The Reverse Sweep

County Championship XI of the week #5

Matthew Boyce (Leicestershire) – Hit a defiant near six hour ton as his side followed on against Yorkshire but was ultimately unable to prevent an innings defeat at Headingley.

Alviro Petersen (Essex) – Made a triumphant return to Cardiff with 145 out of a first innings total of 259, although rain denied him victory over his former team mates.

Joe Denly (Middlesex) – His promising start at Middlesex continued with 134 to help set up a win over Worcestershire at Lord’s – see also Our County XI to watch in 2012

Ian Bell (Warwickshire) – 2012 had thus far been an annus horribilis, but his 120 on a difficult Edgbaston pitch where the next best score was 45 not only helped his side win again but proved the old adage true of form being temporary and class being permanent.

Kane Williamson (Gloucestershire) – The overseas star saved his side from defeat with a patient and classy 128 after his side had followed on at Derby.

Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire) – Helped the Yorkshire faithful forget Ajmal Shahzad with 182 brisk runs to set up the win at Headingley and underline his credentials as a candidate for the number six spot in the Test side should the selectors choose to look beyond Ravi Bopara.

Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire) – Made an impressive start to his reinvention as an all-rounder batting down the order with an innings of 90 and four for 21 to help enforce the follow-on against Leicestershire.

Keith Barker (Warwickshire) – Took his maiden ten wicket haul as Durham were thumped at Edgbaston to set the early pace in the running for the Most Improved Player of the Season award.

Andre Adams (Nottinghamshire) – Broad, Swann and Anderson were all on show at Old Trafford, but Adams upstaged them all with a first innings seven for 32 to wrest the initiative from the title holders and then three more to wrap things up and continue Nottinghamshire’s and his flying start to the season.

David Willey (Northamptonshire) – Brought his side’s depressing start to the season to an end with eight wickets as Hampshire were put to the sword at Northampton.

Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire) – His side may have made a disastrous start to the defence of their crown but the left arm spinner continues to impress and his seven wickets in the defeat to Notts suggests he at least will enjoy the move back to Old Trafford.

Where next?

Read our previous County Championship XIs

The mystery of Ajmal Shazad's sacking solved

An XI of cricketers who also played in the FA Cup Final

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County Championship 2012 Preview: Division 2 - Gloucestershire

A strong fourth in Division 2 last season but how will the departures of Jon Lewis, last season's leading wicket taker and Chris Taylor, the leading run scorer, over the winter affect their chances in 2012?  

Strengths

Even putting to one side the contribution of  Lewis, Will Gidman, David Payne and Ian Saxelby all took over 40 wickets in the Championship last season. Indeed, Gidman did the double of 50 wickets and 1,000 runs. Kane Williamson is back for a second season as overseas player. The batting looks thinner and will rely heavily on Gidman's brother Alex the captain, Hamish Marshall and Dan Housego who returns to the county from Middlesex where he was the leading run scorer in the 2nd XI Championship last season.

Weaknesses

Losing Lewis is a real blow as he has been the mainstay of the attack for several seasons. Payne and Saxelby have plenty of promise but at 21 and 22 respectively is it asking too much for them to make the step up to leading the attack? The loss of Taylor could prove even more devastating as the batting looks decidedly shaky.  

Main man

Can Will Gidman have as productive a season as last? Probably not, but even 10 wickets and 200 runs less would still be an outstanding return.

Look out for

Whether Payne and/or Saxelby can step up in the absence of Lewis.

Prediction

8th - Losing your best bowler is clumsy, but also releasing your top batsman is downright foolish.

Where next? 

Read our Division 1 previews: Durham, Lancashire, Middlesex, Notts, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Division 2 previews: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northants and Yorkshire

2011 County Cricket Review: including Heroes of the Season, Best and Worst XIs, and a whole host of other nonsense

County Championship 2011 Preview - Gloucestershire 

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Australia vs New Zealand - New Zealand marks out of 10

Martin Guptill – 4: Nicked Siddle to the keeper in both innings and looked particularly angry – as he should have been – for his needless poke on the second occasion. Showed safe hands to snare four catches in the Black Caps impressive slips cordon.

Brendon McCullum – 3: Has found opening the batting in Tests in Australia much more difficult than in India last year. Showed extreme restraint and diligence on the first morning but – as in the 2nd innings – was caught behind the wicket both times after edging attempted drives. Would serve his country better at five or six.

Jesse Ryder – 2: Completed a poor series by being embarrassingly stumped down the leg-side off Hussey. Has all the talent in the world but needs to apply himself better.

Ross Taylor – 8: Recovered well after poor judgment on the first morning to play a crucial, resolute and responsible captain’s knock second time around. Led the side well, set attacking fields throughout and rotated his bowlers intelligently. Dictator Dan may have a worthy successor after all.

Kane Williamson – 6: Looked far more comfortable at five and his classy contribution to the vital partnership with Taylor reinforced the positive impression he made in his debut series in India.

Dean Brownlie – 8: His 56 on the first day was worth a hundred in the context of the conditions and he dug in well second time around too. Perth born – so Australia’s loss is certainly the Black Caps gain for arguably the batsman of the series.

Reece Young – 5: Continued to look tidy enough behind the stumps but on the showing of this series is not equipped to bat at seven. If his back can take it, McCullum should be handed the gloves back.

Doug Bracewell – 9: Inspirational. His combination of swing, bounce and clever variation proved too much for Australia and his haul of nine for 60 really deserved the MOM award ahead of Warner. The Black Caps may have unearthed a gem in this 21 year old.

Tim Southee – 7: Provided decent seam support and usual lustre with the bat. Understandably enjoyed outfoxing an embarrassed Ponting with his 1st innings dismissal.

Trent Boult – 8: Hugely impressive on debut although he couldn’t have wished for a better pitch or conditions to make his Test bow.

Chris Martin – 8: As consistent as ever and sparked his side’s second day fightback by taking the first three wickets. Added what proved to be a crucial 23 for the last wicket with Boult and completed his full set of Hughes scalps for the series.

Where next?

2nd Test: Australia vs New Zealand - Australia marks out of 10

James Pattinson and Big Brother

1st Test: Australia vs New Zealand - Australia marks out of 10

1st Test: Australia vs New Zealand - New Zealand marks out of 10

Cricket zeroes: Channel 9's Commentary Team

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

1st Test: Australia vs New Zealand - New Zealand marks out of 10

Brendon McCullum - 5: Started like a train with three boundaries in the first over of the match, but ended up caught in the slip cordon in both innings and was given a bit of a going over by Pattinson on the third evening. However, the Black Caps need him swinging at the top of the order.

Martin Guptill - 4: Got into double figures twice but couldn't get any further after a loose drive first time around and a tame fend to short leg on the fourth morning.

Kane Williamson - 3: Has talent but is too high in the order at three. Struggled against Lyon on day one and was out for a duck attempting to drive a fired-up Pattinson in the second over of day 4. 

Ross Taylor - 2: Made the wrong move in choosing to bat after winning the toss and the two shots he played to be dismissed were abysmal especially the wild attempted square drive just before lunch on the first morning. Needs a lesson in responsibility from Vettori.

Jesse Ryder - 5: Showed poor judegment in both innings: the wild flat-footed slash to gully in the 1st innings was woeful enough but the limp scoop to mid-off off Lyon second time around was inexcusable.

Dean Brownlie - 8: It took a man playing just his 2nd Test to show the top five how to do it. Came to the crease both times with his team in desperate trouble and dug in impressively especially in unison with Vettori in the 1st innings.

Daniel Vettori - 9: The side's best batsman, best bowler (he even opened the bowling), best leader and only player of genuine Test class. Although he took his wicket, Mike Hussey proved Dictator Dan's achilles heel running him out with a direct hit attempting a suicidal single just four runs short of a deserved hundred in the 1st innings and then handing him a rare Test wicket with a soft dismissal second time around.

Reece Young - 5: Tidy enough behind the stumps but doesn't exactly inspire confidence with a bat in his hands.

Doug Bracewell - 4: Should have had Clarke not once, not twice but three times and will still be ruing his error in bowling the Australian skipper off a no-ball. Found the Australian batsmen a much tougher proposition than the Zimbabwe line-up he took six wickets off on his debut, which is hardly a surprise.

Tim Southee - 4: Looks more of a third or fourth seamer and faded badly after getting some extra lift to snare Warner early in Australia's 1st innings. Likes a swing with the bat.

Chris Martin - 6: As steady as ever and seems to have Hughes's number after having him caught in the gully in both innings. Desperately lacks quality seam support. As woeful as ever with the bat, Martin is the ultimate number 11.

Where next?

1st Test: Australia vs New Zealand - Australia marks out of 10

Zimbabwe: An example of where sport and politics should mix

India vs New Zealand: 2nd Test - New Zealand marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship XI of the week #7

 
Chris Nash (Sussex) – First Championship ton of the season after six fifties, and it was a vital one too as Sussex chased down a tricky target of 275 at Hove. Is now the leading run scorer in Division 1 with 656 runs at 54.66. Second successive appearance in our XI.

Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey) – In a team bereft of openers, it was the skipper who took the responsibility of moving up the order to face down Essex’s total of 548. RHB’s 159 off 195 was therefore even more impressive than the score already suggests. One of our ten to watch in 2011.

Ian Bell (Warwickshire) – Warmed up for the Sri Lanka Tests and showed his immense class with 139 against a strong Notts attack featuring England colleagues Broad and Swann.

Gordon Muchall (Durham) – Struck his first ton of the season with his 175 being the base from which Durham dominated against Worcestershire at New Road.

Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire) – Pips Ian Blackwell and team mate Kane Williamson to the final batting spot for his fluent 168 (off 244 balls) at Grace Road – a week after his brother also made our weekly CC XI.

Graham Napier (Essex) – World Record equaling performance with 16 sixes in a first-class innings And 172 runs came in boundaries in his 130 ball 196. Phenomenal. Cricket’s Six Million Dollar Man?

Phil Mustard (Durham) – Put Durham out of sight at New Road with 101 and then marshalled his bowlers well to earn an innings victory.

James Harris (Glamorgan) – Eight wickets at Lord’s including that of Andrew Strauss to ease pain over Lions omission and send Glamorgan second in Division 2.

Naved-ul-Hasan (Sussex) – 10 for 161 in the match kept Sussex in the game – his potency proving the main difference between the sides as pre-season favourites Somerset were beaten at Hove.

Gary Keedy (Lancashire) – 10 wickets in the Roses match to put a buoyant Lancashire top of the table. Match figures of 77.3-14-177-10 make him the most deserving selection in this XI.

Steve Harmison (Durham) – Grabs the final spot in our XI ahead of Boyd Rankin and James Anyon for his seven wickets at Worcester. If he stays fit, Durham could challenge for the title they won in 2008 and 2009.

Where next?

Farewell and a tribute (of sorts) to Shane Warne

Cricket XIs: Cricketing Criminals 

County Championship XI of the week #6

County Championship XI of the week #5

County Championship XI of the week #4

County Championship XI of the week #3

County Championship XI of the week #2

County Championship XI of the week #1

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship Preview - Division 2: Gloucestershire

 
Comfortably mid-table last season, Gloucestershire face an uncertain season after having had most of the family silver pilfered over the winter: Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby went down the M5 to Taunton, William Porterfield made the relatively short move to Warwickshire and Anthony Ireland headed for the bright lights of Lord’s.

Strengths

A relatively strong batting line-up featuring Hamish Marshall, captain Alex Gidman and overseas star Kane Williamson.

Weaknesses

The bowling cupboard looks bare with the loss of Kirby, Ireland and Hussain, so the ageless Jon Lewis will get through plenty of overs. Muttiah Muralitharan is coming – but unfortunately just for the Twenty 20.

Main man

We’ve been hugely impressed with Kane Williamson on the occasions we’ve seen him turn out for New Zealand, so providing that he can conquer the foibles of the pitch at Bristol, he should prove a shrewd acquisition.

Look out for…

The burglar alarm – surely the county has installed these at Bristol to prevent any further robberies of its key assets?

Prediction

8th – Thank God for Derbyshire

Where next?

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Sussex, Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Hampshire, Durham

2010 County XI of the season

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India vs New Zealand: 2nd Test - New Zealand marks out of 10

 
Another performance full of pluck and quality from New Zealand showed that India are going to have to make a marked improvement to get the win they need in the final test at Nagpur to secure the series.

But on this form don't count against New Zealand sneaking what would be a major shock series win.

Here's how the Black Caps rated in Hyderabad (see India marks out of 10 here):

Tim McIntosh - 9: Magnificent and gutsy comeback after bagging a pair at Ahmedabad scoring a deserved hundred in the first and 49 in the second to ensure that the first innings deficit was overhauled with no wickets down. Maybe he is a test match opener after all?

Brendon McCullum - 9: The latest batsman after the likes of Dilshan and Watson to prove that in any aspiring middle order batsman is a test opener struggling to get out. You can't ask for much more than a double hundred in the second innings on India - even on this runway of a pitch.

Martin Guptill - 7: Made India and Sreesanth pay for his dismissal off a no ball in the first innings and can count himself unlucky not to have reached three figures.

Ross Taylor - 4: A couple of failures with the bat means that New Zealand's star batsman is the only one of the top six yet to shine in this series. Will it be his turn at Nagpur? 

Jesse Ryder - 7: A terrific knock in the first innings confirmed the impression he made in Ahmedabad that his appetite for runs is nearly as large as his huger for hamburgers. If he can just stay fit...

Kane Williamson - 7: Poor decision prevented him from becoming only the seventh man to begin his Test career with back-to-back centuries. An immense talent.

Daniel Vettori - 8: A fine bowling display full of variety and cunning earned Superdan a deserved five wicket haul and with his charges continuing to perform with the bat his shoulders must feel slightly less burdened than Atlas for once..

Gareth Hopkins - 6: Safe again with the gloves, but his first innings dismissal means he has a lot of work to do with the bat.

Tim Southee - 6:  Bowled with plenty of heart and fire - just ask Sreesanth and got Dravid with a beauty. Is he quick enough to be a test opening bowler though?

Brent Arnel - 3:  Went wicketless and now averages 68 after three tests - how  Vettori must wish that injuries hadn't led to Shane Bond having to call it a day.

Chris Martin - 8: Bowled much better than his figures of 1/87 suggested and the ultimate tail-end rabbit even managed to score more runs (3) than his career average (2.37).

Where next?

1st Test ratings: New Zealand and India

Au revoir to Shane Bond 

Specialist openers - an endangered species?

India vs New Zealand: 1st Test - New Zealand marks out of 10

 
New Zealand will have mixed emotions following the conclusion of the 1st Test at Ahmedabad. There will be pride that they gave the number one ranked test side a real run for their money in their own backyard.

But there will be disappointment also that they were unable to take advantage of the position that Chris Martin's inspired spell of bowling gave them when India looked into the abyss at 15 for five in their second innings. Daniel Vettori will know that in the final reckoning at the end of the three match series, his side may come to regret letting India off the hook.

Tim McIntosh - 0: After bagging a pair, McIntosh gets his third zero of the match. In danger of becoming Zaheer Khan's bunny after getting out to him twice.

Brendon McCullum - 6: His first test since relinquishing the gloves for good and he played well for his 65 until he was brilliantly stumped by Dhoni. We're not too sure about his bowling though.

BJ Watling - 2: Bowled by the first ball of spin he had faced in India, which doesn't bode well for a improved performance in the next two tests.

Ross Taylor - 6: Looked calm and assured in compiling 56 before playing a terrible shot to gift Harbhajan his only wicket of the match. 

Jesse Ryder - 8: Ryder's talent may not quite much the size of his girth, but his composed hundred means he now has a test match average of 52. New Zealand will hope that Ryder regains full fitness in time for Hyderabad.

Kane Williamson - 9: You cannot ask much more from a 20 year old on test debut to score a hundred against the number one ranked side and New Zealand look to have found a real talent on this showing. A long and successful career beckons.

Daniel Vettori - 8: Superdan was his usual reliable self taking four wickets in a long and controlled stint of bowling and hitting a useful 41. If he had hit the stumps with Harbhajan stranded early on the final day then he could have been celebrating a famous victory.

Gareth Hopkins - 6: Outfoxed by Ojha in his only innings but kept tidily enough to suggest that McCullum's days with the gloves are indeed over.

Jeetan Patel - 5:  After a poor performance on the first day and a torrid time at the hands of Sehwag, Patel bounced back well to snare Tendulkar and Laxman on the second day. Went at nearly five runs an over though.

Hamish Bennett - 3:  Injured his groin on the first day so his 15 wicketless overs for 47 will be his only contribution of the series. If he had been fit on the final day, who knows?

Chris Martin - 8: Bounced back after a poor performance in the first innings to bowl an inspirational spell with the new ball in the second, which nearly won his side the match. Figures of five for 63 on that pitch means that Martin deserves all the plaudits that came his way.

Where next?

India vs New Zealand: 1st Test - India Marks out of 10

Au revoir to Shane Bond 

Daniel 'Perseus' Vettori fails in his impossible quest