Anderson’s 1000, Amla’s epic 37

In a week of one T20 Blast round and the return of the County Championship, it was another personal milestone for Jimmy Anderson which stole the headlines. In Lancashire’s rain-hit draw against Kent, his best-ever 7-19 included first-class wicket number 1000, when a trademark outswinger induced an edge from Heino Kuhn to ‘keeper Vilas. It’s 14 years since Robert Croft reached the same mark and 16 since Andy Caddick became the previous seamer to do it. The bulk have come in England whites and, with Tim Murtagh still 150-odd behind at the age of 39 and, given the current supremacy of limited overs cricket, it may never happen again. 

Lancashire sit in second place behind Group 3 leaders Yorkshire, who beat Northamptonshire. Harry Brook followed his 50-ball 91 not out in the Blast with a second-innings 113 while Dom Bess’ nine wickets eclipsed opponent Simon Kerrigan’s seven. Sussex failed to beat Glamorgan and so remain at the bottom but the two Roses counties are certain of reaching the top league in the decisive phase. 

In Group 2, late-order rescue acts were the order of the day at Taunton. Somerset’s 8^th and 9^th wickets contributed 222 before Leicestershire’s eighth wicket partnership record was shattered by Harry Swindells (171 not out) and Ed Barnes (83 not out). A draw was inevitable, which leaves Somerset needing at least a draw to progress. Gloucestershire advanced to second by completing a 164-run victory over Middlesex. Matt Taylor and Dan Worrall each took five wickets to finish things off. 

Gloucester meet Hampshire next week, the winner guaranteed to reach the final six. Should they draw, both might do so if Somerset lose to Surrey. Hampshire should have beaten them yesterday having established a phenomenal first-innings lead of 416. Colin de Grandhomme compensated for his T20 duck by striking the week’s highest score of 174 not out. However, Hashim Amla, that legend of ODI strokeplay, batted all day to accumulate a mere 37.  Luckily his younger Surrey team-mates proved just as diligent and patient to frustrate Barker, Abbott et al. There were maidens galore but the final few wickets stubbornly refused to fall. 

Nottinghamshire currently sit pretty in both competitions after thumping Derbyshire by an innings. Not for the first time this season, Luke Fletcher was the pick of their attack, with match stats of 8-64. Warwickshire are 14 points adrift after losing two days to rain at Edgbaston against Durham. At least there was time for Rob Yates to make a ton. 

Matters are coming to a head next week in preparation for the delayed arrival of The Hundred. Whoopy-doo! 

Team of the Week: Yates (War), Hammond (Glo), Bracey (Glo +), Brook (Yor), De Grandhomme (Ham), Swindells (Lei), Bess (Yor), M Taylor (Glo), Fletcher (Not), Kerrigan (Nor), Anderson (Lan)

Red Roses Race ahead but Gloucestershire red-faced

Following that rotten week of rain, May decided to perk up at the end, and consequently all seven Championship fixtures produced a result. Lancashire extended their lead in Group 3 after a comprehensive drubbing of old foes Yorkshire at Old Trafford. Seamer Tom Bailey was at his meanest and Saqib Mahmood emerged with a second innings 5-47, while centuries from Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon helped rack up an unbeatable 509-9. Northamptonshire sit just six points behind Yorkshire thanks to a seven-wicket triumph over Sussex at Hove. Ben Sanderson’s 5-45 gave them a solid start but with Tom Haines (103) and skipper Ben Brown (95) giving their bowlers something to aim at, Sussex did at least take the game into a fourth day. 

It was topsy-turvy time in Group 2. New England Test recruit James Bracey was absent from Gloucestershire’s much improved side only for the county to suffer an innings defeat at the hands of Surrey. Hashim Amla’s brilliant 173 plus useful late-order runs from Rikki Clarke and Jamie Overton took the home team to a challenging 473, which Gloucester never looked like reaching in two attempts. Novice spinner Dan Moriarty impressed with a first-innings 6-60. 

Bottom side Leicestershire picked up a maiden victory for 2021 and in the process leapfrogged their Middlesex victims. In retrospect Peter Handscomb may regret not enforcing the follow-on because Leicestershire not only batted for the last day and a bit but somehow managed to record one of their largest ever run chases. A marvellously measured third wicket partnership of 243 between Aussie Marcus Harris (185) and captain Colin Ackermann (126 not out) was instrumental in this unlikely recovery. 

In Group 1, Worcestershire also finally got off the mark, defeating Derbyshire by an innings and 23. Two successive career-bests by 22 year-old pacer Dillon Pennington stood out, while Jack Haynes and Ed Barnard each struck scores of 90+.  Nottinghamshire’s recent good form was reversed at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire outscored them in each innings. Haseeb Hameed showed little to support his Test recall. He was outscored again by his opening partner Ben Slater but it was the home skipper Will Rhodes who looked the most accomplished run-maker. Danny Briggs’ fourth day 4-36 proved decisive at the conclusion. 

With both these counties snapping at their heels, Essex needed to take the sixteen-point win bonus at Chester-le-Street. This they achieved comfortably inside three days. Chris Rushworth and Ben Raine performed admirably for Durham but it was the Essex seamers Jamie Porter, Peter Siddle and Sam Cook, whose collective effort netted nineteen wickets, who stole the show. 

The champs meet second-place Notts this week for Group 1 bragging rights before the four-week Championship break while Somerset and Gloucestershire will consolidate their ‘top two’ status in Group 2 if they overcome Hampshire and Leicestershire, respectively. The Group 3 trio at the top, Lancs, Yorks and Northants must facy their chances against Glamorgan, Sussex and Kent but the results of the past week demonstrate that nothing can be taken for granted. 

Team of the Week: Rhodes (War), Haines (Sus), Amla (Sur), Bohannon (Lan), Harris (Lei), Ackermann(Lei), Brown (Sus +), Raine (Dur), Briggs (War), Pennington (Wor), Porter (Ess)

Northants Clinch One-run Thriller and Notts win at last

Headingley played host to an incredibly tight Group 3 encounter. It was only when, under grey skies and spitting rain, Yorkshire skipper Steven Patterson induced an edge from Northamptonshire’s Wayne Parnell to the ‘keeper with just two needed for victory. The South African international had already taken ten wickets but it was David Willey who was the home team’s best bowler. 

Lancashire lead the group by a single point by way of a five-wicket triumph over Sussex at Hove. Tom Bailey et al had brought the Red Roses back into the match before Alex Davies’ belligerent 73 and a more measured 91 not out from Keaton Jennings saw them home at a canter. Glamorgan welcomed Marnus Labuschagne back to Cardiff but it was a combination of David Lloyd’s spin and 39 year-old Michael Hogan’s second innings seam which proved decisive against bottom club Kent. Yet Hogan wasn’t the oldest man to record a five-for in the game; that achievement belonged to none other than Darren Stevens, the 46^th time he’s done it in first-class cricket. 

In Group 2, previous leaders Hampshire were unexpectedly trounced by Surrey by an innings at The Oval. Following a pair in the last fixture, Hashim Amla struck a commanding double-century and could have made more had he not retired hurt with a stiff neck on 215. Kemar Roach completed the rout with 8-40. Gloucestershire took control of the league beating Leicestershire by four wickets but only after playing second fiddle for three days. Tons from Hill and Evans, plus 7-58 by Chris Wright, left the home county playing catch-up but a rapid 224-run stand between Iain Cockbain and Tom Lace was the cornerstone of the successful 348-run chase. 

Somerset also held their nerve to repeat their comeback success against Middlesex of a few weeks ago. Steve Finn and Tim Murtagh bowled the visitors into contention but Craig Overton’s 5-34, the consistent Josh Davey’s six wickets, an assured debut by batsman Lewis Goldsworthy and patient 44 not out by Steven Davies saw Somerset home by four wickets. History was made, too, when Jack Brooks became the first Covid substitute, replacing Lewis Gregory who was forced to self-isolate when his girlfriend tested positive mid-match. 

Nottinghamshire claimed their first Championship win in three years and 31 matches and they did it in style by defeating neighbours Derbyshire by 310 runs. Openers Slater and Hameed were again in the runs but this week they had strong support with the ball in the hands of Luke Fletcher and Stuart Broad. Durham were equally emphatic in thumping Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street by an innings and 127. On day one, Ben Raine and Mark Wood had ripped out the Midlanders for a mere 87 then, after Alex Lees and Will Young had them wishing they could leave right now, it was the turn of Ben Carse and the - er – Evergreen Chris Rushworth to bowl them out a second time. 

The only fixture not to produce a result came at New Road where Essex failed to hammer (Harmer?) home their first innings dominance. Sir Alastair Cook and Mr Tom Westley each made three figures in a total of 568-8 declared but, forced to follow on, the Worcestershire batsmen knuckled down to defy Harmer, Sam Cook and co and agree a draw. 

Essex now sit in fifth but victory over Notts next week could see them back in the top three. Worcestershire will go top if they beat derby rivals Warwickshire at Edgbaston as Durham don’t play. In roup 2, Hampshire and Somerset meet for a chance to overhaul Gloucestershire who make the trip to Lord’s. Lancashire welcome a resurgent Glamorgan to Old Trafford while Yorkshire host winless Kent. 

Team of the Week: Slater (Not), Jennings (Lan), Vasconcelos (Nor +), Lloyd (Gla), Amla (Sur), Pope (Sur), Hill (Lei), Parnell (Nor), Raine (Dur), C Overton (Som), Roach (Sur)

The Hundred: 30 to 21

30: Anya Shrubsole

As a child, I was aware of Rachel Hayhoe-Flint and her fellow posh girls in skirts but it was only about ten years ago when women’s cricket broke through and turned pro. One of the biggest names to emerge from England’s youthful set-up was Anya Shrubsole, I suppose I was especially interested because she’s from Somerset but her medium-pace bowling was famed for its economy, especially in limited-overs, and she took 4-11 in the Ashes T20 finale  I watched in Cardiff five years ago. Her 6-46 effectively won England the World Cup in 2017.

29: Hashim Amla

There’s something almost supernatural watching a batsman oozing elegance, compiling runs by means of technical excellence, timing, finding the gaps, knowing when to play and when to leave. For several years, Hashim Amla seemed to epitomise such cricketing wizardry. He was close to international retirement when I saw him struggle for fluency against Afghanistan in last year’s World Cup at Cardiff but several years earlier he was probably the finest ODI and Test batsman in the world. I also found it immensely satisfying watching a devout Muslim succeeding in South Africa, a nation which for so long treated such people as 2nd-class citizens. 

28: John Snow

In the early 1970s, genuinely quick bowlers with attitude were usually associated with Australia or the West Indies. However, England had its own fiery fast man in John Snow. He was constantly in trouble with umpires and authorities and I remember in 1971 disliking him intensely for deliberately barging Gavaskar to the ground and slinging his bat towards him. However, in time I came to appreciate his bowling and in the back garden I would copy his bowling action more than anyone’s.

27: Craig Overton

Pace bowlers have traditionally struggled on the flat Taunton pitches but in the early Noughties along came not one but two extremely promising teenagers from North Devon: Craig and Jamie Overton. As twins they were pretty much indistinguishable and, based on the names printed on their shirts, I dubbed them ‘Coverton’ and ‘Joverton’. The former has proved himself the most consistent, in form and fitness, and so gets the nod over his twin, although both have been superb so far this year. Unlike Jamie, Craig has thankfully signed a new contract with Somerset. 

26: Malcolm Marshall

However, when it comes to high-class quicks, surely none can measure up to Malcolm Marshall. Like Snow, he was sub-six feet tall but could generate fearsome pace off even a short curving run-up, delivering perfect bouncers, yorkers, seam or swing apparently at will. His first-class career bowling average was an extraordinary 19.10 and barely 20 in Tests where he often bowled first-change for the West Indies. He also took over a thousand wickets for Hampshire and, 21 years after his tragic death from cancer, he is remembered as one of the greatest fast bowlers - ever. 

25: Zaheer Abbas

In the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the bespectacled Pakistani was probably the most prolific batsman in county cricket, and that includes the likes of Boycott, Richards and Lloyd. Glancing at the weekly averages in the newspaper, Zaheer Abbas would inevitably appear near the top, with few others able to beat his aggregate of runs and centuries. I saw him play for Gloucestershire only once, making just 8 in a 1981 Sunday League clash, but I’d love to have witnessed him in his Championship or Test pomp. With the red ball, I’d rate him above Miandad and Inzamam any day. 

24: Mike Procter

Coincidentally, Mike Procter also played in that 40-over game at Bath, top-scoring with 91, but he was a different kind of Gloucestershire legend. Robbed of international cricket throughout the ‘70s, the South African bestrode the county game like a colossus, definitely one of the best all-rounders of his generation. He struck 48 first-class hundreds and claimed well over 1,000 wickets, with a mix of off-spin and whirlwind pace delivered with a distinctive ‘wrong-foot’ chest-on action. I also loved his easy-going attitude at a time when the game was going through major changes. 

23: Geoff Boycott

When it comes to love-hate characters in cricket, Boycott was possibly the most Marmite of them all – and still is. He played up to the forthright, bloody-minded Yorkshire stereotype as player and commentator but on the pitch his prolific run-scoring simply had to be admired. His career aggregate of 48,426 first-class runs, most of them for his county, will surely never again be surpassed. I remember vividly when at Leeds in ’77 for England he struck that boundary through mid-on to register his 100^th ton, an emotional moment, and not just for Boycott himself. 

22: Saeed Anwar

One of the finest innings I remember witnessing live was the 102 completed by Saeed Anwar for the Pakistan tourists against Essex one warm August afternoon in 1996. The left-handed opener reeled off a series of crisp drives, cuts and pulls  to delight purists like me, and his strokeplay proved easy on the eye in countless Tests and ODIs during the Nineties, notably in his 146-ball 194 against India in ’97. He was also unusual in that his Test record is better outside Pakistan than at home. 

21: Aravinda de Silva

When Sri Lanka announced themselves as a major force on cricket’s global stage by winning the 1996 World Cup, Aravinda De Silva was the undisputed Man of the Match in the final, taking 3-42 and steering his side to victory with an unbeaten 107. I saw him score an unremarkable 42 at Lord’s in a one-off Test in 1991 but I always enjoyed watching him bat. I hadn’t realised he was shorter than me - after all, most of the Sri Lankan side back then were vertically-challenged – but it was Aravinda’s carefree approach to batting and ready smile which were his most endearing traits.

Mullaney and Patel put Notts in the driving seat

Wickets were a-tumbling on the first day, but a Bank Holiday weekend heatwave went some way to restoring the balance between bat and ball. In Division One, Nottinghamshire went seventeen points clear with a 203-run victory over Hampshire at Trent Bridge. The margin looks large on paper but Hashim Amla’s resistance on the final day made it hard work for the home side’s attack. Jake Ball finally induced a catch to Ross Taylor but Notts owed a great deal to captain Steven Mullaney’s 130 and a fine all-round performance by Samit Patel, whose spin was parsimonious in the extreme.

Somerset remain second despite managing only a draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Batsmen were very much in the ascendancy, and the visitors got off to a cracking start when Marcus Trescothick (100), Millfield OB George Bartlett (110, a debut century) and Tom Abell’s frustrating 99 took them past 400. However, Lancs went even better, thanks largely to Dane Vilas’ unbeaten 235, and Somerset simply batted out the fourth day. However, they had to do so without Tres, who broke a toe during his innings. I fear he could be out of action for a while and even his fantastic career is in danger of a premature end.

At one stage, it looked as if play wouldn’t extend beyond the second day at Chelmsford but even that was two more than they had in the reverse fixture last month. No fewer than 22 wickets fell on day one, including ducks for England captains past and present, Messrs Cook and Root. It was a wonderful world for Sam Cook who took 5-29 in the opening session but Yorkshire’s seamers struck back quickly. Perhaps the decisive blow on Saturday was made by Keighley teenager Harry Brook, who struck his inaugural first-class century, then Steven Patterson’s 6-40 did the rest.

At the Oval, Worcestershire piled on over 500 runs, led by Joe Clarke’s first decent score of the campaign, 156. Rory Burns had already made 192 in Surrey’s first innings and so by the Bank Holiday, their second was a gentle stroll in the sunshine.

Warwickshire retained control of Division Two by means of an eight-wicket triumph over Derbyshire at Edgbaston. Their guests did at least pass 300 on the first day, largely the result of Wayne Madsen’s 144. Jonathan Trott may have announced his retirement at the end of the season but on this game’s evidence he still has plenty of runs in him, contributing 111 in total. Jeetan Patel toiled for his ten-for, ably supported by 18 year-old medium-pacer Henry Brookes, who picked up eight.

Sussex advanced into second place by overcoming Middlesex in a close contest on the South Coast. Ollie Robinson’s 7-58 pinned the Londoners to just 230 then added 52 runs as Sussex established a healthy first-innings lead. Nick Gubbins and Dawid Malan each made three figures to keep them in the hunt but Ben Brown kept his head on the final afternoon and it was Robinson again who clouted James Harris for the winning boundary.

The county are clearly the latest outfit to benefit from the leadership and nous of Jason Gillespie, but Kent are pushing them hard following a six-wicket success in Cardiff. Nineteen wickets clattered in the opening three sessions, including six for the redoubtable Darren Stevens. Glamorgan’s Tim van Gugten responded with 7-42 but was less effective in the second innings. South African Heino Kuhn compiled 69 not out and Stevens hit the winning run.

In the other fixture, Durham snatched victory from the gaping jaws of defeat at Chester-le-Street. Leicestershire forced them to follow on but, despite Gavin Griffiths’ excellent 6-49, Durham gave themselves hope by accumulating 403, leaving Leicester a target of 148. Thanks to James Weighell’s 7-32 and a trio for Chris Rushworth, they fell 46 short. This triumph leaves Northamptonshire, who were in action (and losing) against the Pakistan tourists, bottom of the pile. Next week doesn’t look more positive as they visit table-toppers Warwickshire. The Channel derby between Kent and Sussex looks more tasty.

In the top tier, Nottinghamshire host Lancashire, Hampshire visit Somerset, Yorkshire pop down to Surrey while Essex need to get their breath back and their championship defence on track at Worcester before they get left behind.

Team of the Week: 

Mullaney (Not), Burns (Sur), Amla (Ham), Vilas (Lan), Clarke (Wor), Abell (Som), Patel (Not), Brown (Sus +), Siddle (Ess), Griffiths (Lei), Robinson (Sus)

2017 Cricket Team of the Year

2017 ended with all three cricketing formats intact following some memorable competitions and team performances. There was even some favourable headlines when Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry was to marry Morne Morkel – or didn’t I hear that correctly?!

Despite chucking out coach and national legend Anil Kumble, India remain the most consistent nation, ranked in the top three across all red- and whiteball format. However, their domination of Test cricket was the most notable, even if it was predicated on home series. Home advantage in the five-day game seems more evident than ever, and India’s only victory abroad came in neighbouring Sri Lanka back in the summer. In six matches between the two countries, India racked up at least 600 in their first innings, as skipper Virat Kohli, Dhawan, Pujara et al filled their boots. The forthcoming three-match rubber in South Africa will prove a more formidable challenge.

England advanced to third in the list, also on the back of summer wins on their swing-friendly pitches. The thumping they are currently receiving in Australia his winter proves that there is work to do before any consideration of regaining the ICC mace. Keeping Ben Stokes away from drinking establishments would be a start.

In ODIs, I enjoyed watching Pakistan and Bangladesh playing well in the Champions Trophy in Cardiff, before the former overcame India to win the final and a rare piece of silverware. However, South Africa displaced the Aussies at the top of the rankings despite losing again in England. New Zealand topped and tailed the year with satisfying series wins against the Aussies and West Indies. The highlights of Sri Lanka’s 2017 were probably their T20 successes in South Africa and Australia although Pakistan top the rankings.

In county cricket, newly-promoted Essex romped home to claim the Championship thanks largely to a shedload of wickets from Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter. Nottinghamshire, Perth Scorchers and the Mumbai Indians triumphed in the T20 Blast, Big Bash and IPL, respectively.

But who were the individuals who shone most brightly throughout the year? First: the batsmen. Nobody scored more first-class runs than South African Dean Elgar, who contributed valuable runs to Somerset’s early campaign as well as his country’s. Cheteshwar Pujara was the only other man to accumulate more than 2,000 runs with the red ball and averaged 67 in Tests. Kumar Sangakkara may have retired from Tests but he proved that age is just a number by stroking eight centuries for Surrey, ending his summer with a stupendous average of 106.50. 

In T20, the usual suspects Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and Kieron Pollard outscored the rest but in List A games, that man Kohli ruled the roost once more, adding 1,460 runs to his already formidable tally. He and his team-mate Rohit Sharma each notched six one-day hundreds with strike rates a smidgeon under 100. Pakistan’s Babar Azam scored four, but his strike rate was a relatively mediocre 79. Dhawan, Bairstow, Warner and, in a relatively leisurely year, AB De Villiers were the only high scorers taking more than a run a ball across the whole year.

After accepting the England Test captaincy, Joe Root wasn’t his usual self with the bat but, in addition to Kohli, the proven class of Hashim Amla, David Warner and Steve Smith was again demonstrated in spades across all cricket. The Aussie skipper has now averaged more than 70 in four consecutive calendar years and is no slouch in the fifty-over stuff, although he didn’t play an awful lot of it this year. He makes my Eleven for the third year in succession. Amla aggregated more than 3,000 runs in all cricket, which I don’t think anyone else could approach.

It wasn’t a vintage year for all-rounders. The evergreen spinner Jeetan Patel took more than 100 wickets in total but his batting was weaker than in previous years. T20 specialist Sunil Narine improved with the willow, adding 760 runs to his 62 wickets in 64 games. India’s Hardik Pandya is perhaps one for the future but, when it comes to the international stage, I have to select Shakib al-Hasan for my Team of the Year.

In 2016, England’s Bairstow took more catches behind the stumps than any other Test ‘keeper. Last year, he was a distant second behind South Africa’s Quintin de Kock, who also dismissed 25 in ODIs. MS Dhoni may have greyer hairs these days but he was still more than useful as a keeper-batsman in limited-overs cricket. His India Test successor Saha made 61 first-class dismissals and young West Indian Shai Hope had a breakthrough twelve months. Unlike most of his countrymen, he looks to be better suited to the longer formats and may well be one to watch in the coming years. De Villiers may still have the edge in T20 but De Kock has been the star stumpie of 2017.

Now for the bowlers:

It seems to me that bowlers, even more than the batsmen, are becoming increasingly specialised. For example, Malinda Pushpakumara has long been a prolific wicket-taker in Sri Lankan domestic cricket and in 2017 claimed a barely credible 115 first-class victims at only 15.50 apiece. However, he made little impact with the white ball. Similarly for Essex’s top bowlers Harmer and Porter, Australian Test spinner Nathan Lyon, Ravi Ashwin and England’s number one-ranked swing king James Anderson.

Meanwhile, Alzarri Joseph, the 21 year-old Antiguan seamer, played several Tests with little distinction, no T20s whatsoever, yet had a decent ODI return of 19 at 30.63. Hasan Ali enjoyed a storming Champions Trophy for Pakistan and ended the year with 91 wickets in ODIs and Twenty20. He was the top wicket-taker in 50-over internationals but Indian medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah boasted a superior total in all List A games, with 52.

One of last year’s picks, Kagiso Rabada, proved that 2016 was no flash in the pan. Last year he collected a round hundred wickets, including 57 in Tests for South Africa. He is making Steyn’s absence as attack leader less problematic. Another paceman, Marchant de Lange, hasn’t played for the Proteas for five years but was in excellent form for his various teams around the world. Mitchell Starc had injury problems so made little impact. However, that presented Josh Hazlewood with an opportunity to make a mark in Tests and ODIs. He certainly played his part in the Ashes clincher at Perth the other week.

My last pick for the 2017 XI is only 19 years old and, because he’s from Afghanistan, doesn’t play Test cricket – yet. Nonetheless he had a storming twelve months with the white ball. Rashid Khan was by some margin the supreme wicket-taker in T20, with 80, and his economy rate of 5.53 was just as extraordinary. While most of his 43 ODI victims were representing Associate nations he is a great talent and I hope he is allowed the chance to do his stuff against the leading teams in five-day cricket. Afghanistan have finally had Test status bestowed upon them but the likes of India and South Africa have yet to schedule matches against them, even over four days. Perhaps they’re too scared of Rashid!

In summary, here is my 2017 Team of the Year:-

Elgar (SA), Dhawan (Ind), Amla (SA), Kohli (Ind), Smith (Aus), De Kock (SA, +), Shakib al-Hasan (Ban), Hasan Ali (Pak), Rabada (SA), Bumrah (Ind), Rashid Khan (Afg).

My ‘squad replacements’ would be Warner (Aus), Sangakkara (SL), Jeetan Patel (NZ) and Anderson (Eng).

South Africa’s Consolation prize, but England’s Series

A fantastic series for England didn’t end in the way Trevor Baylis would have liked, in a 280-run defeat. One Cook cheerfully held aloft the Basil D’Oliviera Trophy while another marked his belated debut with a century. Nevertheless, it would have been a travesty had the tourists triumphed 3-0.

South Africa had been on a nine-match winless streak, including two draws in Bangladesh and that 3-0 hammering in India, so a first victory in over twelve months was especially welcome. Hashim Amla has rediscovered his mojo while, faced with an injury crisis, the selectors have polished some gems.

Thomas Bavuma played the whole series, notching his first Test century in the Cape Town runfest. Kagiso Rabada took more wickets than anybody, doubling his Test tally at Centurion alone. And Stephen Cook’s debut was rather more successful than his dad’s had been two decades ago. Somerset run machine Jimmy was out first ball when SA returned to the international fold, but his son clipped Anderson for a boundary en route for a well-deserved 115.

Yet we also learned that AB De Villiers is only human after all, collecting three consecutive ducks! Not an auspicious start to his Test captaincy, but it’s not deterring him from holding on to the role. It’s not like his opposite number has excelled; Alastair averaged a mediocre 23. Alex Hales was, as I suspected, a disaster as an opening partner, while I was disappointed at James Taylor’s failure to turn promising innings into hundreds.

Fortunately for England, runs flowed from the bats of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes. I am not convinced by the Durham hothead’s incredible onslaught at Newlands as a precursor of a Bothamesque career. He has flopped too often in the past. However, the legendary Sir Ian was hardly a master of consistency himself. It was nice to see the Yorkshire ‘keeper transferring his batting form into the Test arena, although his glovework still needs a bit of work. Joe Root, is just Joe Root, a phenomenon who can find runs on pitches which seem to defeat anybody else.

Whilst Rabada came good in the finale, ably supported by Morkel and Abbott, South Africa desperately missed Steyn and Philander. Instead, Stuart Broad produced his usual supreme spell from the stars to seal the series at Jo’burg and leave the home side floundering at 83 all out. Steven Finn did OK when fit, but Anderson, Moeen Ali and Woakes struggled.

So what comes next? South Africa welcome Australia next month, which could be an interesting contest. England must be very confident ahead of the visits of Sri Lanka in May, and Pakistan in July. I reckon the bowlers will improve in home conditions and - who knows? – a return to the top of the rankings is not beyond them. Eventually!

The Ginger Ninjas smash records in Cape Town

After England cruised to victory on a bowler-friendly pitch at Durban, could we really have anticipated such a run-fest at Newlands? 1,415 runs flowed, yet only 19 wickets fell across the whole five days. Reputations were forged or restored and new records were as relentless as the hot sunshine.

I’ve never been a fan of Ben Stokes. All that bristling aggression, often misplaced, doesn’t endear him to me. Thumping furniture, or anything else, should never be mistaken for ‘passion’. Nevertheless, not even I can be anything but awe-struck by his incredible innings of 258 in only 198 balls. As he said, when you feel in the zone, you may as well adopt the ‘see ball, hit ball’ approach. And, by golly, did he hit the ball. So many Test records fell by the wayside, not only national but global:-

• The highest innings by a number six
• The fastest 250 by anyone, even Sehwag or Gayle
• The most sixes by any Englishman (11)
• The fastest 150 and 200 by an English batsman

Pity poor Jonny Bairstow. He made a brilliant, unbeaten 150, his debut Test century, and nobody else will remember it. Fortunately the statistics won’t lie: he and Stokes now share the world best sixth wicket total of 399, and the second highest of any England partnership in history. Not only that, I have to delight in such an achievement by a pair of fellow redheads, the ‘ginger ninjas’!

Yet England didn’t win the match. Indeed, on the final afternoon, there was even a possibility that they could lose it. That South Africa came that close owes a huge amount to captain Hashim Amla. He’s been in such terrible form lately, so his patient double-hundred was simply perfect. De Villiers, Du Plessis, Morris (on his debut) and Temba Bavuma provided sterling support. The latter also smashed another welcome barrier, becoming the first black South African batsman to reach three figures. So much for quotas; he looked the real deal against fine bowlers like Anderson, Finn and Broad.

AB apart, the home team’s batting has been frail of late. However, it was their attack which looked more toothless this week, in the absence of Steyn, Philander and Abbott. Bring at least two of these three back from injury, and the series could yet be drawn, or even won. I doubt it, though. With Bairstow and Stokes on a high, and only Alex Hales looking out of place, it will take a lot to beat England once, let alone twice.

Will Amla’s resignation make a difference? Probably not, with the experience of AB stepping up for the remaining fixtures. Nevertheless, if the number three scores 201 and feels he can do better without the burden of captaincy, what sort of performance can SA expect from him at Jo’burg? If he dyes his hair ginger, too, Lara’s record must be in danger…..

2014 Overall Team of the Year

To complete my review of the year, I'll examine the performances across all three formats, and not restrict myself to international cricket.

have not been the most successful batsmen outside Twenty20 but David Warner has played himself into my good books. Having played for Australia in T20 before even playing a single first-class match, he has since become a vital cog in the Green Baggie wheel. With Chris Rogers playing the anchor role, Warner has been given free rein to play his strokes and in 2014 collated more than 2,000 runs, averaging over 63 in Tests and a T20 strike rate of 142. He has been paired with Hashim Amla of South Africa. He just oozes class and unflappability whatever the format, and made more than 2500 runs in total. He doesn't seem to have many weak points. Even in T20 his strike rate in 2014 was on a par with McCullum and Finch, superior even to that of Chris Gayle.

Kumar Sangakkara may now be 37 years old, but his batting just seems to improve with age. Top scorer in Tests and ODIs, who cares about T20? His Test average last year was 71, pushing his career figure to a mighty 58, ahead of Ponting, Lara and Tendulkar. A shoo-in at number three, and did I mention he keeps wicket better than Dhoni, too?

Virat Kohli is also starting to carry his 50-over talents across to proper cricket, even on the hard pitches of Australia. He was another of the 2,500-run select few, whose most noteworthy statistic was his ODI strike rate of 99.62! Somewhat less of a global phenomenon, Kane Williamson has shone in what was an excellent year for New Zealand. He averaged 62 in Tests and, with his county cricket exploits included, scored 1,558 first-class runs. Add his List A and T20 figures and the run tally extends towards 3,000. I really hope he shines at the World Cup.

Angelo Mathews also had a fantastic year, converting fifties into hundreds in Test matches, averaging 88 alongside 62 in ODIs. He has grown as a captain for Sri Lanka, too, a great example of a man who has not just fulfilled expectations but exceeded them. Steve Smith has perhaps enjoyed an even steeper rise to the top. With Michael Clarke sidelined by injury, Mike Hussey retired and the rest of the middle-order inconsistent, Smith has rescued Australia for much of the year. Five centuries and an average of 82 in Tests and a good record in ODIs, and by December he had also assumed the captaincy. A wonderful year for him!

While Warner, Williamson, Smith and Mathews have all bowled at international level, surely the best all-rounder in 2014 was Shakib-al-Hasan. Admittedly Bangladesh didn't always face the big boys but as a bowler who also averaged 47 with the bat in Tests he was again a class act. Narine (T20), Herath (Tests) and Mendis (ODIs) may have taken more wickets but in limited overs, few were consistently more economical than Shakib.

Mitch Johnson and Dale Steyn comprise my pace attack. The Aussie's main contribution was in Tests, the highlights coming in the 2013/14 Ashes series. He wasn't a prolific ODI wicket-taker but was surprisingly mean when it came to economy. Steyn is an amazingly consistent trouper over many years. 2014 may not have been his best year but his 39 Test scalps came at just 19.56 apiece and there were 22 ODI wickets at 26.54, too. A fearsome death bowler in T20, too, but not at the top of the tables. My last bowler is Jeetan Patel. The evergreen Kiwi has been a fantastic spinner for Warwickshire in recent years and his 2014 featured 133 wickets all told. His rare talent is to appear equally good in all three forms of cricket. Statistically maybe his best last year came in T20; in 28 games he took 35 wickets at a mere 15, and an economy rate of 5.86, better even than Saeed Ajmal and Malinga.

Just missing the cut were Joe Root, Brendon McCullum, Saeed Ajmal and AB de Villiers.

So my Eleven of 2014 stands as follows:-
Warner (Aust), Amla (SA), Sangakkara (SL, +), Kohli (Ind), Williamson (NZ), Smith (Aust), Mathews (SL *), Shakib al Hasan (Ban), Patel (War/NZ), Johnson (Aust), Steyn (SA).

Roll on 2015..!

Smith and Steyn Supreme

Two Contrasting Test matches ended in victories for the current big two, Australia and South Africa, but the stars were a veteran fast bowler and a debut captain.

At Centurion, the West Indies were thoroughly outplayed in all departments. Their only success was winning the toss, but that merely formed the prelude to a big innings for the home side. Ramdin's men enjoyed some moments when three successive wicket-maidens must have lifted their spirits. Enter AB de Villiers, he and the magnificent Hasham Amla produced a triple-century partnership and that was that.

When AB fell for 152, debutant Stiaan van Zyl came to the crease and contributed a brisk unbeaten hundred of his own. Brathwaite and Smith made a solid start but then the wickets began to tumble at regular intervals. Vernon Philander pitched in with four wickets and no batsman reached 40 as the visitors were bowled out for 201.

Following on, West Indies fared little better and once Leon Johnson was caught behind, that great warrior Dale Steyn produced one of those spells which few can cope with. He claimed 6-34 and the Proteas cruised to an innings victory.

Meanwhile there was another successful debutant at Brisbane. India looked good value, with Murali Vijay (144) and Ajinkya Rahane (81) building a promising score. However, 23 year-old Josh Hazelwood took five wickets to keep the Aussies in the mix. With Clarke injured again, in-form Steve Smith was given the captaincy but the pressure didn't show. He stroked his sixth Test century then the tail wagged vigorously. Mitch Johnson and Mitch Starc scored half-centuries to enjoy a 97-run lead.

Johnson proceeded to rip out the Indian middle-order and only Shikhtar Dhawan - in two instalments either side of an injury break - showed any resilience. Needing only 128 to win in four sessions, Ishant Sharma silenced the Gabba crowd early on but Chris Rogers crunched ten boundaries for his second 55 of the match. There were a few more flutters but an extra cover drive from Mitch Marsh ended proceedings to win by four wickets.

The cracked pitch probably contributed to a preponderance of catches. All of India's first innings victims were caught, six by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. He added three more in the second keeping to the pacemen.

So another encouraging display by Australia, and young Steve Smith's conversion from dodgy all-rounder to world-class batsman looks complete. Let's also hope that Hazelwood is now free of the stress fracture hoodoo that has affected so many young Aussie fast bowlers in recent years.

Team of the Week: Browne Breaks Records

After missing the previous week while in Tenerife (not much interest in cricket in an international hotel during the football World Cup!), it was back to the usual mixture of the quick and quirky at home and abroad. While Yorkshire's L-men Lyth and Leez produced another big opening stand, they can't compete with young Nick Browne. He became the first Essex batsman to strike two unbeaten centuries in the same match, and they happened to be the first senior three-figure scores of his career! Meanwhile, the rather more experienced Hashim Amla was taking two consecutive hundreds off the Sri Lankans in SA's ODI series, no mean feat.

No room for Nick Compton in the England set-up but he twice passed 80 for Somerset in the Championship draw with Middlesex, followed by a brisk 46 in today's T20 win over local rivals Gloucestershire. Leicestershire skipper Josh Cobb was also in the runs in both competitions; a 137 versus Kent and 60 in the T20 against Lancashire. Luke Wright's 158 for Sussex was the highest score of the week, albeit against Northamptonshire, so he edges out other middle-order centurions Will Gidman and Dawid Malan. Paul Stirling's week consisted of three half-centuries for Middlesex, which should help him nail down a solid place in the side.

My wicketkeeper is not David Bairstow, despite his rapid T20 hundred today. His Championship duck cancelled it out! Jos Buttler also made some swift T20 runs for Lancashire but my gloves go to Surrey skipper Gary Wilson who scored an unbeaten 97 as well as captaining the county to another big Championship win which puts them right in the promotion mix.

I was tempted to add Andrew Flintoff to the team after his five wickets in the biff-bang stuff. However, he barely batted and was somewhat fortunate to get those wickets. Chris Tremlett, on the other hand, combined a five-four and late-order 56 for Surrey, while Mitch Claydon trumped that with 5-77 and 77 for Kent against Leicestershire. Anthony Ireland's 5-22 was the pick of the short-format bowling performances in England but Sunil Narine's stupendous return of 4-1-3-0 for Guyana in the CPL opener takes the biscuit for economy, and for a change also keeps Saeed Ajmal out of the XI.

Finally, in comes Steve Magoffin. Such a consistent wicket-taker in the first-class game for Sussex, he claimed 5-12 and 3-28 in the county's demolition of Northants. Sorry, Freddie, must try considerably harder!

He wasn't as good as: Amla (SA), Browne (Ess), Compton (Som), Cobb (Leic), Wright (Sus), Stirling (Mid), Wilson (Sur, + *), Claydon (Kent), Ireland (Leic), Magoffin (Sus), Narine (Guy)

Somerset Safe, Derby Drop, Sibley Celebrates

After months of nervous glances at CricInfo scorecards, I can finally relax. There is another day to go but Derbyshire's abject submission to Chris Woakes and Keith Barker has ensured they join Surrey in the trapdoor and Somerset can breathe again and regroup for 2014. Their match against fellow strugglers Notts will now probably peter out into a draw, although James Hildreth's welcome century and a Nick Compton 87 at least prevented a third day embarrassment.

Surrey found their batting feet far too late today. Their superstars have failed them in the Championship this season but today the county's innings was all about a cricketing master and a novice. Against a good Yorkshire attack, Hashim Amla crunched 151 at almost a run a ball but even he was upstaged by Dominic Sibley. Who? Exactly. After scores of 10, 12 and 0, the 18 year-old from Epsom produced from his locker something special and became the youngest player ever to compile a Championship double-century. He's still there on 220 and, with a result unlikely and nothing to play for as a team, I'm sure Stephen Davies will let him bat on and maybe turn the double into a triple!

In Division Two, Essex following on against Hampshire meant that Northants had already secured promotion to Division One for the first time in ten years. They promptly collapsed against Worcestershire, for whom Moeen Ali demonstrated once more while he is a genuine contender for an England all-rounder slot by adding to his weight of 2013 runs final match impressive bowling figures of 9-107. Northants have had a fabulouos year in all formats but their nearest rivals Essex also capitulated at the death to Hampshire by an innings for whom recent signing from Kent, Matt Coles, ended the season with a ten-for. Better than the way he began it for the Lions with an early plane ticket home with fellow bad boy Ben Stokes.

So, well done to Somerset, Notts, Northants and Sibley, while I hope Derbyshire don't fall apart in the face of relegation. One summer in the big time should be a reminder that they can rise again. After their own annus horribilis, Leicestershire should also take notice of what Derby did last year and Northants this.

Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year

It may seem odd for everyone to want their say on the musings of one book but Wisden is an annual above all others. 150 not out says it all. Cricket's annual yellow bible traditionally selects five stars of the sport in the past year but differs from most other lists in that it excludes players who haven't previously been chosen.

The 2013 quintet are all deserving but the shock is that Jacques Kallis hadn't appeared before. Is it because of his previous failures in England? Is it because the selections tend to focus on the English domestic season? I suspect there is a bit of both but also the Saffer all-rounder's consistency over the years. He has career statistics few can match - ever - but while he has enjoyed many good years, there may often have been two or three other batsmen who have had a great one, and that is all that's needed to win the vote.

His partner in crime on the 2012 tour of these shores, Hashim Amla, certainly could be ignored no longer. He is a colossus of cricket across all formats, with only Michael Clarke (a 2010 choice) rivalling him on the international stage. The third South African on the list, Dale Steyn also somehow evaded Wisden's panel over the past decade but as the undisputed king of fast bowling, his achievements last year made him a shoo-in. Maybe Saeed Ajmal can count himself unlucky for a second year in succession, but the next time Pakistan come to England, a big haul of wickets will surely earn him a place amongst the five.

Marlon Samuels also benefited from a consistent run of high scores against England, along with a 260 against Bangladesh in November, and became the fourth overseas player in the list. Since 1997, the Wisden Five has featured a West Indian only once, when Ottis Gibson and Shiv Chanderpaul broke the drought in 2008, so congratulations to Marlon for flying the Caribbean flag.

The only English-qualified man this time is Nick Compton, whose prolific start to the 2012 summer also earned him an England call-up and Somerset fans like me a headache for the coming county campaign. The top bowler in the Championship, Graeme Onions didn't qualify because he was included three years ago, and the superb Alastair Cook appeared in 2012, his 'annus memorabilis'.

Are there any genuine world stars never to have been amongst Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year? Well, there is no Ganguly, no Sehwag and
neither Hussey brother (despite some prolific summers in the county game). On the other hand there have been some solid county pros whose runs and wickets in a particular season have delivered the Wisden vote if not a lengthy international career. Last year's Alan Richardson, Ian Austin (1999), Nigel Briers (1993) and Tim Munton (1995) spring to mind.

Three months into 2013, are there any obvious candidates for the 2014 Wisden? The Champions Trophy and Ashes will probably produce the leading candidates but Messrs Ashwin, De Villiers and Pujara must be in with a shout. On the basis of two days of the County Championship, maybe James Vince and Chris Jordan should also be dusting off their suits ready for next Spring!

One-Day Cricketers of 2012

Rangana Herath's prolific wicket-taking apart, Sri Lanka's apparent disdain for Test cricket was evident in the lack of their batsmen in the run-scoring league. However, they seemed to be playing ODIs non-stop, which explains why SL men dominate the end-of-year tables for the 50-over format.

Kumar Sangakkara may have topped the 10,000 Test run barrier recently but 2012 also saw him reach the same landmark for ODIs, and nobody scored more runs last year in this form of cricket, international or otherwise (1184 at 43.85). Team-mate Tillekeratne Dilshan was just behind him. Aussies played only half the number of one-dayers in the gold and green, but David Hussey, David Warner and George Bailey scored freely for club and country.

Virat Kohli smashed no fewer than five ODI hundreds in 2012, aggregating more than 1000 runs at an impressive average of 73 and close on a run a ball. He was third, too, on the T20I run leaderboard, making 444 runs at the equivalnet of eight an over. However, he wasn't such a successful globetrotting T20 franchise star in the mould of Chris Gayle, who compiled more than 1,500 runs around the world, comfortably ahead of the nearest challenger, Azhar Mahmood, the Pakistani all-rounder. The shift from 50 to 20 overs in the cricketing calendar was best illustrated by the T20 diary of Kieron Pollard. He notched up fifty matches, incorporating 1,041 runs at a strike rate of 163 plus a fair few wickets.

New Zealand pair Martin Guptill and Brendan McCullum looked feeble in this week's Test defeat but nobody scored more T20 international runs in 2012, each notching more than 450 at SRs of 130+. Shane Watson was the outstanding T20 all-rounder, claiming 406 runs and 17 wickets at a commendable economy rate for a fast-medium pacer.

South Africa played relatively few international one-day matches yet Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers still dominated the year's stats as well as opposition bowlers. Amla appeared in only 10 ODIs but scored 678 runs, while the redoubtable AB thrashed 645 whilst achieving the amazing double of 100+ average and strike rate. Chandimal may have scored more runs but I'd have AB as my one-day wicket-keeper any day of the week!

Don't forget that two of the finest Test batsmen of 2012 were also successful ODI performers. Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke combined captaincy with 699+ runs with healthy strike rates of around 80.

Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Pollard and Luke Wright are always useful members of a T20 side, but perhaps the most impressive ODI all-rounder was Thisara Perera. His 32 ODI wickets were augmented by 246 lower-order runs.

My decision not to consider T20 and List A cricket separately is supported by the fact that most bowlers who excelled at one format also did so at the other. Lasith Malinga took more wickets globally in both than anyone else. Curiously, while his his 10-over stints tend to be quite expensive, Malinga's T20 brilliance enshrines wicket-taking ability and economy, along with that enthusiasm which makes him such a valuable player, even with only four overs at his disposal. West Indian spinner Sunil Narine is another who starred in all one-day cricket. His economy rates of 3.63 (List A) and just 5.64 (T20) are phenomenal. Possibly the cricketer of 2011, Saeed Ajmal must also be a contender for the same unofficial accolade in 2012. He was amongst the top ten international wicket-takers in ALL three formats.

Englishmen worth noting include young spinner Danny Briggs and paceman Steve Finn who each harnessed strike and economy rates for county and country. Australia has plenty of bowlers but most seem to be on the treatmemt table. It was therefore amusing to see 40-something Brad Hogg play more than 50 T20 matches, in which he took 47 wickets, conceding barely a run a ball. Young fast bowler Mitch Starc looked a T20 man for the future, taking more than two wickets a game across the year, finishing with only four fewer wickets than Malinga in twelve fewer games. Clint McKay was particularly effective in the List A format.

So, for my combined List A/T20 team of the year, I'll go for:-

Gayle, Watson, Amla, Kohli, Sangakkara, De Villiers (+), Perera, Malinga, Finn, Narine, Saeed Ajmal (with Starc standing by in case Finn breaks down again!)

Team of the Summer

While the Olympian Team GB will win most awards come the end of 2012, there have also been some great cricketing performances across the domestic season in England. Here is my Team of 2012, encompassing all forms of cricket, from Tests to T20.

Joe Root is the name on everyone’s lips, with his Young Cricketer of the Year award and England call-up for the India tour. However, he won’t be opening for my team of the summer. Instead, I’ve plumped for Varun Chopra and Chris Nash. The Warwickshire batsman notched up another 1000+ first-class runs, including some big hundreds, and also averaged more than 50 in the CB40. He also represented the England Lions. The Sussex opener has also acquired more responsibility in recent years, providing runs in all competitions, long with his useful spinners in the one-day and T20 competitions. Only three men outscored him in the Friends Life tournament and he was the only batsman in the PCA’s Most Valuable Player top 10 for the County Championship.

Nick Compton made the headlines early on when rain prevented him from reaching the rare milestone of 1000 runs by the end of May. The Somerset number three then missed most of the summer with injury, returning to strike another unbeaten century in the final victory over Worcestershire. Nobody outscored him in first-class cricket, including some runs for the England Lions but he’s not in my XI for his dashing strike rate! Most of my team is selected for their county performances as there have been few consistent players on the international scene, especially England. Bell and Pietersen came close but I could hardly leave out Hashim Amla. He seems to be South Africa’s top scorer in every innings he plays, regardless of format, and that record-breaking 311 not out was the innings of the summer. Overseas stars Chris Rogers and Ramnesh Sarwan caught the eye for Middlesex and struggling Leicestershire, respectively, but my middle-order is completed by Jonny Bairstow. He may not have accumulated as many runs as he did in 2011 but fame didn’t seem to have affected his form for Yorkshire, and he held his own in an inconsistent England squad in Tests, ODIs and T20.

Veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens is such a reliable man for Kent, striking quick runs and taking medium-pace wickets. 2012 was no exception and nobody took more wickets than he did in CB40. However, the outstanding county performer was Somerset’s Peter Trego. Ahead of other sportsmen in the over-tattooed stakes, the Taunton favourite had to shoulder extra bowling duties due to a chronic injury list as well as bolster batting often deprived of Trescothick and Compton. Lesser men may have wilted but Trego simply had easily his best season ever, taking particular pleasure in reaching the 50-wicket milestone in the Championship. A true hero, but despite his globe-trotting T20 exploits, is unlikely to appear on England’s radar. Good, because he’s invaluable to Somerset!

Chris Read is another superb all-rounder. He may not bat until six or seven but he scored more than 1000 first-class runs for Nottinghamshire, many more than Hales, Taylor, Lumb and co. He remains an excellent wicketkeeper and an astute county captain to boot. Matt Prior and Hampshire’s Michael Bates came close, but it’s Prior’s England predecessor who gets the nod as gloveman.

With so much rain around, it was the groundstaff who deserve a special award! However, the pitches and conditions favoured the seamers in 2012. Reliable county pros like Murtagh, Richardson, Adams and Masters again took more than 50 Championship wickets each, as did Sussex’s much-travelled Aussie Stuart Magoffin. However, I could have selected almost any Warwickshire bowler. For me, Chris Wright narrowly shades Keith Barker for his all-format record but the two were often brilliant together, disguising the absence of Woakes and Rankin and playing a major role in the county’s success. Toby Roland-Jones was not on my horizon until mid-summer but the Middlesex seamer finished very strongly, taking 64 first-class wickets all season at under 20 apiece. Nevertheless, Graeme Onions takes the final place. The tall Durham paceman snared more first-class victims than anyone all summer, including a 9-64 against Notts, and impressed in the Third Test against the West Indies, too. He took 68 wickets for his county at a ridiculously good 14.30!

So no spinners! Well, as some small compensation, young Azeem Rafiq will have to settle for 12th man duty. He was particularly effective in T20 and his all-round performance against Essex in the last Championship match did more than anything to secure Yorkshire’s promotion. Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel and Monty Panesar just miss out.

The XI in summary: Chopra (Warks), Nash (Sussex), Compton (Somerset), Amla (S. Africa), Bairstow (Yorks/England), Read (Notts, capt and w/k), Trego (Somerset), Onions (Durham/England), Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Wright (Warks), Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, 12th man)

Cricketers of the Year

So the PCB are getting their knickers in a twist over the omission of Saeed Ajmal from the shortlist for ICC Cricketer of the Year? The world should not be surprised because, quite frankly, that is the sort of attitude that has held Pakistan back in the past decade. It may even have played a part, however indirect, in the flawed decision-making by Amir, Asif, Butt et al two years ago which left Pakistan shorn of their two best bowlers and captain-batsman.

Ironically it may have paved the way for spinner Saeed Ajmal to cement a permanent place in the side and go on to enjoy such a spectacular 2011 in all forms of international cricket. So should Ajmal be in the final four? If it was for the 2011 calendar year, absolutely no question; he would even be my favourite for the main prize. For the August-August period used by the ICC he still has a major claim to be considered at the final hurdle. But when you consider the four who DID make the respected selectors' shortlist, it becomes a harder job.

Hashim Amla has been in great form in ODIs especially but the record-breaking 'triple' against England a few months ago is indicative of the South African's ability in first-class cricket, too. Australia and Sri Lanka, like India, have played many more matches than South Africa. Michael Clarke and Kumar Sangakkara have been consistent performers in the Test and ODI arena, and the former has also borne the considerable burden of captaining a team desperate to rediscover former glories and the adoration of demanding fans. That's three batsmen, so surely Ajmal would be the first-choice bowler for his 70-odd wickets? Well, measure him up against Vernon Philander.

While no spring chicken, Philander broke on to the Test scene last November with 3-63 and 5-15 in that crazy Cape Town encounter against Australia. Actually Michael Clarke's 151 in the first innings showed why he is possibly a favourite for the ICC crown, despite falling LBW to Philander second time around. The seamer continued to grab wickets against the Aussies, then took 16 at only 13 against Sri Lanka and 21 at 15 in New Zealand. His best performance against England this summer came too late for consideration but 56 wickets at an average of only 16-odd in your first nine Tests is some achievement which probably just eclipses the stats of the Pakistani spinner.

I can't really argue against the chosen four as Test and overall cricketers of the year. It's just one of many yardsticks of success, along with player stats and the official rankings, which are based on performances over a longer period. In this particular 'vote', Ajmal may be unfortunate but he should still be recognised as the best spinner in the world. Perhaps Philander will come a cropper when he bowls on Asian pitches, maybe not. For now, he probably merits the chance to run for the main prize although I reckon Clarke or Amla are probably ahead of him and Sanga.

It will be interesting to see who wins the People's Choice, the shotrlist for which also includes Sanga and Philander. Indian supporters will surely vote for Sachin Tendulkar, whose year contained little of merit apart form that long-awaited 100th hundred. England fans may give the nod to James Anderson, who has made a case for the title of best swing bowler in the world, although Dale Steyn may contest that! Maybe the rest of the planet will prefer Jacques Kallis, the veteran all-rounder who remains the ultimate professional and supreme all-rounder in all cricketing formats. A fantastic player who would be this person's choice!

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!