Cricinfo looks at the numbers which tell the story of the Adelaide Oval

S Rajesh30-Nov-2006

1 – The number of times, since 1983, the captain winning the toss has decided to field first. In 64 Tests at the Adelaide Oval, only eight times has the opposition been put in to bat, and only once has that move paid off: in 1981-82, Clive Lloyd’s West Indies chased a stiff fourth-innings target of 236 to win by five wickets.93.33% – The percentage of Tests that have produced a decisive result at Adelaide since 1992. In the last 15 matches here, only one has been drawn – between Australia and South Africa in 1997-98. Even in that game, South Africa were only three wickets away from victory, as Mark Waugh’s famous – and controversial – century saved Australia.43 – The average runs per wicket here in the first innings. In the fourth innings, the corresponding figures drops to 23.596.50 – Damien Martyn’s average at this ground. In five Tests he has scored 386 runs and remained not out five times. In fact, he had scored 305 runs here before he was dismissed for the first time. Matthew Hayden (62.90), Justin Langer (average 61.17) and Ricky Ponting (53.72) have also done well here.24 – The number of centuries scored in the last 12 Tests here – that’s an average of two hundreds per Test51 – The number of wickets for Shane Warne at this venue, making him the highest wicket-taker at Adelaide. He averages only 29.19 here, though, compared to his career average of 25.32. In 12 Tests, he has taken just two five-fors.53 – Stephen Harmison’s bowling average at Adelaide – in his only Test here, he leaked 106 runs in 28.4 overs, and managed two wickets31.59 – The number of runs fast bowlers have conceded per wicket at Adelaide since 1995. For spinners, that figure rises to 35.03.

Fans will enjoy reliving Lara’s triumphs, and researchers will find this is a useful first draft of the biography of one of cricket’s greatest enigmas

Stephen Fay19-Aug-2007Brian Lara: Cricket’s Troubled Genius by Brian Scovell, NPI Media Group, 224pp, £18.99

No doubt that Brian Scovell knows his subject. He ghosted Brian’s Lara’s column and his autobiography, and he has suffered for his art. Scovell’s subtitle calls Lara a “troubled genius” and one of the troubles is Lara’s habitual unpunctuality. Scovell was left contemplating this many times as he waited for his subject in car parks, empty flats, and outside the dressing-room door. But that is only part of the trouble. Lara, who was appointed captain of West Indies three times, has been sacked twice. Scovell provides plenty of evidence of truculence, selfishness and disloyalty.On the other hand Lara has recorded the highest scores in Test and first-class cricket, and scored more Test runs than any other batsman, ever. But statistics paint only part of the picture. “I’ve enjoyed bringing a smile to people’s faces,” Lara says, and he has done that many times wherever he has played. “Not a man move” was the way West Indian fans greeted a perfectly timed drive through extra cover. The biggest smile of all was brought on by Lara’s 153 not out out of a winning 311 for 9 in West Indies’ win over Australia at the Kensington Oval in 1999. Peter Roebuck called it one of the greatest innings in the history of the game.Lara’s life is such a compelling story that it is unnecessary to gild the lily, but Scovell cannot resist investing his subject with more significance than even he deserves. The first chapter is titled “The Greatest?” and Scovell is suggesting that his man could be even better than Don Bradman. “They are a Club of Two,” he writes. He skates over the difference in their Test averages (52.88 against Bradman’s 99.94), though, to be fair, he does quote Neil Harvey’s demolition of this dubious thesis: “[Lara’s] got covered wickets, you’ve got flat wickets, you’ve got ridiculously short boundaries, and you’ve got jet-propelled bats.” There is no contest, surely. It is better to stick with Allan Border’s judgment: “A genuine genius. I would rank him as one of the best three batsmen in the world.”Even more remarkable is Scovell’s contention that Lara, on retirement, could have a political career. He quotes a friend: “I think he could become Prime Minister of Trinidad eventually.” Scovell’s considered verdict is: “With the right backing, he would have a good chance, if he felt up to it.” On the evidence, Lara would alienate the right backing and would soon decide that he did not feel up to it.There is a flaw in the crystal, and Scovell’s account of the life suggests an obsessive child with a wonderful, natural eye, who used a ruler to hit a marble against the side of his family house. He was so good that he began to feel a deep-seated anger at being taken at less than his valuation of himself. He thought West Indies’ selectors were slow to recognise him; he dissed Courtney Walsh and Richie Richardson when they were his captains. He found it hard to adjust to the comparative banality of county cricket. (Scovell reminds us that Warwickshire would have preferred Manoj Prabhakar – who he? – to Lara as their overseas player in 1994.) When he returned to Edgbaston as captain, Lara was not a success. Bob Woolmer noted shrewdly: “I felt he was a charismatic man but not a real leader.”Scovell’s biography is a hurried piece of work. (He was unlucky to have completed it weeks before Lara’s retirement was forced on him by the West Indies selectors.) It is not a considered life. Like many biographies of this kind, it is repetitive, poorly edited, and there is no index.Fans will enjoy reliving Lara’s triumphs, and researchers will find this is a useful first draft of the biography of one of cricket’s greatest enigmas. But I can’t help feeling that Scovell, and other writers who dabble in this trade, would do much better if they halved their output and doubled their fees. Much less could be so much more.The Wisden Cricketer

Stats highlights from the fourth day’s play at Perth

S Rajesh17-Dec-2006

Where Shane Warne pitched it to Ian Bell (Enlarged image) © Hawak-Eye
Late wickets by the Australians allowed them to get back on top at Perth, but England had plenty of moments to savour, thanks to the knocks by Alastair Cook and Ian Bell. The most enthralling battle of the day was the one between Bell and Shane Warne, who had already dismissed him four times in Tests. In this innings, Bell tackled Warne quite superbly, using his feet, getting to the pitch of the ball, and scoring 50 from 59 balls off him. Warne, though, still had the last word, nailing him eventually for 87.The pitch-map graphic from Warne to Bell shows the tactics used by the bowler, and how Bell negotiated that. Warne clearly attempted to pitch plenty of deliveries around or outside leg, and spin it across the face of the bat, but Bell was equal to the task through most of the day: he scored off deliveries which were well pitched up or wide outside leg. To deliveries pitched just outside leg, he defended. Bell also used his feet well to get to the pitch of the ball, which allowed him to score his runs well in front of the wicket.

Bell’s wagon wheel against Warne (Enlarged image) © Hawak-Eye
Warne, though, finally got his man by inducing him to drive without getting to the pitch of the ball. The third graphic illustrates that perfectly: the white track shows the six that Bell hit off Warne in the 31st over, while the green one shows the delivery which dismissed him. The markers show where Bell was when he made contact with the ball – notice how close to the pitch he was when he hit the six.Other stats from the day170 – The partnership between Cook and Bell was England’s highestsecond-wicket stand at Perth. The previous best was 95 between David Gower and ChrisTavare in November 1982.

How Warne finally got his man (Enlarged image) © Hawak-Eye
24.62 – Bell’s average in 16 innings against Australia. Before the start of the2006-07 Ashes, Bell averaged 17.10 against them. He’s passed 50 on five occasionsbut hasn’t been able to convert them into hundreds. Today’s 87 was his highest scoreagainst Australia.40 – Cook’s strike-rate during his 116 off 290 balls is the second slowestfor a fifty-plus score in the series. The slowest is Ian Bell’s 50 off 162 balls atBrisbane.21 years and 357 days – Cook’s age when he scored his century. He is thesecond youngest England player to score a century in Australia, the youngest beingJack Hearne, who scored 114 at Melbourne in 1911-12 aged 20 years and 323 days265 for 5 – England’s effort is already the second-highest total in the fourthinnings by a visiting team at Perth. They are currently behind South Africa whoscored 287 for 5 to earn a draw in 2005.

On the final day of the second Test, Younis, albeit filling the captain’s post in the absence of Shoaib Malik, showed tremendous leadership

Anand Vasu in Kolkata04-Dec-2007

If you want to know the difference between leadership and captaincy, look no further than Younis Khan. In Pakistan, traditionally the captaincy is such a coveted position that players are jostling for it and stories of behind-the-scenes machinations are plentiful. Younis is different in that he has given up the captaincy more than once. The first time, it was because he didn’t quite see eye to eye with Shahryar Khan, the then chairman of the board, and did not want to be a powerless captain.Later, soon after the World Cup, almost everyone agreed that Younis was the best option to lead the side after Inzamam-ul-Haq. But then, at a reception marking his wedding, in his hometown in Mardan, a group of fans, disappointed at Pakistan’s loss in the World Cup, brought a donkey to the place where the reception was being held, and asked Younis to ride it. His confidence in fans, and their propensity for reacting sharply to losses, ensured that he dropped any notions of accepting the captaincy of the Pakistan team.But on the final day of the second Test, Younis, albeit filling the captain’s post in the absence of Shoaib Malik, showed tremendous leadership. About an hour after lunch, at 78 for 4, Pakistan were in serious trouble, with a chance of being skittled out and handing the game for India. This is the sort of situation in which most batsmen would have bedded down and done their best to stonewall. But Younis is different.With the pitch taking turn, albeit only out of the rough, and even in that slow turn, Younis decided to be positive. Anil Kumble had set attacking fields, with at least three men round the bat and virtually all others inside the 30-yard circle. Younis began with two strident drives through midwicket, off Kumble, making the most of the yawning gaps in the outfield. While staying on the front foot against Kumble, thereby reducing the chance of being out lbw to one of Kumble’s trademark sliders, Younis went right back to Harbhajan Singh, using the depth of the crease well and cutting when the ball was a bit short.It’s not as though the fast bowlers had better luck. When Zaheer Khan bent his back and sent down a bouncer, Younis did not let it sail harmlessly by. Instead he pulled, rolling the wrists over the ball, ensuring that he wasn’t merely safe but was putting runs on the board as well. As his innings built, and Kumble and Harbhajan grew more frustrated at the realisation that this pitch was not going to break up, Younis really cut loose.

He went from 93 to 97 with a ferocious pull off Kumble that rattled the advertising hoardings at midwicket. And then, with Harbhajan firing the ball into the rough, Younis unfurled the reverse-sweep, connecting cleanly to send the ball to the point boundary and reach triple figures. Not too many people battling for a draw, close to a century, would attempt a reverse-sweep. But then Younis is a different sort of guy.While Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq celebrated their centuries in the traditional manner, falling to the ground and touching their foreheads to the earth, Younis held his bat above his head, like a weight-lifter would a barbell, and pumped it up and down. Apparently, it was a sign to David Dwyer, the physiotherapist of the Pakistan team, who has introduced Younis to a weight-training regime. Younis believes that this training has helped his fitness levels increase so dramatically that it has translated into runs.Fitness or not, with this knock Younis has now scored three fourth-innings centuries in his last four Tests, making a serious difference to Pakistan’s fortunes. “I think character is exactly the right word,” Geoff Lawson said when describing how Younis, and Pakistan, had hung on for a draw. A match that began poorly for Pakistan had just ended in relief. “For much time on day three in this Test match we were in all sorts of trouble. But the three batsmen then, and again today, showed a ton of character.””We are happy with the way we fought back, in the end of the first innings and in the second,” was all Younis said at the end of the Test. “India won a good toss and played really well to make over 600. But, when Misbah and Kamran fought back, we were confident that we could draw this game.” On the final day he backed up that confidence with execution.

It was disappointing to tie the ODI series after leading 2-1, but that’s better than England have managed in Australia for a long time

Charlotte Edwards14-Feb-2008

Fair and square: Edwards and Rolton with the trophy after the series was tied 2-2 © Getty Images
We arrived in Sydney, my favourite city, last Tuesday afternoon. I wasvery excited to be back, but a bit disappointed with the weather because itwas raining when we arrived, and had been for the past week.We had a half-hour turnaround at our lovely apartments before we were dueback out at the British Consulate for a reception for the squad. The viewfrom the room we were in was awesome: we could see the SydneyOpera House and Harbour Bridge – the first image of Sydney for a largenumber of the girls, and they loved it. I love these receptions, because weget to meet some really interesting people, and this time we were served somedelicious food too. The coconut chicken and prawns were among myfavourites.On Wednesday it was still raining, so we had indoor nets at the SCG. TheAustralian men were training at the same time as us, so we got to watcha bit of their session.That night we went to Coogee Bay for dinner. Unfortunately, it rained allnight, but the food and company were brilliant and we were all on good formand looking forward to the game the next day.However, the next morning at 8am we were told that the ground was waterlogged andour game was in serious doubt. An hour or so later it was confirmed the game hadbeen cancelled despite bright sunshine where we were staying. So weheaded down to the SCG for nets and a little bit of a run-around with afrisbee and football (not at the same time though!), as well as a quick dipin the pool.Thursday’s game would have been my 100th ODI for England, so we had arrangeda team meal for that night at my favourite restaurant in Sydney, Nicks, onCockle Bay Wharf. Although I hadn’t yet made 100 ODIs, we still decided to goout and celebrate. It was a lovely meal, with lots of banter and some kindwords from some of the players. Tails (Claire Taylor), who I’ve playedinternational cricket with for ten years, made a touching speech and it feltreally special to be sharing this moment with this great group of girls.On Friday we had been invited to hospitality at the ODI between Australiaand Sri Lanka. It was another chance to pull out our Paul Costelloe numberones, and was a really enjoyable afternoon and evening. It was good to beable to catch up with our former coach Richard Bates, who has moved outhere to coach the New South Wales Breakers. The cricket wasn’t asentertaining – Australia won easily – as the massages and manicures that were on offer as part of thehospitality!After another training day at the SCG on Saturday, my 100th ODI dawned thefollowing day. It was a really big couple of games for us with the seriesstanding one apiece and we were all really focused and looking forward tothe challenge.I lost another toss and Australia opted to bat first. They got off to a goodstart – 112 for 2 off 24 – but a magnificent performance from all the bowlersand fielders managed to restrict them to 177. Although we’d done well, weknew reaching that target would be hard work on that wicket because it wasits fifth day of cricket and was really worn. We lost our two openers earlyon and as I came to the crease, we were 37 for 2. However a great partnershipbetween myself and Tails gave us the win. We lost Tails on 168 for 3 and some and Lydia saw us home, with me hitting the winning runs.On a personal note, it was obviously a great day to beat Australia inAustralia in my 100th ODI, and to hit the winning runs. It doesn’t get muchbetter than that. To beat them twice in a week, after having gone 19 years without beating them once in Australia, was pretty special. I was really proud of all the girls. We’ve had atough week (coach Mark Dobson and veteran player Jane Smit both quit suddenly) and the way the girls responded and pulled together was great. It was great to give Laney (new coach Mark Lane) his first win. He’s a greatcoach and the girls have responded really well to him. He knows a lot ofthem from his ten years’ experience in the women’s game and he’s great towork with.

Edwards with new coach Mark Lane, who stepped up to the top job after Mark Dobson resigned during the tour © ECB
Although we’d won, it was a quiet night in with pizzas. We were heading back to the SCG the next day hoping to clinch a series win inAustralia.When the game came round, we nearly didn’t bother to toss the coin because Karen Rolton keepswinning! Sure enough, I lost. It was the sixth day of cricket on the wicket and, as you can imagine, it wasn’t the best toss to lose. They batted first and made 211. I was really disappointed as we didn’t bowl or field to anywhere near our potential. However, there was a positive in Steph Davies making herinternational debut and taking four wickets. After a nervous start she came back really well and I was really pleased for her.That total was always going to be a big ask on that wicket and we fell 41 runs short, which we were bitterly disappointed with. Although we’re frustrated we didn’t clinch the series, there are so manypositives we can take from these games. It was first time we hadn’t lost to theAustralians since 1976, which was the first ever ODI series between the twosides. It was a great indicator that we cancompete with the best in the world, and we’ve shown a lot of character onthis trip, which is great to see for me as a captain. I can only see the teamgoing from strength to strength, which is fantastic given that the World Cupis only a year away and is here in Australia.We’ll take a huge amount of confidence into the Ashes Test match whichstarts on Friday. Obviously, there’s quite a lot of hype around the game, butboth teams are looking forward to playing a great game of cricket at a greatvenue. It’ll be a tough battle but one we’re definitely prepared for andlooking forward to. Our match forms part of the centenary celebrations around Don Bradman’sbirth, which makes it extra special. We’ve enjoyed our last few days inSydney seeing a few of the sights and tomorrow we head to Bowral for ourAshes defence.

Australia’s long-serving opener on preparation, adapting to situations, playing the sweep, and putting the fear of God into bowlers

Interview by Sriram Veera19-May-2008

Marking territory: “I feel grounded when I squat on the wicket” © Getty Images
Tell us about your routine once you get out into the middle to bat.
I go to the middle, I mark the crease and I squat on the wicket. I feel grounded when I do that. It’s like a centring process. It’s like, I’m out in this amazing place with millions across the world watching but right now I’m feeling very solid here. I don’t say these things aloud but I just feel it every time I go out there. The middle of the cricket ground is the most comfortable place on earth for me.All the grounds have something special. There is great history and a special vibe about each place. There are memories of each place – your own impressions of it. You try to draw positives from the venue.Can you describe what batsmen call the zone? How often do you get into it?
The zone to me is pretty much every time I go out to bat. I never feel out of that. Not that it necessarily means there is a good result coming my way every time …Being in the zone is really relevant to the expression: “Time goes fast when you’re having fun.” I never remember anything about the strokes and the game. I’m always like that. That’s the space I am in when I am batting.What’s your preparation before a game like?
I do lots of batting. I think I hit more balls than anyone else before a game. That’s for two reasons: for my fitness and power, and for body position. I try and analyse bowlers and work out my strategies. That takes time. If there are five bowlers in an attack, I will analyse and commit serious time to each one of those bowlers.I have learnt that your performances are really only one part of it. They keep going up and down. So if you were going to base your motivation solely on your performances, you would end up forgetting about preparation. Preparation is the key.You walk down the wicket to the bowler every now and then. Why do you do that?
I do it when the bowlers settle into a pattern of play where you think they are bowling very well. Walking down is a good way to unsettle play. It’s really throwing out a challenge to them: I know you’re bowling really well here, but I am not going to let you.What are you thinking when you walk down? Are you looking to play straight?
When I walk down, I just think: “I just want to see the ball, and wherever they bowl, I hit it there.” (He laughs.) There’s a tremendous adrenalin rush when you walk down the track. I get comments in streets: “Oh you look so massive on screen. But you look fine in real life, you know!” It’s like an expectation that people have Can you tell us a bit more about how you use intimidation?
I find I am aggressive, and I think my size perhaps sort of gives that image too. I get comments in streets: “Oh you look so massive on screen. But you look fine in real life, you know!” It’s like an expectation that people have. In my mind, in real life, as you can tell, I’m quite placid.When did you first adopt this approach? And when did you first get the feeling that the bowlers were being intimidated?
All my career I have always loved hitting the ball. Even before I started playing first-class, my intentions were always to score. I was a big, strong boy, you know, and my intentions were to look to score runs.I enjoy that feeling of actually hitting the ball. Of course, there are situations when the wicket is not playing like you think and you can’t be too aggressive. Like [in the IPL game] in Bangalore. The wicket was doing something and the last thing Chennai wanted was to get blown out of the water in the first four overs. So I sort of played a more conservative role. That’s just experience I guess. Putting in place a strategy and understanding that it might change and you have to be flexible to let your experience kind of speak for itself.Speaking of experience, you didn’t have a great start to your international career, against South Africa and West Indies.
I never really got an opportunity, to be honest. Against South Africa the first time, I was in for Mark Taylor who was very, very solid in his position. So that was just an opportunity by chance of his misfortune rather than my success.So you didn’t feel you belonged there?
No, I felt I belonged but I just knew that for whatever reasons it wasn’t my time. So I quietly accepted that and made an affirmation to myself to try and get better every day, learn more about my game so that the next opportunity – which I always believed was going to come – I would be a better cricketer, better team member and a better, more rounded person.What did you change in your game? Let me quote you an observation on your earlier days from a writer: “People still remember how the young Hayden would poke grimly round his front pad. How he looked lost against the spinners. How his clunky footwork was exposed by Allan Donald and Curtly Ambrose.” Would you agree with that?
Yeah, that’s right. As fine a cricketer as I am right now, I don’t think as a young player I had it right. But having said that, momentum is an enormous thing in sport. The Donalds and Ambroses got a young Hayden – someone who had no momentum. You’re starting from scratch. It’s like building a business: you just don’t strike rich straightaway. You’ve got to build steadily in a very organic way. Momentum in cricket is exactly the same. You gradually get to a position where you have a profile and expectation, and there is a reverse pressure as well – they know you are a fine player.

Hayden took up the sweep as an attacking option on the 2001 tour to India © Getty Images
When did things start to turn around?
I think in 2000. We played West Indies; I was playing really well but I just had a run of no luck. I got run out a couple of times in the 40s and 50s, and I could feel that it was all starting to happen there.I was a changed player when I came back. In 2001 [in India], it obviously was my series, where I reached my expectations. And that took a while to deal with as well, because I didn’t have a particularly good Ashes series after that. That was the reverse adjustment, where I had to tone it down a little bit.You go through these little patches where people understand your game and you reinvent yourself and go again. It takes time to do that, lots of energy and effort, but you have to do that to have any longevity in the game.That series in India – how did you prepare for it? Especially your sweeping.
I was really looking to come to India. I think I was savouring the Indian tour more than any other on earth. I prepared hard for that and sweeping was a strategy. I had a solid defensive strategy but what I came prepared to do was to have an attacking strategy with that sweep. It has been copied around the world now really. Most left-handers now look to play that sweep as a go-to shot to scoring.How did that sweeping strategy come about? Did you speak to anyone?
The seed was planted in 1993, when I was working with Allan Border and Bob Simpson. Border was a very good sweeper as well and I got the foundation of it from him: understanding when and how, what lines to play, and picked his mind on that. Now it’s changing again. It’s reverse-sweeping! It’s great. I just love the way people play the game now.You reverse-swept Shaun Pollock in an IPL game. How do you predetermine something like that?
Yeah, idiotic wasn’t it?! You know, I have never reverse-swept a seamer before in my life. It’s too risky to practise because you can get hurt. It was just instinct. I just felt I knew where the ball would be, and as it turned out that’s exactly where it was.How often does that happen to you: the ball landing where you think it will?
Magically often, I reckon. I don’t know what it is, it’s just experience.Do you look for cues from the bowlers?
Yeah, I do pick up cues early. For all of the bowlers, really. They have all got cues. You can tell from the field where they are supposed to bowl, but I just feel that I understand where the ball is going to be a lot. I think any batsman who rises to the top of his game in Test cricket understands that. It’s not premeditation – it’s just picking up the cues very well.You seem to move towards the ball earlier than others. The very good batsmen pick the length early. You do that but you seem to move into line earlier than some of them.
Yeah. They say in life keep your enemies close. The ball is something I like to keep close to me! On bouncy pitches in Australia, if you get further away from the ball there are more chances of nicking it. In subcontinental conditions I do a lot of work on getting away from the ball because you need to have the freedom of your arms to generate bat speed, whereas at home you need to get in line and hit it on to the line of the ball.You have had great success against Pollock. He is known for his nagging line and length but you hit him down the line, or pull the slightly short ones – even off the front foot.
He is a very fine bowler and he has got me out a number of times, but yeah, I just feel comfortable facing him. But then I feel comfortable facing most people in the world.You go through these little patches where people understand your game. Then you reinvent yourself and go again. It takes time to do that, lots of energy and effort, but you have to do that to have any longevity in the game I am in a really good space in my cricket right now. I am enjoying my batting and enjoying being in the middle.There is a massive difference between good bowling and great bowling. Against good bowling you don’t necessarily need ever to take a risk. Great bowling, you need to have your instincts about yourself; there is a risk there and there is a benefit to that risk. So then there is an unsettling process. Someone like Pollock is a good example of that. He is a great bowler who brings his instincts and that brings the best out of me. I start using my instincts to create opportunities. That may involve a risk but that’s the balance and the trade-off.What are basic requirements to have a great opening partnership like you had with Justin Langer? You two are good friends, but do you really have to be friends to form a successful pair?
Yes. You are like a couple, you know. Like any couple, you go through good times and bad times but you’re always there for each other. That’s who we are. We just get each other. When you get someone, it’s a really good feeling – you are so comfortable in that person’s space. You know their life enough that when they or you are under pressure, you can talk about it, about anything. It’s just a nice feeling. Walking out with Justin was a real treat and something I really savoured.I love to win. In Australia we are all just the same. We all like competing, we like to work hard and fight hard together and like to win. It’s addictive and it’s the best feeling from a sporting point of view to achieve something together. Team result is better than individual result.How much do you think about the game when you are not playing?
Not very much, I must say. I practise a lot and train a lot. But I feel training has got nothing to do with cricket – its just about my own fitness and for my enjoyment. I enjoy doing stuff outside cricket, like fishing and surfing. I love to cook. I love cultural experiences. I want to travel more and do some business stuff.

Stats review of the three-Test series between West Indies and Australia

S Rajesh17-Jun-2008

Despite spirited resistance from West Indies throughout the three-Test series, Australia ultimately wrapped up a 2-0 result, with their 87-run win in Barbados giving them their 50th Test victory against West Indies, and their sixth win in the last seven series between the two teams. It also improved Australia’s overseas win-loss record to 28-8 since 2000; since the 2005 Ashes in England, they have won seven out of eight Tests abroad.For West Indies, meanwhile, it was hardly the washout that some might have feared before the series began. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was a colossus throughout, finishing with an aggregate of 442, 119 more than Ricky Ponting, Australia’s highest run-getter. He also faced 1000 balls in the series, becoming only the third West Indian, after Brian Lara (against Sri Lanka in 2001-02) and Jimmy Adams (against India in 1994-95) to play 1000 or more deliveries in a three-Test series. West Indies also put up an impressive fight on the last day in Barbados when chasing an improbable 475: the 387 they ended up with is the highest fourth-innings score in 44 Tests at the Kensington Oval. Since 1990, only six times have teams scored more than that in the last innings. It continued a surprising recent trend for West Indies – in the last year and a half, their batting performance in the fourth innings has been much better than in the first three.

Though West Indies put up a fair show, the difference between the two sides was pretty significant: Australia scored ten runs more per wicket, and faced 16 more deliveries per dismissal.

The partnership stats for each team indicates one of the biggest differences between the two teams – lower-order batting. Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Xavier Marshall were superb with the bat, but the rest were far too patchy. West Indies also tended to crumble once they lost half their side – the total runs scored, on an average, by the last five wickets was a paltry 72.60, with just one half-century stand. Denesh Ramdin was one of the prominent lower-order failures, managing a mere 66 runs in six innings. Australia, on the other hand, had seven fifty-plus stands for the last five wickets, which added almost 169 to the total. Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin had crucial hands in ensuring that the lower order did not crumble after half the team had been dismissed. The one disappointment was Michael Hussey, who had the worst series of his Test career.Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo were the most prolific pair in the series, putting together 393 runs at 65.50. The next two slots belonged to Australians, though, with Simon Katich figuring in both, in partnership with Phil Jaques and Ponting.

West Indies’ batting revolved around Chanderpaul, who scored a quarter of his team’s runs; Australia’s top run-getter, Ponting, only scored 16% of his side’s runs. Sarwan was the only other West Indian who topped 200 in the series, while the Australian line-up had four batsmen who went past 200, and six who averaged more than 40.Australia also handily won the battle of the fast bowlers. Stuart Clark and Brett Lee were outstanding, while Mitchell Johnson managed ten wickets as well. Fidel Edwards was superb for West Indies, with 15 wickets at 25, but Daren Powell was a huge disappointment, taking just six wickets at 61 apiece.

Player v player
Chanderpaul was one West Indian batsman who conquered both Lee and Clark, Australia’s two best bowlers in the series. Sarwan didn’t fall to Lee even once, but Clark clearly had the better of him, dismissing him thrice at the cost of 56 runs. Despite bowling some fiery spells to the West Indian top order, Lee came off second-best against them, conceding 183 to Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Xavier Marshall – their three best batsmen – for just one wicket. Against Bravo he had far more success, though – three wickets at the cost of only 36 runs. Edwards was superb against Australia’s top-order left-hand batsmen, but failed to replicate those numbers against the right-hand batsmen. Bravo enjoyed his battles against Stuart MacGill and Beau Casson, but came a cropper against the pace of Lee, Clark and Johnson.

Taylor’s brilliance, Gayle’s leadership… it was like the 80s all over again

10-Feb-2009

©
“Zaboca choka. Coconut bake and buljol. Guava cheese… Seeing as I’m already eating my words just four days into this Test series, it makes sense to open with some more palatable ones should the West Indies be able to build on Sunday’s sensational demolition of England at Sabina Park.”
Fazeer Mohammed happily wolfs down his words in the Trinidad and Tobago Express”It may sound mean, but the one regret for West Indians (on Saturday) was that England beat the infamous 47. But you can’t have it all.”
Garfield Myers rejoices in the Jamaica Observer”This ground brings back a lot of memories, and it’s good to be on the other side this time around. I am sure if I go into the Mound now nobody would say anything. we’re going to celebrate, not do too much, but we’ll enjoy this moment.”
Chris Gayle reflects on how things have come full circle“Never believe those reports that said cricket in the Caribbean was dying. It was just in mourning for the passing of the good days. The people still loved the game, nursed their hurt, and waited for fortunes to change… The image of the West Indian players and people in celebration was utterly captivating. It was like the good old bad old days when the West Indian fast men terrorised the world.”
“Neither Charles Dickens nor Enid Blyton could have written a better fairy tale.”
Barbados Nation”Every time we have a good performance, people want to know if this is the turning point, is the West Indies on the way up… But I keep saying that we have to be really patient because there are days when we have some terrific performances and there are some other days when we are not so good.”
“West Indian cricket is supposed to be in its death throes, overwhelmed by shifts of culture and values and the disappearance of great men like those Herculean bowlers and batsmen of the quality of Viv Richards and Brian Lara. Yet now, under the quirky but ultimately cool leadership of a batsman like Chris Gayle, who has shown he knows the importance of building an advantage, we see a cricketing Lazarus.” Independent”Waiters, barmen and even house maids, whose preferred sporting topics of conversation had long since switched from cheerless cricket to the Reggae Boys and, more recently, to Usain Bolt and Jamaica’s other track stars, were raving about Chris, Jerome, Sars, Sulieman (“but how ‘im tall so”), the “boy” Nash, and the other heroes.”
“From the ramshackle Kingston pavilion on the one side of the ground, round past the George Headley Stand, to the thumping sound systems of the ‘Mound’, there was the unmistakable feeling that something lost had been found.”

England’s 2008 began in earnest in the summer, with Pietersen’s ascent to the helm and Stanford’s audacious overture

Andrew Miller30-Dec-2008

Two thousand and eight was the year that changed cricket forever, but in the crazy sprint towards the game’s new future, England were the team caught dawdling in the
starting blocks. On the field and off it, they endured a year of extraordinary transition, but by the time they had recovered their stride pattern, many of their rivals seemed to have streaked too far ahead to be reeled in.The talking points of England’s season were too numerous to list in a single
breath. In an ordinary year, the resignation of Michael Vaughan, their most
successful Test captain of all time, would have been the standout event. In
the final analysis, however, his tearful farewell was just another moment
competing for airtime, one that was swiftly overshadowed by the announcement
of his successor, Kevin Pietersen.Aside from Pietersen, whose full impact as captain will become clear enough
in time, the most significant players in England’s season were to be found
beyond the boundary’s edge. On June 11, the arrival at Lord’s of the Texan
billionaire, Sir Allen Stanford, sent shockwaves through the shires, both
for the audacity of the offer he brought with him – five US$20 million winner-takes-all contests between England and his Stanford Superstars – and for the eagerness with which Giles Clarke, the ECB’s opportunistic chairman, leapt for the loot.To all intents and purposes, that date – June 11 – marked the true start of
England’s year, because up until that point they had lacked any meaningful
focus. Thanks to a quirk in the international calendar, each of England’s
first 19 internationals of 2008 (six Tests, 10 ODIs, three Twenty20s) came
against the glamour-free New Zealanders, a team of worthy competitors who
gave as good as they got (and better over 50 overs), but against whom it was
impossible to gauge any significant progress.As if to prove the peripheral nature of these contests, England’s main man
of this early part of the year was destined to have been forgotten by its
end. Ryan Sidebottom was named the PCA Player of the Year after claiming 41
wickets in six Tests home and away, including a hat-trick in Hamilton and a
career-best 7 for 47 in Napier. But despite his best efforts, something indiscernible was lacking, and it wasn’t merely the ongoing absence of Andrew Flintoff, whose fourth bout of ankle surgery had left a void in the
team that no single player could adequately fill.It wasn’t until South Africa arrived in England in early July that the real
problem was discerned. England’s bowlers lacked a serious cutting edge.
Steve Harmison had been dropped after an awful performance in Hamilton in
March, and in his absence the attack comprised the consistently inconsistent
James Anderson, the rookie Stuart Broad and the hardworking Sidebottom,
backed up by Monty Panesar’s left-arm spin. That combination had taken it in
turns to see off the Kiwis, but as a unit they came horribly unstuck against
the better-drilled South Africans.Their failure to force victory with South Africa on the ropes at Lord’s in
turn heaped pressure onto the shoulders of Vaughan, whose reputation as an
inspirational captain had been losing its sheen ever since the home series
defeat against India in 2007. With his personal form falling away with every
game, his integrity also came into question after England were overwhelmed
by 10 wickets at Headingley, a game in which he tacitly blamed the debutant Darren Pattinson for undermining the spirit within the dressing room.It took one more game, and two more failures, for Vaughan’s time at the helm
to come to a swift and ignominious end. England’s failure to defend a fourth-innings target of 281 enabled South Africa to surge to their first series win in the country since readmission, and to usher in the era of Pietersen (who took over the one-day captaincy from Paul Collingwood in one all-embracing appointment). His first significant move as leader was to restore Harmison as an out-and-out strike bowler, a decision that paid handsome dividends with a maiden victory, at The Oval.Pietersen’s first five months in the role were eventful to say the least. He
could do no wrong against his native South Africans, whom he beat in five
completed matches out of five, and even in humiliation in Antigua and India
he maintained a diplomatic composure that impressed those who had assumed he
would be too volatile under pressure. But it wasn’t until the terrorist
attacks in Mumbai that he really came into his own. Clarke and Hugh Morris
were major players in the negotiations that ensured that the Test series in
India went ahead in spite of the atrocities, but without Pietersen’s
firm but fair persuasions behind the scenes, a full-strength tour party
would surely not have boarded the flight from Abu Dhabi to Chennai.It is a moot point whether England would have resumed their tour had the
destination been anywhere other than India, the financial hub of the world
game, but at the same time the decision brought out into the open many of
the underlying issues that had been niggling away at England’s year. The
failure of the ECB to provide a window for their players to take part in the
inaugural IPL season had been a major bone of contention all year long – one
that the Stanford deal had only partially atoned for. The improved dialogue
between the two boards might yet help to turn the team’s long-term fortunes
around.New kid on the block
Stuart Broad. His season tailed off in India where injury and fatigue
combined to limit his impact, but few English rookies have seemed so assured
of a long-term future at the highest level. An intelligent paceman with
enough aggression to make up for the yard of speed his frame currently lacks,
Broad is also an increasingly cocksure batsman, who at times against New
Zealand was England’s most reliable source of runs. Geoff Boycott is in awe
of his cover-drive, going so far as to invoke the memory of Garry Sobers. He
would be a surefire hit in the IPL, given half a chance.

Fading star
Matthew Hoggard featured in a solitary international in 2008, and will
surely not be back for an encore next summer, given the ruthlessness with
which he was jettisoned after England’s shock defeat in Hamilton in March.
Steve Harmison was the worst offender in that contest, and though he too was
left out for the subsequent Wellington Test, England soon discovered they
could not live without him any more than they could live with him. Hoggard’s
enduring attributes of loyalty and diligence could not compensate for the
apparent decline in his on-field effectiveness.High point
Pietersen’s honeymoon period. Vaughan left the England captaincy just as he
had arrived in it, midway through back-to-back Test matches against South
Africa, allowing his successor barely 48 hours to get his house in order. Pietersen
did so with stunning efficiency. He recalled Harmison to inject more oomph
into his attack, he scored a century at the first attempt to stamp his mark
on his new role, and having won his maiden Test, at The Oval, he carried that
momentum into an incredible 4-0 victory in the subsequent ODI series. At
that moment in time, he could do no wrong, and England looked like they had
it cracked.Low point
The Stanford shenanigans. Faced with a fortnight in the Caribbean sun, and
the prospect of riches beyond their wildest dreams, England’s cricketers got
their knickers into a total twist, before skulking away empty-handed and
straight into a 5-0 ODI drubbing in India. Complaints about a tea-party atmosphere intermingled with gripes about the floodlights and playing surface, not to mention deep suspicion of their patron, Allen Stanford, who
invited himself into the dressing room uninvited before being pictured
bouncing Matt Prior’s wife, Emily, on his knee. The phrase “be careful what
you wish for” had never felt so apt.What 2009 holds
England’s biggest home season since 2005 looms, with the twin highlights of
the ICC World Twenty20 and, of course, the Ashes. Victory in either would
atone for a multitude of sins (and for the first time in 20 years, England
could well be favourites by the time the Australians arrive). But off the
field the politicking will continue apace, and England’s improved
post-Mumbai relationship with India will have to be cultivated for the
greater good. Stanford-style exercises are all very well, but without a
presence in the Asian market, English cricket won’t even have a soul worth
selling to the highest bidder.

Cricinfo takes a look at what each competing team needs to do for that all-important semi-final spot in the IPL

Cricinfo staff20-May-2009Rajasthan need a win to have any chance of making it to the semi-finals•Associated PressTeam: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Points/ Net run-rate: 14/ -0.252
Matches remaining: 1
Opponent: DeccanBangalore’s victory over Delhi Daredevils on Tuesday ensured that they successfully took the first step towards a semi-final spot. Now placed fourth in the points table, a victory over Deccan Chargers in their final league match will guarantee a place in the last four.If Bangalore lose to Deccan, they will have to count on defeats for Punjab and Rajasthan to make the cut. A win for either of those teams will shut Bangalore out, if they lose to Deccan.Team: Rajasthan Royals
Points/ Net run-rate: 13/ -0.360
Matches remaining: 1
Opponent: KolkataA victory against Kolkata Knight Riders is essential for Rajasthan Royals to stay in the race. If Rajasthan win, the team will turn its attention to the match between Chennai and Punjab, hoping for a Chennai victory which will then seal the deal for them.In the event of a Punjab victory, Rajasthan will then compete with Chennai for the fourth spot with both teams on 15 points. Only a miracle can then take Rajasthan through, as Chennai are miles ahead in the net run-rate calculations. Here’s an example to illustrate how wide the gap between the teams is: assume Rajasthan defeat Kolkata by 40 runs while Chennai loses to Punjab by the same margin (with the winning team scoring 160 and the losing one scoring 120). Chennai’s net run-rate would drop to +0.71 while Rajasthan’s would improve to -0.18, still comfortably short of Chennai.Team: Kings XI Punjab
Points/ Net run-rate: 14/ -0.423
Matches remaining: 1
Opponent: ChennaiPunjab play their final league match against Chennai Super Kings, and a victory assures them a place in the knockout stages. A loss for Punjab would mean they will stay on 14 points, which would still give them a chance, but a very slim one, considering their NRR is the poorer than Deccan’s and Bangalore’s, and a loss against Chennai would only worsen it further.Team: Chennai Super Kings
Points/ Net run-rate: 15/ +0.932
Matches remaining: 1
Opponent: Kings XI PunjabAmong the teams vying for a top-four spot, Chennai Super Kings are best placed to make it through. Sitting at second position with 15 points with a match to play against Punjab, they are at a distinct advantage with a very high net run-rate which will come into play in the event of a loss. If Chennai lose and if Rajasthan win against Kolkata, both teams will be tied on 15 points. But, as the example above illustrates, only a statistical miracle can stop Chennai from going to the next level once the NRR comes into play.Team: Deccan Chargers
Points/ Net run-rate: 14/ +0.265
Matches remaining: 1
Opponent: BangaloreAs is the case with most teams, a win in the final round robin match will see the Deccan Chargers cruise into the semis. A loss, however, will complicate things for them.Deccan will compete with Punjab and Rajasthan if they lose to Bangalore on Thursday. Both Punjab and Rajasthan need to come off second best in their final matches, after which Deccan’s superior run rate is likely do the trick.