And that brings us to the end of an eventful 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

A quick note to congratulate 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.

Congratulations to the VVinners of the the County Championship 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. (And we do for the upcoming India v Australia edition of the fantasy series.)

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.

County Championships (2008) - The top 5 Fantasy managers:
Jamie_M
BOROMAT
ramzy_kahn
Bennyboy27
head_badger

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

Congratulations to the VVinners of the Sri Lanka v India edition and and the top players leading in 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.

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 these two 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.

Sri Lanka v India (2008) VVinners:
chauhannoida11
tutul101
shravan_s

England v South Africa (2008) - the leading contenders:
VijayDodia
MOConnor
DockersDoesDallas

See the final standings of the SL v India editions.

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

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 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.