v SA 2008/09 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:56:58 +0000 the series home page. Adios. PS: Keep in mind that England are a lot better at Test match cricket than ODIs. One thing for sure, the English bowlers will be a lot more effective in the longer version of the game. It's important that you factor that in when rejigging your fantasy teams.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/india_v_england_2008_update.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/india_v_england_2008_update.php Ind v Eng (2008) Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:48:18 +0000 This one is going to be a bowlers' series. At least, that's what I think. A dangerous and quite avoidable thing for someone like me to attempt, you might say. And I hear you. Still, it's an occupational hazard. So here goes. Like said, I think it's going to be a bowlers' series. In New Zealand, most times it is. As any half-assed cricket writer worth his words will tell you, historically, seamers are the ones that have tended to do well in New Zealand. Batsmen who can play the moving ball too. So keep this in mind when you're picking your fantasy teams. http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/new_zealand_v_west_indies_2008.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/new_zealand_v_west_indies_2008.php NZ v WI (2008/9) Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:16:33 +0000 the leaders at the end of the Test matches of the fantasy edition of the Australia v New Zealand series. Those of you, including yours truly, who haven't got things quite so right, much like the Black Caps, might want to study how these top dogs have gone about the business of staying ahead of the pack. It might help us all, including New Zealand, return a better performance during the ODIs that are scheduled to start on February 1st next year. Until then, both these teams take a break from each other to play a Test series with other nations (Australia against South Africa and New Zealand play West Indies). Of course, we'll have fantasy games for both these series. And you'll have something else to keep yourself occupied with before the Black Caps return to Australia for the ODIs. Thanks for playing with us so far and continue to watch this space for regular fantasy updates. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/australia_v_new_zealand_2008_u.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/12/australia_v_new_zealand_2008_u.php Australia v New Zeland 2008 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:23:10 +0000 the winners of the fantasy edition of the SA v Bangladesh series. Those of you, including yours truly, who haven't got things quite so right, much like the Bangladeshi team, might want to study how these top dogs have gone about the business of staying ahead of the pack. It might help us all, including Bangladesh, return with a better performance during the next set of fantasy games (Australia v SA and New Zealand v WI) that are coming up very soon. Thanks for playing with us so far and continue to watch this space for regular fantasy updates. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/meet_the_vvinners_mtvv.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/meet_the_vvinners_mtvv.php MTVV SA v Bangladesh (2008) Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:33:55 +0000 top names on the leaderboard at the end of the ODI stage. Those of you, including yours truly, who haven't got things quite so right during the first stage of this rather one-sided ODI series might want to study how these top dogs have gone about the business of staying ahead of the pack. It might help us all return with a better performance during the Tests. Until England return, and let's hope they do, thanks for playing and watch this space. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/ind_v_england_odi_series_leade.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/ind_v_england_odi_series_leade.php Ind v Eng (2008) Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:23:11 +0000 Click here to find out what you should do with your fantasy teams. (If you ask me, now might be a good time to give this game a rest and focus on the other two on-going ones.) It's been a hard series for those of you who placed their faith in England. (I did.) Until the next time we meet, which will be as soon as the teams announce their squads for the two Test matches, do spare a thought for the hapless victims caught up in the terror attacks in Mumbai. Talk to you soon.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/india_v_england_update.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/india_v_england_update.php Ind v Eng (2008) Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:00:30 +0000 Click here to give yourself the best chance of scoring maximum points by getting your transfer strategy right. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/australia_v_new_zealand_2nd_test_preview.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/australia_v_new_zealand_2nd_test_preview.php Australia v New Zeland 2008 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:43:43 +0000 the series home page so you're in the know about the possible changes both teams are likely to ring in for the 5th ODI and can get your transfers right. Dhoni did say some of the others who haven't had a chance to play will get a look-in. And what about the English squad? Well, God knows what they're going to do to better their performance so far. All that said, I know what I need to do: think really hard before I finalise my team. After all, 'The Community Managers' too need to raise their game by a notch. Or three. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/india_v_england_5th_odi.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/india_v_england_5th_odi.php Ind v Eng (2008) Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:23:51 +0000 series home page and keep an eye on who's likely to play. That way, you can make sure you get your transfers right. And not commit the same mistakes that I have during the India v England ODI series. Happy transferring.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/south_africa_v_bangladesh_2nd.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/south_africa_v_bangladesh_2nd.php SA v Bangladesh (2008) Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:04:08 +0000 It's not just England who have performed disastrously in the first four ODIs. So have I and my Fantasy team. I've got my Trump Players wrong. I've been hit by injuries. I've chosen the wrong guys for my team. In short, my performance in this fantasy series has pretty much mirrored that of England's. This after having done so well in the Australia v India game. If you ask me, I'll say it's a combination of luck and poor preparation. (But then, you'd expect that from a losing captain, wouldn't you?) Consider this: I picked Ryan Sidebottom for the second ODI. But all he has done for me and England in the ODIs so far is threaten to make it to the playing XI only to end up being ruled out of the entire ODI series. I suppose I ought to have followed the fortunes of the team a lot more closely by checking out the series home pages regularly. I didn't. Put simply, I took my eye off the ball. Not surprisingly, I paid for it. Dearly. http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/a_bad_series_for_me_also.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/a_bad_series_for_me_also.php Ind v Eng (2008) Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:32:14 +0000 Dropped: Yuvraj Bell Broad Harmison Anderson Picked: Raina Sidebottom Bopara Collngwood Munaf Patel Yusuf Pathan Rohit Sharma Gambhir (TP) Prior Flintoff Zaheer Khan Let's play!]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/my_team_for_the_second_odi_in.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/fantasypost/2008/11/my_team_for_the_second_odi_in.php Ind v Eng (2008) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:24:44 +0000