With apologies to the South Africans, their victory over the West Indies barely registered a ripple on cricket's Richter Scale this week. However, cross the ocean to Sydney and Wellington and we have witnessed some memorable performances. Kumar Sangakkara demonstrated once again that he is the premier Test batsman of the past decade, and Virat Kohli is at last showing signs of becoming the top man for the next. However three Ws have stood out for me.
I was biased against David Warner from the start. An apparently aggressive bully off the pitch and similar with the bat on it, the pugnacious plunderer made his name as the first player since the birth of cricket to represent his country in Tests without ever playing first-class cricket. That was six years ago in a T20 contest against the Proteas, and he announced himself by striking 89 in 43 balls to set the MCG crowd alight and win the game. Since then he progressed to become an ODI regular and, since 2011, half the answer to Australia's Test opener problem.
Like Virender Sehwag, he has thrived not by abandoning his attacking but by harnessing them, unleashing the strokes only when the ball is there for hitting and/or the situation demands it. Shane Watson's ability to do just this has waned in recent years but Warner's has grown. I have come to quite like him and, following his mature attitude in the wake of Phil Hughes' death, respect him, too. It hasn't affected his batting either. Two emotional centuries at Adelaide and now another 101 on the square where Hughes received that fatal blow have taken him past the 3,000-run barrier, with an average of 48. In the past nine Tests, Warner has thrashed seven centuries and three fifties, a superb record. in all, he has passed fifty 25 times in 67 innings, a world-class ratio.
Yet in the past few weeks, even Warner has been overshadowed by Kane Williamson. Like the Aussie he was in my overall team of 2014 yet the New Zealander has got 2015 off to an even more impressive start. He top-scored with 69 in a mediocre first innings before Sanga seemed to take the match away from them. Second time around, he turned the tables with a brilliant unbeaten 242. His Test career statistics for runs, average and consistent half-centurymaking are almost Warner-like, and are part of the reason for New Zealand's success against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
That 'double' also formed part of a world-record sixth wicket partnership of 365 with wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Not a renowned batsman he has now been part of two world record stands, the first last year with Brendon McCullum and now this with young Kane. Not being a twinkling T20 expert, Bradley-John has crept up quietly upon the global cricket scene until now, at 29, he is not only a formidable number seven but also an excellent 'keeper. Watling may not feature in the World Cup, where Luke Ronchi will don the gloves, but he could be a regular in Test matches for years to come.
