The Reverse Sweep

County Championship XI of the week #11

The Championship returned at long last, but the weather was just as bad as when the Friends Life T20 interrupted proceedings at the start of June, but we still managed (just) to cobble together an XI of the week...

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) - Scored 50 out of his side's dismal 1st innings total of 98 and then demonstrated he is ready for the South Africans with an unbeaten 127 against Notts at Uxbridge.

Joe Root (Yorkshire) - Many believe the young Yorkshireman is the heir apparent to Strauss at the top of the order of England's Test side and a classy unbeaten career best 222 at Southampton certainly confirmed his candidature.

Kevin Pietersen (Surrey) - Amidst the soap opera of the has he or hasn't he retired from limited overs international cricket, KP's rare foray into county cricket produced a quite stunning 234 not out off just 190 balls against the county champions at Guildford. 

Steven Croft (Lancashire) - Hit a career best 154 not out at Guildford but was ultimately overshadowed by the rain and Pietersen's remarkable innings.

Jim Allenby (Glamorgan) - Steered his side to their first win of the season and lifted them off the bottom of Division 2 with a brisk half century at Northampton as the Welsh side successfully chased down 351.

Chris Read (Nottinghamshire) - Struck his fifth fifty plus score of the season to put his side in the ascendancy at Uxbridge before the rain fell again. 

Rikki Clarke (Warwickshire) - Hit his third hundred in eight Championship innings to help secure maximum batting points at Edgbaston and then added three wickets to lift Warwickshire to the top of Division 1. 

Andre Adams (Nottinghamshire) - Took his tally of Championship wickets for the season to 46 (at just 15.5) with a six wicket 1st innings haul at Uxbridge before the rain prevented Notts from going clear at the top of Division 1. 

Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) - Not for the first time this season the rain fell on Edgbaston, but the New Zealander's five for 77 at least ensured maximum bowling points for his side.

Tim Murtagh (Middlesex) - Grabbed four wickets at Uxbridge to take his season's tally to 34 at 25.

Reece Topley (Essex) - The 18 year old future England Test bowler took three of the four wickets to fall as rain ruined the first part of the Cheltenham Festival.

Where next?

Read our previous County Championship XI's of the week

Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited-overs cricket: the case for the defence

Hedley Verity - a proper hero with 'no breaking point'

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

England vs Australia ODI series: Why do we feel so underwhelmed?

England versus Australia. Now there's a clash to whet the appetite. Two bitter rivals slugging it out on the cricket fields of England. So why do we feel so underwhelmed about the prospect of the five match ODI series that starts at Lord's today?

Well for a start there are no Ashes Tests to follow the hors d'oeuvre of the coloured pyjama brigade. Worse, the series has been solely arranged for the benefit of mammon and television. Catastrophically, the imposition of this needless series coupled with the Olympics means that the forthcoming Test series with South Africa will be played over just three Test matches.

So forgive our cynicism and negativity about the five match series. England are playing thirteen (or is it fourteen? To be honest we've lost count) matches this summer. No wonder, Kevin Pietersen decided to give this ridiculous schedule a miss.

England-Australia clashes are supposed to be special. This series clearly isn't, and with back-to-back Ashes series next year, thousands more one day games and yet another Ashes series in England in 2015, the ECB and Cricket Australia are in danger of diluting the brand and making England versus Australia as appealing as the prospect of a dinner date with a group of Barclays investment bankers. 

Bob Diamond or Michael Clarke? It shouldn't be a contest but with 30 encounters between the two sides scheduled for the next 18 months, the odious Bob may be preferable come early 2014.

Where next?

Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited-overs cricket: The case for the defence

The Plan by Steve James | Book review

Hedley Verity - a proper hero with 'no breaking point'

England are playing THIRTEEN ODI this summer. Oh joy...

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

England v West Indies - England series marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss (326 runs at 65.20) 9: Redemption at Lord's followed by a second successive hundred at Trent Bridge (to prove that Test match centuries can be like London buses) set up his side's victories in the first two Tests. A touch negative in the field during Samuels' and Sammy's big stand at Nottingham and also when Best and Ramdin caused chaos at Edgbaston.

Alastair Cook (176 runs at 44.00) 6: Failed in the 1st innings of every Test and only made it to 24 at Trent Bridge after being reprieved twice by Roach no balls, but anchored a tricky run chase at Lord's with 79 vital runs and was there at the end at Nottingham whilst looking in decent enough nick.

Jonathan Trott (140 runs at 35.00) 5: Another to look in good touch but could only manage a top score of 58, which was unlike his usual ruthless self. Perhaps he is saving some big innings for his fellow South Africans?

Kevin Pietersen (203 runs at 50.75) 7: Looked in tremendous form at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston but was unable to turn scores of 80 and 78 into big three figure scores. Courted controversy once again by retiring from limited overs internationals but South Africa should beware as KP looks in the mood.

Ian Bell (222 runs at 111.00) 8: No doosra (or Saeed Ajmal), no cry for Bell who eased back into his 2011 vintage with three fifties from four innings with the most crucial coming in the 2nd innings at Lord's when England had stumbled to 57 for four chasing 191.

Jonathan Bairstow (38 runs at 12.66) 3: Started promisingly with a brief cameo of 16 at Lord's but was all at sea at Trent Bridge against the short ball. It is harsh to judge him on four brief innings, but an in-form Ravi Bopara is clearly a better bet against South Africa's daunting pace attack.

Matt Prior (35 runs at 17.50) 5: Whilst his work with the gloves was its usual high quality, he for once failed to cash in against his favourite opponents where in two innings he was bowled through the gate each time.

Tim Bresnan (12 wickets at 33.00; 39 runs at 39.00) 6: Disappointing at Lord's but back to his bustling best at Trent Bridge with eight wickets and an important 39 not out. if Edgbaston is anything to go by, he is far better as a third seamer than the leader of the attack. Winning run ended on 13 by the rain in Birmingham.

Stuart Broad (14 wickets at 21.71; 35 runs at 17.50) 8: Opened up with a career best eleven wicket match haul at Lord's and since the start of the India series last summer has 54 wickets at 18.88 and a batting average of 32.27. That is world-class in any language. Rested for Edgbaston but was still the leading wicket taker in the series.

Graeme Swann (6 wickets at 47.00; 31 runs at 15.50) 6: The pitches offered him scant assistance but took the vital wickets of Bravo and Chanderpaul as West Indies fought hard second time around at Lord's. Should come into his own against the South Africans in the summer's main event.

James Anderson (9 wickets at 26.88; 6 runs at 3.00) 8: Bowled better than his figures suggest, beat the bat countless times and is now the personification of consistency as he barely wastes a ball. Wasn't happy to be rested for Edgbaston where England missed his skill with the ball and nous as the attack leader. His forthcoming dual with Dale Steyn should be fascinating. 

Steve Finn (1 Test, three for 109; 0*) 5: The 'next cab off the rank' came in at Edgbaston as Anderson and Broad were rested and mixed up some unplayable deliveries with several balls - especially in the record last wicket partnership - that were lacking in line or length.

Graham Onions (1 Test, four for 88; DNB) 7: England's decision to rotate their seamers handed the Durham bowler his first Test cap for two and a half years after a serious back injury. He was the pick of the attack with four wickets and may have moved ahead of Finn now in the pecking order. 

Where next?

England v West Indies - West Indies 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

The Plan by Steve James | Book review

Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited-overs cricket: the case for the defence

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep 

Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited-overs cricket: the case for the defence

For the second time in little more than a week we find ourselves in the unfamiliar position of defending Kevin Pietersen.

The ECB's petty decision last week to discipline Pietersen for his mild criticism of Nick Knight on Twitter seems to have cost them the services of their best batsman after KP today announced his retirement from limited overs international cricket with immediate effect.

Whilst the little Englanders and KP’s detractors in the media will doubtless point to the fact that he still intends to participate in the IPL, most of our sympathy lies with Pietersen.

The simple fact is that England play too much 50 over cricket; this summer there are 13 matches (or is it 14, it’s difficult to keep count) and then a further seven in India later in the year. Not only does it dilute the brand whilst sending even the most fervent pyjama cricket fan to sleep, it leaves the players tired of the format and spending too much time away from their young families.

Whilst KP’s timing isn’t great with England set to defend their World T20 crown in Sri Lanka in four months – a point made rather pettily by the ‘disappointed’ Hugh Morris in the wake of Pietersen's announcement, the ECB’s insistence of an all or nothing approach to limited overs cricket kind of made it inevitable.

Pietersen said he would like to be in Sri Lanka to help England defend the trophy that he played a major part in them lifting in 2010, but the intransigence of the ECB prevented this. KP is 31, has a young family and is financially secure for life, so when his employers decided to punish him for going public on his views on Knight, it seems that it was the final straw. Can anyone really blame him?

We’ve certainly got no bones with Pietersen’s decision. He’s served England well in the 50 over format and his retirement gives a younger player the opportunity to establish himself before the World Cup in 2015. Those referencing the IPL are barking up the wrong tree. We’re no great lovers of the tournament, but it lasts for six weeks of which Pietersen is unlikely ever to play a full part due to his Test commitments.

And let’s look on the bright side. As well as hopefully extending his Test career, we could be seeing a lot more of him in county cricket for Surrey. Isn’t there a T20 competition starting soon?

Where next?

Nick Compton: runs and jokes at Kevin Pietersen's expense

Kevin Pietersen is innocent (and right about Nick Knight)

It's not jealously KP, it's pure and simple indifference

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

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

Andrew Strauss - 9: So, Test hundreds are like London buses for the skipper. After the relief of Lord's this was much more like the old Strauss versus opponents against whom he has six hundreds and an average of 50. 

Alastair Cook - 6: Was unable to cash in after being dismissed twice off no-balls in the 1st innings effectively making his score 24 for three, before as at Lord's anchoring a serene progress to victory in the run chase. 

Jonathan Trott - 6: Was in immaculate form before a slightly unlucky leg before decision (the ball was just clipping leg) stopped him in his tracks - on this showing though a big score can only be just around the corner. 

Kevin Pietersen - 7: Can someone please tell me how KP can play a Dilscoop in a Test match?? Ridiculous. That maybe so, but England's premier batsman looked in ominous form during his knock of 80, which bodes well for the visit of his native South Africa later this summer.

Ian Bell - 5: Like Trott, looked in great touch before playing across the line and being trapped in front.

Jonathan Bairstow - 1: Given a thorough examination against the short ball and failed dismally, which doesn't auger well for the challenge ahead against Steyn and Morkel.

Matt Prior - 5: As sound as ever with the gloves, but as at Lord's only a fleeting cameo with the bat at a time when England needed him to stay in the middle.

Tim Bresnan - 9: Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but not for this Yorkshireman: eight wickets, useful runs, a glorious spell of reverse swing on the fourth evening, a continuation of his unblemished winning streak and not a cheese sandwich in sight.

Stuart Broad - 7: Had to be content with the support cast after his starring role at Lord's but made inroads with the new ball on the first morning and took the prize wicket of Chanderpaul second time around.

James Anderson - 8: Two wickets in each innings with the new ball and a stunning catch to get rid of Barath on the first morning, but perhaps showed too much frustration during Sammy and Samuels' big stand. 

Where next?

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

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

Kevin Pietersen is innocent (and right about Nick Knight)

Who gets in an England-South Africa composite XI?

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Kevin Pietersen is innocent (and right about Nick Knight)

Kevin Pietersen has rarely caught the mood of the cricketing public as much as when he recently tweeted "Can somebody please tell me how Nick Knight has worked his way into the commentary box for the Tests?? Ridiculous."

These are sentiments that will not be disagreed with by the vast majority of viewers tuning into Sky to watch England’s Test matches. Indeed, we wouldn’t be surprised if some of Knight’s colleagues in the Sky box are also wondering what he has got over the producer to be able to muscle his way into the gang. The sight and sound of Knight on our television screens even nearly makes the buffoonish Charles Colville seem nearly bearable. Nearly.

It therefore seems churlish and downright ridiculous that KP has been hauled over the coals and fined by an ECB disciplinary committee for what by any sense of the imagination was a fairly mild critique of Knight’s ability.

Whilst recognising that the ECB needs to exercise some control over the public utterances of its employees – especially high profile England cricketers like Pietersen, we weren’t aware that it subscribed to the type of censorship that would even make the North Korean regime blanche in embarrassment. Yes, Pietersen does suffer from chronic foot in mouth disease, but surely he is entitled to express a view on the ability or otherwise of Knight in the commentary box.

Too many of our cricketers are as likely to induce narcolepsy with the utter banality of their comments in the public domain as they are to say something of any substance. It is hardly surprising when cricket bodies like the ECB issue petty fines to the likes of Pietersen for what are entirely harmless comments.

Where next?

Nick Knight's audition for Britain's Got Talent

Cricket Zeroes: Charles Colville

Nick Compton: runs and jokes at Kevin Pietersen's expense

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

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

Andrew Strauss - 9: It wasn't just a monkey that the skipper removed from his back when he finally reached three figures after 19 months and 26 innings, it was an especially large and heavy mountain gorilla. What will certain elements of the press have to talk about now? 

Alastair Cook - 7: Looked horrified to play on in the first dig having played himself in but made up for it in the run chase to quell English nerves and ease his side to victory.

Jonathan Trott - 6: If it wasn't for his fastidiousness and quirky ways, England's number three would be practically invisible so unobtrusive is he at the crease. But his first innings 58 is there on the scorecard, not that we can remember much about it.

Kevin Pietersen - 5: Was in prime form first time around before nicking one behind to Samuels' part-time spin before another poor shot briefly looked to have put England in the brown stuff as they chased on the final morning.

Ian Bell - 8: A couple of attractive sixties were just what the doctor ordered after his dreadful winter expedition to Asia. Now averages 110 in his last ten Tests In England. Tom Jones would doubtless refer to it as the green, green grass of home.

Jonathan Bairstow - 5: Brief but attractive cameo with the bat, smart piece of fielding to run out Kirk Edwards and held onto a sharp chance at point to get rid of Samuels in the 1st innings. A promising enough start.

Matt Prior - 6: Another one to sparkle briefly with the bat versus opponents against whom he averages 63. Was as reliable and tidy as ever behind the stumps. 

Tim Bresnan - 4: The lucky charm extended his run to 12 wins from 12 Tests, but was not at his best with the ball and didn't trouble the scorers with the bat. May drop out for Finn at Trent Bridge.

Stuart Broad - 9: Fully deserved his man of the match award for his eleven wickets and is now on the honours board at the home of cricket for ball and bat. Has now taken 51 wickets at 17 since the start of the India series last summer. That is world-class in anyone's language.

Graeme Swann - 7: The pitch offered scant assistance, but his three 2nd innings wickets included the key one of Chanderpaul and he would have had him in the 1st innings too if Strauss had listened to his plea for a review for a leg before.

James Anderson - 7: Hit the right groove immediately on the first morning and bowled well enough - the ball to get Ramdin on day four was a beauty, but was not quite at the level he was in Sri Lanka in April. But if Jimmy don't get you then Broady will.

Where next?

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

Podcast: England vs West Indies preview

Who should bat at six for England?

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Nick Compton: runs and jokes at Kevin Pietersen's expense

Strong gene pool? Check. Born and raised in South Africa? Check. In the form of his life? Check.

Nick Compton would certainly seem to have all the right credentials to play Test cricket for England this summer – either in the vacant number six spot or to replace one of the hallowed top five should the winter travails of say Ian Bell for example extend into the summer Tests against West Indies and South Africa.

Compton is rapidly becoming a bit of a favourite at Reverse Sweep towers. Not only is he in line to become the first batsman to reach 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May since Graeme Hick in 1988 – he already has 715 at a fairly decent 143, but he seems to have a rather splendid sense of humour.

On his famous grandfather, Compton recalled this week “My fondest memory of him was when I was 12 with dad throwing me some underarms in the back yard and I was batting with a high elbow hoping to impress. Denis was sitting on the porch, with the ever-present glass of brandy, and he just said to me: ‘For God’s sake, hit the bloody thing’.

Whilst perhaps even more amusingly he spoke of coming across Kevin Pietersen as a teenager at the KwaZulu-Natal Academy and with timing that Denis Compton himself would have been proud, mischievously quipped “He was there when I was a junior member. I didn’t know him very well but I could hear his voice from quite far away.”

Some things never change, a Compton is scoring runs by the bucket-load and KP still likes the sound of his own voice.

Where next?

Who should bat at six for England?

The mystery of Ajmal Shazad's sacking solved

It's not jealously KP, it's pure and simple indifference

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Naughty boy nets - 2012 style

Unlike many of his predecessors as England coach, Andy Flower doesn’t inflict naughty boy nets on his charges. Instead, he has the modern equivalent of punishing poor performers by releasing them to play county cricket in chilly April.

Whilst central contracts have played a significant role in the improvement of England’s fortunes since their introduction and eradicated the ridiculous motorway dash as players scramble to get back to their counties at the conclusion of a Test match, many county cricket fans rightly lament the almost total absence of their England stars from their county line-ups. So, perhaps England’s struggles over the winter have a silver lining after all?

Middlesex and Warwickshire fans will certainly be happy that the winter’s biggest dunces Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell will be turning out for their counties this week against Durham and Lancashire respectively.

Over the forthcoming weeks all of England’s winter squad will feature for their counties ahead of the 1st Test against the West Indies on 17 May – even Kevin Pietersen will have to cut short his stay in India to return for Surrey’s game at Worcester, which starts on 9 May; that’s if he can find his way to New Road as it is an awfully long way from Chelsea.

But is it enough? Whilst one can understand why James Anderson for instance needs a decent rest following his sterling efforts over the winter, it is difficult to understand why Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior (especially if he played solely as a batsman) are being held back longer than Strauss and Bell.

Maybe Flower is indeed punishing the biggest failures over the winter with a longer stint with their county - Eoin Morgan may not be so disappointed to be warming the bench for the Knight Riders after all.

Where next?

It's not jealously KP, it's pure and simple indifference

County Championship XI of the week #2

2nd Test: Sri Lanka vs England - England marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

It's not jealously KP, it's pure and simple indifference

"Engage brain before mouth" is a simple idiom, but one that time and time again Kevin Pietersen absolutely fails to comprehend, which in combination with his breathtaking and unorthodox strokeplay makes him compulsory viewing both on and off the field of play.

Pietersen's latest foot-in-mouth moment came when he suggested that negative attitudes in England towards the IPL can in the main be put down to "jealously".

Not for the first time, we believe that KP has got it completely and utterly wrong. We can only speak as one English cricket following enclave, but our feelings towards the IPL border on indifference rather than envy or anything more sinister, and we believe that the same is true for most.

First and foremost for all the glitz, glamour and money that is part and parcel of the IPL, it is after all to everyone bar one billion Indians (a not insignificant number, we grant) a foreign domestic league. As such, we care as little for the IPL as we do the Sheffield Shield or indeed Zimbabwe's domestic competitions.

Secondly, it's Twenty 20 cricket, a form of the game that leaves us cold. It has a place to widen the appeal of cricket beyond its traditional geographic, social and demographic groups and it undeniably has helped bolster the coffers of clubs and cricket boards everywhere, but to our tastes at least it is little more than two pumps and a squirt compared to the delights of four or five day cricket.

Finally and perhaps most relevantly, for the last two years, the IPL has started in exactly the same week as the first round of the County Championship - a competition dripping in tradition and history and which still holds a special place for the majority of English cricket followers. For most, a choice between the hit and giggle of a foreign Twenty 20 cricket league and the unique institution that is the domestic County Championship is a straightforward one.

If it wasn't for the fact that the money on offer to players for participating in the IPL was enticing the likes of Owais Shah, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Luke Wright and England players such as Pietersen himself away from County Cricket, the IPL would be a complete irrelevance for most English cricket fans.

We did try the IPL once in 2010, but crucially in that year it started one month before the County season and immediately preceded the World T20 in the Caribbean. This meant that seeing how the likes of Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara got on with their respective IPL sides was of a modicum of interest. As soon as the County season started, our interest waned.

KP seems to love attention, celebrity and glamour, so is likely to be drawn to the sometimes crass and over the top spectacle of the IPL. Perhaps he has forgotten that it was County Cricket that first gave him the platform to exhibit the innate and untamed talent that ultimately led to an international career with England where he has delighted and astounded in equal degree.

He has worked tremendously hard to achieve all he has, but without the opportunity afforded him by Nottinghamshire, would he still be a spinner who bats a bit struggling for a game in South African domestic cricket? Only the Gods of cricket know the answer to that.

From what we've read, heard or seen there isn't much jealously out there towards the IPL. A touch of anger maybe for the loss of an important player to one's county (or country in the case of the West Indies), even some good old fashioned English snobbery towards the nouveau riche, but for the most part it is pure indifference. It's just another cricket competition being played in the world at the same time as the revered County Championship, nothing more, nothing less.

Where next?

Kevin Pietersen's 2010/11 Ashes Diary

Wayne Rooney, County Cricket, the IPL, Luke Wright and loyalty

It's time to end the farce of Two-Test series - Johnny Rotten agrees

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including David Gower, Shane Watson, Justin Langer and Hedley Verity

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Sri Lanka vs England - England marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss - 7: Whilst Trott and Swann defended him off the pitch, the captain did his talking on the field with a dogged fifty to set up England's reply and keep the wolves from the door for now.

Alastair Cook - 8: After a poor winter, the vice-captain was at his obdurate best with a painstaking  94,which gave KP the platform he needed to cut loose. With the shackles released, Cook was far more fluent in the second innings as England cantered to their winning target.

Jonathan Trott - 7: Carried on from his hundred at Galle with another resolute innings here to end a difficult and error ridden winter on a positive note.

Kevin Pietersen - 10: After wintering worse than the German Sixth Army in Stalingrad in 1942-43, the real KP returned with what must go down as one of his best Test hundreds. On a pitch where fluency eluded everyone else, he took the Sri Lankan attack apart as he brought up his 20th Test ton.

Ian Bell - 4: Kept Pietersen company in his match defining innings, but has lost all semblance of his imperious form and confidence of 2011. Could do with being allowed to rediscover his touch in the County Championship for Warwickshire.

Matt Prior - 5: Not at his best with the bat this time, but for once this winter others above him did their jobs. Was his usual reliable self with the gloves.

Samit Patel - 6: Didn't look out of place at this level for the second successive match. He was tidy if not particularly threatening with the ball and added useful runs with the bat.

Tim Bresnan - 7: Held up an end and went at only two runs per over in his first Test of the winter. Now has 11 wins from his 11 Tests, which must make him the largest leprechaun in history.

Graeme Swann - 10: Bagged a ten wicket haul to confirm once and for all his supremacy as England's premier spinner. His six wickets in the second innings included Sri Lanka's big four -Mahela Jaywardene, Sangakkara, Samaraweera and Dilshan making his contribution to the win just as significant as Pietersen's. 

James Anderson - 8: Produced another potent burst with the new ball on the first morning and would seem to have a batsman as great as Sangakkara in his pocket. No one in this side deserved a win this winter more than Dale Steyn's nearest challenger as the best fast bowler in the world.

Steve Finn - 7: After a sterling performance over the winter with the drinks tray, Finn confirmed the impression from the one dayers in India and versus Pakistan that he is quicker and more venomous than before even if the pitch didn't exactly play to his strengths.

Where next?

1st Test England marks out of 10 and Sri Lanka marks out of 10

County Championship preview: Our XI to watch in 2012

Dropping Andrew Strauss

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Andrew Strauss resigns as England captain; Alastair Cook resigns as vice-captain

Word reaches us of truly sensational news from Colombo this morning. After a run of four straight defeats and only one hundred in his last 48 Test innings, Andrew Strauss has resigned as England Test captain with immediate effect ahead of the 2nd Test with Sri Lanka, which starts on Tuesday.

Even more surprising - and a move that harks back to the famous day in 2008 when Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood simultaneously resigned as Test and ODI captains respectively - is the stunning news that Alastair Cook has also fallen on his sword as vice-captain.

Strauss has come under immense pressure this winter as the number one ranked side have lurched from batting collapse to batting collapse and his own powers with the bat continued to dwindle, but the news about Cook is particularly surprising given that everyone assumed he had been confirmed long ago as the heir to Strauss.

We understand that Cook has pointed to the fact that his form is actually worse than his opening partner, with Strauss scoring 167 runs in his last five Test innings to Cook's 71. With T20 captain Stuart Broad on a flight back home nursing an injured calf, coach Andy Flower has had to make an emergency appointment to lead the side in Colombo on Tuesday.

Kevin Pietersen has none of the honour and virtue exhibited by Cook and has snatched the opportunity with clinical aplomb and now has the most unlikely second coming as England captain.

Those England supporters that had been calling for the head of Strauss should have been careful for what they wished for.

Where next?

Bob Willis attacked; Jonathan Trott arrested

Andrew Stauss to resign as England captain?

Read our County Championship Division 1 previews: Durham, Lancashire, Middlesex, Notts, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

1st Test: Sri Lanka vs England - England marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss - 3: Too negative in the field on the occasions England were on top and  horrendous run with the bat continued with two cheap dismissals having done the hard work and played himself in each time. Has just one hundred in his last 48 innings, averages a paltry 25.50 since relinquishing the one day captaincy and has now lost four Tests on the bounce. Is he now more Captain Caveman than Captain Marvel? 

Alastair Cook - 2: A Test to forget for England's best batsman. Fell to an excellent delivery to his fifth ball in the 1st innings before falling foul of DRS second time around. Has only passed 14 four times in his last 14 visits to the crease in Tests. 

Jonathan Trott - 9: Recovered from an embarrassing dismissal in the 1st innings to become the first England batsman to reach three figures this winter. It was a heroic knock too and provided a template to his colleagues in terms of its judgement and patience.

Kevin Pietersen - 4: Failed first time around but looked close to his best in the 2nd innings before carelessly giving it away early on the fourth morning. That said, looks set to go big in Colombo - England's number one Test ranking could depend upon it. 

Ian Bell - 5: There were flashes of the batsman who dominated Test cricket in 2011 in his 1st innings fifty, but despite his obvious class Bell clearly struggles against spin on slow wickets. There was no better evidence of this than the injudicious sweep that led to his dismissal second time around.

Matt Prior - 6: Assured behind the stumps as usual. Learned from his 1st innings dismissal when he was leg before playing back to form what looked like a matchwinning partnership with Trott before an unfortunate dismissal led to the final denoument. Good enough to bat in the top six.

Samit Patel - 4: Not the easiest Test to make a debut but Patel didn't let anyone down. Kept it tight with the ball and grabbed a couple of wickets, although will need to learn from his dismissals in both innings if he is to prosper at this level.

Stuart Broad - 4: Was clearly not fully fit and looked to have worsened his injury by the end of the match. Costly no ball enabled Sri Lanka to add another 47 2nd innings runs and was one of eight he bowled in the match. Brief 1st innings cameo with the bat threatened to drag his side back into contention.

Graeme Swann - 8: Expensive in the 1st innings when Jayawardene certainly tucked in, but back to his attacking and potent best second time around with six wickets to prove once and for all he is England's number one spinner.

James Anderson - 8: Heroic bowling in the 1st innings as he bagged his 12th five wicket Test haul and overtook fellow Lancastrian Brian Statham on England's all-time leading wicket taker list. His batting continues to improve.

Monty Panesar - 5: A tidy enough performance with the ball but lacked real threat and generally didn't trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen. Comical in the field where his two drops of Jayawardene ultimately cost England dear.

Where next?

1st Test: Sri Lanka vs England - Sri Lanka marks out of 10

Summer 2011: England v Sri Lanka: England series marks out of 10

Ian Bell, The Prince and The Pauper

Is Ravi Bopara the unluckiest cricketer in the world?

Dropping Andrew Strauss

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England's topsy-turvy menu in the desert

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

Pakistan vs England ODI series - England marks out of 10

Alastair Cook and England's T20 team

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

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Pakistan vs England ODI series - England marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

England are ready to rock'n'roll

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

Samit Patel is doing alright

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

India v England ODI series: England marks out of 10

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England are ready

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

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

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

Farewell to Paul Collingwood - England's Working Class Hero

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

See Luke Wright break his cricket bat

Kevin Pietersen has grown up

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Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

Pakistan series marks out of 10

3rd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

England's tale of woe against spin in Asia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

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

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