Marks out of ten for Australia and West Indies after the three-Test series in the Caribbean

Daniel Brettig and Garth Wattley28-Apr-2012

Australia

Matthew Wade scored his maiden Test hundred in Dominica•AFP9
Matthew Wade
Can be said to have graduated his Caribbean education with honours. Kept wicket neatly and with little fuss, claiming several difficult snares as balls skimmed through low off pitches of subcontinental character, while also handling the spinners with increasing skill. Scrapped for his runs in Barbados and Trinidad, then lorded over the West Indies bowlers with the innings of the series in Dominica. Selectors have a debate on their hands to separate Wade and Brad Haddin.Ben Hilfenhaus
Followed an indifferent first innings of the series with the most critical of the tour in the second, cutting through the West Indies top order to set up the possibility of a win. Took at least one new-ball wicket at the start of every innings from that point, while also striking a handful of heavy blows with the bat.8
Michael Clarke (capt)
Clarke’s personal contributions included handy runs, particularly in Barbados, and match-sealing wickets in Dominica. But it was his astute and aggressive captaincy that again showed the way for his team. Declarations in Barbados and Trinidad showed his eagerness to pursue results, while he also won a pivotal toss in Roseau. Greater challenges await, but Clarke’s leadership appears to be up to them.Ryan Harris
Man of the Match in Barbados, contributing his best international score and bookending it with vital wickets. Was then rested for Trinidad and appeared to struggle a little for rhythm in Dominica, though still bowling several sharp spells. Highly valued and will be carefully managed for however long his battered body can last.7
Michael Hussey
Often coming into bat under pressure, Hussey did not make huge runs but all were valuable. Showed how best to bat on a vexing Trinidad surface, and played one of the best short innings of recent times to shepherd home the final-evening chase in Barbados. Added another notable wicket to his Test tally, this time Darren Bravo.Mitchell Starc
Bowled countless overs in the nets before a call-up for the third Test in which he contributed usefully with bat as well as ball. Two first-innings wickets included Chanderpaul’s, and scores of 35 and 21 provided a sting in Australia’s tail. A sound developmental tour.Nathan Lyon
Though he struggled with the ball in Barbados, Lyon demonstrated the attitude of a fighter by combining with Harris for critical runs to help open up the match. Regathered himself admirably in Trinidad and Dominica, taking the wickets Clarke needed from him as the lead spinner on turning pitches. Is developing nicely and already has a record the envy of many Australia offspinners past.6
Shane Watson
Moved to No. 3 but continued to perform as he had done as an opener – lots of starts, no big scores, and plenty of intelligent overs with the ball. Culpability in the horrific run-out of Ricky Ponting in Barbados has forced Watson to address a considerable weakness in his game. Next will be the matter of making more of his starts.Peter Siddle
Bowled sturdily in Barbados until a back complaint ruled him out of the rest of the series. Not expected to be bowling for at least a couple of months. A Test match specialist.5
Ed Cowan
A struggle. Made starts in Barbados and Trinidad and a first-innings duck in Dominica before recovering with a battling 55 in his final innings. Well out of his comfort zone on slow, turning pitches, and will be reassessed at home against South Africa. Had a few brain fades running between the wickets but excelled in the field.David Warner
Showed plenty of attacking intent as expected, and also worked hard to adjust his game to spin, making more progress in that area than he has previously. Was repeatedly undone outside off stump by West Indies’ disciplined line, however, and can expect more of the same in future series. Legspin shows promise.Ricky Ponting
Bereft of good fortune more than good form, Ponting did not pass 50 until his final innings of the tour, but his 57 was important in setting up Australia’s lead in Dominica. The duel with Kemar Roach fascinated again and there are no signs that Ponting has any intention of retiring. Set training and preparation standards as ever but will need runs against South Africa.James Pattinson
Replaced Harris in Trinidad but struggled for rhythm until a back injury forced him out of the remainder of the series. Made important first-innings runs with Hussey, however. May return in time for England ODI tour.Michael Beer
Played as the second spinner on a sharply spinning Trinidad surface and took the new ball. Had done well in Shield cricket to earn his recall. Will have one eye on 2013 India test tour.

West Indies

Shivnarine Chanderpaul passed 10,000 runs in Tests during the series•Associated Press9
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
The oldest man in the series at 37, he was also the most outstanding batsman. His 346 runs in five innings were almost all made with his team in a crisis. Just once, in the second innings in Barbados did he not get at least 50. In conditions that challenged batsmen’s technique and their temperament, he showed himself to be a master of both. Passing 10,000 runs in the third Test was just par for the pitch.8
Kemar Roach
Broke new ground in his career with 10 wickets in the second Test and was the leader of the attack ahead of the out-of-sorts and eventually injured Fidel Edwards. He got better as the series went on, adding consistency of line and length to his already established pace. Roach also did not shy away from bowling in hot conditions and on sluggish pitches. His 19 wickets made him the series leader. Was also a stubborn contributor with the bat.Shane Shilllingford
The offspinner, back with a rehabilitated bowling action, was a good foil to Roach in Trinidad and a more-than-adequate replacement for the off-colour Devendra Bishoo with his excellent control. Used his knowledge of conditions in his native Dominica to best effect to take 10 wickets in the match and finish with 14 in the series at a decent 26.14.7
Darren Sammy (capt)
As a bowler he did not have the partnership-breaking impact as in past series but as a batsman and captain he flourished. Sammy put together his best collection of scores since taking over the captaincy. Batting at No. 8 – and in the case of the second-innings run chase in Trinidad, No.3 – he played to his strength and attacked, while being generally more selective of which balls to hit. Players responded well to his positive leadership.6
Kirk Edwards
A series which started with a confident 61 in Barbados was curtailed by a knee injury. His presence and runs at No. 3 in the order were greatly missed.Darren Bravo
Of the established/specialist batsmen in the series, only Chanderpaul (86.50) and Wade (39.60) averaged higher than Bravo at 36.80. On pitches not conducive to free-scoring, especially in Trinidad and Dominica, he never failed to reach double figures in completed innings, but only once carried on to 50. Needed to give more support to Chanderpaul. Much improved in the field though.Narsingh Deonarine
Brought in to fill the gap left by Marlon Samuels, the left-hander did not get sufficient runs despite his half-century in the Trinidad Test. His nine wickets bowling economical offspin though were useful and 4 for 53 in the first Test raised outside hopes of a West Indies victory.5
Carlton Baugh
In a difficult series for keeping wicket, he missed the odd catch and stumping, but was generally reliable. However, did not deliver the needed runs at No. 7 in the order, managing just 83 in five knocks, which wasn’t considered good enough to keep his place for the England tour.Ravi Rampaul
Injury and illness made him a non-starter until Edwards’ sore back put him out of the final Test. Did not seem his fittest in Dominica and got just one wicket but still contributed with the bat.Fidel Edwards
Bowled with his usual heart, pace and aggression in the first two Tests before getting injured. Dropped catches robbed him of more than three wickets.
Not in his best rhythm, tended to be erratic with line and length.4
Adrian Barath
Fit for all three Tests after a finger injury, the little man struggled throughout, scoring just 65 runs in six innings. Had a highest opening partnership of just 38 with Kraigg Brathwaite. Loose strokes and misjudgement were often the causes of his downfall.Kraigg Brathwaite
A bright start–57 in his opening knock of the series in Barbados–was followed by three scoreless innings in a row before he got on the board again in his last innings. He showed a susceptibility to balls in the corridor outside off stump. Was an asset in the field and still only 19.Kieran Powell
Was asked to fill Edwards’ slot in the last two Tests, although he was promoted to open in the second innings in Trinidad when West Indies were chasing victory. Normally an opener, he still always found himself facing the new ball but struggled to convert three decent starts into at least one half-century. An attractive strokeplayer he was undone by technical mistakes.Devendra Bishoo
Last year’s ICC Emerging Player of the Year, Bishoo’s poor form quickly left him out of favour with the selectors. He did not play after the first Test where he got just one wicket. Needs to tighten up on his control of length.

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first day of the second Test between West Indies and New Zealand in Jamaica

Subash Jayaraman in Jamaica03-Aug-2012Near no-ball of the day
Kemar Roach took a wicket off a no-ball in Antigua and he came mighty close to another one in his first spell of the day. On a pitch that had pace and bounce, Roach had BJ Watling poking one to Chris Gayle at first slip. As is the wont these days, umpire Erasmus asked for a second look to make sure Roach hadn’t overstepped. All and sundry believed that Roach had no part of his front foot behind the crease – except for the man upstairs, Richard Kettleborough, who matters. The call stood.Actual no-ball of the day
It looked like the no-ball problem wasn’t Roach’s alone. Sunil Narine bowled five of them in his 26 overs. It was as if Roach had passed it on during the break between the Tests. When West Indies appealed for a bat-pad catch off Doug Bracewell, umpire Paul Reiffel quickly acknowledged and the batsman was equally quick in asking for the review. The fact that Reiffel had made an egregious error became secondary when third umpire Kettleborough deemed Narine to have overstepped, even though the evidence did not appear conclusive. In DRS, all’s well that ends well?Watchful partner of the day
As Bracewell called for the review of the bat-pad catch decision, TV cameras also showed Kruger van Wyk paying attention to Narine’s front foot and asking for the review, even though he was the non-striker. Even if Bracewell hadn’t gone for it, the watchful eyes of van Wyk might have convinced him anyway.Best of the day
Tino Best was said to be “chomping at the bit” when he was warming the bench during the first Test. When an injury to Ravi Rampaul made room for his selection, the ever-excitable Best gave expression to his pent up feelings. His first ball of the day to Martin Guptill was a snorter and he regularly clocked in excess of 144kph and gained disconcerting bounce. Best had his hands in dismissals of three of New Zealand’s key men: he claimed the wickets of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor and completed a clean pick-up and direct hit to get rid of Guptill, who looked set for a century. It was fitting that Best would feature in the final New Zealand wicket to fall, as he took a top-edged steepler from Neil Wagner.Uncomfortable moment of the day
The fast bowlers’ union is long dead. The tail-enders get as good as they give. When Neil Wagner hit a boundary off Roach on the second ball of the 81st over, West Indies promptly took the new red cherry that was available to them. Roach clearly let Wagner know what he thought of his adventure from the previous delivery. He served up an 85.5mph delivery aimed for Wagner’s midriff, and an ungainly swat ballooned to fall short of the fine-leg fielder.Non-nightwatchman of the day
In Antigua, sent in as night-watchman in both the innings, Neil Wagner was dictated by the situation to play dour innings. Here in Jamaica, coming in at No.9, Wagner had the license to throw his bat around at anything he could reach, and so he did. As the eighth and ninth wickets fell, and with only Trent Boult for company, Wagner kicked up a notch. In the next four overs, Wagner hit five boundaries off Narine, Roach and Best, the most memorable one being a pull off Roach in the 83rd over. Four balls later, he fell trying to repeat the shot and gave Roach his four-for.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the final Group C match in Hambantota

Andrew Fernando in Hambantota22-Sep-2012Catch of the day
The sell-out crowd had very little to cheer during a two-and-a-half hour delay, but they were brought to life by a hair-raising take from Dilshan Munaweera to dismiss Richard Levi in the first over. Levi attempted to heave a Nuwan Kulasekara slower ball to the leg side, but only managed a top-edge that flew high over mid-on. Munaweera turned quickly and sprinted back, and though he didn’t look like making the ground while the ball was in the air, threw in a perfectly timed full-length dive to snatch it with both hands.Sweep of the day
There’s no time to play a ball on its merits amid the frenzy of a seven-over match and AB de Villiers’ six in Rangana Herath’s second over was perhaps the best example of that. With de Villiers shaping to slog sweep, Herath dropped it slightly short, but the batsman went through with the shot anyway, backing towards the leg side to launch Herath over long on.Superman of the day
de Villiers has already shown off his full-length dive to run out batsmen in an international, but it was on show again in Hambantota, this time with the keeper’s gloves on. Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan stuttered on a single that needed to be run sharply, and although de Villiers was standing almost a pitch length back to Morne Morkel, zoomed towards the stumps quickly, collected the throw from cover on the run and threw himself outstretched at the stumps to find Dilshan inches short.Drop of the day
South Africa had a below par outing in the field by their standards, but the worst spill was off Kumar Sangakkara, when he top edged a Jacques Kallis short ball in the fifth over. The ball flew high into the night sky, and Albie Morkel set himself nicely at midwicket but couldn’t hold on. Sangakkara had ambled to the other end, thinking he would be out, but upon seeing the drop, turned and completed a second run. Thankfully for Albie Morkel, he was out later in the over.

Plays of the Day from day two of the first Test between England and South Africa

George Dobell and Firdose Moonda at The Oval21-Jul-2012Stat of the Day
When Graeme Smith became the seventh batsmen to score a hundred in his 100th Test, that was a remarkable statistic on its own – but there was a more unusual one doing the rounds as well. Veteran journalist Qamar Ahmed has been witness to four of those. Ahmed, who has lived and worked in England for much of his writing career, has seen Javed Miandad, Alec Stewart and Inzamam-ul-Haq reaching their landmarks. He was also in England when Cowdrey achieved the feat, at Edgbaston, but did not make it to the ground in time to see it. Asked which one of the hundreds he thought was the best, Ahmed found it tough to decide but said of Smith’s: “It wasn’t pretty at all, was it?”Standing ovation of the Day
Five of the seven hundreds Smith has racked up against England have been in front of English crowds. They are used to him muscling his way to a big score and they don’t really like it. You can tell by the noise. As Smith ground out his first fifty, at a strike rate that did not even reach 35, they waited for him to make a mistake with an expectant, hushed silence. As he freed his arms during the second, which came up in only 41 balls, they grew quieter still. Then, when he slashed at a full, wide Tim Bresnan delivery to bring up three figures before lunch, they exploded. Smith received applause from all quarters but got an even more thunderous reception when he inside-edged Bresnan on to his stumps 31 runs later. Every member of the full house was on their feet as massive applause ushered Smith back to the changing room. It said, “We may not like it, but we respect it.”Telling moment of the Day
England have utilised the DRS pretty well in recent times. Though Stuart Broad, in particular, can prove excitable, Andrew Strauss’ calm manner and the policy of only reviewing if the captain, bowler and wicketkeeper all agree has led to England enjoying a measure of success with their calls. So it was an indication of their desperation that they called for a review with Smith on 108 and South Africa on 213 for 1. Replays showed that, not only did Tim Bresnan’s delivery pitch outside the line of leg stump, but Smith also hit it. As leg before appeals go, it really had very little going for it.Chilling moment of the Day
England’s joy at ending Smith’s marathon innings was short-lived. While they were naturally delighted at finally ending the stay of a man with 25 Test centuries, the sight of a fellow with 42 Test centuries walking down the pavilion steps to replace him was enough to pour cold water on their excitement. No bowler can relish Jacques Kallis coming to the crease at the best of times, but with the score on 260 for 2, the sight must have been chilling. There may be some doubts about the South Africa tail, but when the head and the body are as strong as this, it is not the most pressing of concerns.Celeb spot of the Day
Important people like coming to the cricket. Be it movie stars, professionals of other sports and sometimes politicians. The last of those was in attendance on the third day. Labour party leader Ed Miliband was ushered into the press lounge, where he had lunch. He spent a few overs after the break in the media area outside and chatted to journalists, even posing for a photo or two.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Trinidad and Tobago v Yorkshire

Firdose Moonda at Centurion10-Oct-2012Deciding over of the day
The wisecracks about Emirates airlines will start as soon as the pun masters realise that the 17th over – bowled by Rayad Emrit – was the one that lost T&T the match. Ten runs off the first two balls swung the advantage Yorkshire’s way as Gary Balance showed that he can fill the hole left by David Miller in the middle order.Signs of intent
Lendl Simmons spent the entire World T20 on the bench for West Indies and must have been itching to have time in the middle. He chose to take on his first ball, a fairly friendly one from Joe Root, but ended up edging it to third man. The shot was aerial for a while and a catcher may have had Trinidad and Tobago in trouble even sooner than they ended up in.Misguided intent
Trouble came at the end of the over when William Perkins lashed out. He tried to hit Root over long-on, even though T&T had already scored seven runs already and was caught by Gary Balance.Serious lack of intent
Despite being 8 for 2 and having faced five dot balls in the over, Adrian Barath saw no need for caution. He swung at Steven Patterson’s only full delivery and met fresh air. The ball went on to peg back middle stump.Too much intent
Denesh Ramdin knew T&T had to have a go at the end and skied Adil Rashid in the direction of long-on. The fielder thought he would be in contention for a catch and came in to take it but gave up when he realised the ball would fall short. Ramdin and Kevon Cooper took the single and as the throw was about to come in, Ramdin thought of a second. He turned and took a few steps before deciding against it but lost his footing as he tried to go back and make his ground. In the end, it was a wicket, just not the way Rashid would have imagined it.Survival of the day
Adam Lyth started his innings with a four but did not look comfortable at all after that. He battled with the short ball from Ravi Rampaul and Samuel Badree’s googly. In the confusion, he top-edged an attempted lofted drive and offered time and simplicity to Rayad Emrit, who should have taken the catch. He hovered around underneath it, looking a little lost, and then let the ball slip through. Lyth was eventually out when Emrit bowled him in his first over.

Tamim Iqbal is using his innings in domestic cricket to help him bat for longer periods in Tests

Mohammad Isam10-Nov-2012Tamim Iqbal has not scored an international hundred for two years and four months. During that time, he’s made fourteen half-centuries in all formats. Now, a plan is in motion to help Tamim convert his starts into centuries, and it’s already given him a spectacular start to the 2012-13 season, with three consecutive hundreds in the National Cricket league.Chittagong Division haven’t seen much of their most celebrated cricketer, with Tamim missing five years of first-class cricket since his Test debut in 2007. However, after months of travelling the world playing Twenty20 cricket, the first-class circuit is ideal preparation for a season of Tests. Bangladesh are likely to play seven Tests this season, and their first series is against West Indies, whose attack is sharper than the one Tamim faced last year. Moreover, because of the wet weather, the pitches at Shere Bangla Stadium haven’t had the chance to dry, as was evident in the two NCL matches.Against West Indies’ varied attack on a pitch that is likely be spicy, Tamim’s plan is to add more discipline to his batting. He believes it will take him to a higher level. He’s been seeking this improvement for the last two years – a frustrating period in which Bangladesh played only five Tests.”My only goal in this series is to bat in a disciplined way, the same way that I have batted in domestic cricket this season. Nothing more,” Tamim told ESPNcricinfo. “In most sessions in a Test match, it is the bowlers who will be on top. A batsman has to bide his time to capitalise. If I can do well in bowling-friendly conditions, I can take myself to the next level.”Test cricket is to test yourself; if you are less disciplined in Twenty20s, you can get away with it, but not in Test cricket. The bowlers test you mentally.”For Bangladeshi batsmen, the gap between domestic and international cricket is large and only a few have been able to make the transition. Tamim rose quickly in international cricket but was almost at the end of his tether in less than a year. It was Jamie Siddons, the former Bangladesh coach, who instilled a sense of responsibility into Tamim’s batting and helped him open up his game on the leg side, setting him up for the next four years.In those four years, Tamim mostly learned on the job against international bowling attacks, without going back to domestic cricket to work on technical issues. It is mostly scheduling that caused this, but maybe there was a lack of confidence in the NCL. His comeback for Chittagong last month wouldn’t have allayed those doubts but domestic cricket, in most parts of the world, can’t promise the same level of competitiveness for international batsmen, unless they are prepared to be proactive.Tamim decided to challenge himself and add purpose to the exercise. He hardly wasted a minute on the first day, remaining not out on 176 against Dhaka Metropolis. “I wanted to bat long in first-class cricket. There was a target I wanted to achieve, that was to bat all day. I didn’t know how to go about it because I have never done it before.”Domestic cricket was a good place to start, so I thought I should try and do something that I have to do sometime in the future. I personally believe that if we play any cricket, it shouldn’t be done without a purpose. Otherwise it is just a waste of time. So I was disciplined in all three innings for Chittagong, followed the same routines, and I was successful.”The three hundreds for Chittagong – 192, 113* and 185 – were also an exercise for Tamim to show restraint when nearing a milestone. He wants to slow down now, unlike occasions in the past when he tried to rush. He threw it away in an ODI against Zimbabwe, and crucially against West Indies last year, which cost Bangladesh heavily.”I know how to score a century, but somehow I wasn’t doing it. This time I have tried to change tact when I am in the 80s and 90s,” Tamim said. “I tried to hit out of it, but now I want to wait for the perfect ball to hit.”I think this is a reason why I missed so many hundreds after making 70s and 80s, I tried to play big shots. It happened here in a Test match. These are small things but I want to rectify them and the rest is up to the Almighty.”His next step is to bat with the same purpose against West Indies. Tamim wants to be fully prepared, mentally and technically, so that a failure doesn’t hurt his confidence. “The bowling attack will definitely be better [than in domestic cricket], wickets will be better,” he said. “But I won’t be disappointed if I have done my part right and failed. I can tell myself I did everything possible. I’m preparing myself with the same game plan and discipline as I had shown for Chittagong.”Tamim’s recent international form should encourage him; the four half-centuries in the Asia Cup are evidence of his growing stature as an opener. Those four innings, however, also underline what he thinks is missing from his repertoire. The Twenty20s have taken him places, but it will be his performances in Test cricket that will define the year for Tamim.

New Zealand’s marks out of 10, for the Test series against Sri Lanka

Andrew Fernando30-Nov-20129
Tim Southee (12 wickets at 13.83, 55 runs)
Could this be Tim Southee’s break out series? In Galle he swung the ball so mightily most of Sri Lanka’s top batsmen couldn’t get near it. At the P Sara, there wasn’t much swing to be had, but his wrist position ensured he gleaned every inch of movement available, and his line kept testing the batsmen’s technique. Often sharp, always hungry, on this series’ evidence he can be an effective spearhead for New Zealand in the years to come. The challenge for him now, is to produce this type of performance consistently.8
Trent Boult (9 wickets at 15.11)
Didn’t quite achieve Southee’s movement in the air, but Trent Boult will know he contributed significantly to his partner’s success, and the team’s victory, through the pressure he created. As good as his figures are, they don’t quite do justice to his effect on the series. He was the most disciplined seam bowler from both teams and his effort never dipped, even with the old ball. New Zealand would do well to continue investing in him.7.5
Ross Taylor (243 runs at 60.75)
A poor first Test, but a stellar second. Taylor seemed to have completely retooled his approach to batting at the P Sara, and reaped 216 runs there as a result. Often over aggressive against spin, he did not hit a boundary off the spinners until after he had reached his hundred in the first innings, and hit two fours in total in his second innings 74. His captaincy has been under scrutiny for some time now, but he epitomised New Zealand’s desperation to end their losing streak, and has perhaps earned some respite from his detractors.7
Kane Williamson (163 runs at 40.75)
Williamson is most naturally capable player of spin bowling in the New Zealand side, and he certainly played spin well during his first innings 135 at the P Sara. He picked Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv early, and was unruffled when the runs were not forthcoming. He must become more consistent in the months to come, having only scored one fifty since his match-saving ton against South Africa in March, but for this series at least, he has performed admirably. Gets an added point for snatching two of the finest catches any gully fielder will take.6
Daniel Flynn (126 runs at 31.50)
One trying fifty in the first match, and the only batsman who had any idea how to play Rangana Herath effectively in the third innings there. He backed that up another solid half-century to consolidate on Taylor’s stand with Williamson in the second Test. Perhaps not the most talented batsmen in the side, but one who is willing to show the application that might see him become a successful batsman at the Test level.5.5
Brendon McCullum (120 runs at 30.00)

A defiant half-century in the first innings in Galle, and a belligerent 35 in the second innings in Colombo when New Zealand were after quick runs were McCullum’s contributions to the series. He was the victim of a poor lbw decision in one innings, and played an unnecessary stroke to have himself caught at deep midwicket in another. All in all, not a bad series for him, though he knows he must increase his output with the bat now that he is a specialist batsman in Tests.4.5
Jeetan Patel (4 wickets at 36)
Was rarely a wicket-taking threat, highlighted by a wicketless fourth innings in Colombo, as his side was chasing victory. There was no obvious flaw in his game, save the fact that there simply was not enough turn to trouble good players of spin bowling. With Daniel Vettori’s powers on the wane, Patel has an opportunity to embed himself in the side as the long-term spinner, but he has so far not taken it. He did not allow easy runs however, and at times, built on the pressure the seam bowlers created.4.5
Todd Astle (1 wicket at 97, 38 runs at 19)
Not a terrible debut given that he did contribute to the victory, but he was also largely ineffective with the ball, save for one ripper of a delivery that dismissed Prasanna Jayawardene on day five. He was guilty of too many full tosses and long hops, even for a rookie legspinner, but he did make a good 35 in New Zealand’s second innings, after three wickets had fallen in four balls and a collapse looking likely.3
Doug Bracewell (2 wickets at 79.5)
He is yet to live up to the promise of Hobart, and as the pitches have not been particularly conducive to seam movement in Sri Lanka, he has struggled to penetrate. Bowled a few spells with good energy, but didn’t sustain it long enough to make a breakthrough. He did remove Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara on the fourth evening in Colombo (though Sangakkara’s dismissal was more a result of good fortune than skill), but was back to being less effective the following day.Kruger van Wyk (41 at 13.66, 4 catches)
A pair in the second Test does not bode well for his future in the side, and BJ Watling, who has been impressive in limited-overs cricket, may get a recall to the Test side for New Zealand’s tour of van Wyk’s native South Africa. His keeping was sharp however, and no chances went down on his watch despite the low bounce in Galle in particular.2
Martin Guptill (39 at 9.75)
Was rested for the ODI leg so that he could be fresh for the Tests, but could not get beyond 13 in any of his four innings. He had plundered runs at the beginning of the year, but seems short of confidence, and has a number of technical issues to correct as well. Gains half a point for his fielding and a good diving slip catch to dismiss Angelo Mathews in the first innings in Colombo.1
James Franklin (5 runs at 2.5, 1 wicket at 31)
Awful first Test for him, after which he was dropped for Astle. Made a painstaking 3 from 43 balls in the first innings before being stumped for 2 in the second. His biggest contribution was the removal of Mathews in Sri Lanka’s first innings.

From Nicholas Angel, Australia Ricky Ponting has said that the disappointing form of his opposing captain Anil Kumble could turn into an issue for India at the selection table

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013Nicholas Angel, Australia
Ricky Ponting has said that the disappointing form of his opposing captain Anil Kumble could turn into an issue for India at the selection table. Ricky Ponting’s comments may well serve to motivate the Indian skipper. Ponting only has to cast his mind back a week or two when his fallibility in India and batting average of 12.28 were the fulcrum of the pre-series coverage. He went on to post a magnificent century.On the eve of the second Test match in Mohali, the series is still wide open yet it is Kumble who has borne the brunt of this week’s coverage both in India and abroad. He has been criticised for his captaincy and for carrying an injury into the first Test. He has been criticised for being too old. But expect him to take a bagful of wickets, if not on his 38th birthday tomorrow, then at another crucial time during the Test match. The last time Kumble played a Test at this ground he was the man of the match.It’s not too often Kumble has gone wicketless in Tests and the chances of it happening twice in a row are akin to hoping the ‘All Blacks’ crash to consecutive losses. India have not lost to the Australia for three tests in a row now. A solid contribution from their captain will not only galvanise his team, but given the narrow margins of recent contests, just might tip the momentum India’s way decisively. All of the Indian team, and the celebrated Four in particular, recognise the pressure their captain has been under this week and expect them to celebrate extra hard with his every success. It is this unification, this drive, that Ponting has unwittingly handed to the Indians on a silver platter.Seemingly Ponting intended to add more fuel to the fire and contribute to Kumble’s disrupted preparation. But saying a third seamer might be a more penetrative substitution for Kumble betrays a more likely truth: Ponting’s Australians fear Kumble. He is a proven match-winner and although he is in the twilight of his career he has publicly declared that he will graciously depart the arena on his own terms. Better then to have let the sleeping giant lie.

Anyone feeling that three Tests was just enough to satisfy the appetite?

Andy Zaltzman25-Feb-2013Thank you, whoever (a) invented cricket, (b) thought of stringing it out over several days, (c) developed the modes of transport that enabled it to be exported to certain parts of the world, and (d) conceived the idea of countries playing against each other at sport instead of, or as well as, war. The fruits of your genius were laid out on a platter at Lord’s in a dazzling Test match with the kind of thrust and counter-thrust that would have made a couple of divorcing Olympic fencers proud, a game of constantly shifting balance and momentum, with more twists and turns than an ice-skating anaconda. It was a sinuously evolving drama that must have made the likes of film-making wiz Ingmar Bergman, novel-scribbling ace Leo Tolstoy and award-winning rom-com and rom-trag playwright Willie Shakespeare slap their collective foreheads in their graves and bark: “Oh nuts. I was wasting my time making stuff up. I should have cut out the middleman and just watched a good Test match.”In the end, South Africa’s consistent excellence prevailed and England’s intermittent brilliance was undermined by a series of pivotal bloopers. Finn and Bairstow gave auspicious displays of their match-changing abilities, but too many of the cornerstones of England’s all-conquering 2011 were too far from their best, and, as they did over the course of the series, they failed the sternest examination of their careers. South Africa held the upper hand for most of the match. England kept bouncing back up off the canvas, but each time, one of the Proteas would step in and clonk them back down again, or England would slip up and punch themselves in the face.It was the cricket that the cricketing universe had wanted to see from two excellent teams, one ascendant after years of underachievement, one struggling to arrest its decline from its peak. England gave South Africa multiple opportunities to choke, and Smith and his men impressively failed to take any of them. The frailties they had shown in failing to win so many series from 2009 to 2011 had been laid aside.Thus, this fascinating rivalry between England and South Africa, which has produced so many intriguing series and subplots ever since the Proteas returned to Test cricket, has completed its latest chapter. It will now be taken to a barn, knocked spark out with a crowbar, and locked in forced hibernation in a cryogenic chamber for three and a quarter years. They will not meet in the Test arena until 2015-16. So, and forgive me for repeating a point made in another recent blog, between January 2010 and November 2015, two of the world’s leading Test teams will have faced each other in a grand total of three Test matches. If this is what the doctor ordered to aid the long-term health of the longest and greatest format of the game, then cricket needs to ask to see that doctor’s medical certificates. He is clearly an unqualified quack.When leaving Lord’s yesterday, I did not overhear a single person saying, “Yes, three Tests was just right for this series. Absolutely bang on the banana. Always leave them wanting more, that’s what they say in showbiz. Besides, another Test could really undercut the delicate specialness of that ODI series.”Thus, yet another fascinating contest has been sawn off prematurely by knuckle-headed scheduling (is there anyone in the known universe who genuinely cares what happens in the forthcoming three weeks of limited-over matches?) (and I mean “genuinely”, not “slightly, and temporarily, because it is a fun day out”).A quick message to whoever is responsible for scheduling Test cricket: please stop ruining it.On the evidence of the swathe of fascinating, fluctuating Tests between various countries over the last year, the “product” is in not merely rude health, it is directly insulting health. Stop sedating it and telling it to mind its language. I know that this plea, were it to be delivered directly to those concerned, would fall not on deaf ears but on a cash register with no ears, but still. The point stands.● The evidence of this series makes South Africa’s struggles to win a series over recent years seem even more baffling. The belated admission to the Test team of Vernon Philander, the Emeritus Professor of Nibble at the University Of Bowl-Craft, has upgraded a series-drawing team into a series-winning one. His insistently probing cross-examination with the ball helped restrain England in the first two Tests, and scuppered them at Lord’s.They are not yet complete as a team. Tahir has been marginal, they need a wicketkeeper to allow de Villiers’ batting to flourish, and Rudolph and Duminy have both been useful without fully establishing themselves as the long-term middle order. But they have four supreme batsmen and three top-class seamers, who form a perfectly balanced combination (plus Kallis, who has taken more than seven wickets in a series only once since 2007, but retains the capacity to make vital breakthroughs).They have reached their merited No. 1 ranking on the basis of a potent eight months culminating in this magnificent series triumph, but should have the capacity to remain there for some time. Of course, those same words could have been written this time last year about Strauss’ England, whose nine months of cricketing perfection from the Boxing Day Test of 2010 to the end of last summer’s series with India melted in the desert against Pakistan and has now fully evaporated in the English summer.So nothing is certain. South Africa face some of the same challenges that Strauss’ team have faced. Not all of them. It seems unlikely that Hashim Amla will be dropped from the team for going bonkers in a press conference and then abusing his own captain. He does not strike the neutral observer as that kind of man. Maybe Kallis will do so. Just to see the looks on people’s faces.● It was regrettable that Matt Prior, who has been superb with gloves and bat for England through their period of success and is currently one of the most influential Test cricketers in the world, should have been responsible for three critical errors in this match. He made eight dismissals, including some excellent catches, and become just the second England wicketkeeper to execute two stumpings in a Test since 1995. He scored 100 runs, 73 of them in a supremely paced second innings that showcased his trademark cocktail of classical style and modern innovation, and took England if not to the brink of victory, then certainly to the brink of the brink of victory, strapping on their brinking boots ready for a final assault on the brink.Ultimately, however, his few errors proved more influential to the result than his several successes. In the first innings, he batted fluently at the close of the first day to help consolidate Bell’s and Bairstow’s recovery, then cautiously on the second morning in the build-up to the new ball. England were 221 for 5, 88 behind, on even terms with South Africa. If they could negotiate the new ball, they would be in control. Prior saw that already sizeable “if”, injected it with a growth hormone, and watched it balloon alarmingly like a desiccated sumo wrestler in a jacuzzi. Philander took the shiny new conker. First ball, Prior played a loose drive and edged to slip. England never came as close to parity again in the rest of the match.Prior was soon chuntering “oops” to himself again, when he dropped a reasonably tricky leg-side chance off Amla when he had scored 2. It would have made South Africa 49 for 2. As it was, they soon became 50 for 2 when Petersen was out two balls later. But Amla was still there, and Amla is one of the finest and most merciless batsmen of the 21st century. He scored 121 runs with ice-cold silken precision. England, again, never came as close to parity again in the rest of the match.Finally, in that frenetic, dizzying final afternoon, Prior and Swann had Frankensteined England’s seemingly moribund challenge back to life with electrified flamboyance against the old ball. They had plundered 41 from the previous four overs, 60 off the last seven. The impending new ball still gave the Proteas the likelihood of victory, but England needed only 64 more with two batsmen in rampant form. Could they combine chaos with calmness?Prior then called Swann through for a single which, with hindsight, carried a similar level of risk as jumping into a lion enclosure dressed in a pantomime zebra outfit – not inevitably disastrous but with minimal prospect of safety. Swann was run out. For the third time in the match, Prior hunched over in self-recrimination. Inevitably, England never came anywhere near to parity again in the final remnants of the match.The contrasting fortunes of England’s gloveman are highlighted by the small piece of history that accompanied him as he trudged off the field at Lord’s – he is the first wicketkeeper to make eight dismissals and score 100 runs in a Test and end up on the losing side.It was a Test match of countless turning points, but these three were amongst the swivelliest. Prior played well in this match, brilliantly yesterday. England would not have come close to victory without him. They might have won it but for his mistakes. He helped show cricket in all its magnificence. But he put himself at the mercy of its intermittent cruelty.

Graeme Swann could be facing his last stand but England are not so lightly stocked with spinners that they should start worrying about the Ashes yet

Andrew McGlashan in Dunedin06-Mar-2013During the 2009 Ashes series in England the focus, every match, was on Andrew Flintoff’s disintegrating knee. He was patched up to perform heroics at Lord’s, but that was his last great stand and he limped his way across the line at The Oval although not without one final piece of showmanship to run out Ricky Ponting.This time another part of another bowlers’ anatomy will be the focus of attention. The decision to send Graeme Swann for elbow surgery in the United States is an admittance that the joint has almost reached breaking point. As with many bowlers, Swann has rarely operated pain free but every effort had been put in to manage and nurse him through to January 2014 and the Sydney Test.It is a mark of how successful that strategy has been that this was the first time Swann had to concede his Test place through injury. The other matches he had missed since his debut against India in late 2008 – two in West Indies on the 2009 tour and last year’s Headingley Test against South Africa – were tactical decisions.But the point of no return had been reached. The operation could not be left any closer to the start of the Ashes on July 10 at Trent Bridge. Recovery timescales rarely go exactly to plan. The positive spin, fitting perhaps for one of England’s most positive spinners, is that the Champions Trophy remains in sight for Swann. The man himself, ever the optimist, is hoping for May.Swann has not even gone under the knife yet and only then will a clearer comeback target be known, although following his previous surgery, after the Tests in the Caribbean in 2009, he was back playing two months later for the May Tests.Providing the operation is a success, Swann will need first-class matches to show he is able to withstand Test cricket. England play Essex from June 30 as Ashes preparation (as they did against Warwickshire in 2009) but if Swann takes part in the Champions Trophy it would rule him out of County Championship action for Nottinghamshire. Retirement from limited-overs cricket may yet have to be contemplated.Unless he is back bowling by early May it is hard to see how he would have enough workload to properly test the elbow. He got through the one-dayers in New Zealand; it was only when he bowled longer spells in Queenstown (where he sent down 42 overs) that his elbow problem flared up again.

“Swann remains head-and-shoulders above any of Australia’s current spinners but Monty Panesar is also better than Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell”

There is, of course, also the worst case scenario that the operation won’t work. This is a different operation than the one Tim Bresnan has recently undergone, which was to remove scar tissue and from which the outcome is more certain. The last time, in 2009, before that year’s Ashes series, Swann’s surgeon said he couldn’t get to the last two pieces of bone as they were too close the nerve. Even in this day of modern surgical skills, sometimes there is not the perfect outcome.That, however, would not need to be terminal to England’s Ashes hopes. It did not take long for Australians to latch on to the news of Swann’s withdrawal from the New Zealand tour. With their current problems in India it was being suggested that finally some good news had emerged for them.Swann remains head-and-shoulders above any of Australia’s current spinners but his No. 2, Monty Panesar, is also better than Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell. Just look at their returns in India compared to what Panesar managed late last year. In one-day cricket over the last few months James Tredwell, who is now flying to New Zealand, has also shown himself a very reliable bowler. Swann’s returns in the ODIs on this tour were not as impressive as Tredwell’s in India.It is far from ideal that Panesar is entering this Test having not bowled a competitive delivery since the Nagpur Test, but he is a more confident person these days. He is not the fully rounded Test bowler that Swann has become – or the all-round cricketer who can offer runs and slip catching – but it is unfair to pigeonhole him as a spinner who can only do a role overseas. Swann, for all his craft and skill, has averaged 40.05 in his last 12 home Test matches and if you remove three Tests against Sri Lanka that goes up to 48.65 in nine matches.The decision to try and get Swann sorted now, rather than patch him up again in the hope everything works out okay, only to see him ruled out shortly before the Ashes, means Panesar has time to get his mind around the possibility of being England’s main spinner for the summer. It may not come to that. Everyone will hope for the best, but it would be prudent to plan for the worst.