It's been a tough week for cricket. Regardless of whether you love cricket, the death of Phil Hughes was a shocking reminder that sport can be a dangerous pastime, even the pastoral pastime of leather on willow. Even people who take little interest in cricket have beebn affected. After appropriate delays and postponements, international fixtures resumed, with the deciding Test between Pakistan and New Zealand the most intriguing.
Misbah-ul-Haq's side have been in the zone lately with plenty of runs and fine spin bowling. Younis Khan in particular has been in spectacular form. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the runaway train derailed at Sharjah. The fairytale script would have had the recalled Daniel Vettori scoring a century and nabbing ten wickets, but there was no fairydust sprinkled on the bespectacled Black Cap legend. After a gap of more than two years, the 35 year-old did score 15 and add two wickets to his impressive Test tally of 360, but in many respects he was outperformed by just about all his team-mates.
Misbah won the toss and elected to bat. While Mohammad Hafeez was at the crease, that looked an excellent decision. However, once he top-edged a pull to be fifth man out for 197, the side collapsed to the spin of Mark Craig, a 27 year-old with only thirty games' first-class experience. What came next was unprecedented in New Zealand cricket. In under two days, they amassed a record 690 at getting on for five an over.
Skipper Brendon MaCullum led from the front, making another double-century at more than a runa ball, and shattering his country's second-wicket partnership record alongside Kane Williamson, who notched 192 himself. Four others also reached 50; the total of six half-centurions another first for NZ. Faced with the need to bat to save the game to win the series, Pakistan made a terrible start. Trent Boult had them reeling at 24-3 with swift in-swingers and seamers, his victims including Younis Khan first ball!
As in the first innings, one man attempted to hold it all together. This time it was Asad Shafiq, choosing attack as the best form of defence. He fell on 137 and the final wicket fell the next over, McCullum pouching the catch to hand Craig a first 'ten-for'.
While delivering disappointment for Pakistan in the Middle East, this counter-attacking performance will do the Black Caps the world of good. As well as the record run and 50 tallies for New Zealand, the whole match boasted 35 sixes, easily smashing the previous Test record of 27 notched by Pakistan v India in 2006 (Shahid Afridi at his best) and Bangladesh against - of all opponents - New Zealand last October. They've now won or drawn each of their last five series, with six victories and three draws out of eleven Tests and if they take this confidence into the 50-over World Cup, they might actually have a chance of winning the tournament instead of being perennial mere thorns in the side of the big guns.
As for this week in Sharjah, nobody was hurt, the match was played in good spirit and the late Phil Hughes was not forgotten. The same can be said for this Third Test.
Showing posts with label Brendan McCullum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brendan McCullum. Show all posts
Sunday, 30 November 2014
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
England v New Zealand - Stars of the Past
With England comfortably ahead in the victory stakes over the oast four decades, it is no surprise that the stats favour English players right down the order. Nevertheless the Black Caps have fielded some excellent batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders during that period. Here is my all-star XI from the past forty years of England-New Zealand Test series to prove it.
At the top, I'll have John Wright and Mark Richardson. The former aggregated 711 runs in 11 matches, although his average was nothing special. Fellow opener Richardon toured only in 2004 yet scored more than half as many runs as Wright, averaging more than 61, well above his career average of 45-odd. Ironically his best performance, with 93 and 101, came in a losing fight at Lord's.
Stephen Fleming opened in that game but was better known as a middle-order batsman and highly successful captain, particularly in ODIs. Nevertheless he makes my team on the back of 644 runs in ten Tests. Alongside him stands one of the country's finest ever batsmen, Martin Crowe. In England his average was, for him, a meagre 40.23. However, he plundered three centuries and 845 runs spread over 13 matches. Geoff Howarth just about qualified as an all-rounder but barely took a wicket in the five-day format. Against England on these shores, he accumulated a handy 485 runs at 40.41 in the 1970s.
Brendan McCullum is the only man in the current squad to make my Eleven, combining wicket-keeping duties with his hard-hitting batsmanship. In the past decade, he amassed 412 runs in six games and should add to that tally later this month. New Zealand's best all-rounder of this or any other era must be Chris Cairns, who nudges out his dad, Lance, from my fantasy team. Cairns junior scored 343 runs while chipping in with 31 wickets at only 25 apiece. He played a major role in the few victories his nation achieved in recent times.
Of course, arguably NZ's greatest ever player was Sir Richard Hadlee. At one time the world's highest Test wicket-taker, he enjoyed great success in England, both with Nottinghamshire and his country. In 14 Tests, he captured no fewer than 70 wickets, by a mile more than any other player on either side, while contributing more than 500 runs. No centuries but four valuable late-order fifties. The three other bowlers could all bat a bit, too. Spinners Daniel Vettori and John Bracewell each provided more than 200 runs and 20 wickets in these fixtures whie Dion Nash's 34 wickets came at a lower average than even Hadlee's. Like many Black Cap stars before him, Nash retired from international cricket early, which was a shame.
In summary, I reckon this would have made a pretty nifty line-up, not only in England but also on home soil: Wright, Richardson, Fleming (*), M Crowe, Howarth, McCullum (+), C Cairns, R Hadlee, Vettori, Bracewell, Nash.
At the top, I'll have John Wright and Mark Richardson. The former aggregated 711 runs in 11 matches, although his average was nothing special. Fellow opener Richardon toured only in 2004 yet scored more than half as many runs as Wright, averaging more than 61, well above his career average of 45-odd. Ironically his best performance, with 93 and 101, came in a losing fight at Lord's.
Stephen Fleming opened in that game but was better known as a middle-order batsman and highly successful captain, particularly in ODIs. Nevertheless he makes my team on the back of 644 runs in ten Tests. Alongside him stands one of the country's finest ever batsmen, Martin Crowe. In England his average was, for him, a meagre 40.23. However, he plundered three centuries and 845 runs spread over 13 matches. Geoff Howarth just about qualified as an all-rounder but barely took a wicket in the five-day format. Against England on these shores, he accumulated a handy 485 runs at 40.41 in the 1970s.
Brendan McCullum is the only man in the current squad to make my Eleven, combining wicket-keeping duties with his hard-hitting batsmanship. In the past decade, he amassed 412 runs in six games and should add to that tally later this month. New Zealand's best all-rounder of this or any other era must be Chris Cairns, who nudges out his dad, Lance, from my fantasy team. Cairns junior scored 343 runs while chipping in with 31 wickets at only 25 apiece. He played a major role in the few victories his nation achieved in recent times.
Of course, arguably NZ's greatest ever player was Sir Richard Hadlee. At one time the world's highest Test wicket-taker, he enjoyed great success in England, both with Nottinghamshire and his country. In 14 Tests, he captured no fewer than 70 wickets, by a mile more than any other player on either side, while contributing more than 500 runs. No centuries but four valuable late-order fifties. The three other bowlers could all bat a bit, too. Spinners Daniel Vettori and John Bracewell each provided more than 200 runs and 20 wickets in these fixtures whie Dion Nash's 34 wickets came at a lower average than even Hadlee's. Like many Black Cap stars before him, Nash retired from international cricket early, which was a shame.
In summary, I reckon this would have made a pretty nifty line-up, not only in England but also on home soil: Wright, Richardson, Fleming (*), M Crowe, Howarth, McCullum (+), C Cairns, R Hadlee, Vettori, Bracewell, Nash.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Compton and Rutherford: Honours Even
Well, masses of credit to New Zealand for at least keeping the series interesting. More than that, after the first few days' play,there was even the prospect of a sensational Black Caps win amidst the verdant setting of Dunedin. Had it not been for the Day 1 washout, Brendan McCullum's men could yet have taken a lead. However, once they put their woeful first innings shot-making out of their minds on what was by all accounts a perfect batting track, the England top order are probably the best in the business at grinding out a result.
It was all looking so promising as the NZ new boys Bruce Martin and Hamish Rutherford helped deliver their side an extraordinary 293-run lead. Martin and Neil Wagner shared eight cheap wickets to embarrass the visitors, then the tall 23 year-old left-handed opener compiled 171, one of the best debut Test innings in history, to defy England's lauded attack. His skipper gave Finn a late-order thumping, but credit to Jimmy Anderson for persevering on an unhelpful pitch to take four wickets and keep the team in with a chance.
WIth almost two days to bat, this was an occasion tailor-made for Alastair Cook and Nick Compton. The former has done it umpteen times at this level while the latter is no stranger to concentration, focus and painstaking performances for Somerset. And that's just in T20! I was delighted that Compton reached his maiden Test century just before close on Day 4 to prevent a potentially nervous night.
And yet England could give even greater thanks to Finn the nightwatchman. He stuck around for almost five hours for his 56 while first Compton, then Trott and Pietersen fell at the other end. KP and Root each failed twice in the match but ultimately it didn't matter because Ian Bell and Matt Prior held their nerve and made sure McCullum and co wouldn't have the opportunity to thrash their way to a low target at the death.
So no whitewash. Both sides can take some positives from the match. England probably won't suffer such a collective batting meltdown again, and showed in the second innings while they remain number two in the world. Wellington should hold no fears. The home team also demonstrated some talent in depth, although I have to say it did owe a hell of a lot to Rutherford's straight bat and level-headedness and McCullum's belligerence. The others need to step up to their high standard if New Zealand are to win either of the remaining fixtures but anything is possible!
It was all looking so promising as the NZ new boys Bruce Martin and Hamish Rutherford helped deliver their side an extraordinary 293-run lead. Martin and Neil Wagner shared eight cheap wickets to embarrass the visitors, then the tall 23 year-old left-handed opener compiled 171, one of the best debut Test innings in history, to defy England's lauded attack. His skipper gave Finn a late-order thumping, but credit to Jimmy Anderson for persevering on an unhelpful pitch to take four wickets and keep the team in with a chance.
WIth almost two days to bat, this was an occasion tailor-made for Alastair Cook and Nick Compton. The former has done it umpteen times at this level while the latter is no stranger to concentration, focus and painstaking performances for Somerset. And that's just in T20! I was delighted that Compton reached his maiden Test century just before close on Day 4 to prevent a potentially nervous night.
And yet England could give even greater thanks to Finn the nightwatchman. He stuck around for almost five hours for his 56 while first Compton, then Trott and Pietersen fell at the other end. KP and Root each failed twice in the match but ultimately it didn't matter because Ian Bell and Matt Prior held their nerve and made sure McCullum and co wouldn't have the opportunity to thrash their way to a low target at the death.
So no whitewash. Both sides can take some positives from the match. England probably won't suffer such a collective batting meltdown again, and showed in the second innings while they remain number two in the world. Wellington should hold no fears. The home team also demonstrated some talent in depth, although I have to say it did owe a hell of a lot to Rutherford's straight bat and level-headedness and McCullum's belligerence. The others need to step up to their high standard if New Zealand are to win either of the remaining fixtures but anything is possible!
Friday, 15 February 2013
England take the T20 series
So England are the series winners after storming the decider against New Zealand by ten wickets. What can we learn from this? That England are back to their T20 best? That the Black Caps are useless? Of course not. This is Twenty 20! Anything can happen in any given match.
Last week everyone was singing the praises of Stuart Broad, whose 4-24 took him to the top of England's all-time (i.e. seven years!) wicket-taking table, along with the middle-order striking of Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan. Four days later at Hamilton, the England skipper's four overs went for a humbling 53 runs, Wright was out first ball and all eyes were on NZ's B-Mac, blazing a match-winning 74. Today, fortunes swung firmly back in the tourists' favour. Broad marked the occasion with 3-15, and the openers Hales and Lumb cruised to victory with more than seven overs to spare.
If there were to be a fourth crash-bang contest, no doubt we'd be extolling the virtues of Guptill, Taylor and Boult and castigating Broad, Finn and Tredwell! That is the nature of the format. It's why the last two world champions were England and the West Indies, not India, Australia or South Africa.
Having slammed T20 for being a bastardised version of cricket, of course I have to accept that the format does favour a certain type of player: strong, confident batsmen, pacemen adept at yorkers, spinners not afraid to mix it up a bit and athletic fielders with quick eyes, feet and arms. England's batsmen are generally a young lot and, while the likes of Bell, Pietersen, Bopara and even Cook are perfectly able to score at a rate of 120+, selectors are willing to push forward Hales, Buttler and cool-headed Morgan. It may also help them gain confidence for the next 50-over World Cup. It certainly won't prepare them for the Ashes! As a Somerset fan, I have long been aware of young 'keeper Jos and his ability to fashion extra cover sixes from good length balls without breaking sweat. However, it's a while since he performed strongly in the Championship. Team-mate and England discard Kieswetter has the edge in the first-class game.
What about the bowlers? Again, a top-class bowler can do the business in any format. Finn and Broad are fine players, and the latter has the added advantage of being able to throw the bat effectively should the men above him fail. Jade Dernbach was the most consistent player on either side in this series, but I don't mean that as praise. Figures of 0-33, 3-38 and 3-36 wouldn't look bad in a Test match but always conceding more than eight an over is hardly a virtue in T20, despite taking some wickets. Tredwell and Patel are no challengers to Swann in the spin stakes, but Wright is OK as an all-rounder.
Given the full availability of all contenders, how many of the Wellington side would walk into England's Test side? Er, Finn and, er, that's it! As for New Zealand, their XI had more of an all-format look about it. However, I still don't understand James Franklin. A very successful bowling all-rounder in first-class domestic cricket, he has failed miserably in Tests and, given his ability to bat AND bowl, he can't help be picked at T20, but again flatters to deceive.
The past week's fixtures can't really predict the outcome of the ODI and Test series, although it always helps the confidence to enter the fray with a win under the belt. Provided Taylor, Guptill and McCullum can be silenced, it should be plain sailing for England, even if Dernbach bowls first change!
Last week everyone was singing the praises of Stuart Broad, whose 4-24 took him to the top of England's all-time (i.e. seven years!) wicket-taking table, along with the middle-order striking of Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan. Four days later at Hamilton, the England skipper's four overs went for a humbling 53 runs, Wright was out first ball and all eyes were on NZ's B-Mac, blazing a match-winning 74. Today, fortunes swung firmly back in the tourists' favour. Broad marked the occasion with 3-15, and the openers Hales and Lumb cruised to victory with more than seven overs to spare.
If there were to be a fourth crash-bang contest, no doubt we'd be extolling the virtues of Guptill, Taylor and Boult and castigating Broad, Finn and Tredwell! That is the nature of the format. It's why the last two world champions were England and the West Indies, not India, Australia or South Africa.
Having slammed T20 for being a bastardised version of cricket, of course I have to accept that the format does favour a certain type of player: strong, confident batsmen, pacemen adept at yorkers, spinners not afraid to mix it up a bit and athletic fielders with quick eyes, feet and arms. England's batsmen are generally a young lot and, while the likes of Bell, Pietersen, Bopara and even Cook are perfectly able to score at a rate of 120+, selectors are willing to push forward Hales, Buttler and cool-headed Morgan. It may also help them gain confidence for the next 50-over World Cup. It certainly won't prepare them for the Ashes! As a Somerset fan, I have long been aware of young 'keeper Jos and his ability to fashion extra cover sixes from good length balls without breaking sweat. However, it's a while since he performed strongly in the Championship. Team-mate and England discard Kieswetter has the edge in the first-class game.
What about the bowlers? Again, a top-class bowler can do the business in any format. Finn and Broad are fine players, and the latter has the added advantage of being able to throw the bat effectively should the men above him fail. Jade Dernbach was the most consistent player on either side in this series, but I don't mean that as praise. Figures of 0-33, 3-38 and 3-36 wouldn't look bad in a Test match but always conceding more than eight an over is hardly a virtue in T20, despite taking some wickets. Tredwell and Patel are no challengers to Swann in the spin stakes, but Wright is OK as an all-rounder.
Given the full availability of all contenders, how many of the Wellington side would walk into England's Test side? Er, Finn and, er, that's it! As for New Zealand, their XI had more of an all-format look about it. However, I still don't understand James Franklin. A very successful bowling all-rounder in first-class domestic cricket, he has failed miserably in Tests and, given his ability to bat AND bowl, he can't help be picked at T20, but again flatters to deceive.
The past week's fixtures can't really predict the outcome of the ODI and Test series, although it always helps the confidence to enter the fray with a win under the belt. Provided Taylor, Guptill and McCullum can be silenced, it should be plain sailing for England, even if Dernbach bowls first change!
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
New Zealand - where are the match-winners?
After again succumbing so meekly to South Africa this week, the answer to my question could arguably be answered: "On the treatment table". However, even with Vettori, Southee and Taylor in the side, it is difficult to imagine the Black Caps getting close to Amla, AB, Steyn et al now they have the ruthless streak to accompany the all-round talent in depth. With the prospect of two series against England, I'm afraid New Zealand's job of recovery isn't getting much easier in 2013, and their eighth place in the ICC Test rankings looks set in stone for a while yet.
I read this week a quote from the squad that they felt more comfortable with shorter formats. Hmm. Well, it's true that they seem to come alive during World Cups so what is their ODI ranking? Ninth! Well, if that's the NZ comfort zone, I wonder what discomfort means! Even when their respected skipper Vettori was playing regularly, they were languishing in the same doldrums going back to 2010. At that time, Pakistan were struggling and the West Indies had yet to rediscover their mojo, enabling the team to sit briefly at six in the league table.
Look back a full ten years and New Zealand were, remarkably, standing proud in thrid place behind only Australia and South Africa! How could that have happened? Well, between December 2000 and October 2003, they played ten 'series' losing only one (a solitary Test against Pakistan). My use of inverted commas is deliberate as most of those rubbers comprised only two games. Nevertheless they beat Bangladesh and India (2-0) at home, and even the Windies away, Lara, Hooper, Chanderpaul, Gayle and all.
The class of 2003 may not have equalled the glory days of the 1980s when Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe were amongst the best in the world. Nevertheless, captain Stephen Fleming marshalled a very useful squad. Mark Richardson averaged 44 with the bat, while Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Fleming were also very good international performers. However, to win matches you also need bowlers. New Zealand were fortunate to call upon a strike bowler in the form of Shane Bond - when fit - backed up by the youthful all-rounder Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and even Scott Styris.
How the Black Caps would love to have a Shane Bond firing on all cylinders this year! A team of useful bits 'n' pieces players may get you to World Cup knockout stages but will always get found out over five days. Guptill and Williamson have promised so much but have yet to show sufficient consistency. Credit to BJ Watling for his battling half-centuries against the mighty Proteas but how they missed the late-order stability provided by Vettori. It was also sad to see Brendan McCullum trying hard to restrain himself at the top of the order. Defence does not come easily and he tends to get out to rash, impatient strokes. Perhaps he should try and play his natural game a la Gayle and Sehwag. At least he'll have some runs on the board before he heads back to the pavilion. On the other hand, his side could become accustomed to three-day Tests, and that would be no good for cricket. Venues would never sell advance tickets for the fourth or fifth days! Bowling remains a problem, too. Tim Southee on his day is a very fine swing bowler but he has too few of such days, and Chris Martin is near to retirement.
IN the past four years, their only series triumphs have been single-game contests against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Nicking the odd victory over Sri Lanka and Australia always helps, and Doug Bracewell will always remember his six-for to beat the Aussies by seven runs in Hobart. He and his fellow bowlers will need more of those this coming year if they are to advance to the dizzy heights of seven in the rankings.
I read this week a quote from the squad that they felt more comfortable with shorter formats. Hmm. Well, it's true that they seem to come alive during World Cups so what is their ODI ranking? Ninth! Well, if that's the NZ comfort zone, I wonder what discomfort means! Even when their respected skipper Vettori was playing regularly, they were languishing in the same doldrums going back to 2010. At that time, Pakistan were struggling and the West Indies had yet to rediscover their mojo, enabling the team to sit briefly at six in the league table.
Look back a full ten years and New Zealand were, remarkably, standing proud in thrid place behind only Australia and South Africa! How could that have happened? Well, between December 2000 and October 2003, they played ten 'series' losing only one (a solitary Test against Pakistan). My use of inverted commas is deliberate as most of those rubbers comprised only two games. Nevertheless they beat Bangladesh and India (2-0) at home, and even the Windies away, Lara, Hooper, Chanderpaul, Gayle and all.
The class of 2003 may not have equalled the glory days of the 1980s when Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe were amongst the best in the world. Nevertheless, captain Stephen Fleming marshalled a very useful squad. Mark Richardson averaged 44 with the bat, while Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Fleming were also very good international performers. However, to win matches you also need bowlers. New Zealand were fortunate to call upon a strike bowler in the form of Shane Bond - when fit - backed up by the youthful all-rounder Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and even Scott Styris.
How the Black Caps would love to have a Shane Bond firing on all cylinders this year! A team of useful bits 'n' pieces players may get you to World Cup knockout stages but will always get found out over five days. Guptill and Williamson have promised so much but have yet to show sufficient consistency. Credit to BJ Watling for his battling half-centuries against the mighty Proteas but how they missed the late-order stability provided by Vettori. It was also sad to see Brendan McCullum trying hard to restrain himself at the top of the order. Defence does not come easily and he tends to get out to rash, impatient strokes. Perhaps he should try and play his natural game a la Gayle and Sehwag. At least he'll have some runs on the board before he heads back to the pavilion. On the other hand, his side could become accustomed to three-day Tests, and that would be no good for cricket. Venues would never sell advance tickets for the fourth or fifth days! Bowling remains a problem, too. Tim Southee on his day is a very fine swing bowler but he has too few of such days, and Chris Martin is near to retirement.
IN the past four years, their only series triumphs have been single-game contests against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Nicking the odd victory over Sri Lanka and Australia always helps, and Doug Bracewell will always remember his six-for to beat the Aussies by seven runs in Hobart. He and his fellow bowlers will need more of those this coming year if they are to advance to the dizzy heights of seven in the rankings.
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