The Reverse Sweep

Sachin Tendulkar's 99.94

It was going to take something pretty special to wake this lapsed blogger from his slumber. KP's childish spat with his team mates and the ECB? Not a chance. England winning a Test series in India? No way. An Ashes series in England? Close but no cigar. The retirement of the Little Master? You bet it does. Rip van Winkle has arisen (as I Am the Resurrection by The Stone Roses blasts out of my hibernation cave).

In pure Rafa Benitez style - except with no rants required - here are some facts we'd like to celebrate about the remarkable career of Sachin Tendulkar:

• Longevity: An international career of 25 years is a staggering achievement and one that aptly apes the player with a similar sobriquet as Tendulkar: Sir Jack Hobbs - The Master.  
• Records: Where do you start? 200 Test matches, 463 ODIs, just shy of 16,000 Test runs with 51 hundreds and close to 18,500 ODI runs with 49 tons. Wherever you look, the numbers are extraordinary.
• Sachin's 99.94: Incredible as it may seem, the Little Master's record number of Test hundreds is vulnerable with Jacques Kallis just seven three-figure scores behind and a certain Alastair Cook positioning himself well. But, Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds brokers no such threats. The closest challengers still playing (Chris Gayle with 21 and Virat Kohli with 17) are simply miles behind. This is Sachin's 99.94.
• Dignity:  Rarely can someone be so good at what they do that not even a smidgen of arrogance or cockiness is detectable. That fact that Tendulkar has been and will continue to be deified by 1bn countrymen makes his modesty all the more remarkable.

But is he cricket's best ever batsman? At the risk of being declared a heretic, this writer thinks not. Don Bradman wrote an indelible claim to that title when he retired with that average of 99.94 to his name. You need to add a batsman of the class of Clive Lloyd's Test average to that of Sachin's final score of 53.78 to reach the Don.

Whilst you can't compare eras that still brokers no argument in our book. Better to celebrate Tendulkar's career as the remarkable one it was rather than making claims that are impossible to substantiate.

Sachin has been amazing and I for one have enjoyed watching him grow from boy to man over his remarkable tenure of a quarter of a century as King of India. Cheers Sachin. 

Where next?

Sachin Tendulkar & Jack Hobbs: Masters with much in common

The 30 Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

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We're running out of superlatives for Virat Kohli

We've already called him the best young batsman in world cricket, the heir apparent to the great Sachin Tendulkar and along with Hashim Amla and MS Dhoni the best batsman currently playing one day international cricket.

But having produced yet another masterpiece of which Rembrandt, Picasso or perhaps more aptly the spiky Jackson Pollock would be proud, we've run out of superlatives to describe Virat Kohli's batting.

Not content with playing one of the best knocks witnessed in one day international cricket in Hobart just three short weeks ago, Kohli repeated the trick in Mirpur yesterday with a staggering 183 off just 148 balls against India's bitterest rivals in a must-win game.

Kohli has now stroked three hundreds in his last four one day innings and in two of those has helped India chase 320 in Hobart and now 330 against as decent a bowling unit as Pakistan. This takes his career average in ODI run chases to 58.40 in 48 innings with seven hundreds and 13 fifties. That makes him nearly as effective at chasing as Usain Bolt.

If we take Ryan ten Doeschate out of the equation as most of his runs have come against fellow Associate sides, Kohli is also one of only four batsmen in history to average over 50 in ODI cricket. Amla (56.49) and Dhoni (51.70) are two of these and the other is that other master of the run chase Michael Bevan (53.58). That Kohli doesn't look out of place in that company says everything.

In terms of humility, losing the crassness and growing up, Kohli has a long way to go before he can be compared to the humble Tendulkar and United Nations Secretary General in waiting Rahul Dravid.

Kohli is too spiky, too prickly and far too obnoxious to ever probably do that, but in terms of his batmanship, India have a ready made replacement for Dravid at number three in the Test XI and a new champion to try and emulate some of what Tendulkar has achieved.

But as far as superlatives go, we've run out of those.

Where next?

Virat Kohli's starter for ten

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

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Virat Kohli's starter for ten

Not content with smashing one of the greatest hundreds in ODI history in Hobart just a couple of weeks ago, Virat Kohli returned to plunder the Sri Lankan bowling once again in the Asia Cup this morning.

In so doing Kohli registered his tenth ODI ton in just his 80th innings in the format and thus becomes the fastest ever in terms of fewest number of innings to reach double figures for three figure scores in ODI - if you catch our meaning.

In fact Kohli obliterated the previous record of 99 innings set by Gordon Greenidge and also left the likes of Herschelle Gibbs (105), Marcus Trescothick (107), Brian Lara (109) and some bloke called Sachin Tendulkar (127) in his wake. The original Little Master has now gained some understanding of what it is to be the ugly bloke even if instead of missing out on girls, Tendulkar is left to watch all his mates (even R Ashwin) grabbing hundreds whilst his wait on 99 international hundreds now extends to 32 innings.

Kohli has no such worries and with Rahul Dravid confirming his retirement, a spot at number three in the Test side seems his for the taking even if his new record seems unlikely to last for long – the bearded Laxman Hashim Amla already has nine ODI tons from just 56 innings.

Where next?

Two Indian bookmakers, a Bollywood actress and some New Zealanders

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

King Viv - The Greatest ODI innings ever: vs England, Old Trafford 1984

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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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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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All out for 88, 80, 72, 74, 98, 82, 96, 47, 51, 72, 99: Cricket or skittles?

Being bowled out for under 100 used to be commonplace back in the time of Queen Victoria, but until recently instances were few and far between in the modern game and normally (although not always) featured Bangladesh. 

However, since Pakistan visited England in 2010, it is as if the likes of George Lohmann and the Demon have been reincarnated such has been the regularity in which batsmen have been skittled.

In just 18 short months there have been 11 instances of a side being bowled out for less than 100. Pakistan leads the way with four, closely followed by Australia with three and England, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe all with one each.

And with India’s batsmen hardly covering themselves in glory and none of Bangladesh, New Zealand and West Indies having a line-up that would have bowlers quaking in their boots, we seem to be entering a new era (with DRS undoubtedly playing a vital part). And they say cricket is a game for batsmen?

There have of course been several instances in the same period of batsmen gorging themselves on impotent bowling attacks. For example, India conceded ten individual scores of 150+ to batsmen in their recent tours of England and Australia and most will recall Alastair Cook’s passable impersonation of the great Jack Hobbs in Australia last winter.

In contrast to the 11 sub-100 scores there have been two team totals of over 700 (one each for England and India) and another seven above 600.

Test cricket seems to have become a game of extremes and is all the better for it. The leading teams all have their problems: England struggle against spin in Asia, India against seam and swing outside the subcontinent, Australia’s batting is still suspiciously brittle, Sri Lanka are sliding, Pakistan’s strength is its bowling attack and South Africa seem unable to grasp the mettle despite perhaps having the best balanced side. It all makes for appetising viewing for fans.

It all goes to show that despite some opinions to the contrary, Test cricket is and always will be the most exciting and unpredictable form of the game.

Where next?

Michael Clarke, Lara Bingle and Australia's 47 all out

88 all out & other batting collapses

Geoff Boycott's dose of Yorkshire humour on England's 72 all out

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Cricket rejoices as Fred Goodwin liquidates the BCCI

The UK media is awash today with the news that ex-banker and former chief of The Royal Bank of Scotland has become the first British non-criminal on record to be stripped of his knighthood.

As one would expect, Fred's life story has been replayed once again and it was here buried within the small print that we found something extremely momentous hidden within the nether regions of his CV. Something that will have delighted cricket fans everywhere, especially those with a distaste for the IPL and those that advocate the DRS.

Believe it or not, the man widely known as Fred the Shred once took charge of liquidating the BCCI.

Hold it just a moment. Quell your joy and enthusiasm.

Sadly, the BCCI in question was the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, and not the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Now that would have been have been worthy of a knighthood that could never be taken away.

Where next?

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

Geoff Boycott's dose of Yorkshire humour on England's 72 all out

Billy Bowden achieves the impossible not once but twice in the same afternoon

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India vs Pakistan Tests, if only...

This week 13 years ago saw the climax of an absolute classic of a Test match between India and Pakistan in Chennai.

It was a game of twists and turns with the visitors looking to have gained the upper hand when India slipped to 81 for five chasing 271 to win before a certain Sachin Tendulkar cracked a wonderful hundred  to take India within sight of victory. Then the final twist as the Little Master fell to Saqlain Mushtaq and the Indian tail was swept away with Pakistan winning by 12 runs.

That was the first Test between the two great rivals for nine years and the first instalment of five Test series that they would play out against each other until 2007. But since then nothing.

There are many very good non-cricketing reasons why Pakistan have not toured India for five years and even more is true vice versa, but the absence of these fierce battles at Test level at least is genuine cause for sadness and regret.

Being English, we regard the Ashes as the ultimate cricketing contest, but India versus Pakistan is not far behind. Surely there is merit in staging a three (preferably five) match series in a neutral venue such as the UAE or even England where packed houses could be guaranteed and television receipts would be high.

The thought of Tendulkar facing Ajmal on a tricky Abu Dhabi surface or Misbah tackling Zaheer on a Headingley seamer certainly whets the appetite. But we won’t hold our breath about this happening soon, which in cricketing terms at least is tragic.

Where next?

Historic India-Pakistan summit flounders due to cricket diplomacy

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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4th Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir - 3: Surprised by the extra bounce generated by Siddle after getting a start in the 1st innings and then fell early to his usual failing outside off-stump second time around. Has now gone 39 Test innings without a hundred and averaged just 20 in the series in England and Australia. Brilliant piece of quick thinking to run out Hussey from silly point. 

Virender Sehwag - 4: The captaincy failed to inspire him out of his form slump although his 2nd innings 62 was ferocious entertainment not least for its ending, which could yet go down in the annals of Test cricket as the most irresponsible dismissal ever from a captain. Like Gambhir, averaged just 20 in England and Australia and his run without a Test hundred has now extended to 26 innings.

Rahul Dravid - 2: Had his stumps rearranged for the sixth time in this series and then fell to a poor shot in the 2nd innings. Did a wonderful job of manning a burning bridge in England last summer but couldn't repeat it here. Will we see him again in Test cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar - 2: His form of the early part of the series deserted him and one wonders how much the interminable wait for the 100th hundred is weighing him down. Will get another chance in the ODI series but the torture and tedious hype has now lasted for 25 innings.

VVS Laxman - 3: Got a start in each innings but fell to atrocious shots both times - a probable sad end to a fabulous career. The purists won't be happy, but there is the bearded Laxman - Hashim Amla - to salivate over. The original has gone with a whimper averaging just 21 in England and Australia. 

Virat Kohli - 8: We saw the good, the bad and the ugly from India's leading run scorer in the series. The good was a splendid maiden Test hundred, the bad his foul-mouthed reaction to reaching this milestone and the ugly his brainless and grotesque run out in the 2nd innings. Is a wonderful talent, but could do with growing up a bit. 

Wriddiman Saha - 6: Was far more proficient and eager than the usual incumbent behind the stumps - he even dived for the ball on occasion. Batted well in unison with Kohli in the 1st innings and can be pleased with his contribution.

Ravichandran Ashwin - 4: Brought into the attack early in the 1st innings, handed the new ball second time around and did well troubling both openers each time. Needs to be more consistent but can be relatively pleased with his first overseas tour. 

Zaheer Khan - 5: Whilst India's whitewash will pain this passionate cricketer there will be some consolation that he has managed to get through the whole series. Considering the chasm between the sides, his 15 wickets in the series at 32 is a pretty good return.

Ishant Sharma - 3: Is he unlucky? Well, he does seem to go past the outside edge more than most, but perhaps his return of just five wickets for the series is more telling. Could do with a private session with Craig McDermott given how he has rejuvenated the Australian bowling attack.

Umesh Yadav - 2: He is young, so will learn from this chastening experience, but he has been far too expensive in this series - none more so than on the first day here in Adelaide. Definitely one to persevere with though.

Where next?

4th Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

3rd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

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4th Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

Ed Cowan - 5: Got a start in both innings but was unable to go on and fell to spin each time. Took the catch that saw Tendulkar leave the crease for probably the last time in a Test in Australia.

David Warner - 4: There was no repeat of his explosive heroics at Perth as the early introduction of spin troubled him and bogged him down.

Shaun Marsh - 1: More Quicksand than Marsh. Just 17 runs in the series at a hideous average of 2.83 - even Chris Martin (the cricketer or the Coldplay frontman) would be embarrassed with that.

Ricky Ponting - 10: If his hundred at Sydney was redemptive, the double ton here saw Ponting almost back to his brilliant and dismissive best. Many thought he was finished after Cape Town, but 705 runs at 70.5 since then suggests the contrary.

Michael Clarke - 10: A dream end to a dream series for the captain with a double hundred to set alongside his triple hundred at Sydney adding up to 626 runs at 125 for the series where his side have completely steamrollered and whitewashed a feeble opposition.

Mike Hussey - 5: Looked in good touch before being brilliantly run out by Gambhir in the 1st innings and was the victim of a borderline leg before to Sharma second time around.

Brad Haddin - 6: Got some cheap runs off a bruised and battered attack but it can only be a matter of time before iron gloves waves adieu to international cricket.

Peter Siddle - 9: Seems to have benefitted the most from the McDermott effect. Found life on a pitch where there was none, which makes his 1st innings five for all the more impressive. Ended up with 23 wickets at 19 in the series, but his strike rate of a wicket every 32 balls is even more impressive.

Ryan Harris - 8: The best tribute you can pay him is that Australia didn't really miss the bowler he replaced - James Pattinson. The more difficult task is how to keep him fit.

Ben Hilfenhaus - 8: Woefully impotent in last year's Ashes but as dangerous as a rabid dog in this series. Picked up another four wickets to take his series tally to 27 at an average of just 17.

Nathan Lyon - 7: The ultimate rags to riches story. A groundsman for the last Adelaide Test here he bagged an enviable list of victims including Laxman (twice), Sehwag and Tendulkar - all of whom were probably playing their last Test innings in Australia.

Where next?

4th Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Ricky Ponting proves the doubters (and gladly us) wrong

3rd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

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Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

There was some rare good news for the bedraggled Indian cricket team today. One of their batsmen finally managed to reach three figures in what has turned out to be the most one-sided Test series since India last played a Test series outside the subcontinent.

The even better news was that the identity of the century maker wasn’t one of their veterans rolling back the years for a final hurrah (or even a long awaited 100th international hundred). Nor was it one of the misfiring opening batsmen whose individual run without a Test hundred now extends to 38 innings for Gautam Gambhir and 25 for Virender Sehwag.

Today saw the maiden Test hundred for Virat Kohli and it was a good one too even if it probably won’t avert yet another heavy defeat for his side.

We’ve been quite impressed with Kohli for some time and his success could (and should) herald a radical new selection policy for India. One that should see long-service awards and pats on the back for VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and dare I say it the Little Master himself and their replacement in the side with Kohli's fellow new breeders namely Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.

As it has with Kohli it may take some time for the new boys to assimilate to Test cricket, but let’s be frank they cannot do much worse than the incumbents have fared in England and Australia. As an example prior to the Adelaide Test, Gambhir averaged 23.00 in the England and Australia series, Laxman 20.28 and Sehwag 16.09.

It’s time for Indian cricket to move on and Kohli’s hundred may well have pointed the way.

Where next?

Rohit Sharma: The Artist formerly known as Nohit

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

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3rd Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir - 3: Got out to a nothing shot having done all the hard work on the first morning and then got a snorter from Starc second time around. Run without a Test hundred now extends to 2 years, 19 Tests and 37 innings.

Virender Sehwag - 1: Upstaged comprehensively by his likely successor as cricket's master blaster batsman. In 11 Tests since the start of the tour to South Africa in December 2010 averages just 26 with a top score of 67. His record in this series is even worse: 118 runs at 19.66. 

Rahul Dravid - 5: Is unlikely to have played and missed more times in a single innings than he did second time around here, but typically he stuck at it in his usual dogged style. Hearing the death rattle five times out of six in this series is a real cause for concern.

Sachin Tendulkar - 2: After scores of 73 and 80 at Melbourne and Sydney there was to be no near-misses of that elusive 100th ton in Perth as the Little Master fell cheaply both times playing across the line. The hype and the wait has now reached 23 international innings.

VVS Laxman - 3: Like Gambhir did all the hard work in the 1st innings before giving it away with a dismal poke outside off-stump before registering a duck second time around. The batsman who has proved Australia's nemesis in the past now has just 102 runs at 17 in the series. Will it be au revoir VVS?

Virat Kohli - 7: This Test could well prove the making of Kohli as amidst the numerous plays and misses he exhibited some of his wonderful shot making. Threw it away in the 1st innings when well set and needs to control his emotions better but definitely worth persevering with.

MS Dhoni - 1: Another horror show on a horrific tour for the skipper. Fell cheaply to poor shots in both innings and if that wasn't bad enough is now banned from the Adelaide Test due to a poor over-rate. 

Vinay Kumar - 1: Makes his namesake Praveen look lightning quick in comparison and seems set to join the one Test cap club. Smashed for six from his fourth ball in Test cricket and had many wondering if their televisions were showing everything in slow motion when he was bowling.

Zaheer Khan - 4: Taken to the cleaners by Warner just like everyone else but at least got the upper hand over Haddin by dismissing him for a third ball duck.

Ishant Sharma - 2: Should be smarting after a hiding from Warner and being handed the ball AFTER Vinay Kumar. His figures for the summer tour to England and x-rated: 15 wickets at 64 with a strike rate of 104 - maybe Vinay may get another Test after all.

Umesh Yadav - 7: Bounced back impressively after Warner's initial pillaging to spark a brief Indian fightback and was rewarded with his first five wicket Test haul. Also took a difficult catch to finally rid India of Warner.

Where next?

3rd Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

David Warner blasts a 69-ball hundred as euthanasia becomes a serious option for India

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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3rd Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

Ed Cowan - 8: In years to come how many will remember his part in Warner's story? But the way he rotated the strike whilst scoring runs himself was crucial. Looks the perfect foil to Warner and will allow the selectors the luxury of playing Watson down the order when he returns from injury.

David Warner - 10: The joint-fourth fastest Test ton ever and the quickest ever by an opener. What more can you say? Has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water with two contrasting hundreds and an average of 64 after his first five Tests.

Shaun Marsh - 2: Another tentative dismissal and just 14 runs in the series will leave him looking anxiously over his shoulder for the return of Watson. Still looks undercooked after the back injury he suffered in Cape Town.

Ricky Ponting - 3: After two fifties in Melbourne and finally hitting his 40th Test ton in Sydney it was perhaps not a surprise to see him depart for a single figure score here - albeit to a terrific delivery by Yadav. Took three smart catches in the slips.

Michael Clarke - 5: His last dozen Test scores: 112, 151, 2, 11, 2, 139, 22, 0, 31, 1, 329* and 18 here show that the Australian skipper makes the opposition pay if they don't get him early. Will be concerned about being part of another batting collapse but that will pale into insignificance compared to sealing the series already. 

Mike Hussey - 3: When Mr Cricket finally retires he may reflect that becoming Vinay Kumar's first (and probably last) Test victim was his lowest and most embarrassing moment.

Brad Haddin - 1: Comprehensively failed to walk the walk with a three ball duck, which means he only averages 19 with the bat since the start of 2011. With his shoddy work behind the stumps, the end days of Haddin's Test career appear to be nigh.

Peter Siddle - 8: Seems to chip in with three wickets every innings and did do on both occasions here as well as once again contributing useful runs. Has the best strike rate in the series of 33.5 and seems to have finally found his role in the side and in this menacing bowling attack.

Ryan Harris - 8: Bowled much better than his solitary wicket in each innings suggest with others getting the reward for the burly bowler's accuracy and miserly 67 runs scored from his 34 overs. Splayed Dravid's stumps with a beauty in the second innings. 

Mitchell Starc - 7: Another Australian left-arm quick called Mitchell who seems to like bowling at Perth and like his namesake produced some unplayable deliveries such as those that took out Gambhir and Tendulkar second time around. Looked a completely different proposition from the erratic bowler who played his first two Tests late last year against New Zealand. 

Ben Hilfenhaus - 9: Another dominant display from a bowler utterly transformed from the impotent figure of last year's Ashes. Then he took 7 wickets at 59 in the series, now he has 23 wickets at 16 and a strike rate of 35. Phenomenal.

Where next?

3rd Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

David Warner blasts a 69-ball hundred as euthanasia becomes a serious option for India

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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David Warner blasts a 69-ball hundred as euthanasia becomes a serious option for India

Four of the seven quickest hundreds in Test history have come at the WACA (or should it now be renamed the Whacker?) – three of these have been scored by opening batsmen and indeed are the three quickest hundreds ever scored by openers in Test history.

We were too young to have seen the first of the three scored by Roy Fredericks against a fearsome Australian attack including Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, but would recommend reading this wonderful recollection by The Guardian’s Andy Bull of a remarkably courageous innings from the batsman they called Kid Cement.

Fredericks reached his hundred in 71 balls, a feat bettered by one ball by Chris Gayle (see number six) in 2009 (in the days before he became a full-time T20 mercenary) in an innings that Nathan Hauritz in particular still probably hasn’t recovered from the spanking administered to him.

So onto today. India must have been feeling pretty dispirited having been blasted out for just 161 in a series that they are already 2-0 down in. But nothing could have prepared them for the slaughter that David Warner had in store for them.

Whilst all the Indian bowlers are probably organising one-way tickets (are there any other?) to Switzerland for an appointment with Dignitas after a shocking performance, nothing should be taken away from Warner’s gun-slinging performance.

He didn’t give a chance, carted all of the four-man Indian pace attack around the park, smashed Vinay Kumar’s fourth ball in Test cricket back over his head for six and reached his hundred in the most appropriate fashion by hitting another monstrous six off the same unfortunate debutant, whose retirement from Test cricket probably cannot come soon enough.

As a result Warner beat Gayle’s mark by one ball to join Shivnarine Chanderpaul (who must have left his pet crab at home on that particular day) as the joint fourth fastest century maker in Test history.

In his first five Tests Warner has now become only the sixth batsmen ever to carry his bat in the fourth innings of a Test as well as scoring the quickest hundred ever by an opener in Test history, which makes our initial assessment that Warner wouldn’t cut the mustard in the long form of the game look pretty foolish.

But not as foolish as an Indian side who have now let Australia rack up 771/1 since reducing them to 37/3 in Sydney with partnerships of 288, 334* and now 149*. Duncan Fletcher who has lost his last 11 overseas Tests as coach of England and now India is staring down the barrel once again.

Where next?

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

It's surreal: Kieron Pollard fires a first ODI hundred; David Warner cracks a maiden Test ton

The David Warner Experiment

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

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India: Tigers at home; pussies away

Whilst Brad Haddin would do well to look at his own form before casting aspersions on the fragility or otherwise of India he may have a point - albeit a crass and clumsily made one. Just by crunching a few numbers it is plain to see that whilst India have been the fiercest of tigers in the subcontinent over the past couple of years they are the meekest and most submissive of pussy cats when they play overseas.

 

When India ascended to the number one spot in the Test rankings many said that the tours to South Africa, England and Australia would tell us whether that lofty status was justified. Whilst they emerged with a creditable draw against the Proteas they have lost six out of six thus far in England and Australia. Here are a few numbers that illustrate why:

 

263

India's average total in their last 21 completed or declared innings in overseas Tests taking in tours to South Africa, West Indies, England and now Australia. During this time they have only reached 400 twice - in the second innings at Centurion and Sydney - and both ultimately proved futile as India still lost by an innings each time. Their overall record in these 12 Tests is won two, lost seven (including four by an innings) and drawn three and they have lost the last six by heavy margins. 

 

461

By contrast, India's average total in their last 19 completed or declared innings on the subcontinent taking in home series against Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and West Indies plus trips to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is almost 200 runs higher. They topped 700 twice (both against Sri Lanka) and fared much better in these 16 Tests with 11 wins, 1 defeat and 4 draws. 

 

30.23

Combined batting average of India's top seven in the last four overseas series (see full list). The tale of woe is stark with Gambhir (average 32), Laxman (31), Dhoni (29), Raina (23), Sehwag (21) and Kohli (13) all failing to justify their talent and high billing. Only Tendulkar (52) and Dravid (45) can hold their heads high and these two are also the only centurions with Dravid hitting four and Tendulkar two. The other batsmen who have filled the top seven positions for India on these four tours have failed to record even one century in their combined 122 visits to the crease.

 

40.58

The combined bowling average for the aformentioned four tours with only Zaheer Khan (23) and Praveen Kumar (26) registering averages below 36. The rest of the bowlers have been practically rendered impotent with Ishant Sharma (37 - despite a successful tour of the Caribbean), Harbhajan (36), Sreesanth (51), Amit Mishra (62), Umesh Yadav (43) and Ravichandran Ashwin (75) all registering averages that their batting colleagues would yearn for. The collective strike rate is even more staggeringly bad with each wicket coming at a crippling 72 deliveries. Opposing batsmen have feasted on pickings this easy with Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Jacques Kallis all registering double hundreds and in Michael Clarke's case a triple hundred.

 

33

The number of Test innings since an Indian opener other than Dravid (who scored tons at Trent Bridge and The Oval as an emergency opener) last scored a hundred. You have to go all the way back to the 1st Test at Ahmedabad at the start of November 2010 when Sehwag struck a characteristically brutal 173 off 199 balls against New Zealand. Since then Sehwag has gone 22 Test innings without reaching three figures whilst regular partner Gambhir's famine is a positively biblical 35 innings.

 

0

The number of Test series India has won In Australia, a statistic that will remain unchanged for at least another four years following defeats in Melbourne and Sydney. 

 

As such it would be hardly surprising if confidence is not high in the Indian camp ahead of the 3rd Test on a fast and bouncy WACA track tomorrow.

Where next?

Annus mirabilis: The best Test XI of 2011

Annus horribilis: The Worst Test XI of 2011

2nd Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

2nd Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

After 386 days, at last someone gives England a game

The conclusion of the last Ashes Test in Perth seems a long, long time ago. For those with short memories, Australia’s victory saw the series between two supposedly evenly balanced sides (not quite as it turned out) levelled at 1-1 and Mitchell Johnson appeared to have rediscovered his mojo (oh dear).

Since then England have been waiting for someone, anyone to give them a bit of a contest. In the nine Tests following the end of the WACA Test, England have won seven Tests – five by an innings – and drawn two. Indeed, but for the atrocious English weather in May and June it could well have been nine wins out of nine.

The battle for supremacy between India and England turned out to be a bit of a damp squib as the tourists were brushed aside with contemptuous ease in a summer where England’s only fright came at Trent Bridge. For just short of two days, India appeared to hold the advantage until Stuart Broad’s hat-trick followed by a sublime hundred from Ian Bell completed a memorable England fightback.

One day internationals were another matter but when it came to two innings cricket, England appeared to be as impregnable as a sense of humility is to Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley.

So it comes as some surprise that (albeit in a warm-up game) England just scraped home by three wickets against a hotchpotch XI of associate cricketers grouped together under the auspices of an ICC Combined XI in Dubai. It is the first time that any opposition has had a whiff of victory against a white-clothed England since Perth some 386 days ago.

It does make one wonder if following a likely second successive 4-0 whitewash away from home, India might consider playing a three Test series against the Combined XI on their way home. Although on current form, one wouldn’t feel too confident about India’s chances.

Where next?

The best Test XI of 2011

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir - 6: Predictably tentative dismissal to the third ball of the match before finally looking like the batsman that once scored 8 hundreds in 10 Tests in the second. Run without a Test hundred now extended to 35 innings.

Virender Sehwag - 4: Looked edgy in the first innings and fell to a stunning catch by Warner second time around. Now without a hundred in 22 Test innings and hasn't reached three figures in a Test outside the sub-contintent since June 2006.

Rahul Dravid - 3: A disappointing match for the leading run-scorer in Tests in 2011. Fell to a poor shot in the 1st innings before being bowled through the gate in the second just when his side needed one of his trademark rearguard knocks. 

Sachin Tendulkar - 7: Looked well set on both visits to the crease but that hundredth hundred continues to elude the Little Master. The manner of his dismissal in the 2nd innings may leave him wondering whether he will ever get off 99. Average at the SCG still a monumental 157.

VVS Laxman - 5: Finally got his first boundary of the series after 61 balls in his fourth innings and then proceeded to a typically stylish 66 before being beaten by a gem of a ball from Hilfenhaus. Has now passed fifty 73 times in Tests, which makes his tally of 17 hundreds a tad disappointing. 

Virat Kohli - 3: There's no doubting Kohli's talent as the two boundaries he hit in the 2nd innings ably demonstrated. But in six Tests he only averages 21, which with Rohit Sharma breathing down his neck could mean an early curtain call for the series.

MS Dhoni - 5: Brave but foolhardy decision to bat after winning the toss and was then let down by both his batsmen and bowlers. At least Dhoni showed what could be done on this wicket with his defiant fifty on the first day.

Ravichandran Ashwin - 5: No wickets but after his first five Tests averages 38 with the bat and 31 with the ball. Bowled better than his 0/157 suggested and has scored more runs in the series than any Indian bar Tendulkar.

Zaheer Khan - 6: Bowled wonderfully well to reduce Australia to 37/3, but lack of game time probably told as his menace faded after that. Entertaining knock in the 2nd innings.

Ishant Sharma - 3: Looks a pale imitation of the bowler who impressed so much on his trip to Australia four years ago. A case of too much, too young?

Umesh Yadav - 3: A chastening experience for the youngster after his impressive performance at Melbourne. At over five runs per over he was more expensive than Prada, but this should be a character forming experience for one with his talent.

Where next?

2nd Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

The best Test XI of 2011

The redemption of Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hundreds just a sideshow for Channel 9

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

1st Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

1st Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

David Warner - 3: Fell in the first over of the Australian innings to a delivery outside his off-stump that he could have left, but produced a stunning catch to snare Sehwag when India batted a second time. 

Ed Cowan - 3: Beaten for pace by Zaheer to get caught in front to leave his side in trouble at 37/3. Will get at least one more opportunity before Shane Watson returns. Picked up three catches at short-leg.

Shaun Marsh - 1: Another duck - this one of the golden variety - to leave Marsh with just three runs from three innings in the series. Suckered by Zaheer at one he didn't need to play at.

Ricky Ponting - 9: Finally after 720 days and 34 innings, Ponting finally hit his 40th Test hundred and it was a good one too with a theatrical climax and a desperate dive for the precious final run before the smiling hero emerged with bat aloft and shirt dirtied. 

Michael Clarke - 10: It won't get any better than this for Pup. A triple hundred, the highest Test score at the SCG on the occasion of its 1ooth Test, the wicket of Tendulkar, a crushing innings victory for his side and Kyly looking radiant to complete Clarke's journey from zero to hero after the boos of 12 months ago.

Mike Hussey - 9: It must have been a long time since Hussey walked to the crease with 325 runs already on the board and he duly cashed in. Opened up with four commanding boundaries and went on to a chanceless hundred.  

Brad Haddin - 2: At another time his dreadful drop to reprieve Gambhir just before stumps on day 3 could have cost his side dearly. As unreliable behind the stumps in this Test as he has been in front of them over the past year. This may prove to be his last Test series. 

Peter Siddle - 8: Picked up five victims in the match and passed 100 Test wickets. Clearly enjoys his enforcer role and now has 28 wickets at 27 since coming back into the side.

James Pattinson - 8: Bowled wonderfully well on day one to take out four of India's top five and set up the Test for his side. His loss to a foot injury for the series is a big blow, but with 25 wickets at 18 from his first four Tests this hugely promising bowler will be back.  

Ben Hilfenhaus - 9: We were told that we would see a different bowler from the one that floundered so badly in the Ashes and a second successive five-for was proof of that. The ball to remove Laxman's off-stump was particularly memorable.

Nathan Lyon - 5: Provided decent enough control when called upon and picked up Sharma to register his first wicket of the match and second of the series. Will be looking forward to the Adelaide Test and a pitch that aids spin.

Where next?

2nd Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

The best Test XI of 2011

The redemption of Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hundreds just a sideshow for Channel 9

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

1st Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

1st Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The redemption of Michael Clarke

Rewind 12 months and the reception Michael Clarke received from his home crowd was very different to today after his splendid 329 not out at the very same Sydney Cricket Ground.

Those were dark days for the heir apparent to the Australian cricket captaincy. Booed by his own supporters as England romped to a third innings victory of what had been a wretched series personally for Clarke. With his vulnerability outside off-stump ruthlessly exposed by a rampant bowling attack, Clarke’s return for the series was a paltry 193 runs at 21.44. Even his one decent score of 80 was ended just before stumps on the fourth day at Adelaide by the unlikeliest of bowlers in Kevin Pietersen.

With Australia humiliated most felt it was time for Ponting to hand over the reins but not too many were backing Clarke’s candidature. Indeed, there was a whiff of an ‘Anyone but Clarke’ campaign in the press as alternatives like Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Tim Paine were bandied around.

His detractors believed that Clarke was too soft and undeserving of a job some Down Under feel is second only to that of Prime Minister. Some cited that he had left the tour of New Zealand to deal with the breakdown of his relationship with Lara Bingle (forgetting that he had returned in time for the Test and promptly scored a hundred).

Others pointed to his famous fracas with Simon Katich after Clarke had requested the team song be got out of the way early so he could go out to dinner with Bingle. How un-Australian was that? Preferring to go out with his Sheila to drinking beer with the boys. This was clearly not a man cut from the same cloth as the granite-like Border, Waugh and Ponting. Men who if you cut them in two would probably bleed green and gold and in the case of Waugh who probably wears his baggy green when he makes love to his wife.

How wrong they all were. Clarke may well wear moisturiser and be more effete than his predecessors – Kim Hughes apart (he even had a girl’s name), but he is shaping up to be a damn good Australian captain.

As a disciple of Shane Warne  - the best captain Australia never had, Clarke has for the most part adopted Mr Liz Hurley's imaginative, attacking and adventurous captaincy style. He hasn’t been afraid to bring the spinner on early on a seaming pitch, has turned Hussey into a bit of a golden arm and has skilfully handled his talented but raw seam bowling attack. Yes, his paint-by-numbers press conferences are still boring, but whose aren’t in this media controlled world of today?

And what about his batting? There was never any doubt about his class. We saw glimpses of his talent in the 2005 Ashes and by the time of the next series in England four years later he was head and shoulders the best batsman on either side. Unfortunately, last year’s series saw him, like many of his colleagues, enduring a catastrophic slump in form and confidence.

Since assuming the captaincy and albeit with the benefit of a 329 not out, Clarke averages 64.42 and now has four hundreds in 15 innings. Detractors will point to the embarrassing batting collapses at Cape Town and Hobart that cost Australia two test matches, but these happen to all sides occasionally especially one in transition. Lest it not be forgotten that in the Cape Town Test, Clarke made an absolute gem of a hundred in the 1st innings against Dale Steyn at his menacing best.

Results too have been promising even if drawing at home to New Zealand was obviously disappointing. Sri Lanka were beaten in their own backyard and the way Australia bounced back from their Cape Town nightmare to chase over 300 in Johannesburg and square the series has to reflect well on the skipper. Equalling England’s 4-0 whitewash of India cannot be ruled out either at this rate.

And what about those accusations of selfishness and being self-absorbed? We'd say declaring when you were 329 not out and putting the team before personal glory goes a long way to answering that. Clarke even let Hussey reach his own landmark of 150 before unleashing his bowlers on a demoralised India.

Redemption has indeed been sweet for the man they still call Pup.

Where next?

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hundreds just a sideshow for Channel 9

Michael Clarke, Lara Bingle and Australia's 47 all out

Dale Steyn's duel with Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke joins Linkin Park?

Michael Clarke's ticker

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep 

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hundreds just a sideshow for Channel 9

We're pleased we set our Sky+ box to record day two of the Sydney Test between Australia and India.

Well, kind of. Whilst like most people watching we enjoyed seeing Ricky Ponting finally make his 40th Test hundred - a saga even longer than Sachin Tendulkar's quest for that 100th hundred. We also enjoyed a real gem of an innings from Michael Clarke.

Sadly for some of the Channel 9 cheerleaders, Ponting and Clarke's momentous knocks were merely a sideshow as they salivated over Rianna Ponting and Clarke's new girlfriend Kyly Boldy.

As Ponting entered the nervous nineties, the cameras spent as much time on a nervous Rianna as it did on the action in the field. We were worried they were going to miss Ponting reaching his hundred. Luckily they didn't as the desperate dive for that priceless final run as Zaheer just missed the stumps was pure theatre.

Then Channel 9 did an interview with Rianna. I am sure she's a lovely lady but please save interviews with cricketers WAGS for the Australian equivalent of This Morning.

Once Ponting departed the focus turned to the admittedly stunning Kyly. Tony Grieg could barely contain himself, informing us that "she looks like she's enjoying herself" leaving us wondering whether Grieg was merely making an observation or falling victim to over-excited wishful thinking. 

As Clarke passed 200, one would have thought that the discussion would be about his highly impressive first six months or so as captain and how the added responsibility has improved his batting. Not a bit of it. It was all Kyly by now. We didn't get an interview with her, but we're sure we see Slats sneak over to see if there was any chance of a threesome after play.

Australia are starting to look like a good side in the making and India are in danger of a second successive whitewash in a four Test series overseas. But Grieg, Slats and Healy don't care about that when they can drool over Kyly instead. Sad old men.

Where next?

India's batting line-up and Goebbels's big lie

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

Cricket zeroes: Channel 9's Commentary Team and Bill Lawry

Cricket heroes: Tony Greig

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep