South Africa true World Champions at last

Congratulations, South Africa! Three long decades after being welcomed back into the international sporting fold, the World Test Championship ha as it did for New Zealand a few years ago, provided the opportunity to break their duck in major ICC global trophies. Temba Bavuma’s joy at holding the WTC prize aloft was reflected in cricket fans not only in South Africa but in many other nations, too. 

The Apartheid era has unfortunately tainted the way I regard that country but the reborn ‘Rainbow Nation’, for all it faults, deserves some success on the cricket field. The reputation as ‘chokers’ has also weighed heavy on the shoulders of every team since 1999, as unfair as it is cruel. Nonetheless, only one previous cup final appearance in eighteen ODI and T20 tournaments is scant reward for their undoubted talent. Even England have won more semi-finals in that time. 

I think of all those great sides, both in white and red ball who tried and failed to take that extra step or two to claim the silverware. The WTC came too late for the likes of Allan Donald, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, AB De Villiers, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Daryll Cullinan, Lance Klusener et al. 

Many of those names competed in that infamous tied semi-final at Edgbaston almost exactly 26 years ago. So horribly close… But look at Australia’s players they faced that day: Gilchrist, both Waughs, Ponting, Lehmann, Warne, McGrath, Moody, Bevan,…. Some of the best one-day cricketers of a generation were in that line-up. yet Pollock and Donald took nine wickets to restrict the Aussies to 213.  In response, Shane Warne took 4-29 and it was only big hitting by the maligned Klusener which kept them in the hunt until the disastrous run-outs at the end. 

Who would have thought that a side featuring names like Mulder, Stubbs, Bedingham, Jansen and Ngidi would be the one to end all those years of hurt? It’s not as if South Africa play many Test matches. Money talks loudest, of course. England, Australia and India regularly play three- or five-game series which make enough cash to justify halting the conveyor belt of meaningless but fan-friendly T20 thrashes. Nobody else has the luxury of playing so much proper cricket, but the format of qualifying for the final over a two-year cycle gives others a chance. 

The all-powerful India didn’t make it, while England’s Bazball-blinkered set-up hasn’t lived up to the local media hype. SA had a dodgy start, losing 2-0 to New Zealand and the two-day Cape Town drubbing by India, leaving them needing to win their final six Tests to stand chance. This they achieved, whitewashing both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Bavuma has nine wins in his first ten as captain, and he earned his place as an excellent batsman. Indeed, his 144-run partnership with centurion Aiden Markram in the second innings at Lord’s was decisive at calming the nerves after two and a half days of tumbling wickets. 

David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne have caught my eye in the county game in recent years and they were at the wicket as the latter’s driven single off Starc carried them over the line. Not forgetting their world-class paceman Kagiso Rabada who had match figures of 9-110 to maintain an excellent record over the past two years. Just past his thirtieth birthday, he is bowling better than ever. 

It is a pity South Africa cannot immediately build upon this Test success. However, visits to Zimbabwe (1 Test) and India (only two) will launch their attempt to retain the WTC in 2027. Australia still lead the ICC Test rankings, with England and India not far behind. There’s still a fair way to go but, surviving relentless Aussie sledging at Lord’s suggests South Africa have little to fear. The Aussie fast bowlers are getting on a bit and England cannot rely on Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Harry Brook for ever. Kohli and Rohit have gone, so Test cricket is entering a new phase. Give South Africa a chance to be at its forefront.

Australia win India's World Cup!

In 2019, the ICC World Cup Final delivered as close a contest as you could possibly imagine, and it was the home nation, England, which managed to come out on top. Four years on, and it was the hosts who again were hot favourites. However, the Bollywood scriptwriters were absent and, instead of the predicted coronation of Rohit Sharma’s men as champions, the 120,000-odd spectators at Ahmedabad were stunned by a determined Australia, and the outstanding performance of Travis Head. 

On paper, this tournament was the property of the ICC but in practice it felt like it was owned by Narendra Modi, the autocratic Prime Minister of India, after whom the final’s magnificent stadium is named. As India cruised through the group stages unbeaten, he must have been convinced that the trophy was in his hands, too. 

India undoubtedly looked the most complete team. From skipper Rohit Sharma’s blistering starts down to Jasprit Bumrah’s ideosyncratic pace bowling, they had all bases covered. And they had Virat Kohli. 2023 hasn’t been a vintage year for the former captain but he retains the faith of a billion cricket fans, and with good reason. He was by far the leading scorer and when he was dismissed in the final for a mere 54, the silence was deafening. The ovation for his record-breaking fiftieth career ODI century, against New Zealand in the Mumbai semi-final reverberated around the globe, as befits such an imperious batter. 

Looking back, New Zealand were quickest out of the traps. They achieved some sort of revenge for the 2019 defeat by destroying England emphatically. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra each made tons and shared what was to prove the highest partnership of the tournament, an unbeaten 273. For the losers, it created an unwanted foundation for a disastrous defence of the trophy. However, Jos Buttler tried to spin it, there were no positives whatsoever, but more on that another time. 

The Black Caps eased to four successive wins against relatively unfancied opposition, while Australia fell to both India and South Africa. However, when the Aussies withstood a late Neesham onslaught to beat their neighbours thrillingly by five runs at Dharamsala, the tables were turning. Meanwhile, South Africa were also looking ominous. In his final World Cup, Quinton de Kock was scoring centuries for fun, and their 428-5 against Sri Lanka, featuring a trio of tons, was awe-inspiring. 

However, as the weeks passed, the top four seemed to be separating themselves from the rest. Going into the final few rounds, Kane Williamson’s side started to look vulnerable to a possible late charge from Pakistan and even Afghanistan, who won a lot of friends in this competition. Had it not been for Glenn Maxwell’s phenomenal one-legged slogfest, they would have finished the group with five victories and a slender chance of breaking into the knockouts. 

It didn’t happen, of course, and the perennial bridesmaids NZ and SA almost inevitably fell victims to India and Australia, respectively. They are not – repeat NOT – chokers. It’s just that they are never quite the best in the business. History has nowt to do with it. If it did, the West Indies would still be whupping everyone’s arses at the World Cup instead of sitting on their own arses in the Caribbean. 

Fans of T20 and the horrible Hundred have criticised the 50-over format for producing too few close contests in this World Cup. Yes, there have been some one-sided affairs but that happens in all tournaments in all sports. It’s just that many people have attention spans too short to appreciate a proper game of cricket. If I have a beef with the World Cup, it is the ten-team, all-plays-all group format, leaving only two knockout fixtures plus the final. Why not have twelve teams, two groups of six and a quarter-final stage? I know the answer, of course: money. Had this been adopted in 2023, India would have played a minimum of six games, not ten (assuming they qualified from their group), with the resulting reduction in revenue. Furthermore, the uncertainty of knockout cricket has the potential of an early upset. 

For fans like me, it would have the advantage of springing surprises, disrupting the status quo, which is anathema to the bodies who effectively run world cricket. Past tourneys have been memorable for the triumphs of Kenya, Ireland and the Netherlands. I love it when the likes of Bas de Leede and Ibrahim Zadran can demonstrate their talents on the highest stage. 

I have no idea what the ICC will do next time. However, I suspect that the 2027 affair will see a new batch of stars. Will the current cabal of mid-thirty-somethings still be around? Surely, the Aussies will need a new group of quicks to replace Pat Cummins and co. David Warner was leaping around the field like a spring chicken but he will be pushing forty. So will, for heaven’s sake, Virat Kohli! Somehow, I fancy that he will postpone his retirement, as did Tendulkar, for one last hurrah and a chance to hold this still significant trophy. I hope so. 

Mike’s Team of the Tournament:  De Kock (SA, +), Sharma (Ind), Ravindra (NZ), Kohli (Ind), Mitchell (NZ), Maxwell (Aus), Jadeja (Ind), Zampa (Aus), Shami (Ind), Bumrah (Ind), Coetzee (SA).

 

Honourable mentions: Warner (Aus), Ibrahim Zadran (Afg), Iyer (ind), Madushanka (SL) 

England Invincible!

When Zak Crawley nudged Jansen to the cover boundary, he did more than secure the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy. Apart from a satisfying return to personal form, he emphasised a new-found invincibility for England’s Test side, an incredible turnaround after a dreadful eighteen months. 

The clean sweep of people in new roles must have had an influence. I don’t know how much of the reversal of fortunes is down to current skipper Ben Stokes but I’m sure Brendon McCullum’s forceful personality and matching cricketing strategy is the key factor. Bizarrely, England’s ODI and T20 results have been poor while the transition to ‘Baz Ball’ in the Test arena has yielded incredible results. And the opposition nwas hardly weak and feeble, either. Since the defeats in Australia and the West Indies last winter, England polished off the strong New Zealand side, won the postponed decider against India then this month took the series against South Africa. 

Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Pope have thrived with the bat and whoever has been fit to bowl, from Matthew Potts to Ollie Robinson, has also done a great job. The Yorkshire batter just needs to stay off the golf course and focus instead on less dangerous leisure sports like tomb-stoning or helicopter skiing. 

Yes, Stokes’ insistence on trying to hit every ball for six has not always worked. His retirement from the 50-over game just means he adopts his ODI approach in first-class cricket. Why waste it?! Even without the captaincy, Joe Root is still Joe Root and then there are the timeless oldies, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad continually taking wickets and breaking records. 

In the past, viewers have become used to England throwing away opportunities or caving in under pressure. If the summer of 2022 is anything to go by, that’s all in the past. 

Concede 553 in the first innings? No problem: win by five wickets (vs NZ)

Bowled out for 141? No problem: win by five wickets (NZ)

First-innings deficit of 132? No problem: achieve highest ever run chase to win by seven wickets (India)

Lose first match of series by an innings? No problem: win the second by an innings

Lose two days to rain and royal death? No problem: polish off series-clinching triumph in two and a bit days and still have time for a few rounds of golf (not Bairstow, of course).

All quite extraordinary. But how will the switch to Twenty20 in Pakistan and Australia go? With mostly different players and captain, the Test side’s performances probably won’t affect things much too much, although a shared air of confidence may pervade the whole squad. If so, the rest of the world should again fear England at this winter’s World Cup.

England's youth selection pays off

It’s a touch over four years since Ben Stokes struck his record-breaking 258 at Newlands. 

Incredibly England almost contrived to lose that Test match, with AB De Villiers and another double-centurion Hashim Amla in fine form. But four years is a long time in international cricket. Stokes has hit the lows and highs and has transformed himself into a national treasure, while both Amla and AB have quit the Test arena.

England are one-day world champions and South Africa are a team in transition. Both are blooding youth, but it’s the tourists who have enjoyed crunching victories in the past few weeks, romping home by an innings at Port Elizabeth. Quinton de Kock and Vernon Phliander were instrumental in guiding the Proteas to an opening triumph straight after Christmas but the tide has turned dramatically.

At Cape Town the older brigade, led by Jimmy Anderson (7-63), Stokes and Denly who performed strongly, although Dom Sibley’s maiden century was crucial. This week, it was Ollie Pope who cemented his place in the side with his own inaugural hundred and the Player of the Match award. Yet none of England’s five under-25s have disgraced themselves. Sam Curran bowled well at times, Zak Crawley played himself in as Burns’ replacement and Dom Bess registered his first five-fer in international cricket. 

It’s kinda strange to think that Pope is only Surrey’s second-best wicketkeeper-batsman (behind Foakes) and last summer Bess struggled to hold down a first XI place at Somerset. Sometimes opportunities creep up on you and are there to be grasped and taking a 2-1 lead in South Africa is a mighty good line on a young player’s CV. With Wood and Stokes steaming in at 90mph, Jofra Archer and Anderson weren’t badly missed and a rare overseas Test series success looks highly probable.

No, the problems stand mainly with SA batting. Six innings completed, no scores of 300. So far the first-innings 284 at Centurion is their peak and De Kock’s 95 that day is the highest individual score. Maharaj’s world record-equalling 28 off Joe Root may have been a thrash in desperation but it speaks volumes that it has been arguably the most compelling piece of batsmanship South Africa have managed in the past month. With Faf du Plessis talking of stepping down, they need to improve. And fast.

2019 Review - My Team of the Year

As most years, 2019 experienced a range of cricket-related emotions. David Warner and Steve Smith returned from their bans to mixed reviews. Warner enjoyed some success in the IPLwhile his former Test captain swapped tears for a deaf ear to barracking England fans and almost single-handedly retained the Ashes for Australia. However, possibly the world’s only genuine world-class all-rounder, Shakib al-Hasan, ended this year in disgrace, suspended for at least a year for ‘failing to report corrupt approaches’. He really ought to have known better. 

Ben Stokes escaped a jail sentence and the dial on his luck-ometer remained fixed at eleven throughout the summer. His diving deflection and strokeplay carried England to an extraordinary World Cup Final triumph at Lord’s against a desperately unfortunate New Zealand, followed by a heroic unbeaten century of eight sixes and strike-farming to save the Headingley Test. India consolidated their number one Test ranking by winning all four Test series, including rubbers in Australia and the West Indies. After losing their inaugural Test in 2018, Afghanistan claimed their first wins, against Ireland and, more significantly, Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka struggled again and, despite retaining their T20 top-rank status, Pakistan had a nightmare year in all formats. Their only series success came against Sri Lanka in 50-over cricket in their long-awaited return to home-territory internationals. Let’s hope bringing internationals home after a decade will be the springboard to a change in fortunes.

South Africa were another side in transition. The Test team was slaughtered in India, but whitewashed Sri Lanka in ODIs before a lacklustre World Cup. They also suffered a whole host of international retirements, including Amla, Steyn, Duminy and Imran Tahir. At least they ended the calendar year with a first-class victory over England. Veterans Lasith Malinga and Shoaib Malik also bade farewell to ODIs this year, and Yuvraj Singh won’t be playing at the top level again. I wouldn’t mind betting, though, that they will continue to rake in the dollars and rupees in Twenty 20.

So who makes my team of the year? 

David Warner’s return to the fold reaped immediate rewards. Whilst not playing much 50-over cricket, he nonetheless accumulated more than 2,500 runs in all formats. KL Rahul was in superb white-ball form, nobody scored more List A runs than Aaron Finch and Mayank Agarwal struck some huge scores for India, but my other opener is Rohit Sharma. Outscoring even Virat Kohli in ODIs, he also scored three centuries in six Test innings, including two in the First Test against South Africa. 

His captain Virat Kohli’s place in my end-of-year Eleven is almost guaranteed. Will he ever suffer a loss of form? Skippering the world’s undisputed top Test nation hasn’t hurt him as a batsman, averaging 68 in eight Tests and achieving strike rates of 96 and 145 in ODI and T20 cricket, respectively. However, someone scored more than four times as many first-class runs as the Indian master in 2019. Not Smith, not Root, not Williamson. No, I’m talking about Marnus Labuschagne. I confess to being ignorant of him prior to his string of hundreds for Glamorgan in the early summer, but he proved to be no mere bully of Second Division county attacks. At first deputising for Steve Smith, he went on to out-score him, ending the year with three big Test hundreds in succession against Pakistan and New Zealand advancing him to four in the ICC rankings. Including his performances for Queensland he amassed 2,703 first-class runs in 2019, way ahead of anyone else, and his leg-spin gives him an extra dimension, too.

Faf du Plessis, Ross Taylor and even Dawid Malan had a commendable twelve-month period but for my final middle-order slot I’ve leaned towards Pakistan. Last year I narrowly plumped for Babar Azam in my XI. This time there can be no doubt he deserves his spot. In an under-performing Pakistan outfit he shone strong and bright. Not only was Azam the world’s top scorer in senior T20 cricket (1,607 runs) but he also completed 2019 in a red-ball purple patch, striking three tons and a 97 in four consecutive Tests. Aged just 25, he is young enough to develop into a truly world-class all-round batsman.

My wicketkeeper-batsman is an absolute shoo-in: Quinton de Kock. Carey, Paine, Hope and Buttler each had their moments but the South African left-hander was imperious in all forms of the game. He compiled more than 2,400 runs and 80 dismissals, boasting a three-figure strike rate in ODIs. AB De Villiers may have been missed in the World Cup but De Kock  maturing nicely into a formidable member of the Proteas and T20 gun for hire.

With Shakib al-Hasan in disgrace, genuine all-rounders were in short supply. Jason Holder is a big fish in a desperately diminished Caribbean pond where he contributes a few wickets and the occasional astonishing innings; more than half his 2019 Test runs were scored in that 202 not out against England at Bridgetown. With better team-mates around him, he would be in my team of the year but for sheer personality and big-match temperament I’ve plumped for Ben Stokes. His seam bowling may not have been world-class, and he didn’t really earn his millions for the Rajasthan Royals, but for promoting cricket to the UK front pages for the first time in yonks (probably since Stokes was up in court!) the Durham man gets the nod.

No bowlers were truly outstanding. Even in his mid-thirties, Peter Siddle remained one of the world’s most skilled seamers in the four-day game, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer led the England attack with brio, India’s Mohammed Shami was a deceptively swift and prolific swing bowler in ODIs and Kabiso Rabada was a consistent paceman for South Africa. The New Zealand seam attack of Boult, Southee, Wagner, Ferguson and Henry were always impressive as a unit, though not necessarily as individuals.

In their place I have selected the Aussie pair of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. At 26, the former is finally fit enough to fire on all cylinders on a regular basis, combining sheer pace with control. He’s not yet Glenn McGrath but he took 59 Test wickets at just over 20 apiece, which is world-class. The left-armer Starc is supposedly weaker in the Test arena but statistically he wasn’t far behind Cummins.

Spin bowling made less impact in 2019 so there were relatively few names in contention. Simon Harmer’s 99 first-class wickets, helping Essex to another County Championship, make him impossible to ignore. Naturally Rashid Khan entered my thinking, bowling Afghanistan to an historic Test victory over Bangladesh and doing his usual thing with the white ball. However, even he took fewer T20 wickets than Imran Tahir. The South African may be almost twice the age of Rashid but his 79 victims, allied to 30 in List A fixtures, established his place at cricket’s top table. And his joyful wheeling sprint celebrations after taking wickets at the World Cup always lifted the spirits. If sport can’t do that, what’s the point?!

In conclusion, here is my 2019 Team of the Year:-

Warner (Aus), R Sharma (Ind), Babar Azam (Pak), Kohli (Ind), Labuschagne (Aus), De Kock (SA +), Stokes (Eng), Starc (Aus), Harmer (SA), Imran Tahir (SA), Cummins (Aus)

My ‘squad replacements’ would be Rahul (Ind), Buttler (Eng), Rabada (SA), Mohammed Shami (Ind)

World Cup woes for South Africa

The 2019 Cricket World Cup has been an inevitable slow-burner. With all ten nations playing each other, it has taken three weeks to reach the stage where big names are facing the certainty of an early plane home, or even possibly an unexpected short-term contract with a county.

It hasn’t helped that so many fixtures have been so one-sided. My three live experiences at Cardiff have been enjoyable but really could have been enhanced by much closer encounters of a cricketing kind. New Zealand made short work of Sri Lanka, Roy, Buttler et al plastered the Bangladesh spinners for an array of sixes then Afghanistan predictably succumbed to South Africa.

Thank goodness for some surprises elsewhere. The West Indians’ pace dealt Pakistan an early blow, Bangladesh creamed an unassailable 330-6 off South Africa then even England’s cruise towards the semis hit a rock as Pakistan bounced back but still an exciting finale was lacking.

Rain caused some disappointing washouts and abandonments, particularly at Bristol, and robbed us of the intriguing India v New Zealand contest. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan fixture was also affected by the wet stuff, as well as the latter’s inability to shackle Rohit Sharma. However, when the British weather improved, so did the tournament, even if the big four threatened to run away with it. In just two days we had some crackers.

On the longest day at Headingley, England’s seemingly infallibility when batting second was severely dented by Sri Lanka. Nice to see Lasith Malinga finding some of his old magic as they triumphed by 20 runs. At Southampton the following day, Afghanistan’s spinners choked India so hard that their target was a distinctly manageable 225. They didn’t quite manage it, of course, thanks largely to the nous of Bumrah and Shami’s final over hat-trick, but we neutrals revelled in the excitement of a near-shock. Meanwhile, some lusty blows by Chris Gayle and an extraordinary century by Carlos Brathwaite so nearly rescued the Windies against the Black Caps, for whom Kane Williamson batted so beautifully.

With teams having just two or three matches left to play, the top four placings are not yet decided. As in the last World Cup, New Zealand have demonstrated their undoubted class slightly beneath the radar. At the time of writing they are unbeaten, as are Virat Kohli’s India and each muct surely reach the semi-finals. I wasn’t sure how Australia would fare in the aftermath of the Warner-Smith bans. However, they have been almost England-esque in their run accumulations, with David Warner and Aaron Finch striking some stunning scores, and are almost home and dry.

So what about England? With the exception of the Sri Lanka debacle, they have been passing 300 with impressive regularity. Sixes have come right down the order, and Eoin Morgan’s blitz against Afghanistan was particularly brutal. Intriguingly their final three games come against their three closest rivals, beginning with the Aussies, followed by India at Edgbaston and then NZ. I reckon they’ll win at least two of them but even so I can’t see the planets aligning so perfectly that one of the other pretenders such as Pakistan or even Bangladesh could disturb the status quo.

What have I learnt so far? Well, batsmen were always likely to be on top, but who would have predicted Shakib al-Hasan would have been top of the run charts? Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have been the most devastating bowling partnership as the short ball has proved the most effective bowling weapon of the tournament. Imran Tahir, Rashid Khan and co may yet have a say in proceedings but for certain neither SA nor Afghanistan will be raising the trophy this year. Faf du Plessis’ men have been out of sorts in most areas. Their batting line-up was already weaker than it’s been for a long time and their one true global star Hashim Amla, has scratched around for runs, even against the Afghans.

I’m sure there’ll be more twists and turns in the coming weeks but it looks likely that the ICC will get the top four it wanted, and that India-England final remains a distinct possibility.

Tourist TIme

I’m not sure why my flirtation with live Sunday League matches fizzled out. Perhaps it was A-Level pressure, ill-health or the growing problem of finding a parking space close to the County Ground. Yes, it’s not a twenty-first century phenomenon! Once my university years had passed and I plunged into the world of work in the early Eighties, priorities changed. Nor do I recall Dad ever badgering me to accompany him to Chelmsford, not even if Hampshire were the visitors.

Instead, thoughts turned to satisfying my cricket craving by means of the touring side’s annual fixture with Essex. Even in the Eighties, a tour lasted most of the summer incorporating three-dayers against the majority of counties, and Essex always seemed to be on the itinerary. A decade earlier, in 1976, the West Indies played all seventeen counties, the MCC, Minor Counties and Combined Universities, interweaved with five Tests and three ODIs. And current national management teams have the temerity to whine about their arduous schedules, poor dears. 

My first experience of a tour match occurred in 1984 when my favourites, the Windies, were over here. It was deep into June when I took annual leave to watch the final day’s play at Chelmsford, taking the train from Billericay and carrying my sandwiches, camera and diluted squash over the river, before shelling out £2.50 for my ticket (left). Well, I was earning £6K a year, so why not splash out?!

Essex’s successful period had generated enough income to fund ground improvements. Small sections of plastic seating had thankfully replaced the old planks, and I took my place in the non-members’ section at the River End. I was disappointed at the absence of the all-conquering Windies pace attack, with the exception of Joel Garner who, my diary records, bowled a three-over ‘”fiery spell” which did for Gooch and Hardie. Two unfamiliar fast bowlers were in action: Milton Small and a raw, gangly 21 year-old Courtney Walsh. Viv Richards had contributed a pleasing 60 but Fletcher and Pringle batted out for a draw.

In the ensuing seasons I beat the same path to see Australia (twice), New Zealand (twice), West Indies (twice more) and Pakistan. While inevitably many leading tourists were rested in between Test duties, I consider myself privileged to observe some of the world’s greatest cricketers just up the road in Chelmsford. There was an out-of-sorts Jeff Thomson struggling with no-balls, Imran Khan bowling Gooch for a duck, Wasim Akram in awesome all-rounder mode, Ian Bishop taking 5-49, Curtly Ambrose delivering a succession of wince-inducing rib-ticklers at Nasser Hussain, Matthew Hayden making a superb diving catch in front of me and Sir Richard Hadlee making a brief substitute appearance on the outfield the day after his knighthood was announced. He didn’t bowl but in other years I did observe side-on the legendary Malcolm Marshall and Waqar Younis (below). 

In August 1991 Dad was with me when, at the end of a predictable draw, I joined others on the pitch to look up to the players’ balcony where, after bowling regulation, time-filling off-breaks, stood King Viv leaning on the railings, full spirit glass in one hand, surveying his realm. It was the last time he played in a West Indian tour match against a county and a matter of days before his emotional farewell to Test cricket.

Despite my policy of aiming to attend, weather permitting, the middle day, I usually seemed to be denied the best of the visiting batsmen. Twice Gordon Greenidge chose to flay the Essex bowlers on the days I missed, and I didn’t see a lot of Martin Crowe, David Boon or Desmond Haynes other than in a slip cordon. Funnily enough, the only centuries I witnessed were by home players like Brian Hardie, Graham Gooch and John Stephenson before, one warm sunny afternoon in 1996, Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar broke the duck with an exhilarating 102, full of crisp boundaries. My final trip to Chelmsford came two years later but I very nearly saw no cricket at all. The fire brigade was needed to help drain the flooded outfield before play was declared possible and I could see South Africa’s Shaun Pollock take three wickets and Jonty Rhodes demonstrate his fielding prowess in the covers.

The only leading nation missing from my list was India. Fortunately I was able to rectify this omission many years later in 2011. By now a resident of Bridgwater, I nipped down to Taunton to watch a full-strength Indian side, weary from the IPL, desperately seeking first-class match practice. The England skipper Andrew Strauss was similarly out of touch and, in extraordinary circumstances, given special dispensation by the ECB, his Middlesex club and Somerset to bat in this game. He actually went on to score a century but, like most of those in the County Ground, I was more interested in seeing the likes of Gambhir, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh in the flesh. Above all, I grasped the opportunity of seeing Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in partnership, albeit not for very long. An ambition realised (left).

                            

But what about joining a touring party myself? I’ve certainly never craved being a member of the Barmy Army. I couldn’t imagine anything worse! However, my bucket list dream of watching the West Indies play – against anybody, I’m not fussy – at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium on Antigua will almost certainly remain unfulfilled. Instead I retain my fond memories of hours spent under Essex skies watching the best in the world just eight miles from home, a privilege now rarely permitted in this age of concertina-ed schedules where money-spinning internationals inevitably take precedence.  Kids today don’t know what they’re missing…

Sri Lanka and England keep the Records Flowing

A few weeks ago I read with great interest Andy Zaltzman’s article for BBC Sport, analysing data proving that in Test cricket fast bowlers have been fighting back against the bat’s dominance. Innings of 500+ are becoming thankfully rarer and we’re seeing more sides bowled out. Kabiso Rabada has been a consistent performer in the past two years, averaging little more than 20, and Kemar Roach was irresistible against England.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that this comes alongside higher and higher ODI scores. When at Bridgetown yesterday the Windies fashioned an innings of 360-8, I bet nobody batted an eye nor wrote off England’s chances of hunting down such a huge target. After a lethargic start, Chris Gayle – now resembling more a genial Kingston tourist boat skipper than a sportsman - clubbed 12 sixes (out of a record 23 in the entire innings) in his 24^th ODI century, but Jason Roy and Joe Root each reached three figures in pulling, cutting, driving and slog-sweeping their way to victory with more than an over to spare.

There have been only two higher successful run chases in ODI history, both achieved by South Africa. In October 2016 at Durban, Australia won the toss and duly savaged the home attack. Dale Steyn’s ten overs went for a remarkable 96 runs as Warner and Smith made hay. However, David Miller’s unbeaten 118 ensured the 372 target was reached without too much hassle, albeit off a second-string bowling line-up. It’s now thirteen years since the grand-daddy of them all, when at Jo’burg, Herschelle Gibbs et al squeaked home with 438-9. It’s an extraordinary record but one which will surely be beaten in the next year or two. I wouldn’t bet against England doing it at the next World Cup.

However, the most intriguing record this month was Sri Lanka’s astonishing comeback, again at Durban but this time at the expense of their hosts. Bowlers had again been on top during the first three days and, when Steyn and friends had extended that dominance to have Sri Lanka on the ropes at 226-9, a South Africa victory looked assured. Kusal Perera, batting at number five, looked set to be stranded not far short of his hundred.

Most teams would probably have adopted T20 mode and gone for broke; if we’re gonna lose, might as well go out in a blaze of glory. Not Sri Lanka. New batsman Vishra Fernando played it sensibly while at the other end Perera marshalled the strike brilliantly. Not even a world-class seam attack could break the stand, and Perera steered his side to triumph by punishing the poor ball (five sixes) and keeping a calm head in a tenth-wicket partnership of 78. Such a stand was not only the highest ever in a successful chase in a Test, but in any first-class match. The previous best had come way back in 1936.

Perera’s innings of 153 not out must be one of the best performances of all time, especially in the context of current bowling pre-eminence. This is one record which could endure for many years to come.

Stokes, Ali and England's Golden Trio Triumph

This summer’s Test series has been a topsy-turvy rollercoaster ride so far. On paper, England and South Africa look well-matched, but each match has been very one-sided. After their Trent Bridge drubbing, Joe Root’s men turned the tables again to record a 239-run victory back in London and ensure they can’t lose the series.

While Cook, Root and Bairstow helped themselves to fifties, Ben Stokes at last demonstrated that he can apply himself to proper Test cricket batting, and Moeen Ali incredibly clinched the game with his first ever hat-trick, much of the talk will be about the debutants.

I can’t remember when England last presented first caps to three players in the same match. I’m not convinced by Dawid Malan’s credentials as a Test batsman but of course he plays for one of the London counties, which undeniably helps. Like team-mate Eoin Morgan, he is more suited to limited-overs cricket. However, his performances for the Lions can’t be ignored and so probably deserved an opportunity.

Tom Westley has in the past few years excelled in an Essex side brimming with young talent battling to follow in Alastair Cook’s footsteps. At the age of 28, he has had to bide his time. Like Malan, he averages around 37-38 and owes his call-up to a century in the Lions cause, in his case an unbeaten 106 against the South Africans a month ago. An assured Test debut including 84 runs should mean he keeps the likes of Ballance and Compton out of the team for a bit longer.

Toby Roland-Jones, of course, made a name for himself in Middlesex’s march to the Championship last summer, and in particular that final-day hat-trick to deprive Somerset of their rightful title. Naturally, he received the nod from the friendly Lord’s selectors but it’s taken another year to finally get on the pitch, thank to Mark Wood’s injury. His late-order batting is solid enough, but his career tally of 347 first-class wickets at only 25 is impossible to ignore any longer. And how he stood up to be counted! His first-innings five-for, including a top-four featuring Amla and De Kock, finished South Africa’s chances of competing effectively in this Third Test. Should either Anderson or Broad pack in any time soon, on this evidence, TR-J can perform the role of swing and seamer admirably. The only problem is that he is not far short of 30 himself.

But back to The Oval. Moeen Ali becoming the first England spinner to claim a hat-trick since 1938 wasn’t in the script. That Ben Stokes should heave four Maharaj deliveries into the stands was less surprising. The stats say that the Durham all-rounder became the first English player to strike three consecutive sixes since Wally Hammond in the 1930s. Hammond?! He is a genuine all-time great but not renowned for six-hitting in Test matches, what with having to bat with a plank of wood and boundaries defined by the position of spectators’ seats not sponsors’ adverts.

People have rightly questioned the ability of Stokes, Ali, Bairstow et al to bat to the situation and not merely play their natural attacking game. Bearded Ben answered his critics in fine style, even holding back those sixes until his century was in sight and nine wickets were down. Now those same criticisms are being made of the South Africans. At the very least, Faf du Plessis needs to learn when not to shoulder arms! At least we know Dean Elgar has the strength and ability to make runs in the second innings. The prolific pre-series practice for Somerset has reaped dividends.

England should now progress to winning the D’Oliveira Trophy, but if they lose the toss and bowl first, their recent record is very poor. If Joe Root can be as consistently good at guessing the side of the coin correctly as he is at accumulating runs, England will do very well indeed.

Aussies Suffer, Windies Thrive

It’s been a refreshingly mixed week of Test cricket. First we had the West Indies gaining a consolation victory over Pakistan, and then the Aussies came a cropper at the WACA. After Bangladesh gave England a bloody nose last week, the sport is looking encouragingly open again.

In the UAE desert, Pakistan may have won the series, but Jason Holder’s visitors did at least show signs that they are not mere T20 biffers and bashers, but a team capable of competing with the world number ones over four or five days.

I can’t believe Devendra Bishoo is already 31 years old. The Guyanan leggie has had a topsy-turvy career, and this latest series was in the same vein. Abu Dhabi was a trial, but that second innings 8-49 in Dubai so early set up a brilliant victory. Two weeks later, another seven wickets did contribute to success in Sharjah.

Skipper Holder also played his part, but it was Kraigg Brathwaite who garnered the headlines. A Caribbean rarity, a batsman who has never played a single senior T20 match, he boosted his Test average considerably by carrying his bat for 142 then making an unbeaten 60 to help see his side home. I was amazed to discover that no other opener had ever finished both innings of a Test not out. How has that never happened before?!

When neither of your senior batsmen like Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels boast an average above 40, you know you have problems in the runs department. The pacemen aren’t exactly prolific in the wickets league either. Never mind, a win is a win. If only the Windies didn’t have the whole winter without a chance on building on the confidence this result should have given them.

Meanwhile, the tasty encounter between Australia and South Africa has served up a spicy first course in Perth, However, the home side must be feeling rather sick. After being stuffed 3-0 in India, now it’s the turn of a sub-par South Africa to extend the Aussies’ loss sequence to four.

There was nothing between them on first innings totals, yet neither reached 250. Faf du Plessis opted to bat, and SA slumped to 32-4. Only Bavuma and de Kock rescued them from a disaster. The Aussie reply was even more lop-sided. Openers Warner and Shaun Marsh put on 158, but the rest of the team collapsed for 86. The absent AB de Villiers wasn’t missed second time around as Elgar and Duminy shared a third-wicket partnership of 250 en route to a 500+ total. Even without the seriously injured Dale Steyn, South Africa couldn’t fail to dismiss Australia on the final day.

21 year-old quick Kagiso Rabada stepped up to the plate with a five-for, but the patient 40-over spin workload of Keshav Maharaj also kept up the pressure. Only Khawaja and Nevil passed 50 and South Africa’s third consecutive WACA win was duly achieved. Not since 1988 have the Aussies lost the first of their summer Tests and they have some work to do in Hobart.

Across the Tasman Sea, it will be interesting to see whether New Zealand can give Pakistan a challenge on pitches less conducive to spin. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are enjoying a predictably easy game against Zimbabwe and then there’s a small matter of England’s visit to India. I don’t think it’s going to be as straightforward for Kohli and co as the British media are making out.

B-Mac goes but AB and CA come good

So farewell Brendon McCullum, at least as far as Test cricket is concerned. He hasn’t necessarily been a red-all legend; most of his greatest achievements have come in limited-overs. And yet he retires from the five-day format as the man with New Zealand’s highest score (302), the most number of Test sixes of anyone in history (107) and, courtesy of his first innings onslaught at Christchurch, the fastest ever Test century, eclipsing Viv Richards’ 30-year milestone of 56 balls.

Sadly for his Black Caps side, there was to be no winning finale to his 101-cap career. Australia are on a ruthless unbeaten run at the moment, winning seven and drawing two of their last nine matches en route to the number one world ranking.

New Zealand’ s 2015 progress may have run into a green-yellow brick wall, but for the Aussies, this was another excellent couple of performances. McCullum apart, this short series was all about the Australian top order making hay with the bat. Warner flopped but Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges and skipper Steve Smith each made hundreds.

At the age of 36, Voges can claim a career average of 95.5 from his 15 Tests. Since the start of December, he has racked up 684 runs in just five outings, including two double-centuries and dismissed only twice. Sir Don who?! But can he and his colleagues repeat this kind of form in Sri Lanka this summer? Probably. They then host South Africa and Pakistan which will probably cement their position at the top, especially given the way the Proteas played at home to England.

As for the English, they went from Test heroes to one-day zeroes in just a few weeks. Becoming only the second side ever to lose a five-match ODI rubber from a 2-0 lead wasn’t anything to shout about. De Kock struck two centuries but the familiar De Villiers/Amla axis polished off the decider.

And yet the ace batsman of the series was Alex Hales, the man who I always descrie as grossly over-rated! Well, I haven’t changed my mind with regard to Test cricket, but he passed 50 in each of the five innings in South Africa. Joe Root matched his two hundreds but his genuine world-class is well-known. Before his embarrassing fumblings a week or so later, Reece Topley emerged as the top bowler from either side, which is encouraging for England’s one-day summer.

The T20 contests were not really significant, regardless of the forthcoming World Cup, but SA will be delighted to come out on top. Eoin Morgan did nothing to enhance his shaky international reputation and none of his bowlers showed much consistency. But this Twenty20; one all-out attack from a De Villiers or Morris can transform an economy rate from 6 to 10 in a matter of minutes. This is not really a proper World Cup warm-up but it raises more questions than answers for England.

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…..

India Ravi-ge South Africa

Before the start of the Freedom Trophy series, you could be forgiven for predicting a reasonably close encounter. South Africa were the number one Test nation but India’s home advantage would inevitably result in spinners’ wickets. In the end, reputation counted for nothing and the Indian slow bowlers enjoyed extraordinary success.

I can’t recall a series of any length when two bowlers each took more than 20 wickets at under 12 apiece. Ravi Ashwin wasn’t even content with 31 scalps at 11.12; he even weighed in with 56 runs first innings runs at Delhi – more than the South African top seven (AB excepted) combined! Ravi Jadeja was also brilliant, and the visiting batsmen (AB excepted) were totally outplayed throughout.

Only seven days’ play was possible from the first three Tests, four lost because of rain, four lost because the Saffers’ batting (AB excepted) was so frail. Then at Delhi, Indian fans were treated not only to five days’ cricket but also their side’s record margin of victory in runs terms in history!

I had become concerned at the future of Test cricket with so many abbreviated games. Batsmen thrashing the ball in T20 mode, giving away their wickets, does not make for interesting Test matches. A bit of short-term entertainment perhaps but leaves you wanting more. That’s what made the Delhi climax so unusual.

When perusing the scorecard I thought I must have accidentally come across stats from the 1920s not 2015. 143 in 143.1 overs?! The top two spinners bowling 95 overs for 87 runs??!! AB De Villiers, of course, top-scored in both South Africa’s innings and in that epic defensive effort broke the record of the most balls faced in a sub-50 Test innings. For a player so brilliant in limited overs cricket – he scored those three hundreds in the ODI series, remember – this was an amazing statistic. And they so nearly survived the marathon spin attack.

Yet amidst the carnage when SA batted, Ajinkya Rahane conjured up an unbeaten century to set up the declaration. That was only the second three-figure score of the whole series, and Rahane had also scored the first. Credit to Kyle Abbott, too, claiming a rare five-wicket haul for the pace brigade. Dale Steyn may have been largely missing from action but he wouldn’t have made the slightest difference to the overall result.

A great series for India, an even better one for slow bowling but a major headache for South Africa who must now dust themselves down and recover some poise before meeting England. I wouldn’t rule out a few surprises but I’d lay odds that it won’t be Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid deciding the result!

AB vs JB: who is the greatest of them all?

Putting aside today’s rare blemish at the hands of Indian spinners, AB De Villiers seems unable to do little wrong these days. 100 Tests, nearly 8,000 runs and an average of 52 tells a formidable story. Yet much of his reputation rests on his even more amazing one-day record.

Again, the stats tell much of the story: 195 ODIs, 8,403 runs, an average of 54 and, even better, a strike rate of more than a run a ball. Extraordinary! And he seems to improve with age. The loss of Kallis and Smith has left the South African batting weaker but now everything seems to be relying on AB and his partner in class, Hashim Amla. In the current series with India, it’s AB whose wicket is the one they want. Following three successive one-day centuries, he battled to a couple of ‘halfs’ in the opening Tests while all around him collapsed to Ashwin, Jadeja et al so that reputation is well deserved.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler’s woes were conveniently forgotten after his latest 50-over blast against Pakistan, the third time he has broken England’s fastest hundred record in recent years. Poor Jason Roy. Strikes a maiden international century and few seem to be interested! As a wicketkeeper, comparisons with De Villiers are inevitable, but utterly ridiculous. Unless you consider the Twenty20 format….

AB’s T20 international career is his Achilles heel but when you include all the IPL and other biff-bash stuff, his century count and strike rate look world class. But so do those of Buttler. A top score of 72 not out is hardly earth-shattering, but an SR of 144 is one of the best in cricket. As a finisher down the order, few are superior to Jos. I remember seeing him a few times at Taunton as a teenager or 20 year-old. While Kieswetter and Trescothick peppered the legside boundary up the order, young Jos could improvise with innovative shots like the ‘inside out’ over extra cover for a rapid 30 or 40 not out.

Trouble is, Buttler has yet to learn the ropes in first-class cricket. That’s why Kieswetter was preferred to him as Somerset’s regular ‘keeper and why Buttler consequently jumped ship to Lancashire, a so-called ‘bigger’ county. An average in the longer form of 34 is satisfactory but way short of AB’s. Yet AB doesn’t thrash the ball around in Test matches. He says he learned how not to get out several years ago, not taking unnecessary risks.

Renowned strokemakers like Sehwag and Gilchrist retired with Test match strike rates in the 80s, yet AB’s is a relatively sedate 55. Buttler is a creation of the modern era; a brilliant batsman capable of thinking on his feet and with supreme timing able to find the boundary almost at will. AB is, too, but has the added advantage of knowing not only his considerable strengths but also the requirements of the different formats, especially the number one: five-day cricket.

Jos Buttler is just 25, six years younger than the South African maestro, and there is still time to learn.his first-class trade in county cricket to become a Test superstar. The thing is: does she want to or need to, given that the rewards of the sport lie mainly in limited overs, where his talents are most obvious? Meanwhile, let’s relish the all-round brilliance of AB De Villiers while we can. One he learns how to negate spin on a turning wicket, no bowler will ever have a chance against him.

Clive Rice – The Forgotten Legend

I’m no expert on South African cricket. However, I have been following county cricket for more than four decades and I have fond memories of the hot summer of 1981 when Nottinghamshire and Sussex battled it out for the Championship.

Clive Rice had been the Notts captain for a few years already, then with Richard Hadlee spearheading the bowling, the Trent Bridge outfit had become one of the most dangerous sides in England. That year they won the title for the first time since 1929, Rice leading from the front scoring 1,462 runs and taking 65 wickets. The county repeated the feat in 1987, also winning the Sunday League.

When he retired, he had played 283 first-class matches for Nottinghamshire, rattling up 17,000 runs and almost 500 wickets. He also boasted an impressive record in one-dayers, not only in England but also for the Transvaal where he enjoyed even more domestic success. A first-class career record of more than 26,000 runs at 40 and 930 wickets at 22 is an astonishing one, so why isn’t Clive Rice mentioned in the same breath as other all-rounders like Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev?

The answer, of course, lies in the wilderness years experienced by South Africa because of the country’s odious Apartheid regime of racial prejudice. As with Barry Richards, Mike Procter and Garth Le Roux, amongst others, Clive Rice was deprived of international cricket when at the peak of his powers. He was playing in the Lancashire League when Notts came a-calling when looking for a replacement for Garry Sobers in 1975 and he stayed there for many summers. He didn’t quite have the charisma of a Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Imran, Zaheer Abbas or many other overseas stars but, looking back, Rice’s contributions to the county game were as significant as any other import’s.

He was past the age of 40 when South Africa returned to the fold in 1991 and was granted the captaincy for the first ODI series against India. Those three matches were the only ones he played for his country, as he was dropped for the 1992 World Cup and that was it. His age may have been a factor but so was his outspokenness, which like another of his later protégés, a certain Kevin Pietersen, got him into trouble from time to time.

As manager of Nottinghamshire between 1999 and 2002 he brought KP and others into a failing squad and nurtured the talents of Pollock, Rhodes and others at Natal in the Nineties. Sadly he became afflicted by so many illnesses and conditions in recent years, and the end finally came after suffering from a brain tumour at the age of 66.

Clive Rice was undoubtedly one of the finest, grittiest all-rounders of my lifetime, more a seamer than batsman, but his career stats are as impressive as any other man of his era. He won’t figure in the CricInfo pages for Tests, ODI or T20 but the plaudits and praise heaped on him after his death speak volumes.

Dramatic Semis, now it's the Aussies' Cup to lose

Well, the second semi-final couldn't possibly match the thrilling drama of the first, but the joyous Indian crowds at the SCG must have left even battle-hardened wearers of the Green Baggie with a smidgeon of respect. Steve Smith's century, and a late onslaught from Johnson and Faulkner, left India with a huge mountain to climb.

MS Dhoni reckoned that 328 was a par score but few sides have ever chased down such a target at Sydney, let alone India, whose record in Australia is famously poor. However, this is the World Cup, India the reigning champions and they were unbeaten throughout the competition. With their supporters thronging the ground, could Australia's home advantage be nullified?

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan gave India a solid start but the latter's rash drive to the hands of Maxwell signalled the beginning of the end. The Aussie pacemen brilliantly strangled Virat Kohli, who could manage only a single in eleven balls, Suresh Raina and Sharma, and the required rate rapidly reached double figures. Enter MS Dhoni. The fans believed, maybe even the captain himself believed. However, even MSD is mortal and by the time he was run out in the 45th over, India needed a miracle. Instead they got the return of Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner who brushed aside the Indian tail and booked a place at the MCG at the weekend.

It was hardly a close encounter, unlike the fabulous game between New Zealand and South Africa. With neither side having made even a World Cup final before, it was hard to pick a winner in advance. SA boasted some global megastars, NZ a few match-winners and some great competitors. Much like many previous Black Cap teams from the days of Crowe, Hadlee, Fleming, Cairns and Greatbatch!

However, despite predictable contributions from AB De Villiers, David Miller and Morne Morkel, it was an opening salvo from Brendon McCullum off Dale Steyn, slogs from Corey Anderson and a wonderful innings of apparently calm, calculated aggression (is that possible?) by new recruit Grant Elliott to deliver victory off the penultimate ball in front of a frenzied Auckland crowd.

Having followed the climax online via CricInfo I was desperate to see highlights on Tuesday evening. However, watching such a contest reduced to a tedious succession of fours, sixes, missed catches and wickets did the sport and broadcasters a disservice. Surely it would have been the dot balls, the stretching muscles of a weary Steyn, and the shots of nail-chewing Kiwis which would have made for a more enjoyable TV experience.

Obviously I feel for the desperately sad South African losers who most certainly did NOT choke. They were beaten by an excellent team and it' a team I'd love to see repeat their last wicket heroics in the group stage against Australia in the final. That's what my heart says, but my head goes with the flow and sees Michael Clarke lifting the trophy on home territory in a few days' time.

Quarter-Finals go with form, but can both hosts reach the Final?

More World Cup matches, more records, but the organiser would be more relieved that the big four progressed to the semi-finals. It wasn't all about the batsmen either, as the bowlers were in the ascendancy at Sydney and Adelaide.

The Aussies gave short shrift to Pakistan. It was Josh Hazlewood's turn to take four wickets, before Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson applied the coup de grace with the bat. The scoreboard doesn't show the nasty sledging aimed by the Aussie fielders at Wahab Riaz, nor the magnificent fast bouncers delivered by a fired-up Riaz in response to Watson. Both were fined but nevertheless it was Watson who had the last laugh, ending not out and remaining in the competition.

New Zealand continued their serene procession, thanks mainly to Martin Guptill's second-half blitz on the West Indian quicks. The opener shattered Chris Gayle's newly-notched World Cup record score on his way to 237, and poor Andre Russell very nearly went for a century of runs against his name. Gayle started as ferociously as the situation demanded, thumping eight sixes but once Milne bowled him, the game was effectively over. Trent Boult added four more wickets to his tally and Jason Holder's men were on their way home.

Earlier, there had been a rare day in the sun for South Africa's spinners, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir in the first quart-final. After Abbott and Steyn had removed both Sri Lankan openers cheaply, even Kumar Sangakkara could not muster a run every two balls and his side slumped to 133 all out. Not even the South Africans cold throw away such a commanding position but Quinton De Kock struck twelve boundaries to make sure.

In the other match, India maintained their unbeaten run and ended Bangladesh's extended World Cup adventure by 109 runs. Rohit Sharma's excellent 137 did the early damage before Yadav led the attack superbly. Ten more wickets, all bar one down to catches, and India are still looking a great all-round outfit rather than talented batsmen and fielders hoping to win by sheer volume of runs.

But now they face the host nation, and it'll be an interesting clash between the two sets of passionate fans, too, at the SCG on Thursday. Sydney may have witnessed a Sri Lankan meltdown this week but you can't forget the huge first innings totals racked up by the Proteas and Green Baggies against West Indies and Sri Lanka in the group stages. The toss will be a good one to win, although both teams are capable of pacing a run chase.

NZ v SA will be a fascinating encounter, too. I'd love to see McCullum's team reach their first ever World Cup Final but then, of course, neither of these two have yet won the trophy. Eden Park has witnessed two exciting contests, South Africa's narrow defeat by Pakistan and the Black Caps' single-wicket spine-tingler against the Aussies, so there may not be any batting records tumbling in this one. Both teams boast a first-class attack, while AB De Villiers and Brendon McCullum can tear bowlers apart in the right conditions.

I'd like to see India v New Zealand in the final but somehow I reckon Australia v South Africa is the more likely, with Watson or Warner coming to blows with Dale Steyn, both sides banned and the trophy presented to Ireland..... Maybe not, but I can see Michael Clarke as the man accepting the trophy and delivering the victor's speech.

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.

England and Netherlands go down fighting

After that epic onslaught against Ireland in the opening round, the Netherlands have experienced a rollercoaster ride in the World T20 Cup Super 10s. After the humilation of being bowled out for 39 by Sri Lanka, Peter Borren's side came agonisingly close to defeating South Africa and then pushed New Zealand all the way to the penultimate over before Anderson and Neesham saw the Black Caps home by six wickets.

It's been a mixed bag for England, too. Coming into the competition on a run of defeats, the recovering Stuart Broad's side were unfortunate to come off worst at the hands of a Chittagong thunderstorm. They looked like losing to Sri Lanka, too, until Alex Hales reminded us all what he is capable of, striking England's first ever T20 century in spectacular style. Today, England simply had to win to remain in the competition but the main difference between the two sides was the incomparable AB De Villiers. I'm no fan of Dale Steyn's stupid footballer haircut and for once he wasn't the star man in the Proteas' attack. Instead Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir were the most successful bowlers but AB was everywhere. First he thumped 69 in 28 balls, then marshalled his field, dived to cut off boundaries and ultimately prevented England from reaching their target of 197.

The outcome in Group One is now that South Africa are through to the semis, and the England-Netherlands clash is a dead rubber. On a more positive note, the Sri Lanka-New Zealand contest becomes a knockout tie; the loser goes home. It's impossible to predict the result, of course. This is T20, after all. Nevertheless, I fancy Brendon McCullum's men to spring a surprise, unless Mahela Jayawardene pulls out one of those magical innings from his repertoire.

India are the only unbeaten side in the whole tournament so far. Mishra, Ashwin and Kohli have been wonderfully consistent and the team have yet to be tested to the full. That could prove their undoing in the knockout stages, but their spinners have mastered the conditions better than anyone. The West Indies, too, have two T20 specialist slowies in their ranks, Narine and Badree, while left-arm medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie, yet to play first-class cricket, has been a revelation. With the bat, Chris Gayle has been fairly subdued by his standards and it was his skipper Darren Sammy whose late-innings blitz saw the Windies home against Australia.

The highly-fancied Aussies' future in this year's Cup are hanging by a thread. They must beat India and Bangladesh, hope West Indies also slip up against Pakistan and then trust their run rate is superior to Pakistan's. That's a complex set of results which they will be fortunate to see transpire.

I must admit I thought the successes of England and the West Indies in the previous two tournaments came out of left field. Surely Sammy et al couldn't possibly be champions once more? However, with Gayle, Smith, Samuels, Bravo and those spinners, they can't be ruled out.