The Reverse Sweep

Virat Kohli's very very special innings

He may be a spiky individual who at times should control his emotions better, but there is no doubting Virat Kohli's brilliance with a cricket bat in his hands.

It is easy to forget sometimes that he is just 23, but yesterday's stupendous innings was the ninth ODI hundred of Kohli's short career - the same number as Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Smith.

His 133 off just 86 balls must rank as one of the best ODI hundreds of all time. Not just because it led India to an unlikely win and bonus point, nor because of the phenomenal strike rate of 154.65 and the way he dismantled the formidable Lasith Malinga.

All of these were impressive enough, but it was the style in which Kohli made his runs that stood out - some of his drives through the covers were as mouth watering as Scarlett Johansson in a negligee. His acceleration was better than an Aston Martin DB9: his first 50 runs came off 44 balls, his second off 32 and his last 33 runs came from just 10 balls.   

We've long believed that Kohli is by far the best of India's new generation of batsmen and yesterday's masterpiece confirmed him as the heir apparent to Sachin Tendulkar with a touch of the majesty of VVS Laxman's strokemaking. It also confirmed that Kohli is the best young batsman in world cricket today.

There have been many great ODI innings: Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni in the World Cup finals of 1979, 2003, 2007 and 2011 plus King Viv's monumental 189 against England at Old Trafford in 1984 to name just five; and Kohli has now joined them in the pantheon.

Where next?

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

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England win the Carling Cup

A pitch slower than Vinay Kumar and some strong death bowling from Jade Dernbach and Stuart Broad helped England life international cricket's equivalent of the Carling Cup last night.

Whilst this success and the FA Cup win last week suggest that England are coming to terms with playing 50 and 20 over cricket in Asia, it shouldn't hide the fact that overall this tour has been disappointing.

As the Premier League is to football, Test matches are to cricket and England showed relegation form in the chastening 3-0 series green-wash.

In football parlance, England's strike force was potent, but the defence could not cope with Pakistan's Barcelona-esque attack of Ajmal, Rehman and Gul.

Fortunately for England, another series is never far away and they will have the opportunity to display their hitherto Champions League form in Sri Lanka in a few weeks.

Whether the Sri Lankan bowlers will have recovered from the hiding just administered to them by Virat Kohli is quite another thing.

Where next?

Sir Charles Colville and other cricket unthinkables 

England's topsy-turvy menu in the desert

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Sir Charles Colville and other cricket unthinkables

He may not have played in the first match of the series yesterday, but Alastair Cook's very presence in the England T20 squad would have been unthinkable just a few short months ago.

This prompted us to look into our crystal ball for our latest piece for All Out Cricket's jolly good website to see what other big cricket stories that may seem wholly implausible now but which may become unlikely reality during the remainder of 2012.

To read what the likes of Chris Gayle, Lalit Modi, Jonathan Trott and our old friend Charles Colville could be getting up to read The Year That Won't Happen (or will it?).

Where next?

Cricket Zeroes: Charles Colville

Are the BCCI about to solve its biggest 'problem'?

BREAKING: Bob Willis attacked; Jonathan Trott arrested

Chris Gayle may be cool, but we're not sure even he can carry this look off...

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Runs Forrest, Runs

Selection is a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get.

For Australia's first one day international post-Ponting, the sinisterly named (for Brad Haddin at least) NSP opted to replace the 375 cap veteran in the pivotal number three position with a man with just three caps to his name.

That the game with Sri Lanka happened to be in Hobart in front of Ponting's adoring home crowd that had been denied the opportunity to bid adieu to their fallen hero meant that the pressure on Peter Forrest was ratcheted up even higher. This went past boiling point when Australia lost both openers cheaply.

So for Forrest to go out and hit a hundred speaks volumes. It wasn't the best or most fluent ODI hundred we've ever seen but it was runs Forrest, it was runs.

Another famous Forrest once concluded that "my Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on," and that's exactly what Australia and Forrest seem to have done.

As chocolates go, Forrest's selection has so far turned out to be one of those with the delicious strawberry cream.

Brad Haddin is nougat. It seems that John Inverarity is none too keen on nougat.

Where next?

Ricky Ponting proves the doubters (and gladly us) wrong

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England's topsy-turvy menu in the desert

Imagine if you went to an expensive (is there any other?) three star Michelin restaurant and you were served your dessert first. It would be a bit strange wouldn't it? Especially if the head chef wasn't a certain Heston Blumenthal.

Now imagine that your chocolate souffle was followed in chronological order by the cheese board, main course, hors d'oeuvre and finally the amuse bouche to round things off. It would be a bit disorientating wouldn't it? Even more so given the two bottles of vintage wine you had thirstily gulped down - dessert wine first naturally.

For restuarant menus designed by Mr Topsy-Turvy, read England's tour schedule against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which was seemingly conceived by Mr Haven't Got A Clue.

If we consider that dessert was off the menu (well the tour did come immediately after the Christmas and New Year feasts and one does have to watch that waistline), we were first served up with the main course of filet de bœuf en croûte with cauliflower gratin and fine green beans. This was followed by succulent langoustine and now today the we have the arrival of the parmesan pannacota amuse bouche.

Just like you and me in that peculiar three star Michelin establishment, England were badly disorientated at first and the beef - despite coming from one of the finest herds in the world - went down badly. Ian Bell in particular had a severe choking fit. Fortunately, composure had been recovered by the time the langoustine arrived - Alastair Cook and Steve Finn do like their shellfish, although the same couldn't be said for Pakistan who must have been served up a bad batch.  

But enough of Mr Topsy-Turvy and Mr Haven't Got A Clue, let's get our menus and our cricket the right way round. That is Twenty 20 first, the one day series second and the main course of Test cricket last on stage.

That'll be better for the abused palettes of spectators and players alike.

Where next?

Pakistan vs England ODI series - England marks out of 10

Alastair Cook and England's T20 team

Beware Brad Haddin; Big Bad John Inverarity & the NSP are coming to get you

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Pakistan vs England ODI series - England marks out of 10

Alastair Cook - 10 (323 runs at 80.75, SR 88.98): Who said he couldn't adapt his game for one day internationals? Struck two hundreds in the first two games and was only 20 runs short of a third before letting his opening partner grab the glory in the final match.

Kevin Pietersen - 9.5 (281 runs at 93.66, SR 84.38): Didn't get out of first gear as his engine spluttered in the first two matches, but having not scored a ODI hundred in three and a half years just like London buses two came along together to ensure England cantered to their targets in the final two games.

Jonathan Trott - 2 (38 runs at 12.66, SR 53.52): For once it really was Trott's fault as England's number three followed a poor Test series with an even worse one day rubber. At least Bob Willis will be pleased.

Ravi Bopara - 8 (108 runs at 54.00, SR 80.00): Came into the series under pressure but delivered with a pair of fifties as part of two match defining partnerships with fellow Essex boy Cook. He may have played himself into the Test side for Sri Lanka into the bargain. 

Eoin Morgan - 4 (66 runs at 33.00, SR 77.64): His hangover from the Test series blunted his usual lustre with the bat when in coloured clothing. Two not outs inflated his figures.

Craig Kieswetter - 6 (52 runs at 26.00, SR 64.19): Looked like little boy lost in an alien position for him in the middle order at first and endured a few mishaps behind the stumps. But bounced back with a promising 43 to help England complete the whitewash.

Jos Buttler - 1: After a big build-up thanks to impressive performances with the Lions and a List A average in excess of 70, a finger injury delayed his entry into the fray and when he finally got a chance in the last match he bagged a two ball duck.

Samit Patel - 7 (5 wickets at 33.80, ER 5.12; 34 runs, SR 85.00): Picked up some crucial wickets, wasn't dismissed in either of his innings and even pulled off a smart catch at a crucial moment in the second game. Deserves to get a decent lunch allowance in his shiny new ECB incremental contract.

Stuart Broad - 6 (5 wickets at 23.40, ER 4.50; 1 run): Not quite on the money in the first two games, but looked close to his imperious best in the third match before getting a much needed rest for the final game. 

Tim Bresnan - 4: Returned from injury in the final game of the series and was unsurprisingly a bit rusty with the ball, but did manage to hit the winning runs.

Graeme Swann - 5 (2 wickets at 48, ER 3.84, 13 runs): Tidy enough but as in the Test series lacked his usual spark. Where's the zest gone, Swanny?

James Anderson - 6 (4 wickets at 28.00, ER 4.48): Like Broad, was overshadowed by Finn but plugged away well enough. Probably not in England's strongest ODI XI at present. 

Steve Finn - 10 (13 wickets at 10.30, ER 3.35): Phenomenal. Decided the first match with a devastating new ball burst and was head, shoulders and chest the best bowler on either side throughout. Pakistan's batsmen could neither keep him out or get him away. A berth in the Test side cannot be far away.

Jade Dernbach - 6: Gained some redemption for his ordeal in India by taking a four-for in the final game. Still has a girl's name. 

Danny Briggs - 6: Came in for his debut in the final game, showed promise and bowled tidily to take two for 39. Will get further opportunities.    

Where next?

England are ready to rock'n'roll

Alastair Cook takes a cue from Strauss as his ODI alma mater

Samit Patel is doing alright

Kevin Pietersen opening the batting in ODI is STILL a good idea

India v England ODI series: England marks out of 10

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Beware Brad Haddin; John Inverarity & the NSP are coming to get you

Brad Haddin should be a worried man. If the incongruously named National Selection Panel can be as ruthless as it has with Ricky Ponting, what do they have in store for the iron-gloved keeper?

A man with 375 one day caps to his name, the best Australian batsman since Bradman and someone who despite failing in the CB Series is just coming off a double hundred in his last Test innings has been cast aside. Haddin would do well to nervously watch his back.

Rather ironically for a man for who the sound of quacking has frequently accompanied his return to the pavilion after another brief and fruitless visit to the crease in recent times, Haddin is being lined up as a dead duck by the NSP (which without pressing the point is a preposterous name for the selectors – one on a par with Andre Villas-Boas annoying misuse and overuse of the word ‘project’ in relation to his crumbling reign at Chelsea).

First, Haddin was being ‘rested’ for the T20 matches with India, then his ‘break’ was extended to the first three one dayers amidst talk of how the selectors were keen for him to go on until the back-to-back Ashes series next year.

Now though and partially hidden at the back-end of the announcement of Ponting’s culling, was sinister news for Haddin. Not only did the NSP nail their colours firmly to the mast of Matthew Wade as their first choice limited overs keeper, they also confirmed that Wade would be part of the Test squad for the forthcoming tour of the Caribbean.

Haddin, whose hold on his place was already tenuous thanks to some erratic performance behind the stumps and in front of them given his Test average of just 23 since the beginning of 2011, must know that the game is up if he is being honest with himself. Perhaps that accounts for his pair in New South Wales’s crushing defeat against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield at the weekend.

He may have famously described India as fragile in the recent series but it is Haddin who has been dressed up in suspenders, had an orange plonked in his mouth and a belt tightened around his neck by the NSP. He is clearly a dead duck waddling, but will Inverarity pull the trigger before Haddin tastes peel? 

Where next?

It's time to get uplifted and inspired...

Ricky Ponting proves the doubters (and gladly us) wrong

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England are ready

A thought struck us as we watched Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen fairly canter towards the target of 223 set by Pakistan in the third one day international in Dubai on Saturday.

It wasn’t that Cook is a ODI run machine, or that rumours of KP’s demise had proved decidedly premature, or even that Steve Finn is starting to make an unanswerable case for his elevation to the Test XI. Although all of these are true.

No, despite the fact that Pietersen’s hundred was his first in one day internationals since November 2008 – two weeks before Graeme Swann’s Test debut and three months before the Andocracy of Flower and Strauss was formed at the helm of the good ship England, one thought transcended all others in our furtive mind.

The ease with which England have dispatched a highly capable Pakistan side in this one day series shows that they are finally ready to contest a World Cup in Asia.

Unfortunately, they are exactly one year too late, which does seems a little careless.

Where next?

A case of déjà vu in the desert for England, but mon Dieu for Kevin Pietersen

Alastair Cook takes a cue from Strauss as his ODI alma mater

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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Samit Patel is doing alright

Let’s be honest, the only way Samit Patel is ever likely to be compared to a gazelle is if he is one day eaten by a particularly ravenous pride of lions.

However, having more lard than Ian Beale’s fryer didn’t prevent Patel diving quickly to his left to claim a difficult low chance to send Umar Akmal packing at a crucial juncture of the second one dayer on Wednesday. If Samit hadn’t swooped down fast enough, England could quite conceivably have lost.

Whisper it quietly, but Patel’s second coming for England has been pretty impressive. He may not have discernibly reduced his waistline, but he has proved effective with bat and ball, and even in the field there has only been the odd aberration.

Of all England’s batsmen who played in the 5-0 whitewash in India, it was Patel who looked the most comfortable and it was Patel who had the best game plan against India’s spinners. So far in this series, he has grabbed five wickets including Misbah in the first game and Younis and Azhar in the second.

Since coming back into the side in the summer after a three year absence, with the bat Patel has averaged 35 and has a strike rate of 94, whilst with the ball he has 12 wickets at 36 and an economy rate of 5.6. Not spectacular, but more than good enough from your number seven batsman and fifth bowler.

At this rate, the momentum for Ian Austin's comeback could become unstoppable.

Where next?

Samit Patel is an optimist

An XI of Asian Cricketers let down (for the most part) by England

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A case of déjà vu in the desert for England, but mon Dieu for Kevin Pietersen

A second consecutive ton for the skipper, two fifties in a row for the erstwhile drinks waiter as well as successive four-fors for his assistant and expert ice bucket carrier.

Pakistan may have scored more runs this time but one couldn't help having a distinct feeling of déjà vu about the second one day international in Abu Dhabi.

Despite being green-washed in the Test series, England can not now lose a one day series that is strangely comprised of four matches. I suppose we should thank our lucky stars it isn't seven.

England's recovery perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise as the last four times they have lost a preceding Test series they have bounced back to triumph in the one day series that followed. And they used to say that Pakistan were mercurial and unpredictable.

For the statisticians amongst you, England won 3-2 in the Caribbean in 2009 having lost the Test series 1-0. This followed on from 4-0 and 4-3 successes at home against South Africa and India in 2008 and 2007 respectively.

They also won the CB Series in Australia after being whitewashed in the Ashes series that never was in 2007. That was also the last time an England batsman (Paul Collingwood) struck two successive one day tons.

In other news, we identified that Kevin Pietersen's last one day ton in Cuttack in November 2008 came two weeks BEFORE Graeme Swann's Test debut - more a case of mon Dieu or sacré bleu than déjà vu.

Where next?

Alastair Cook takes a cue from Strauss as his ODI alma mater

Farewell to Paul Collingwood - England's Working Class Hero

Kevin Pietersen opening the batting in ODI is STILL a good idea

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It's time to get uplifted and inspired...

Alastair Cook’s hundred in Abu Dhabi (make that hundreds as he’s just hit another as we type) and Steve Finn’s splattering of Pakistan’s top order put a warm glow in us on Monday. It made us feel uncharacteristically positive and even a bit fluffy. Hence our feelgood piece for All Out Cricket this week about the twin fairytales served up by Afghanistan’s cricketers and Zambia’s football team last weekend.

We’re sure that an English batting collapse won’t be too long in coming and we’ll soon be back to our usual bitter and twisted selves. In the meantime, prepare to be uplifted and read Nothing Can Confound And Inspire In Equal Measure Quite Like Sport. You may even find yourself smiling at the end of it. Maybe.

Where next?

Alastair Cook takes a cue from Strauss as his ODI alma mater

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MS Dhoni fails (well kind of) in a ODI run chase

For pretty much every other batsman in world cricket, hitting a three off the final ball of a ODI from a bowler of the calibre of Lasith Malinga to earn your side a tie would count as a pretty reasonable day in the office. For Mahendra Singh Dhoni it counts as a rare failure.

We’ve written about Dhoni’s clinical finishing ability before – a point he proved once again in India’s nailbiting win against Australia at the same Adelaide Oval just two days ago.

In one day internationals that India have won when batting second, Dhoni has amassed 1993 runs at a quite staggering average of 104.89 with a strike rate of 90. He has been unbowed and undefeated at the conclusion in 30 out of 49 matches. How Fernando Torres must wish he could finish like the cucumber cool Indian skipper. Some compare Dhoni to Michael Bevan, but that is only true if you add the bells of Big Ben on.

His captaincy at Test level may have gone to pot, but when it comes to keeping your nerve in blue pyjamas whilst chaos reigns around you, Dhoni is untouchable.

Where next?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Cricket memories of 2011: MS Dhoni wins the World Cup with a six

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Alastair Cook takes a cue from Strauss as his ODI alma mater

The one day international career of Andrew Strauss can be defined in two distinct halves. Prior to assuming the captaincy in the Caribbean in March 2009, he was in the wilderness having not played a single 50 over game for nearly two years. This was hardly a surprise as his record up to then was modest with an average of just 32 from 78 matches at a fairly pedestrian strike rate of 76.

Many argued that Strauss didn’t have the game for the 50 over format, but whether emboldened by the captaincy or determined to prove the snipers wrong, Strauss successfully reinvented his game to enjoy a second coming that yielded an average of 41 from 49 games at a healthy strike rate of 88. Moreover, he also produced perhaps the finest one day international innings ever by an Englishman when he struck a masterful 158 off 145 balls against India in last year’s World Cup match in Bangalore.

Strauss’s reinvention was such that by the time he relinquished the captaincy and retired from limited overs internationals, England had lost its premier batsman in the format.

Alastair Cook’s story is strikingly similar. Not many (including this blog) were exactly rolling in the aisles when Cook was anointed as Strauss’s successor. He could only trundle along in first or second gear it was argued. He didn’t have the range of shots required to flourish in the critical powerplay overs it was claimed. Like Strauss, Cook had been in the one day wilderness prior to ascending to the throne, and also like Strauss his record hardly boded well with an average of 33 and strike rate of 71 from his 26 games.

Cook is no Chris Gayle or Virender Sehwag. He is never going to batter an opposition attack into submission, but using Strauss as his alma mater, Cook has also reinvented his game and inexplicably emerged as England’s best one day batsman. His brilliant 137 off 145 balls against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi yesterday was almost the equal of Strauss’s Bangalore masterpiece especially when considering Ravi Bopara’s 50 was the next highest score in the game. Cook’s record since his appointment as skipper now reads as 737 runs at 53 with an electrifying strike rate of 94.

Cook’s captaincy may still be a work in progress, but at least his leadership has inspired him to batting feats that even he probably didn’t think were within the realm of his capabilities.

Where next?

Alastair Cook and England's T20 team

Alastair Cook surprises everyone with his tasty dish of humble pie

Kevin Pietersen opening the batting in ODI is STILL a good idea

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Kevin Pietersen opening the batting in ODI is STILL a good idea

In the run-up to last year's World Cup we suggested that the decision to go with Kevin Pietersen to open the batting seemed like a good idea.

As it turned out, Pietersen's early departure from the tournament for injury (a move that saw him named as 12th man in our Unsung Heroes XI) meant that the experiment could be termed neither successful nor a failure. In four matches at the top of the order, Pietersen hit 131 runs at 32.75, but at a strike rate of nearly a run a ball.

Now it has been announced that Pietersen will get another opportunity as Alastair Cook's opening partner in the four match series against Pakistan that starts later this morning. Once again we believe this is a shrewd move by Flower not necessarily for the reasons we gave last year, but because KP is surely drinking in the last chance saloon in terms of his ODI career.

His record in the 50 over format since losing the captaincy at the end of 2008 has been abysmal. In 36 matches since being consigned back to the ranks, Pietersen has scored just three fifties with a top score of 78 and has an average of 25 - that is an average about two runs higher than Luke Wright. No more needs to be said than that.

At times Pietersen has looked disinterested in the 50 over game and whilst he assures everyone that isn't the case and that he intends to stick around until the 2015 World Cup, it seems by giving him this extra responsibility Flower is looking for him to prove his desire.

Just as in his initial foray into ODI's in South Africa in 2005, Pietersen needs to make a big splash here. His future in the team could well depend upon it.

Where next?

See Luke Wright break his cricket bat

Kevin Pietersen has grown up

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2013 World Test Championship - What might have been...

With Pakistan's 'green-wash' over England confirming that there is no dominant side in world cricket today, we decided to get the old crystal ball out of the loft, give it a good dusting and peer into it to see what might happen if the ICC performed yet another u-turn on staging a World Test Championship in England in the summer of 2013.

The results of our research are over at All Out Cricket's snazzy and wonderful site, so click on the link now to read 2013 World Test Championship: What Might Have Been.

Where next?

Pakistan vs England - Pakistan series marks out of 10

Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

Resurrection: A drastic cure to England's spin woes in Asia

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England, the Lions, a treacherous banana skin and a Buttler

As potential banana skins go, tomorrow’s 50 over warm-up match between England and the Lions is a particularly slippery one surrounded by a cricket square sized area of treacherous black ice that is invisible to the naked eye.

On the one hand you have a team mostly coming in on the back of a chastening 3-0 Test series whitewash trying to immediately adjust to the 50 over game. Either that or in the case of Ravi Bopara for example, having spent the last three weeks carrying drinks.

Whilst on the other you have a young side fresh from winning a series 3-2 against Sri Lanka A who have done nothing but play limited over cricket in Asia for the past few weeks.

When you also factor in that individuals like Jos Buttler and Jonathan Bairstow will be eager to impress coach Andy Flower in order to get the nod for the ODI series with Pakistan and others like Joe Root and Alex Hales will be striving to show that they are ready for a call-up to the first choice squad, it’s not difficult to see what is perhaps more than likely going to happen.

A couple of years ago, strong performances from Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb for the Lions against the senior squad propelled them into England’s T20 side for the victorious World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

Who will be the big noise this time? We’re going to go for the safest of bets and predict that Buttler, a man who scored two centuries in the aforementioned trip to Sri Lanka and who averages 70.57 in List A games with a strike rate of 128. That’s pretty decent.

Flower and the senior squad are probably relieved that it is Pakistan and not they who are Afghanistan’s opposition in their first ODI tomorrow. Either way the senior side are likely to be up the Khyber come the end of proceedings tomorrow.

Where next?

How good are this England cricket team?

India v England ODI series: England marks out of 10

Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

England's tale of woe against spin in Asia

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Pakistan vs England - Pakistan series marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez – 7 (190 runs at 38.00; 5 wickets at 16.00):  Set the tone with the early dismissal of Cook on the first morning of the series and followed up with the bat in the first game and the ball in the second where he also snared Cook to set England’s pitiful 2nd innings collapse in motion.

Taufeeq Umar – 3 (87 runs at 17.40): Started off the series well with a fifty as he and Hafeez set a national record with their fifth century opening stand. Struggled badly thereafter, firstly against Swann in Abu Dhabi and then versus Anderson back in Dubai.

Azhar Ali – 9 (251 runs at 51.20): Gave his bowlers something to work with in Abu Dhabi and then set up another win in the final game with a career defining 157. Displayed remarkable powers of concentration, restraint and skill throughout the 727 balls he faced over the course of the series and was the only batsman on either side to average over 40.

Younis Khan – 7 (193 runs at 38.60): For two and a half Tests, England kept Pakistan’s master batsman quiet but it was always likely his class would shine through and so it proved to pass with a majestic hundred in the final Test. Now averages 67 since returning to the side in October 2010. With mentors this good, it is no surprise that the likes of Azhar are blossoming so well. See also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq - 9 (180 runs at 36.00): His calm, disciplined and calculated approach at the crease and in the field was mirrored by his charges. Even when Pakistan were behind in the last two Tests, there was no panic and a bowling change here and a fielding change there by Misbah helped Pakistan prevail. His record now stands at five wins and two draws in his seven series as captain during which time he also averages 65 with the bat. Imran had his cornered tigers, but Misbah has created the most professional side in Pakistan’s history. His captaincy was so good that he gets two extra marks for it. See also Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

Asad Shafiq - 7 (167 runs at 33.40):Learnt his lesson after playing across the line when well set in the 1st innings in Abu Dhabi to play a decisive knock in the 2nd innings that helped give his bowlers something to play with. Stood tall with 45 as Pakistan were routed for 99 in the final Test to show that he has a big future at this level.

Adnan Akmal – 6 (89 runs at 17.80; 9 catches, 2 stumpings): Defied his unpromising gene pool to shine for the most part behind the stumps with only his vociferous and persistent appealing grating (even Stuart Broad is positively mute in comparison). A fifty in the 1st Test hinted at promise with the bat too.

Abdur Rehman – 9 (19 wickets at 16.73): Formed a lethal partnership with Ajmal where his accuracy was rewarded with the first two five wicket hauls of his Test career – the first of which spun England to catastrophic defeat in Abu Dhabi. Struggled badly with the bat against Swann.

Saeed Ajmal – 10 (24 wickets at 14.70): Magnificent. Teased with the teesra, tortured England’s batsmen with his accuracy and variation and tormented Ian Bell in particular with his doosra. Was the daddy from the off with his seven for 55 in the 1st Test where he made a friend for life in Bob Willis. Usurped Swann as the best spinner in world cricket on the field and best entertainer off it. If that wasn’t enough he also became the fastest Pakistani ever to 100 Test wickets.  See also Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Umar Gul – 8 (11 wickets at 22.27): Underrated by many and underestimated by England’s batsmen. His burst of wickets in the 2nd innings in the 1st and 3rd Tests helped finish England off and provided marvellous support to his spinners throughout.

Aizaz Cheema – 4 (1 wicket at 70.00): Only delivered 27.2 overs in his two Tests but actually bowled pretty well. At least he will be able to tell his grandchildren that he played in the side that whitewashed (or more accurately green-washed) the world’s number one side.

Junaid Khan – 2 (1 Test, no wickets): Made Aizaz look overworked when he replaced him for the 2nd Test, delivering just eight overs in the game and bagging a pair at number 11. Nice work if you can get it.

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Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

3rd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

India vs Pakistan Tests, if only...

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Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss – 4 (150 runs at 25.00): Preached the virtues of patience prior to the series but then immediately undid it all with a reckless shot in Ajmal’s first over. Improved as the series wore on though and didn’t lack fight as epitomised by his 56 in the last Test. Some will point to his record of just one century in 46 innings and none in his last 21 but this team needs its captain more than ever now.

Alastair Cook – 3 (159 runs at 26.50): The tone was set by his ill-judged cut against Hafeez on the first morning of the series. A characteristically watchful 94 seemed to have set England up for a big 1st innings lead in Abu Dhabi. Fell four times to the new ball and mostly to poor shots too.

Jonathan Trott – 4 (161 runs at 26.83): Should have been in his element in conditions that rewarded his roll up your sleeves and grind the opposition into the ground attributes.  Instead he collected an uncharacteristic collection of careless of dismissals culminating in an ugly slog in the final day of the series. Averages just 35 since the start of 2011.  

Kevin Pietersen – 2 (67 runs at 11.16): The batsman that once mastered Warne and switch hit Murali for six in a Test match was left shaken and stirred by the combination of Ajmal and Rehman with a twist of DRS. His approach to counter them had improved markedly by the 3rd Test, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Ian Bell – 1 (51 runs at 8.50): Had averaged 131, 73, 66, 331 and 84 in his five previous Test series but boy wonder quickly became boy blunder as Bell was completely bewitched and bamboozled by Ajmal’s doosra. Hi s tame dismissal to a Gul long hop on the final day of the series suggested he was mentally shot and harked back to the days of the Sherminator.

Eoin Morgan – 1 (82 runs at 13.66): Supposedly in the side because of his ability against spin but was dismissed five times out of six by Ajmal or Rehman. Has just five 50+ scores in 24 Test innings, averages just 30 and looks decidedly out of his depth. Self-belief can only take you so far.

Matt Prior – 7 (150 runs at 37.50; 5 catches, 1 stumping): The only England batsman to average over 30 and his unbeaten 49 off 58 balls on the last day of the series demonstrated that a more positive approach could yield runs. As secure as Fort Knox behind the stumps.

Stuart Broad – 9 (13 wickets at 20.46; 105 runs at 21.00): Confirmed his emergence as one of the world’s best bowlers with a consistently brilliant performance with the ball. Also showed his batsmen the way with a sparkling 50 in Abu Dhabi that ought to have led to victory.

Graeme Swann – 6 (13 wickets at 25.07; 105 runs at 17.50): Deadly against the left-handers who accounted for nearly half of his wickets for the series. Unfortunately, there were only two in Pakistan’s line-up and although he didn’t perform badly, Swann was consistently outbowled by Pakistan’s spinners as well as Panesar.

James Anderson – 7 (9 wickets at 27.66; 54 runs at 10.80): Used the new ball well and demonstrated impressive control and accuracy on pitches and in conditions that are supposedly not his forte. Scored more runs than Bell and with one exception in Abu Dhabi caught well at slip to the spinners.

Monty Panesar – 8 (14 wickets at 21.57): A welcome return. England’s leading wicket taker in the series despite only playing two games. Shouldered a lot of hard work and was rewarded with two successive five-fors and had a better economy rate than Ajmal or Rehman. Guaranteed his spot for Sri Lanka.

Chris Tremlett – 4 (1 Test, no wickets): Didn’t let anyone down despite failing to take a wicket in a Test innings for the first time. Now faces the surgeon’s knife and an uncertain international future.

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3rd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

England's tale of woe against spin in Asia

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3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez –  4: A quiet match for the Professor. Fell victim to the DRS on the first morning to a not out decision that should never been overturned on review. Missed a sweep shot second time round and bowled just five overs in the game.

Taufeeq Umar – 2: A poor game for the opener with just six runs and he also dropped a dolly to reprieve Cook early in England’s run chase.

Azhar Ali – 9: Mentored by Misbah and inspired by Younis in their mammoth stand, the youngster really came of age with a masterful exhibition of composure, concentration and class. His 442 ball knock was over100 balls longer than either side’s 1st innings.

Younis Khan – 9: There was always the sneaking suspicion that he was too good a batsman not to play at least one telling innings in this series and so it proved. Also took a stunner at slip to get rid of the obdurate Cook – see also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq – 6: For once didn’t make much of a contribution with the bat, but his leadership was astute, inspiring, calm and even lucky when an extended debate on whether to take the second new ball saw Broad hit the new cherry down Taufeeq’s throat. The Presidency of his country surely awaits.

Asad Shafiq – 6: Batted well whilst chaos reigned all around him in the 1st innings but undone by Monty second time around.

Adnan Akmal – 6: Apart from a shocking drop to reprieve Strauss that even big brother Kamran would have snaffled with his eyes shut, Adnan put in another good display behind the stumps as well as breaking the sound barrier with his over-eager appealing. No runs this time.

Abdur Rehman – 8: Tormented England again with a second successive five wicket haul to raise Pakistan from the floor after being bowled out for 99. Forms a lethal partnership with...

Saeed Ajmal – 9: Magnificent and far too good for England’s traumatised batsmen as he weaved his magic again. Dismissed Bell for the fourth time in the series. Did Danish Kaneira really use to be preferred to Ajmal?

Umar Gul – 8: Why is he so underrated? Gave his side an immediate boost with the wickets of Cook and Trott after they had folded with the bat on the first day and then took four more wickets to seal the whitewash (or should that be greenwash?).

Aizaz Cheema – 4: Came along for the ride, didn’t score a run and bowled just eight overs in the match. Good work if you can get it.

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3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss – 5: That his charges refused to give up is a testament to his leadership and no-one dug in more than the captain with his 82 runs in the match covering 226 balls and nearly five and a half hours of blood, sweat and toil.

Alastair Cook – 4: Tried to atone for his feeble 1st innings dismissal by digging in second time around, but fell one run short of fifty to a spectacular diving catch at slip by Younis.

Jonathan Trott – 2: This series has even scrambled Trott’s brains. First, he didn’t review a LBW decision that would have missed leg stump then he succumbed to a completely uncharacteristic slog second time around.

Kevin Pietersen – 4: Looked much better than in the first two matches of this series and was dreadfully unlucky with his 1st innings dismissal - just as he appeared to be in full flow – a decision that would never have been given pre-DRS.

Ian Bell – 1: A shocking end to an awful series as last summer’s Prom King countered his inability to read Ajmal by tamely chipping a Gul long hop to Shafiq at cover point.

Eoin Morgan – 3: At least went down fighting in the 2nd innings but the suspicion that he is as horribly out of his depth at this level as a Premier League footballer on University Challenge persists.

Matt Prior – 7: Ended the series as he started it with a good knock to top the England batting averages for the series. Was his usual consistent and vocal self behind the stumps – although he was positively mute compared to his Pakistani counterpart.

Stuart Broad – 9: Was once again let down by his batsmen after another lethal exhibition of bowling on a flat track in Asia had reduced Pakistan to rubble on day one. A shoo-in for a current World XI.  

Graeme Swann – 5: Outbowled by Monty for the second game in a row and looked a bit out of sorts, but did at least pick up his new bunny Rehman in both innings. Would have been deadly if Pakistan had 11 left-handed batsmen - unfortunately they only have two.

James Anderson – 7: Like Broad was brilliant on the first morning as Pakistan capsized. Looked more self-assured with the bat than several of his top order.

Monty Panesar – 7: A second successive five-for in his second match back sealed his spot on the plane for the tours to Sri Lanka and India later this year. Surely, he won’t blame himself for this defeat too? 

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3rd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

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