Three major tournaments to pore over this week, as the County Championship and IPL were joined by the inaugural round of Nat West T20 Blast matches. Despite that, there were few opening batsmen to really stand out. Finch and Sehwag enjoyed one good score each in the IPL but Lendl Simmons picked up 118 runs across the week for for Mumbai. Top of the lot was Graeme Smith, whose 103 laid the foundations for a final day rally by Surrey to clinch ther first Championship in for yonks.
David Warner was in the runs for Hyderabad, plundering an aggregate 111 runs in 63 balls, the best performance being his 31-ball 55 against the Indians. Sangakkara's 159 was compiled when the match was alreay drawn so I've gone for the hard-hitting Nottinghamshire batsman Riki Wessels at number four. Today he struck a cameo 25 in 18 in the T20 but his 156 in the Championship fixture against Northants was completed in a T20-esque 152 balls.
North and Styris excelled in today's Blast but in India Yuvraj Singh proved there's life in the old dog yet. After a miserable run, he produced a couple of stupendous innings for Bangalore, including sixteen sixes, plus a 4-35 to demonstrate his all-rounder credentials. For Sussex, Luke Wright (189) and wicket-keeper Ben Brown (163) shared a record sixth wicket county partnership, then a few days later, Wright added another rapid 56 in the T20 against Surrey. Both he and Brown stake their places in my Team of the Week with ease.
Neil Dexter and Darren Stevens came close but the best all-rounder candidate is Paul Collingwood. He followed a 74 in the first-class match versus Sussex with a rapid 62 and 3-29 in the 20-over stuff this evening. Not far behind is Colly's former Durham colleague, Liam Plunkett. Now at Yorkshire, the ex-England seamer produced not one but two excellent all-round performances this week, but his 75-ball 86 batting at number nine in the four-day victory against Notts was the most eye-catching.
Jack Brooks almost features in my XI again, while Ajmal Shahzad out-bowled even Peter Siddle for Notts earlier in the weeks. Nevertheless, the final two bowling spots go to Tim Murtagh and Chris Tremlett. They each took six cheap wickets for their counties to bring about last day victories.
So, no out-and-out spinners this time. Even Tambe failed to make the grade. So my Team of The Week reads: Smith (Sur), Simmons (Mum), Warner (Hyd), Wessels (Not), Yuvraj Singh (Bang), Wright (Sus), Collingwood (Dur), Brown (Sus +), Plunkett (Yor), Tremlett (Sur), Murtagh (Mid)
Showing posts with label Graeme Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graeme Smith. Show all posts
Friday, 16 May 2014
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Biff Bows Out
While cricket fans and journos get in a lather about picking the world's best players, Graeme Smith often gets overlooked. Yet he seems to have been opening the innings and captaining South Africa forever. Not as elegant as Amla, as prolific as Kallis nor as classy as De Villiers, 'Biff' has nonetheless played his way into the pantheon of South African all-time greats. He said himself that it was determination rather than supreme talent that got him where he is today. That big jaw saw off many an opening bowler over the years. The respect paid to him by the Aussie opponents as he strode onto the pitch and, only too soon afterwards, off again for the last time in internationals also showed the high esteem in which Smith is held around the world.
A shame that this home series has been one of his leanest of a twelve-year career, but I suppose that helped make the decision to quit mid-way through a rare lost Test match. There's also the romance of retiring in front of his home crowd at Newlands but mercifully without the frenzied build-up a la Tendulkar in Mumbai. There was a certain symmetry about his Test career. It was topped and tailed by defeats against Australia in Cape Town almost exactly twelve years apart. His first and final innings were each worth a mere three runs, both times falling to catches off great fast bowlers at their best: Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson.
116 Tests, 197 ODIs and 33 T20s for South Africa, a total of around 17,000 runs and 291 catches add up to a mountain of impressive statistics. Yet his decade and record-breaking 109 Tests as captain are what will make Graeme Smith linger long in the record books. Chucked in at the deep end at 22, he showed his fighting qualities with superb double-centuries against England, and proceeded to oversee South Africa's transformation from nearly-men to Test cricket top-dogs.
What also made him different was the unusual record of having a far superior batting average overseas than on home pitches. Of the top nations, he was outstanding against England and West Indies but failed to register a single century in 27 innings against India. Even prior to the latest series, Australia had proved to be even more of a bogey team, averaging a mere 33. Another statistical quirk is that his average batting in the fourth innings was superior to his figures at earlier stages in the match.
He didn't fare any better against the green baggies in ODIs but almost 7,000 runs in 197 one-dayers is still pretty healthy, as was his strike rate of more than 80. As with his Test career, Biff's ODI sequence ended with an early exit in last November's exciting one-run defeat to Pakistan. Test cricket was his forte but he was formidable in any situation.
Graeme Smith is still only 33 and so has plenty more to offer Surrey, Cobras or anyone else lucky to secure his services. Without him, Kallis and Boucher, South Africa will look a weaker outfit, even though AB and co put up some stiff resistance today and almost pulled off an amazing rescue act until Ryan Harris delivered the coup de grace. Border, Waugh, Brearley, Ganguly, Fleming, Lloyd et al were all mighty leaders, not always of successful teams, but Graeme Smith's willingness to endure the stresses and strains of captaincy and open the batting for so long puts him right near the top of the list of great Test cricket skippers, in any era.
A shame that this home series has been one of his leanest of a twelve-year career, but I suppose that helped make the decision to quit mid-way through a rare lost Test match. There's also the romance of retiring in front of his home crowd at Newlands but mercifully without the frenzied build-up a la Tendulkar in Mumbai. There was a certain symmetry about his Test career. It was topped and tailed by defeats against Australia in Cape Town almost exactly twelve years apart. His first and final innings were each worth a mere three runs, both times falling to catches off great fast bowlers at their best: Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson.
116 Tests, 197 ODIs and 33 T20s for South Africa, a total of around 17,000 runs and 291 catches add up to a mountain of impressive statistics. Yet his decade and record-breaking 109 Tests as captain are what will make Graeme Smith linger long in the record books. Chucked in at the deep end at 22, he showed his fighting qualities with superb double-centuries against England, and proceeded to oversee South Africa's transformation from nearly-men to Test cricket top-dogs.
What also made him different was the unusual record of having a far superior batting average overseas than on home pitches. Of the top nations, he was outstanding against England and West Indies but failed to register a single century in 27 innings against India. Even prior to the latest series, Australia had proved to be even more of a bogey team, averaging a mere 33. Another statistical quirk is that his average batting in the fourth innings was superior to his figures at earlier stages in the match.
He didn't fare any better against the green baggies in ODIs but almost 7,000 runs in 197 one-dayers is still pretty healthy, as was his strike rate of more than 80. As with his Test career, Biff's ODI sequence ended with an early exit in last November's exciting one-run defeat to Pakistan. Test cricket was his forte but he was formidable in any situation.
Graeme Smith is still only 33 and so has plenty more to offer Surrey, Cobras or anyone else lucky to secure his services. Without him, Kallis and Boucher, South Africa will look a weaker outfit, even though AB and co put up some stiff resistance today and almost pulled off an amazing rescue act until Ryan Harris delivered the coup de grace. Border, Waugh, Brearley, Ganguly, Fleming, Lloyd et al were all mighty leaders, not always of successful teams, but Graeme Smith's willingness to endure the stresses and strains of captaincy and open the batting for so long puts him right near the top of the list of great Test cricket skippers, in any era.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
2013 Test Cricket Players of the Year
For many, 2013 was about two all-time greats: Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis. Both took their bows from Test cricket, albeit in very different circumstances. The Little Master's departure was choreographed along the lines of a British royal wedding while, typically, the South African all-rounder signed off with much less fuss, a sedate century, his 200th catch and plaudits of cricket fans worldwide. But because neither really took the eye on the pitch, neither make my Test XI of the year. Indeed, it's not necessarily the best eleven players, either, and doesn't follow the ICC rankings. After all, Sri Lanka played virtually no Test matches at all. But for me the team are those who produced the most consistent run-scoring, wicket-taking, etc at the top level during 2013.
It wasn't a great year for openers. David Warner and Alastair Cook probably scored more runs than anybody else in this position but both had very mixed years. I have therefore plumped for two men currently in opposition and who played relatively few matches. Graeme Smith continues to be a successful skipper and run maker for the world's number one ranked team, South Africa, while Murali Vijay has made some decent scores against boh Australia and South Africa. He can also bowl a few overs to keep the attack leaders fresh.
Candidates for the middle-order are much thicker on the ground. Dhawan and Rutherford made sensational debuts last winter, Ian Bell had a superb home Ashes series, Virat Kohli finally demonstrated the maturity to excel at the most demanding form of cricket and Hashim Amla also averaged more than 50. However, none manage to squeeze into my team of the year. Instead, I have included India's number three, Cheteshwar Pujara. Besides amassing huge innings in domestic cricket, he contributed more than 800 runs and, at the time of writing, three hundreds for the national cause. First defeated, then victorious Ashes captain Michael Clarke was one of only two batsmen to compile more than 1000 Test runs in the calendar year (Bell being the other) whilst coping with the considerable mental pressures of leading his side in the most gruelling of series. New Zealand's Ross Taylor marked his return to the fold with centuries in three successive Tests against the West Indies. Then there's the incomparable AB De Villiers. Officially the best Test and ODI batsman in the world, AB has delivered almost a thousand runs at an average of 90+, whilst taking the gloves. He's hardly ever off the field of play!
Nevertheless, I want a specialist wicketkeeper in my team and Brad Haddin's combination of glovework and vital lower-order runs throughout the year, at the age of 36, fit the bill superbly.
The retirement of Kallis hits home the dearth of international all-rounders in the modern game. I can think of nobody in Tests capable of delivering match-winnng batting and bowling on any consistent scale. Vernon Philander may have the potential and Ravi Ashwin hit 124 against the Windies at Kolkata a few months ago. However, Ashwin earns his place for his spin demolition of Australia and the Windies. Will he be able to reproduce such form on away pitches, I wonder?
Watching him and his hapless team-mates struggling in Australia in the past few weeks, it is har to remember the impact Stuart Broad made earlier in 2013. He has by far the most Test wickets in the year (62), including five five-fors, and all atr an average of 25.80. When he's poor, he looks very average but when the modd and fancy takes him, he is almost unplayable. Even Jimmy Anderson was knocked from his pedestal as England's best bowler. The contrast with Mitchell Johnson is stark. His career having hit the doldrums after previous Ashes horrors, he stormed back with a vengeance to destroy English hopes and batting with a twirl of a new moustache and a renewed line in aggression. He claimed 34 wickets in only six Tests at under 18 apiece. His colleague Ryan Harris would have joined him but for a certain Mr Dale Steyn. He may have been displaced at the top of the ICC tree by Philander but he continued to exude skill and venom on the friendliest of batting pitches, amassing 48 wickets (with a day to go). Like Johnson, his average sits below 18 and his economy rate of 2.49 is one of the best around of the major wicket-takers.
If my Team of the Year has to play on a pitch requiring five front-line bowlers, then I'd drop Haddin for New Zealand's left-arm seamer Trent Boult, who took 46 wickets at 25 against a range of opposition, home and away. No Pakistanis make the XI but I hope their dominance of my ODI side of the year is adequate compensation!
To summarise, here is the Test Team of 2013: Smith (SA), Vijay (Ind), Pujara (Ind), Clarke (* Aus), Taylor (NZ), De Villiers (SA), Haddin (+ Aus), Ashwin (Ind), Broad (Eng), Johnson (Aus), Steyn (SA).
My overall players of the year, taking in all senior cricket, will be revealed shortly....
It wasn't a great year for openers. David Warner and Alastair Cook probably scored more runs than anybody else in this position but both had very mixed years. I have therefore plumped for two men currently in opposition and who played relatively few matches. Graeme Smith continues to be a successful skipper and run maker for the world's number one ranked team, South Africa, while Murali Vijay has made some decent scores against boh Australia and South Africa. He can also bowl a few overs to keep the attack leaders fresh.
Candidates for the middle-order are much thicker on the ground. Dhawan and Rutherford made sensational debuts last winter, Ian Bell had a superb home Ashes series, Virat Kohli finally demonstrated the maturity to excel at the most demanding form of cricket and Hashim Amla also averaged more than 50. However, none manage to squeeze into my team of the year. Instead, I have included India's number three, Cheteshwar Pujara. Besides amassing huge innings in domestic cricket, he contributed more than 800 runs and, at the time of writing, three hundreds for the national cause. First defeated, then victorious Ashes captain Michael Clarke was one of only two batsmen to compile more than 1000 Test runs in the calendar year (Bell being the other) whilst coping with the considerable mental pressures of leading his side in the most gruelling of series. New Zealand's Ross Taylor marked his return to the fold with centuries in three successive Tests against the West Indies. Then there's the incomparable AB De Villiers. Officially the best Test and ODI batsman in the world, AB has delivered almost a thousand runs at an average of 90+, whilst taking the gloves. He's hardly ever off the field of play!
Nevertheless, I want a specialist wicketkeeper in my team and Brad Haddin's combination of glovework and vital lower-order runs throughout the year, at the age of 36, fit the bill superbly.
The retirement of Kallis hits home the dearth of international all-rounders in the modern game. I can think of nobody in Tests capable of delivering match-winnng batting and bowling on any consistent scale. Vernon Philander may have the potential and Ravi Ashwin hit 124 against the Windies at Kolkata a few months ago. However, Ashwin earns his place for his spin demolition of Australia and the Windies. Will he be able to reproduce such form on away pitches, I wonder?
Watching him and his hapless team-mates struggling in Australia in the past few weeks, it is har to remember the impact Stuart Broad made earlier in 2013. He has by far the most Test wickets in the year (62), including five five-fors, and all atr an average of 25.80. When he's poor, he looks very average but when the modd and fancy takes him, he is almost unplayable. Even Jimmy Anderson was knocked from his pedestal as England's best bowler. The contrast with Mitchell Johnson is stark. His career having hit the doldrums after previous Ashes horrors, he stormed back with a vengeance to destroy English hopes and batting with a twirl of a new moustache and a renewed line in aggression. He claimed 34 wickets in only six Tests at under 18 apiece. His colleague Ryan Harris would have joined him but for a certain Mr Dale Steyn. He may have been displaced at the top of the ICC tree by Philander but he continued to exude skill and venom on the friendliest of batting pitches, amassing 48 wickets (with a day to go). Like Johnson, his average sits below 18 and his economy rate of 2.49 is one of the best around of the major wicket-takers.
If my Team of the Year has to play on a pitch requiring five front-line bowlers, then I'd drop Haddin for New Zealand's left-arm seamer Trent Boult, who took 46 wickets at 25 against a range of opposition, home and away. No Pakistanis make the XI but I hope their dominance of my ODI side of the year is adequate compensation!
To summarise, here is the Test Team of 2013: Smith (SA), Vijay (Ind), Pujara (Ind), Clarke (* Aus), Taylor (NZ), De Villiers (SA), Haddin (+ Aus), Ashwin (Ind), Broad (Eng), Johnson (Aus), Steyn (SA).
My overall players of the year, taking in all senior cricket, will be revealed shortly....
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Six-Six, the Number of the (Run) Feast
Following his latest double century, I was going to sing the praises of South African opener Graeme Smith. However, after the blatant ball-tampering by Faf du Plessis in the thumping victory of Pakistan in Dubai, I find it hard to believe his skipper was ignorant of his team-mate's cheating. So instead I shall concentrate on the performances of AB De Villiers and Asad Shafiq.
AB's contribution to South Africa's rise to the top in Tests and many triumphs in limited-overs games is well known. Averaging 50-odd in both major formats is remarkable, and remember he is pretty much an all-rounder given his rejuvenated role as wicket-keeper. His immense strike rate in 50- and 20-over matches comes in contrast to a much steadier one in Tests. That's not a criticism; quite the opposite. These days, few batsmen have the ability and temperament to adapt so superbly to different formats and circumstances.
I must admit the rise of Asad Shafiq has taken me by surprise. Making four centuries at number six, the same as De Villiers, has been beaten by only eighteen others in Test history, and they have come in only 23 Tests. Three years ago, he made his Pakistan debut in the same part of the world against the same opposition, who again scored more than 500 featuring a big double-century. In 2009 it wasn't Smith, but good old AB, who crashed his still record 278 but Pakistan's batsmen didn't roll over to the spinners on that occasion and the game was drawn.
In the old days when I was growing up, the number six slot was usually reserved for all-rounders. Sir Garry Sobers has a collection of eight centuries in that position and is one of the all-time greats Despite for many years holding the world record for Test runs he often batted at only six when these days such a battig genius would probably bat a bit higher, bowler or not. Others near the top of the 'six' order of merit include other famous all-rounders Tony Greig (seven), Asif Iqbal and Steve Waugh (six apiece), Ian Botham and Ravi Shastri (five).
However there has been a recent move towards having specialist batsmen at six. Perhaps this is because bowlers have become better batsmen as a result of the T20 explosion, and countries have been able to field just four specialist bowlers augmented by occasional spin by players at the top. It happened with Clive Lloyd later in his career, Allan Border and, further back, another Aussie Doug Walters. This decade, the likes of Ian Bell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mike Hussey have done the job extremely effectively, marshalling the tail, stopping the rot or just building big partnerships to crush hopes of the opposition.
It will be interesting to see whether Asad Shafiq remains at number six, especially with Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan nearing the end of their careers. AB, meanwhile, could contribute runs absolutely anywhere. Indeed, he has batted everywhere from one to eight, but more often at six than any other place. His average is even better when the designated wicketkeeper than when playing only as batsman so maybe he is just as much an all-rounder as Sobers, Greig, Iqbal et al.
AB's contribution to South Africa's rise to the top in Tests and many triumphs in limited-overs games is well known. Averaging 50-odd in both major formats is remarkable, and remember he is pretty much an all-rounder given his rejuvenated role as wicket-keeper. His immense strike rate in 50- and 20-over matches comes in contrast to a much steadier one in Tests. That's not a criticism; quite the opposite. These days, few batsmen have the ability and temperament to adapt so superbly to different formats and circumstances.
I must admit the rise of Asad Shafiq has taken me by surprise. Making four centuries at number six, the same as De Villiers, has been beaten by only eighteen others in Test history, and they have come in only 23 Tests. Three years ago, he made his Pakistan debut in the same part of the world against the same opposition, who again scored more than 500 featuring a big double-century. In 2009 it wasn't Smith, but good old AB, who crashed his still record 278 but Pakistan's batsmen didn't roll over to the spinners on that occasion and the game was drawn.
In the old days when I was growing up, the number six slot was usually reserved for all-rounders. Sir Garry Sobers has a collection of eight centuries in that position and is one of the all-time greats Despite for many years holding the world record for Test runs he often batted at only six when these days such a battig genius would probably bat a bit higher, bowler or not. Others near the top of the 'six' order of merit include other famous all-rounders Tony Greig (seven), Asif Iqbal and Steve Waugh (six apiece), Ian Botham and Ravi Shastri (five).
However there has been a recent move towards having specialist batsmen at six. Perhaps this is because bowlers have become better batsmen as a result of the T20 explosion, and countries have been able to field just four specialist bowlers augmented by occasional spin by players at the top. It happened with Clive Lloyd later in his career, Allan Border and, further back, another Aussie Doug Walters. This decade, the likes of Ian Bell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mike Hussey have done the job extremely effectively, marshalling the tail, stopping the rot or just building big partnerships to crush hopes of the opposition.
It will be interesting to see whether Asad Shafiq remains at number six, especially with Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan nearing the end of their careers. AB, meanwhile, could contribute runs absolutely anywhere. Indeed, he has batted everywhere from one to eight, but more often at six than any other place. His average is even better when the designated wicketkeeper than when playing only as batsman so maybe he is just as much an all-rounder as Sobers, Greig, Iqbal et al.
Monday, 1 April 2013
County Championship Preview 2013 - the Imports
As the international cricketing calendar heads for its annual hiatus, and many stars head for the heat and dust of India to boost their bank balances for several interminable weeks, my own mind switches to more local matters. If it's April, it must be the start of the County Championship.
There have been some articles recently about how boring county cricket is. I have to disagree. Yes, it suffers from the uncertainty over who is playing for each county, because of the England central contract system and ludicrous short-term contracts for overseas stars, but there remains plenty of quality in the game, in whatever format. 2012 may not have produced the last-day drama of the previous two summers but the Championship still has plenty of excitement to offer. Where people criticise owes more to the media coverage. It used to have the May-August period to itself, but now there is wall-to-wall sport throughout the northern hemisphere summer. Sky TV hoovered up all the live broadcasting rights to domestic cricket but gives it next to no publicity, demoting cricket - other than the Ashes - below football (even when there aren't any competitive matches), rugby league, tennis, golf, fishing (FISHING??!!) and probably the ITPL (Indian Tiddlywinks Premier League).
So why should we sit up and take note of the 2013 Championship? I'll preview the two divisions shortly but today I'll focus on the likely imports set to descend on these shores. Right now, after three weeks of persistently cold, often very snowy conditions, Mumbai and Mohali must look far more inviting than Derby or Durham. However, a number of international cricketers have signed up to at least two months of county action. Some are old hands for whom the IPL is irrelevant, others just looking to keep their hands in during a break in international commitments. However, there are some real names to note.
After last year's distrubing season, Surrey have again splashed the cash, nabbing Graeme Smith as captain on a three-year contract. He'll give them some much-needed beef at the top of the order. And who is due to arrive in mid-season? Only Ricky Ponting! He may have nothing to prove, but then if the pressure is off, opposition bowlers may suffer at the hands of a true master of the past two decades.
In an Ashes summer, there are plenty of Aussies heading for England early. Nottinghamshire welcome Ed Cowan, who will be replaced by David Husey when the Test series starts. Michael Klinger, Rob Quiney, George Bailey and Joe Burns head for Gloucestershire, Essex, Hampshire and Leicestershire, respectively, while veterans Simon Katich, Marcus North and Chris Rogers beat a more familiar path to Lancashire, Glamorgan and Middlesex. ALviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince (potentially on a Kolpak contract) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul could all shine, too.
Note the dominance of batsmen. I suppose it's a sign of the times that bowlers are more interested in preserving their weak bodies for T20 than learning their craft in proper cricket. Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) and Trent Copeland (Northants) are the only bowlers appearing in the first part of the summer, although Pakistan spin duo Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman should be useful assets for Hants and Somerset as the season reached its climax.
I haven't mentioned T20 as the line-ups will no doubt change between now and July. The Champions Trophy in June also lead to greater demands, injuries and hasty new signings, so watch this space. Watch, too, for my previews of the Championship. It's likely to be unpredictable as ever (so predictable!?). Will Warwickshire follow Lancashire's fate and go straight form champions to relegation? Will Somerset finally, FINALLY win the pennant? Will Surrey take the title their wealth demands? Lots to look forward to. IPL? Pah!
There have been some articles recently about how boring county cricket is. I have to disagree. Yes, it suffers from the uncertainty over who is playing for each county, because of the England central contract system and ludicrous short-term contracts for overseas stars, but there remains plenty of quality in the game, in whatever format. 2012 may not have produced the last-day drama of the previous two summers but the Championship still has plenty of excitement to offer. Where people criticise owes more to the media coverage. It used to have the May-August period to itself, but now there is wall-to-wall sport throughout the northern hemisphere summer. Sky TV hoovered up all the live broadcasting rights to domestic cricket but gives it next to no publicity, demoting cricket - other than the Ashes - below football (even when there aren't any competitive matches), rugby league, tennis, golf, fishing (FISHING??!!) and probably the ITPL (Indian Tiddlywinks Premier League).
So why should we sit up and take note of the 2013 Championship? I'll preview the two divisions shortly but today I'll focus on the likely imports set to descend on these shores. Right now, after three weeks of persistently cold, often very snowy conditions, Mumbai and Mohali must look far more inviting than Derby or Durham. However, a number of international cricketers have signed up to at least two months of county action. Some are old hands for whom the IPL is irrelevant, others just looking to keep their hands in during a break in international commitments. However, there are some real names to note.
After last year's distrubing season, Surrey have again splashed the cash, nabbing Graeme Smith as captain on a three-year contract. He'll give them some much-needed beef at the top of the order. And who is due to arrive in mid-season? Only Ricky Ponting! He may have nothing to prove, but then if the pressure is off, opposition bowlers may suffer at the hands of a true master of the past two decades.
In an Ashes summer, there are plenty of Aussies heading for England early. Nottinghamshire welcome Ed Cowan, who will be replaced by David Husey when the Test series starts. Michael Klinger, Rob Quiney, George Bailey and Joe Burns head for Gloucestershire, Essex, Hampshire and Leicestershire, respectively, while veterans Simon Katich, Marcus North and Chris Rogers beat a more familiar path to Lancashire, Glamorgan and Middlesex. ALviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince (potentially on a Kolpak contract) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul could all shine, too.
Note the dominance of batsmen. I suppose it's a sign of the times that bowlers are more interested in preserving their weak bodies for T20 than learning their craft in proper cricket. Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) and Trent Copeland (Northants) are the only bowlers appearing in the first part of the summer, although Pakistan spin duo Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman should be useful assets for Hants and Somerset as the season reached its climax.
I haven't mentioned T20 as the line-ups will no doubt change between now and July. The Champions Trophy in June also lead to greater demands, injuries and hasty new signings, so watch this space. Watch, too, for my previews of the Championship. It's likely to be unpredictable as ever (so predictable!?). Will Warwickshire follow Lancashire's fate and go straight form champions to relegation? Will Somerset finally, FINALLY win the pennant? Will Surrey take the title their wealth demands? Lots to look forward to. IPL? Pah!
Friday, 1 February 2013
Can Pakistan win in South Africa?
It's now six years and six matches since Pakistan last registered a Test victory over South Africa. Maybe Mohammad Hafeez's 4-wicket burst has dented the newly-inflated egos of Graeme Smith's men but that could merely spur on the world-class pace trio of Steyn, Philander and Morkel to rip through the visitors' batting. Pakistan can take comfort in the fact that they have avoided defeat in the last three fixtures between the countries, yet then again the Saffers were on top on each occasion and it was left to the likes of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to bat for survival.
The first ever Test between the two teams was in 1995, in Jo'burg. South Africa were clear winners on that occasion, with Fanie de Villiers in fine all-round form. In October 2007, Pakistan played host to three Tests, drawing two and losing the third by only 53 runs despite a healthy first-innings lead. This time it was a Shaun Pollock 'five-for' which proved decisive. Four months later, it was back to SA where honours were even. The opening draw was notable for Pat Symcox scoring a century batting at ten. At Durban, centuries from Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Anwar, plus excellent bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Mushtaq Ahmed secured a narrow win. However, at Port Elizabeth the wheels well and truly came off as Allan Donald and De Villiers each claimed eight cheap wickets en route to a 259-run rout.
2002-3 saw a thumping 2-0 home triumph for South Africa. In the second game, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a 369-run opening stand at more than five an over and thereafter Waqar Younis' men were never in the contest. Later that year, Pakistan enjoyed their first home success against SA, beating a strong side led by a 22 year-old Smith in Lahore. This was followed by a close-run draw which could have gone either way. In January 2007, Akhtar and Danish Kaneria skittled the home side at Port Elizabeth for 124 and Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steered Inzy's side to a five-wicket victory. However, this was top-and-tailed by South African successes, and Jacques Kallis was the PLayer of the Series. Pakistan's Second Test delight has had to keep them going ever since.
No Pakistani batsman has scored more against SA than Younis Khan (750 in 10 Tests) but of the bowlers in today's game, Umar Gul's 12 wickets (at more than 50 apiece!) is way below the tallies of Kaneria, Mushtaq and Younis. Curiously, neither Kallis, Steyn nor Morkel have enjoyed playing Pakistan. However, Kallis has revelled against them with the bat, striking six centuries in 16 appearances, amassing 1,522 runs at 66. He top-scored again today with 50 but you wouldn't bet against Smith, Amla and another De Villiers (AB) reversing fortunes as the Wanderers opener progresses. They are now world number ones, full of confidence and playing at home against an experienced but creaking team. Losing isn't an option for them, but how Misbah-ul-Huq, in his 39th year, would love to make it win number four.
The first ever Test between the two teams was in 1995, in Jo'burg. South Africa were clear winners on that occasion, with Fanie de Villiers in fine all-round form. In October 2007, Pakistan played host to three Tests, drawing two and losing the third by only 53 runs despite a healthy first-innings lead. This time it was a Shaun Pollock 'five-for' which proved decisive. Four months later, it was back to SA where honours were even. The opening draw was notable for Pat Symcox scoring a century batting at ten. At Durban, centuries from Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Anwar, plus excellent bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Mushtaq Ahmed secured a narrow win. However, at Port Elizabeth the wheels well and truly came off as Allan Donald and De Villiers each claimed eight cheap wickets en route to a 259-run rout.
2002-3 saw a thumping 2-0 home triumph for South Africa. In the second game, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a 369-run opening stand at more than five an over and thereafter Waqar Younis' men were never in the contest. Later that year, Pakistan enjoyed their first home success against SA, beating a strong side led by a 22 year-old Smith in Lahore. This was followed by a close-run draw which could have gone either way. In January 2007, Akhtar and Danish Kaneria skittled the home side at Port Elizabeth for 124 and Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steered Inzy's side to a five-wicket victory. However, this was top-and-tailed by South African successes, and Jacques Kallis was the PLayer of the Series. Pakistan's Second Test delight has had to keep them going ever since.
No Pakistani batsman has scored more against SA than Younis Khan (750 in 10 Tests) but of the bowlers in today's game, Umar Gul's 12 wickets (at more than 50 apiece!) is way below the tallies of Kaneria, Mushtaq and Younis. Curiously, neither Kallis, Steyn nor Morkel have enjoyed playing Pakistan. However, Kallis has revelled against them with the bat, striking six centuries in 16 appearances, amassing 1,522 runs at 66. He top-scored again today with 50 but you wouldn't bet against Smith, Amla and another De Villiers (AB) reversing fortunes as the Wanderers opener progresses. They are now world number ones, full of confidence and playing at home against an experienced but creaking team. Losing isn't an option for them, but how Misbah-ul-Huq, in his 39th year, would love to make it win number four.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
South Africa in Australia
Since South Africa came in from the cold in 1992, they have won only three of the fifteen Tests played in Australia. The first was a classic at the SCG in January 1994. Shane Warne took 7-56 and Michael Slater struck 92 to give the home side a healthy first-innings lead. Only Jonty Rhodes defied Warney in the second, but the Aussies needed only 117 to win with more than a day remaining. The crowd were allowed in for free but the home supporters were in for a nasty shock as Fanie de Villiers (6-43) and Allan Donald (3-34) bowled the Proteas to victory by just five runs.
It was nearly fifteen years before they enjoyed another success Down Under. In the mean time they were destroyed 3-0 by Steve Waugh's team in their pomp in 2001-2, then 2-0 four years later. It should have been tighter had Ricky Ponting not accepted the second innings challenge made by Graeme Smith. Declaring just before lunch on the final day, SA set the visitors 287 to win. Matthew Hayden and Ponting shared a second wicket partnership of 182 at almost a run a ball, and the latter secured victory with 143 not out in 159 balls.
Forward to Perth in December 2008, and Mitch Johnson's 8-61 set up a 94-run lead. The Aussies topped 300 again, leaving South Africa 414 to win, something only one team had achieved before in Test history. Plenty of time remained, however, although Graeme Smith was in belligerent mood, striking a brisk 108. Amla and Kallis chipped in with 50s but it was AB De Villiers and debutant JP Duminy who embarrassed the Aussie attack by claiming victory by a massive six wickets.
The Boxing Day Test started well for the home side, as the MCG crowd enjoyed a Ponting hundred on day one. A day later, SA were struggling on 198-7 but then that man JP stepped up to the plate. He put on 180 with Dale Steyn for the ninth wicket and now the Aussies were on the back foot. Steyn steamed in with the ball and took 5-67, while only 'Punter' provided stern resistance, eventually dismissed by Morkel for 99. The target of 183 was a piece of cake for Smith, McKenzie and Amla, and South Africa had their first series success in Australia for decades. The home team achieved a consolation victory in Sydney thanks largely to Michael Clarke's runs and Peter Siddle's wickets, but this signalled the start of Australia's slide from the pinnacle.
Now at the end of 2012, it's South Africa who stand proud at the top of the Test rankings, although Clarke's side have advanced to third and could displace Smith's men in the next month or so. This time last year they shared the spoils in SA but now, on paper, it's the Saffers who look so strong throughout the team, while the Aussies are suffering from injuries to some key men like Shane Watson and just about all their promising young pace bowlers. If only they could field a settled side, they might just have a fighting chance and not have to resort to psychological warfare (i.e. sledging) to wrest back control.
With De Villiers keeping wicket, it may mean that there is space at seven for that man Duminy to reprise his heroics of four years ago. That is, assuming he gets a bat with Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB et al ahead of him. The Proteas' attack of Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis and Imran Tahir just looks too good and too consistent for the Aussies to dominate. They seem to have a knack for sharing out the workload and wickets so it's the team rather than individuals that has carried South Africa to the top of the mountain just as it did for Australia ten years ago.
It was nearly fifteen years before they enjoyed another success Down Under. In the mean time they were destroyed 3-0 by Steve Waugh's team in their pomp in 2001-2, then 2-0 four years later. It should have been tighter had Ricky Ponting not accepted the second innings challenge made by Graeme Smith. Declaring just before lunch on the final day, SA set the visitors 287 to win. Matthew Hayden and Ponting shared a second wicket partnership of 182 at almost a run a ball, and the latter secured victory with 143 not out in 159 balls.
Forward to Perth in December 2008, and Mitch Johnson's 8-61 set up a 94-run lead. The Aussies topped 300 again, leaving South Africa 414 to win, something only one team had achieved before in Test history. Plenty of time remained, however, although Graeme Smith was in belligerent mood, striking a brisk 108. Amla and Kallis chipped in with 50s but it was AB De Villiers and debutant JP Duminy who embarrassed the Aussie attack by claiming victory by a massive six wickets.
The Boxing Day Test started well for the home side, as the MCG crowd enjoyed a Ponting hundred on day one. A day later, SA were struggling on 198-7 but then that man JP stepped up to the plate. He put on 180 with Dale Steyn for the ninth wicket and now the Aussies were on the back foot. Steyn steamed in with the ball and took 5-67, while only 'Punter' provided stern resistance, eventually dismissed by Morkel for 99. The target of 183 was a piece of cake for Smith, McKenzie and Amla, and South Africa had their first series success in Australia for decades. The home team achieved a consolation victory in Sydney thanks largely to Michael Clarke's runs and Peter Siddle's wickets, but this signalled the start of Australia's slide from the pinnacle.
Now at the end of 2012, it's South Africa who stand proud at the top of the Test rankings, although Clarke's side have advanced to third and could displace Smith's men in the next month or so. This time last year they shared the spoils in SA but now, on paper, it's the Saffers who look so strong throughout the team, while the Aussies are suffering from injuries to some key men like Shane Watson and just about all their promising young pace bowlers. If only they could field a settled side, they might just have a fighting chance and not have to resort to psychological warfare (i.e. sledging) to wrest back control.
With De Villiers keeping wicket, it may mean that there is space at seven for that man Duminy to reprise his heroics of four years ago. That is, assuming he gets a bat with Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB et al ahead of him. The Proteas' attack of Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis and Imran Tahir just looks too good and too consistent for the Aussies to dominate. They seem to have a knack for sharing out the workload and wickets so it's the team rather than individuals that has carried South Africa to the top of the mountain just as it did for Australia ten years ago.
Monday, 20 August 2012
South Africa worthy winners
For most of the twenty years since they returned to the international cricketing fold, South Africa have been there or thereabouts but finally they have managed to get their hands on a trophy. From Donald and Pollock to Steyn and Philander, Kirsten to Smith, Cullinan to Amla, Rhodes to De Villiers and Kallis to, er, Kallis, the Proteas have been runners-up for so long they ought to base themselves at Taunton. At last they have reached the top of the pile which their consistency has merited.
Of course, it's not about history; it's about the current squad of players being better than anybody else's in the Test arena. I think they are superior to any other nation in the other formats, too, and maybe this decisive defeat of England will spur them on to success in the knockout competitions. Just like the Aussies of the nineties/early 2000s and Windies in the mid-eighties, they ooze talent in every position.
Graeme Smith's captaincy has never been in doubt since he took over at a tender age, and he thrives as an opener, especially in England. Hashim Amla blew everyone away with his triple hundred in the First Test, Jacques Kallis buried the England hoodoo and even Alviro Petersen, the possible weakest link, clumped 182 in the rain-affected draw at Headingley. AB De Villiers wasn't fazed at donning Mark Boucher's gloves (so to speak) at such short notice and, even if he didn't register a half-century, he didn't really need to. Indeed, he didn't get a chance to bat at all at The Oval. Neither did Rudolph and Duminy.
While England huffed and puffed to snare even two wickets in the First Test, the front line Saffer seamers Steyn, Morkel and Philander were consistently successful, supported by Kallis and Imran Tahir. Anderson, Finn and Broad had their moments but whenever Dale, Morne or Vernon took the shiny new ball, you know a wicket was always about to fall. Probably that of Andrew Strauss!
I do hope that South Africa get the opportunity to play more Test series. India seem to turn up everywhere to play, England also have an extended season and Australia's itinerary is constantly packed, but the top team for some reason have fewer chances to demonstrate their craft. I'm not saying that is WHY they are now number one, but the world would love to have more chances to watch them, including their home fans.
So what about England? They aren't suddenly a poor side; it's just that Smith and co played to their full potential and handled the Lord's pressure situation better. Chokers? No way! Once Philander dismissed the openers on Sunday evening, the home side's task looked extremely difficult. At 45-4, the match looked over but, with Trott dropping anchor, Bairstow again supplied the brisk half-century, followed by some rumbustuous strokeplay from Swann, Broad and the redoubtable Matt Prior. At least they went down fighting. I'm so glad Pietersen's replacement Bairstow had such a good game. It no doubt gave KP a chance to reflect in the Surrey dressing room after his first-ball duck.
Strauss clearly has no intention to resign just yet, so I hope Miller and Flower keep faith with the current squad, including Taylor, and only consider KP if he shows any remorse and genuine hunger to give his all for the national cause and not just his own. He came to England because he couldn't get into the South African international set-up, then became a superstar over here. Now he is exiled from England, too, he probably still wouldn't get into the Proteas' line-up on merit anyway...
Of course, it's not about history; it's about the current squad of players being better than anybody else's in the Test arena. I think they are superior to any other nation in the other formats, too, and maybe this decisive defeat of England will spur them on to success in the knockout competitions. Just like the Aussies of the nineties/early 2000s and Windies in the mid-eighties, they ooze talent in every position.
Graeme Smith's captaincy has never been in doubt since he took over at a tender age, and he thrives as an opener, especially in England. Hashim Amla blew everyone away with his triple hundred in the First Test, Jacques Kallis buried the England hoodoo and even Alviro Petersen, the possible weakest link, clumped 182 in the rain-affected draw at Headingley. AB De Villiers wasn't fazed at donning Mark Boucher's gloves (so to speak) at such short notice and, even if he didn't register a half-century, he didn't really need to. Indeed, he didn't get a chance to bat at all at The Oval. Neither did Rudolph and Duminy.
While England huffed and puffed to snare even two wickets in the First Test, the front line Saffer seamers Steyn, Morkel and Philander were consistently successful, supported by Kallis and Imran Tahir. Anderson, Finn and Broad had their moments but whenever Dale, Morne or Vernon took the shiny new ball, you know a wicket was always about to fall. Probably that of Andrew Strauss!
I do hope that South Africa get the opportunity to play more Test series. India seem to turn up everywhere to play, England also have an extended season and Australia's itinerary is constantly packed, but the top team for some reason have fewer chances to demonstrate their craft. I'm not saying that is WHY they are now number one, but the world would love to have more chances to watch them, including their home fans.
So what about England? They aren't suddenly a poor side; it's just that Smith and co played to their full potential and handled the Lord's pressure situation better. Chokers? No way! Once Philander dismissed the openers on Sunday evening, the home side's task looked extremely difficult. At 45-4, the match looked over but, with Trott dropping anchor, Bairstow again supplied the brisk half-century, followed by some rumbustuous strokeplay from Swann, Broad and the redoubtable Matt Prior. At least they went down fighting. I'm so glad Pietersen's replacement Bairstow had such a good game. It no doubt gave KP a chance to reflect in the Surrey dressing room after his first-ball duck.
Strauss clearly has no intention to resign just yet, so I hope Miller and Flower keep faith with the current squad, including Taylor, and only consider KP if he shows any remorse and genuine hunger to give his all for the national cause and not just his own. He came to England because he couldn't get into the South African international set-up, then became a superstar over here. Now he is exiled from England, too, he probably still wouldn't get into the Proteas' line-up on merit anyway...
Monday, 23 July 2012
Saffers look like World beaters
On paper, the England v South Africa Test series looked a very tight affair, with little to separate the sides in batting or bowling. However, the much-vaunted home attack, instead of swing, seaming and spinning their way to victory, could capture just two - count 'em, TWO - wickets in the whole match!
Coasting at 170-1, Cook and Trott calmly accumulating at the crease, things were looking up for Strauss and co, even if the skipper had lasted a mere four balls. Even at stumps on day one, 267-3 looked to be a solid foundation for possible victory. However, once Dale Steyn removed Cook (for 115) and Bopara (a duck), the innings went downhill and 385 all out looked like a lost opportunity. Nothing could have prepared us for the run rampage that ensued over the next few days.
In my series previews I had harked back to previous huge scores posted by the tourists, with double-centuries commonplace. Graeme Smith had played his share and, after losing Petersen for nought, he made sure his hundredth Test would be a memorable one for all the right reasons. He and Hashim Amla showed England how to play Test cricket, making even England's two and three look like amateurs. His 25th century set the scene and, even after falling unluckily to Bresnan on 131, that just brought Jacques Kallis to the middle. One of the greatest batsmen ever had suffered a miserable previous three series in England but he ripped up the history books by advancing steadily in typical Kallis style to 182 not out.
So, two big hundreds but they weren't the talking point. No, that belonged to Amla's fabulous triple-hundred, the first ever by a South African, one of very few ever made by a visiting batsman and the best in England Tests since Gooch's 333 twenty-two years ago. People have advocated the return of 'timeless Tests' to settle major series. Fortunately for England, that dis not apply to this one at The Oval. Had Smith not declared on 637-2, who knows how long Amla and Kallis would have continued? Possibly until the scheduled start of the Second Test. Those two have form in big partnerships. Incredibly, this was their fourth stand of 300+ and their largest. At 377, it ranks as the ninth biggest third-wicket partnership in international history. After Moeen Ali's great bowling performance in the County Championship last week, maybe more youngsters will be growing their beards, regardless of faith.
Requiring only 252 to make South Africa bat again, England must have fancied their chances of salvaging a draw in around four sessions under uncharacteristic warm London sunshine. However, when Cook became the third opener in the match to depart without scoring, the Saffer attack scented blood. Unusually, Dale Steyn was used as first-change in this game, possibly because his formidable record is less compelling against left-handers. Morne Morkel had been the leading wicket-taker in the first innings but this was to be Steyn's day. Nevertheless perhaps the killer blow came from Morkel when Pietersen failed to curb his attacking instincts. Having wrestled with some short-pitched stuff, he then missed the fast straight delivery and was bowled for 16. Strauss top-edged an attempted sweep off Imran Tahir and England's top four were gone for 67.
Bell and Bopara defended stoutly to end of play and this morning, everything rested on their shoulders. Sadly, Bopara's weren't quite broad enough. The pair had put on 50 when the Essex man hung his bat out to dry against Steyn, offering an easy catch behind. Bell remained, and Matt Prior is no fool with the bat. Taking England past 200 with no further loss was hugely encouraging for the home crowd but with the new ball imminent, Prior committed the sin of sweeping unnecessarily, edging high to Kallis at slip for an otherwise excellent 40. Soon Steyn had the new ball in his hands and within a minute his pace and movement tempted Bell into another edge to Kallis. 42 still needed and the top seven gone. Tim Bresnan and Broad were there, and, let's not forget, the Yorkshireman had never lost a Test match. Would the gods of history be shining on him again? Er, nope. While he did only what could be expected of a number eight, Steyn steamed in to dispose of Broad and Swann for a five-for, then Imran Tahir trapped Anderson LBW to finish things off. If only they had picked Monty Panesar instead for his match-saving batting!
An innings and 12 runs made for shameful viewing , but what a fabulous start for the tourists. Runs for fun and top-class bowling all-round. Now it's South Africa with four men at the top of the ICC rankings for both batting and bowling. It was England's first home defeat in tests since 2009 and suddenly their grip on that number one status is looking extremely tenuous. However, with Headingley beckoning, England need to call on the spirit of Botham and Willis a la 1981 to overcome the embarrassing reverse at The Oval. They've come back from the dead before, including series against South Africa, and I wouldn't bet against a 1-1 series result. First they need t find a way of getting Smith, Amla and Kallis out. And poor AB de Villiers didn't even get in! Could be a corker!
Coasting at 170-1, Cook and Trott calmly accumulating at the crease, things were looking up for Strauss and co, even if the skipper had lasted a mere four balls. Even at stumps on day one, 267-3 looked to be a solid foundation for possible victory. However, once Dale Steyn removed Cook (for 115) and Bopara (a duck), the innings went downhill and 385 all out looked like a lost opportunity. Nothing could have prepared us for the run rampage that ensued over the next few days.
In my series previews I had harked back to previous huge scores posted by the tourists, with double-centuries commonplace. Graeme Smith had played his share and, after losing Petersen for nought, he made sure his hundredth Test would be a memorable one for all the right reasons. He and Hashim Amla showed England how to play Test cricket, making even England's two and three look like amateurs. His 25th century set the scene and, even after falling unluckily to Bresnan on 131, that just brought Jacques Kallis to the middle. One of the greatest batsmen ever had suffered a miserable previous three series in England but he ripped up the history books by advancing steadily in typical Kallis style to 182 not out.
So, two big hundreds but they weren't the talking point. No, that belonged to Amla's fabulous triple-hundred, the first ever by a South African, one of very few ever made by a visiting batsman and the best in England Tests since Gooch's 333 twenty-two years ago. People have advocated the return of 'timeless Tests' to settle major series. Fortunately for England, that dis not apply to this one at The Oval. Had Smith not declared on 637-2, who knows how long Amla and Kallis would have continued? Possibly until the scheduled start of the Second Test. Those two have form in big partnerships. Incredibly, this was their fourth stand of 300+ and their largest. At 377, it ranks as the ninth biggest third-wicket partnership in international history. After Moeen Ali's great bowling performance in the County Championship last week, maybe more youngsters will be growing their beards, regardless of faith.
Requiring only 252 to make South Africa bat again, England must have fancied their chances of salvaging a draw in around four sessions under uncharacteristic warm London sunshine. However, when Cook became the third opener in the match to depart without scoring, the Saffer attack scented blood. Unusually, Dale Steyn was used as first-change in this game, possibly because his formidable record is less compelling against left-handers. Morne Morkel had been the leading wicket-taker in the first innings but this was to be Steyn's day. Nevertheless perhaps the killer blow came from Morkel when Pietersen failed to curb his attacking instincts. Having wrestled with some short-pitched stuff, he then missed the fast straight delivery and was bowled for 16. Strauss top-edged an attempted sweep off Imran Tahir and England's top four were gone for 67.
Bell and Bopara defended stoutly to end of play and this morning, everything rested on their shoulders. Sadly, Bopara's weren't quite broad enough. The pair had put on 50 when the Essex man hung his bat out to dry against Steyn, offering an easy catch behind. Bell remained, and Matt Prior is no fool with the bat. Taking England past 200 with no further loss was hugely encouraging for the home crowd but with the new ball imminent, Prior committed the sin of sweeping unnecessarily, edging high to Kallis at slip for an otherwise excellent 40. Soon Steyn had the new ball in his hands and within a minute his pace and movement tempted Bell into another edge to Kallis. 42 still needed and the top seven gone. Tim Bresnan and Broad were there, and, let's not forget, the Yorkshireman had never lost a Test match. Would the gods of history be shining on him again? Er, nope. While he did only what could be expected of a number eight, Steyn steamed in to dispose of Broad and Swann for a five-for, then Imran Tahir trapped Anderson LBW to finish things off. If only they had picked Monty Panesar instead for his match-saving batting!
An innings and 12 runs made for shameful viewing , but what a fabulous start for the tourists. Runs for fun and top-class bowling all-round. Now it's South Africa with four men at the top of the ICC rankings for both batting and bowling. It was England's first home defeat in tests since 2009 and suddenly their grip on that number one status is looking extremely tenuous. However, with Headingley beckoning, England need to call on the spirit of Botham and Willis a la 1981 to overcome the embarrassing reverse at The Oval. They've come back from the dead before, including series against South Africa, and I wouldn't bet against a 1-1 series result. First they need t find a way of getting Smith, Amla and Kallis out. And poor AB de Villiers didn't even get in! Could be a corker!
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
England v South Africa - The Proteas' Fantasy XI
Yesterday I looked back at the most successful England cricketers in home series against South Africa. Today I'll focus on the visitors. As with the English, just three of the likely 2012 starters are in the fantasy eleven, starting with the number one and outstanding skipper of a generation, Graeme Smith.
He has really taken a shine to English bowler in the past two tours. 1083 runs in only nine Test matches is an impressive total. Back in 2003, consider he was only 22 and already the skipper of a formidable team. First game of the series and he goes and whacks 277, including a triple-century opening stand with Herschelle Gibbs. He scored 85 in the second innings, too. A week later, he disappoints, making a 'mere' 259 before being bowled by an even more youthful Jimmy Anderson. This time the Saffers won by an innings. Smith had a dismal run thereafter but what an amazing start! Five years later, he scored two more centuries, the best being a match-winning unbeaten 156 at Edgbaston.
By then his old partner Gary Kirsten had retired but he deserves selection for this team. He played on three tours to these shores. 1994 wasn't a great one. Four years on he was out five times in single figures yet is remembered for a steady 210 at Old Trafford which almost set up an innings victory. 2003 was his best tour, featuring two successive hundreds and a couple of 50s. Not a flair player but he was a fine opener, representing his country 101 times in Tests.
Herschelle Gibbs is renowned as a one-day stroke maker but he was also a decent first-class cricketer. In 2003, he aggregated almost 500 runs against England, including two big hundreds, topped by his 183 at The Oval where England managed to pull off a series-saving triumph. Much has been said about Jacques Kallis' poor record in England, but that only really applies to his batting. He now contemplates his fourth tour having scored 586 runs and taken 35 wickets at only 27 apiece. Headingley 2003 was the scene of his best statistics; 6-54 to round off a 191-run win. He's in the side as a bowling all-rounder!
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers only came here in 2008 but was typically successful as a specialist batsman, notching up 384 runs in the four Tests. AB's best knock was the 174 at Headingley where he shared a double-century stand with Ashwell Prince who he pips to a place in this fantasy side. At number six, I've gone for Jonty Rhodes, a stalwart of the 1990s. Not a flashy batsman, he did nonetheless contribute almost 500 runs, 117 of them coming in the Lord's triumph of 1998. Jonty could make the side on his fielding alone. I reckon he's one of the few players in memory who you'd watch in the covers rather than the batsman at the crease; he was so electrifying. How many times would you in the crowd, or the TV cameramen, pan to the boundary only to realise that Rhodes had pulled off a remarkable stop as the ball rocketed across the outfield?
It's no compensation for his enforced retirement the other week but Mark Boucher is the obvious choice as wicketkeeper. Like Kallis, this was his fourth tour of England, and had a similarly mediocre batting record. However, 60 catches, two stumpings, some useful late-order runs and that great attitude make him a shoo-in. Anyway, he days of Dave Richardson behind the stumps belong to a different era!
When it comes to fast bowling, present-day fans marvel at Steyn, Morkel and Philander. None make my team because between 1994 and 2008, South Africa could boast, in addition to Kallis, three all-time greats. At number eight, Shaun Pollock has an even better record than Kallis with the bat (351 runs at 44) and took 35 wickets at 25. His 6-39 at Trent Bridge nine summers ago should have been a match-winner but, of all people, Richard Kirtley eclipsed him that day. Nevertheless, Pollock was a superb cricketer. Allan Donald was an even faster, fearsome strike bowler, the aggression enhanced by his white sunblock strip, glowing like warpaint as he steamed in. Well versed in English conditions, he took 45 Test wickets here in only eight fixtures. There were five 'five-fors' amongst them, four in successive Tests in 1998. He claimed 5-32 at Lord's and bowled an exhausting 40 overs to take 6-88 in the Old Trafford game where Stewart and Croft defied everything Donald, Kallis and my other two bowlers could throw at them.
These two were Mukhaya Ntini and Paul Adams. Ntini, like Morkel these days, was quite expensive but he played in 101 Tests in all, 11 in England, where he took 43 wickets. At Lord's in 2003, he took five in each innings as South Africa enjoyed one of their most convincing victories. Adams, like Imran Tahir in 2012 was almost seen just as the token spinner. Someone to give the seamers a breather. He took only 17 wickets at 37 across two tours but he was a better bowler than these stats suggest. A left-armer with a delivery action which makes Murali or Malinga look conventional, he could hold up an end for hours and now he props up my SA-in-England XI.
To re-cap: Smith (*), G Kirsten, Gibbs, Kallis, De Villiers, Rhodes, Boucher (+), Pollock, Donald, Ntini, Adams.
On paper, they ought to make mincemeat of the England XI. However, like many of their real matches, they haven't always lived up to their promise, starting well and throwing away the last game. However, they always produce a thrilling Test series so let's hope we are served up another this summer.
He has really taken a shine to English bowler in the past two tours. 1083 runs in only nine Test matches is an impressive total. Back in 2003, consider he was only 22 and already the skipper of a formidable team. First game of the series and he goes and whacks 277, including a triple-century opening stand with Herschelle Gibbs. He scored 85 in the second innings, too. A week later, he disappoints, making a 'mere' 259 before being bowled by an even more youthful Jimmy Anderson. This time the Saffers won by an innings. Smith had a dismal run thereafter but what an amazing start! Five years later, he scored two more centuries, the best being a match-winning unbeaten 156 at Edgbaston.
By then his old partner Gary Kirsten had retired but he deserves selection for this team. He played on three tours to these shores. 1994 wasn't a great one. Four years on he was out five times in single figures yet is remembered for a steady 210 at Old Trafford which almost set up an innings victory. 2003 was his best tour, featuring two successive hundreds and a couple of 50s. Not a flair player but he was a fine opener, representing his country 101 times in Tests.
Herschelle Gibbs is renowned as a one-day stroke maker but he was also a decent first-class cricketer. In 2003, he aggregated almost 500 runs against England, including two big hundreds, topped by his 183 at The Oval where England managed to pull off a series-saving triumph. Much has been said about Jacques Kallis' poor record in England, but that only really applies to his batting. He now contemplates his fourth tour having scored 586 runs and taken 35 wickets at only 27 apiece. Headingley 2003 was the scene of his best statistics; 6-54 to round off a 191-run win. He's in the side as a bowling all-rounder!
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers only came here in 2008 but was typically successful as a specialist batsman, notching up 384 runs in the four Tests. AB's best knock was the 174 at Headingley where he shared a double-century stand with Ashwell Prince who he pips to a place in this fantasy side. At number six, I've gone for Jonty Rhodes, a stalwart of the 1990s. Not a flashy batsman, he did nonetheless contribute almost 500 runs, 117 of them coming in the Lord's triumph of 1998. Jonty could make the side on his fielding alone. I reckon he's one of the few players in memory who you'd watch in the covers rather than the batsman at the crease; he was so electrifying. How many times would you in the crowd, or the TV cameramen, pan to the boundary only to realise that Rhodes had pulled off a remarkable stop as the ball rocketed across the outfield?
It's no compensation for his enforced retirement the other week but Mark Boucher is the obvious choice as wicketkeeper. Like Kallis, this was his fourth tour of England, and had a similarly mediocre batting record. However, 60 catches, two stumpings, some useful late-order runs and that great attitude make him a shoo-in. Anyway, he days of Dave Richardson behind the stumps belong to a different era!
When it comes to fast bowling, present-day fans marvel at Steyn, Morkel and Philander. None make my team because between 1994 and 2008, South Africa could boast, in addition to Kallis, three all-time greats. At number eight, Shaun Pollock has an even better record than Kallis with the bat (351 runs at 44) and took 35 wickets at 25. His 6-39 at Trent Bridge nine summers ago should have been a match-winner but, of all people, Richard Kirtley eclipsed him that day. Nevertheless, Pollock was a superb cricketer. Allan Donald was an even faster, fearsome strike bowler, the aggression enhanced by his white sunblock strip, glowing like warpaint as he steamed in. Well versed in English conditions, he took 45 Test wickets here in only eight fixtures. There were five 'five-fors' amongst them, four in successive Tests in 1998. He claimed 5-32 at Lord's and bowled an exhausting 40 overs to take 6-88 in the Old Trafford game where Stewart and Croft defied everything Donald, Kallis and my other two bowlers could throw at them.
These two were Mukhaya Ntini and Paul Adams. Ntini, like Morkel these days, was quite expensive but he played in 101 Tests in all, 11 in England, where he took 43 wickets. At Lord's in 2003, he took five in each innings as South Africa enjoyed one of their most convincing victories. Adams, like Imran Tahir in 2012 was almost seen just as the token spinner. Someone to give the seamers a breather. He took only 17 wickets at 37 across two tours but he was a better bowler than these stats suggest. A left-armer with a delivery action which makes Murali or Malinga look conventional, he could hold up an end for hours and now he props up my SA-in-England XI.
To re-cap: Smith (*), G Kirsten, Gibbs, Kallis, De Villiers, Rhodes, Boucher (+), Pollock, Donald, Ntini, Adams.
On paper, they ought to make mincemeat of the England XI. However, like many of their real matches, they haven't always lived up to their promise, starting well and throwing away the last game. However, they always produce a thrilling Test series so let's hope we are served up another this summer.
Monday, 2 July 2012
South Africa name their squad for England tour
It's not often that the Australians comprise the warm-up act in an English summer but surely the current one-day series is secondary to the three-Test rubber involving the South Africans. The tourists announced their 15-man squad today and it's certainly a formidable one. Like England's, there's a lot of experience there, especially in the batting.
I'll return to the history between the two nations in a future blog, but what about the impending visitors, who open their tour at Taunton next week? South Africa currently stand second in the ICC rankings in all three formats and have been almost perennial runners-up since returning to international cricket twenty years ago. Australia, India and England have persisted in holding off their challenge but the three Tests coming up could finally yield them the number one status and shrug off that hurtful 'choker' tag which I don't think is deserved.
Much has been written about the golden era of India batting coming to an end yet the Saffers' squad is probably as mature as any in recent years. Only Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis are 35 or over, but at the other end of the scale, 21 year-old Marchant de Lange is the sole member under the age of 27. Overall, the average age is 30! The fifteen boast 720 Test appearances between them, yet more than half of that total is provided by just three men: Kallis, Boucher and Graeme Smith. Fitness permitting, the latter will play his 100th Test in a few weeks' time and has been captain seemingly forever. I mentioned the formidable batting line-up. AB De Villiers is vice-captain and deputy wicket-keeper, too, boasting 74 caps. Hashim Amla is now racing towards 30 years and 60 Test appearances. The top four occupy places in the ICC top ten and each claims a career average above 45, headed by the obscenely high 56.78 of Kallis.
However, what happens if one or more of these are injured? Alviro Petersen is a decent player but has represented hos country only 13 times in Tests. Jacques Rudolph has returned to the fold but he failed as an opener earlier this year. JP Duminy's star has waxed and waned but he has yet to truly shine in the five-day format. Boucher is not the batsman he once was, and Matt Prior is well ahead of him in the rankings.
On the bowling front, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are rightly held up as a superb seam attack, backed by Kallis and the inexperienced (at this level) spinners Robin Peterson and Imran Tahir. Marchant de Lange is very promising but Lonwabo Tsotsobe's regard is not supported by his Test figures of nine wickets in five matches at almost 50 apiece! Compared with England's solid all-round team, South Africa suddenly don't look quite so scary.
I'll return to the history between the two nations in a future blog, but what about the impending visitors, who open their tour at Taunton next week? South Africa currently stand second in the ICC rankings in all three formats and have been almost perennial runners-up since returning to international cricket twenty years ago. Australia, India and England have persisted in holding off their challenge but the three Tests coming up could finally yield them the number one status and shrug off that hurtful 'choker' tag which I don't think is deserved.
Much has been written about the golden era of India batting coming to an end yet the Saffers' squad is probably as mature as any in recent years. Only Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis are 35 or over, but at the other end of the scale, 21 year-old Marchant de Lange is the sole member under the age of 27. Overall, the average age is 30! The fifteen boast 720 Test appearances between them, yet more than half of that total is provided by just three men: Kallis, Boucher and Graeme Smith. Fitness permitting, the latter will play his 100th Test in a few weeks' time and has been captain seemingly forever. I mentioned the formidable batting line-up. AB De Villiers is vice-captain and deputy wicket-keeper, too, boasting 74 caps. Hashim Amla is now racing towards 30 years and 60 Test appearances. The top four occupy places in the ICC top ten and each claims a career average above 45, headed by the obscenely high 56.78 of Kallis.
However, what happens if one or more of these are injured? Alviro Petersen is a decent player but has represented hos country only 13 times in Tests. Jacques Rudolph has returned to the fold but he failed as an opener earlier this year. JP Duminy's star has waxed and waned but he has yet to truly shine in the five-day format. Boucher is not the batsman he once was, and Matt Prior is well ahead of him in the rankings.
On the bowling front, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are rightly held up as a superb seam attack, backed by Kallis and the inexperienced (at this level) spinners Robin Peterson and Imran Tahir. Marchant de Lange is very promising but Lonwabo Tsotsobe's regard is not supported by his Test figures of nine wickets in five matches at almost 50 apiece! Compared with England's solid all-round team, South Africa suddenly don't look quite so scary.
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