The Reverse Sweep

England v West Indies - West Indies series marks out of 10

Adrian Barath (114 runs at 22.80) 3: Battled through the first sessions at Lord's and Edgbaston but then promptly gave it away each time after reaching 40. A Test average of 23 doesn't lie, but the talent is there as his hundred on debut against Australia at the Gabba as a teenager proved. Needs to bat with an experienced opening partner - yes, we're talking about you Chris Gayle.

Kieran Powell (71 runs at 14.20) 3: Despite the odd cracking drive, is clearly not an opener and would be far more at home at five or six.

Kirk Edwards (8 runs at 2.00) 0: The vice-captain started the series with a Test average in excess of 50, but he simply didn't have a clue in English conditions against the moving ball and the immense skill of Anderson, Broad and Bresnan. Will probably need to lie down in a dark room for a while.

Assad Fudadin (1 innings, 28 runs) 4: Made his debut at Edgbaston and battled away at number three - making eight more runs than Edwards managed on the whole tour. Worth another look.

Darren Bravo (81 runs at 16.20) 3: A top score of 29 doesn't even go close to justifying his talent and pre-tour billing. Came in too often when his side were not a lot for two and was therefore exposed to the new ball. Will do better next time.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (235 runs at 78.33) 7: Inspired his side's fightback at Lord's although personal glory eluded him with scores of 87* and 91. Less impressive at Trent Bridge where he was exposed and defeated by the new ball in the 2nd innings, before being ruled out by injury at Edgbaston.

Marlon Samuels (386 runs at 96.50) 9.5: It looked like more of the same from Samuels after he was dismissed for 31 after an airy waft in the 1st innings at Lord's after doing all the hard work. But thereafter he reeled off scores of 86, 117, 76* and 76 to suggest that after 12 years, he has finally arrived on the Test stage. 

Narsingh Deonarine (1 innings, 7 runs) 2: Hard to judge on one brief innings, but impossible to rate higher than two out of ten after the way he chased a wide one from Onions when his side needed him to dig in. 

Dinesh Ramdin (163 runs at 40.75) 6: After a battling display in the 2nd innings at Lord's, he looked off the pace at Trent Bridge as noted by Viv Richards. His subsequent riposte of a second Test hundred at Edgbaston was as impressive as the note he displayed to King Viv on reaching the milestone was crass.

Darren Sammy (6 wickets at 48.50; 201 runs at 40.20) 7: Incongruously unlikely hundred at Trent Bridge brought perhaps the biggest cheer of the series, grabbed the odd useful wicket and led his battling but well-beaten troops with charm and determination. A cricketer whose whole is fr greater than the sum of his parts.

Kemar Roach (8 wickets at 34.25) 6: Gave West Indies hope at Lord's with a fierce spell as England chased 191, but his habit of bowling no-balls cost him dear at Trent Bridge where he twice would have snared Cook but for stepping over the line.

Fidel Edwards (1 Test, one wicket for 112) 2: Disappointing at Lord's where if he could have offered support to Roach on the final morning, West Indies could have won a stunning victory. Didn't feature at Trent Bridge or Edgbaston. 

Ravi Rampaul (4 wickets at 35.50) 7: The pick of the West Indies seamers at Trent Bridge where his control and penetration brought his side back into the game on the third morning. Carrying a bit of extra timber after a recent illness meant he was a deadringer for Masood from Eastenders - or so the wife tells me.

Shannon Gabriel (1 Test, 4 wickets at 21.50) 6: Came in for his debut at Lord's and did reasonably enough to warrant another chance before he succumbed to injury.

Tino Best (1 Test, two for 37; 95 runs) 9: Bowled consistently at over 90 miles per hour and scored the highest score in Test history by a number eleven batsman. Mind the windows indeed, Tino.

Shane Shillingford (1 Test, one for 138) - 1: It was too cold for his hands to feature at Lord's and his bowling hadn't warmed up much by the time he came in at Trent Bridge where he was dealt with ease by England's batsmen.

Sunil Narine (1 Test, none for 70) - 2: There wasn't much mystery with Narine at Edgbaston, but let's wait before we dismiss his credentials in the longer form of the game just yet.

Where next?

England v West Indies - England series marks out of 10

2nd Test marks out of 10: England and West Indies

1st Test marks out of ten: England and West Indies

Guantanamo Cricket Club and an opening bowler named...Stalin

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2nd Test: England vs West Indies - West Indies marks out of 10

Adrian Barath - 2: Lucky to get 0 in the 1st innings and doesn't even look close to being a Test opener. Whatever happened to the teenager who made that impressive hundred on debut at The Gabba?

Kieran Powell - 4: Looked decent enough in scoring 33 in the 1st innings but failed second time around and is clearly a number five or six. Chris Gayle's return can not come soon enough.

Kirk Edwards - 1: The final member of the worst Test top three seen for some time on English shores. Two more failures - his tour record now stands at 20 runs from seven innings. His batting is even more sickly than the flu ridden vice-captain.

Darren Bravo – 4: Even Lara didn’t have to contend with a top three as limited as this; it certainly seems to be getting to Bravo if his dismissals here are anything to go by. The return of Gayle and Sarwan would allow this sublime talent to flourish.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 5: For once, Shiv left the heroics to others as Swann trapped him in front for 46 on day one and he fell hooking against the new ball – having been forced to come in at four due to the illness of Edwards – second time around.

Marlon Samuels – 9: Has the languid Samuels finally arrived as a Test batsman 12 years after his debut? It certainly looked so here. His hundred was a glorious knock made all the more special given that his side had been 131 for six and he probably would have got another if he hadn’t run out of partners in the 2nd innings. If that wasn’t enough, his DRS assisted send-off to Swann was the comic moment of the game.

Dinesh Ramdin – 4: After his resistance at Lord’s he was beaten for pace by Bresnan early on in both innings here, but again looked secure with the gloves.

Darren Sammy – 8: Yes, he rode his luck, but there cannot have been many more popular hundreds by visiting captains. It forced some of the ridiculous criticism he received before this match back down the throats of his accusers. His value as a captain, galvanising force and contributions here and there with bat and ball justify his place at this stage of his side's development.

Kemar Roach – 5: Made to pay twice for his alarming propensity of bowling no-balls, which could have changed the shape of the game as England replied to 370, but roared back with the second new ball to give Bairstow a torrid baptism with short ball.

Shane Shillingford - 3: England made a concerted attempt to get after him and it succeeded with the spinner going at over four runs per over.

Ravi Rampaul – 8: The extra timber he is carrying due to recent illness means he bears an uncanny resemblance to Masood from EastEnders, but he is certainly a canny operator with the ball and brought his side back into the match with an excellent spell on the third morning.

Where next?

2nd Test: England vs West Indies - England marks out of 10

1st Test marks out of ten: England and West Indies

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

An all-time West Indies Test XI

1st Test: England vs West Indies - West Indies marks out of 10

Adrian Barath - 6: Got starts in both innings and played a series of attractive strokes, but needs to convert. Would clearly benefit from having a more experienced opening partner alongside him. Yes, we are talking about you Chris Gayle.

Kieran Powell - 3: Beaten by an Anderson inswinger on the first morning and suckered into hitting a short one down deep square leg's throat second time around. He may have scored a hundred against the Lions, but he looks more of a number five or six to us.

Kirk Edwards - 2: Came into the game with an average of 50, but only made a solitary run here playing a poor stroke to be caught in front on the first morning and then being run out for a duck second time around. Not the only Edwards to have a poor Test.

Darren Bravo - 5: A comedy of errors saw him run out by Chanderpaul in the first dig, send Edwards back to be run out in the second innings and then shoulder arms to be bowled by Swann's arm ball. A shame, because he looked good in both innings.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul - 9: Is he selfish or selfless? Whatever the answer, he is damn near impossible to get out. Held the batting together in both innings and whilst he didn't get the hundred he deserved, he did inspire his colleagues to an impressive fightback, which for a brief moment looked to have given the West Indians a chance of a stunning victory.

Marlon Samuels - 7: We had a bit of a go at him after his 1st innings dismissal, but perhaps imbued by getting Pietersen's wicket his 2nd innings 86 was a mighty impressive knock until he was undone by Broad and the new ball. Can he kick on from this impressive performance though?

Dinesh Ramdin - 6: Looks a much better batsman than Carlton Baugh and he hung around long enough in the 2nd innings to help set England a testing target. No major mistakes with the gloves.

Darren Sammy - 6: Combined some wonderful strokes in his 2nd innings 37 with shots that would make a schoolboy number eleven blush. His bowling is more steady and far less spectacular. Deserves credit for instilling more steel and camaradie in his charges.

Kemar Roach - 7: Fast and hostile spells late on day four and first thing on day five threatened briefly to give his side the opportunity for an historic win. Needs to be more consistent, bowl fewer no-balls (a whopping 18 in the match) and work on his economy - he went at over 4.3 runs per over in both innings.

Fidel Edwards - 4: Didn't look fully fit and was nowhere near his best with just the solitary wicket of Broad to show for his efforts. Roach needed better support.

Shannon Gabriel - 6: A promising debut - getting Bell, Prior and Pietersen in your first Test is not a bad way to start.

Where next?

1st Test: England vs West Indies - England marks out of 10

Shivnarine Chanderpaul: Selfish or selfless?

West Indies' Shakespearean Farce

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Annus horribilis: the worst Test XI of 2011

We've already selected our best Test XI of 2011, but perhaps this collection of cricketers who suffered an annus horribilis in the ultimate form of the game in 2011 should provoke much more hilarity:

Phil Hughes (404 runs at 26.93): Despite a hundred against Sri Lanka and an attractive 80 odd in Johannesburg, 2011 was a horrendous year for Australia’s erstwhile Test opener. His year went from bad to worse with the four out of four caught Guptill bowled Martin dismissals in the series with New Zealand likely to prove his international cricket epitaph. Some get sent to Switzerland when their condition is terminal, Hughes has been sent to Worcestershire instead to convalesce.

Gautam Gambhir (470 runs at 31.33): We could just as easily have picked Virender Sehwag who actually had a lower average than his opening partner in 2011 and only had a top Test score of 67, but that seemed to border on the sacrilegious so Gambhir it is. No Test hundreds and a year sprinkled with injury, injudicious shots, a growing tentativeness outside off-stump and a lack of weddings to attend. The ghastliness of his year was summed up when he suffered concussion when failing to catch Kevin Pietersen. In truth, Gambhir looked concussed most times he came to the crease in Tests in 2011.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (83 runs at 10.37): A traumatic year for the experienced Sarwan with a top score of 23 and just 83 runs from his eight visits to the crease preceding his inevitable axing. With tyros such as Darren Bravo and Kirk Edwards shining it seems unlikely that the cultured Sarwan will be sighted in the maroon West Indian cap again.  

Mahela Jayawardene (517 runs at 24.61): It may have been the year of his 10,000th Test run and a sparkling century in the World Cup Final, but in terms of Test cricket it was an annus horribilis for the silky smooth Jayawardene with just one hundred in ten Tests mirroring his country’s slide down the rankings. Have the eyes gone?

Jesse Ryder (97 runs at 12.12): Three ducks and just 97 runs in eight innings meant that 2011 was a year when the larger than life Kiwi ate more pies, sunk more tinnies and wore more inches around his generous waist than he scored Test runs.

Suresh Raina (337 runs at 25.92): Rarely has an international cricketer looked more uncomfortable against the short ball than Raina did in England last summer. So much so that by the end of the series, England barely bothered celebrating his inevitably quick demise each time he strode to the wicket.

Brad Haddin (335 runs at 20.93): A year in which the iron-gloved keeper was for once better behind the stumps than he was in front of them – not that there was any discernible improvement in his shoddy keeping. With the bat there were several reckless and irresponsible dismissals none more so than in the ignominious 2nd innings collapses in Cape Town and Hobart. A nation prays that Tim Paine’s hands make the swiftest of recoveries.

Harbhajan Singh (20 wickets at 38.05): He may have been part of the World Cup winning side, but 2011 saw his decline as a Test match bowler accelerate until injury and the emergence of Ashwin consigned him to the sidelines. Having his car robbed in December just about summed up a dismal year for the supposed Turbanator.

Mitchell Johnson (13 wickets at 56.61): Johnson is not a figure of ridicule for nothing – just look at that bowling average, which is even worse when his strike rate in 2011 of a wicket every 92 deliveries is taken into account. Outbowled by an 18 year old debutant with just a handful of first-class appearances in Johannesburg, injury and the emergence of James Pattinson, the aforementioned Patrick Cummins and a rejuvenated Ben Hilfenhaus means that Johnson should have plenty of time to rest that injured foot.

Sreesanth (13 wickets at 52.76): Speaking of figures of ridicule, Sreesanth was the least impressive of an impotent Indian bowling line-up in England over the summer. Doesn’t take many wickets, leaks runs at over four runs an over and seems to have lost any semblance of pace. Likely to join his best pal Harbhajan on the sidelines for some time and perhaps forever.

Kemar Roach (7 wickets at 55.14): If you thought Johnson’s strike rate of 92 was bad try Roach’s performance of a wicket every 99 deliveries in 2011. Whilst there’s no doubting his talent, the suggestions of some that he should replace captain Darren Sammy in the West Indian Test XI seem at best misplaced and at worst downright foolish.

Finally, a special mention to our 12th man - RP Singh who was called up from the beach to replace the injured Zaheer Khan in England and subsequently looked a shadow (albeit twice the side and half the speed) of the bowler who performed so well four years earlier when he played in the final match of the series at The Oval and took 0/134.

Where next?

The worst Test XI of 2010

The best Test XI of 2011

The best Test XI of 2010

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out some of our other Cricket XIs: They also played cricket, Rugger Buggers, Cricketing Criminals , A team of cricketers that died young, The Worst Australia Ashes XI of the last 30 years, The Worst England Ashes XI of the last 30 years  

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Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

 
As the celebrations in India doubtless continue, it is time to select our Reverse Sweep World Cup 2011 XI based on performances over the six years weeks of the tournament:

Virender Sehwag (380 runs at 47.50, 1 100, 1 50, SR 122.58)

He may not have scored as many as others, but the impact of his runs was the most dramatic. In our view, Sehwag’s whirlwind cameo in the semi-final in the end proved the difference between the sides.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (500 runs at 62.50, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 90.74; 8 wickets at 15.75 ER 4.06)

The tournament’s leading run scorer takes his place as the apprentice in our opening partnership to Sehwag’s sorcerer. Dilshan’s bowling was more than useful too – just ask Andrew Strauss – and he ended up with only one fewer wicket and a better economy rate than Harbhajan Singh.

Sachin Tendulkar (482 runs at 53.55, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 91.98)

Is it sacrilegious to push the Little Master down the order to accommodate our choice of opening partnership? Maybe, but Tendulkar is clearly good enough to bat anywhere and is the ultimate team man. His longevity is astounding.

Kumar Sangakkara (465 runs at 93.00, 1 100, 3 50s, SR 83.78)

King Kumar was serenity personified throughout the tournament and he captains our side (although it was a wrench to leave out Dhoni). Is there a more underrated batsman in world cricket?

Mahela Jayawardene (304 runs at 50.66, 2 100s, 1 50, SR 100.00)

His impeccable hundred in the final leapfrogged Jayawardene above AB De Villiers in our XI. A great strike rate and but for the prolific Sri Lankan top three restricting his time at the crease, would have scored more runs in the tournament.

Yuvraj Singh (362 runs at 90.50, 1 100, 4 50s, SR 90.50; 15 wickets at 25.13, ER 5.02)

Lazarus. A cricketer reborn. And a decent pick as the player of the tournament. Yuvraj left his annus horribilis of 2010 behind to take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck. Without his masterful composure in the quarter-final against Australia, India would have suffered an ignominious exit. Also proved to be more than the pie chucker he was famously tagged by Kevin Pietersen.

Shahid Afridi (21 wickets at 12.85, ER 3.62; 84 runs at 12.00)

His batting was dire, but his excitable captaincy and devastating leg breaks galvanised Pakistan and propelled them to the semi-finals. He may not have added to his wicket tally in Mohali, but his incredible haul and impressive economy rate mean his selection for this side was automatic.

Dale Steyn (12 wickets at 16.00, ER 4.15)

This lionheart deserved better than to be part of a fragile side that reverted to type in the quarter-final against New Zealand. Others may have opted for Brett Lee, Umar Gul, Tim Southee or Kemar Roach who all had impressive tournaments, but none of these could have turned the game around against India as Steyn did in their group game.

Zaheer Khan (21 wickets at 18.76, ER 4.83)

Tied with Afridi as the tournament’s leading wicket taker and initially carried the Indian attack on his shoulders until his influence had a more positive effect on those around him in the knockout stages. Equally as dangerous at the start, middle and end of an innings and a master of reverse swinging the white ball.

Lasith Malinga (13 wickets at 20.76, ER 5.54)

Malinga was expensive at times, but was always a threat with that unplayable yorker and subtle changes of speed. So close to being the hero in the final when snaring Sehwag and Tendulkar, and always likely to get you a wicket.

Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets at 19.40, ER 4.09)

The final proved a match too far for Murali’s battered and bruised body, but even on one leg Murali still had a stunningly influential World Cup and the departing hero just pips Imran Tahir and Ray Price for the final spot in our XI.

Where next?

Who writes Muttiah Muralitharan's scripts?

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, MS Dhoni was born to lead

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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World Cup Team Previews: West Indies - Calypso or Collapso?

 
On paper at least, the winners of the first two World Cup tournaments should have no problem negotiating the group stages of this year’s competition. But West Indies supporters have become accustomed to disappointment and will be approaching this World Cup with trepidation especially as the match with Bangladesh looks like an effective knockout encounter. On their day, the boys from the Caribbean can beat anyone especially if Chris Gayle fires, but ignominious exit at the group stages would hardly be a major surprise.

Strengths

There is depth and firepower in the batting with the likes of Gayle, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Barath and the Bravo brothers. If Pollard can finally transfer his IPL form to the international stage then West Indies could go into orbit. Benn is a canny spinner and conditions should suit him, whilst Roach is an immensely promising fast bowler.

Weaknesses

In a word, inconsistency. This team can be champs one day and chumps the next. The bowling looks lacking in depth and batting collapses seem to occur all too frequently.

Main man

If he is in the mood, Chris Gayle - the coolest dude in cricket – can flay any attack.

Look out for…

The antics of Sulieman Benn, whether it is getting into heated rows with opposing batsmen or umpires, or even refusing to bowl around the wicket, watching him on the field is unmissable. Captain Darren Sammy’s musings on Twitter are also worth a gambit.

Prediction

The game with Bangladesh looks like the mother of all banana skins and whilst they could give England a run for their money, we predict a first round exit for Sammy’s band of merry men.

Where next?

World Cup Team previews: Part 1 - India: Glory or effigies?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 2 - South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

World Cup Team Previews: Part 3 - Bangladesh: Shock & Awe

Our XI to shine at the World Cup

Heroes: Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding

Check out all our other Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes 

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An XI of youngsters to shine in 2010 and beyond

And so the noughties have passed and a new decade dawns. Who will be the new names to shine in 2010 and beyond? An XI of likely stars is presented below, with all players, minus one exception, under 23 and that player (Khawaja) is only four weeks past his 23^rd birthday. Some are already establishing themselves in international cricket, others beginning to make their mark in domestic cricket. Look out for them as they could become to the new decade what Ponting, Kallis, Pietersen, Laxman, Flintoff, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne et al were to the past decade.

 

1. Adrian Barath (West Indies), Age 19 – A brilliant century on test debut at the Gabba followed directly on from an impressive contribution to Trinidad & Tobago’s march to the Champions League Final. The next West Indian batting star has arrived.  

2. Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Age 21 – Picked mainly on the strength of his superlative 150 not out from 102 balls (including eight sixes) in a Pro 40 match against Worcestershire last summer, which I was fortunate enough to see. The tall right-hander could prove a suitable successor to Marcus Trescothick at the top of the England order in time.

3. Usman Khawaja (New South Wales), Age 23 – Pakistan born Khawaja is likely to become the first Muslim to represent Australia. He is certainly making waves for New South Wales, where he is firmly established at first drop in a powerful line-up. A possible outsider for the Ashes in November?

4. Virat Kohli (India), Age 21 – ODI and first-class averages in excess of 50 and increasingly mature performances for India in the current Tri-Series in Bangladesh suggest that Kohli is at the head of the queue to replace Sachin, Laxman or Dravid when they eventually raise their bat for the last time.

5. Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Age 19 – A brilliant start to his test career followed impressive displays in the World T20 and Champions Trophy. Looks an absolutely sparkling talent and certainly one to watch when Pakistan tour England in the summer.

6. Mitchell Marsh (Western Australia), Age 18 – The son of Geoff and brother of Shaun has had limited first-class exposure to date, but has already set pulses racing Down Under. An immensely powerful batsman who also bowls useful medium pace, Marsh is about to lead the Australian side in the under-19 World Cup.  

7. Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Age 22 – The latest South African born player to qualify for England. The Somerset keeper qualifies in February and don’t be surprised to see him in the ODI team at least by the end of the year.

8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), (Captain), Age 22 – Granted I am not really sticking my neck out on this pick. Left hand batsman and slow-left armer Shakib is already Bangladesh’s best player and captain, and will be looking to surprise England in the imminent home and away series’ in 2010.   

9. Mohammad Aamer (Pakistan), Age 17 – The astonishingly talented Aamer is already an automatic pick for Pakistan in all formats and became the youngest bowler ever to take a five for in test history in the Boxing Day test at the MCG. The left arm quick evokes the great Wasim Akram and will be a serious danger to England’s batsmen in the summer.

10. Wayne Parnell (South Africa), Age 20 – The left arm quick could make an immediate impression if selected for the Johannesburg test. Even if he doesn’t, expect him to make the test side shortly, where Parnell will hope to repeat the wicket taking ability he has already displayed in the ODI and T20I arenas.

11. Kemar Roach (West Indies), Age 21 – The pick of the West Indian seamers in the recent series with Australia where he reassembled Ricky Ponting’s elbow. Roach should help play a key role in the renaissance of the West Indies cricket side over the coming years.

12^th Man. Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey), Age 22 – Millfield educated Hamilton-Brown has just been appointed Surrey’s new captain at the age of 22. If all goes well, the hard-hitting middle order batsman and off-break bowler could be knocking on the England door in one to two years.