The Reverse Sweep

We're running out of superlatives for Virat Kohli

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

Virat Kohli's starter for ten

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

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

Check out our Cricket XIs

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

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

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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

 

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

 

263

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

 

461

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

 

30.23

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

 

40.58

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

 

33

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

 

0

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

 

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

Where next?

Annus mirabilis: The best Test XI of 2011

Annus horribilis: The Worst Test XI of 2011

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

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

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

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

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

The best Test XI of 2011

The redemption of Michael Clarke

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

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

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

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

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

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

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

It was that arch-propagandist Joesph Goebbels himself whose mantra was that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

We're not sure that the Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda had cricket in mind when he devised his theory but it could arguably be applied to the hitherto considered stellar Indian batting line-up.

Following their meek submission for just 191 in Sydney today after MS Dhoni opted to bat after winning the toss, India have now failed to pass 400 in their last 18 completed overseas Test innings.

For the record and in reverse order the sorry tale of inepitude against Australia, England, West Indies and South Africa reads: 191, 169, 282, 283, 300, 244, 224, 158, 288, 261, 286, 347, 201, 252, 246, 364, 228 and 205.

The last time India passed 400 overseas was when they totalled 459 in the 2nd innings of the Centurion Test in December 2010, but given they faced a 1st innings deficit of 484 after being shot out for a dismal 136 in the 1st innings there wasn't much to crow about. 

During this sorry run these are the averages of India's top seven: Gambhir 25.00, Sehwag 20.54, Dravid 47.66, Tendulkar 42.71, Laxman 32.15, Dhoni 27.00, Raina 25.92 and Kohli 13.75.

That is underperformance on a massive scale with only Dravid and Tendulkar having creditable returns - all those averages are significantly below their career Test figures.

Of course Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman are all great batsmen and have proved themselves time and time again over a long period.

Or is Goebbel's adage of the big lie true in this case after all?

Where next?

The best Test XI of 2011

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

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

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

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

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

Gautam Gambhir - 2: Looks completely out of sorts, which is maybe not a surprise given he has now gone 17 Tests and 31 innings without a Test hundred - he had hit eight tons in his 10 Tests before that. He averages just 29 during this barren run and it was easy to see why with his angled bat and problems outside off stump condemning him in both innings. May need to find another wedding to attend as he clearly needs a break.  

Virender Sehwag - 6: Looked somewhere close to his best in the 1st innings where another hour at the crease could have seen him take the game away from Australia. That made his soft dismissal all the more galling. 2011 has not been a vintage year for Sehwag as far as Tests go: 384 runs at just 29.5.

Rahul Dravid - 7: Whilst the focus was on Sehwag and then Tendulkar at the other end, The Wall did what he does best at the other and skilfully accumulated yet another Test fifty. Was unfortunate to be undone by absolute jaffas in each innings. The leading scorer in Tests in 2011 where Dravid dazzled at and away from the crease.

Sachin Tendulkar - 7: The quest for that elusive 100th international hundred now stretches to 19innings, but it cannot be long in coming if the Little Master continues his scintillating form from this Test. He looked at his majestic best before Siddle got one through first time around. Onto Sydney.

VVS Laxman - 2: His inexplicably dismal record at Melbourne worsened (it is now 114 runs from eight innings at just 14.25) with just three scratchy runs from 36 balls faced. Will hope for better at Sydney where he has three hundreds in five innings at 96.

Virat Kohli - 2: Undone by the movement of Hilfenhaus in each innings and as talented as he is, Kohli will need to do better with Rohit Sharma breathing down his neck. India's problems at number six continue.

MS Dhoni - 3: Woefully poor dismissal in the 1st innings, but at least showed some application second time around. Uninspiring defensive captaincy when trying to dismiss the Australian tail in each innings. Form with the bat in Test cricket is a concern with an average of just 29.6 from his last 22 Tests. Is the responsibility of captaincy affecting his batting?

R Ashwin - 7: Hugely impressive with bat and ball. Picked up four wickets and bowled economically on a pitch that didn't aid his off-spin and reached 30 in both innings. Harbhajan who?

Zaheer Khan - 8: India's attack looked far better from having its most potent force back at the helm. The full box of tricks was on display and seven wickets was the least he deserved. The ball to finally snare Hussey was magnificent. 

Ishant Sharma -6: No seamer has taken more than his 43 Test wickets in 2011, but an average of 37 and strike rate of 68 is probably a more accurate reflection of his inconsistency. Actually bowled well in the 1st innings without reward and the ball to dismiss Clarke was arguably the ball of the match.

Umesh Yadav - 8: Was more expensive than Prada in the 1st innings but crucially also bowled several superlative wicket-taking balls. Proved to be a quick learner in the 2nd innings when he was handed the new ball and took the first three wickets to fall. Took seven wickets in all in his first Test in Australia and was genuinely quick throughout. An immensely promising cricketer.

Where next?

1st Test: Australia marks out of 10

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

Michael Hussey is not dead

Ed Cowan makes Geoffrey Boycott happy (probably)

Australia v India - Who will win?

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

In truth the World Cup was a mostly disappointing and overlong affair, but the final itself proved a memorable one.

In front of a fanatical home Mumbai crowd and fresh from beating bitter rivals Pakistan and holders Australia in the semi and quarter finals respectively, the whole of India was confident of victory.

However, a brilliant hundred from Mahela Jayawardene took Sri Lanka to 274 and when Lasith Malinga struck early to remove Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tedulkar, it all looked to be going wrong.

But after Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli had steadied the ship, captain MS Dhoni arrived to apply the coup de grace.

From a personal viewpoint his World Cup had been a disappointment, but despite being in woeful form with the bat he promoted himself above man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh to take the challenge of of a tight run-chase head on.

And as he has so often before and since, Dhoni timed the chase to absolute perfection and finished the match in the best way possible with a glorious straight six off Nuwan Kulasekara. Cue thunderous celebrations and immortality.

Where next?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the King of Cool

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

We Are Two Today

December 23rd is a pretty random date to start a blog about cricket, but that is exactly what we did two years ago to this day.

For once the Christmas shopping was done and we were sat in the office with nothing to do et voila.

The life of a blogger is nearly as precarious as it was to be a despot in 2011, but like Dictator Dan we managed to get through the year unscathed.

It's been a good, bad and ugly year in cricket. The good was seen in England's Ashes triumph through to the absolute walloping of India to replace them as the number one Test side. It was also seen in Lancashire's County Championship triumph, Ireland's victory over England in the World Cup, Pakistan's resurgence, MS Dhoni's batting in the World Cup final and the arrival of a number of immensely talented young cricketers such as Darren Bravo, Pat Cummins and Jonathan Bairstow.

Sadly, there was a lot of bad topped by the unseemly spot-fixing trial that saw three cricketers sent to jail. As for the ugly, one didn't need to look further than the ICC. Whether it was allowing Zimbabwe back into the Test fold, dithering over the presence of the minnows in the next World Cup, backtracking over the World Test Championship or making a hash over the use of the DRS.

We hope you've enjoyed it. We have. Now it's time for a tantrum - well we are two.

Where next?

Happy 1st birthday

Dear Santa... - What have these cricketers requested for Christmas?

Check out some of our 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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Jonathan Trott - The Case for the Defence

Last week in the wake of England's narrow defeat in Mohali we wrote a piece exonerating Jonathan Trott from the opprobium that had been flung his way despite him scoring 98 not out and Craig Kieswetter doing a passable impression of Kamran Akmal at his worst behind the stumps.

We're not sure we went far enough as Trott was still getting stick in the Sky Sports post mortems of the series even though he was England's leading run scorer in the series with 202 runs at 50.5 with a strike rate just below 80.

Lest it not be forgotten that Trott is rated in the top three one day batsmen in the world and as we explain in our column this week on All Out Cricket, he is also the member of an exclusive club.

Read In Defence of Jonathan Trott here and join our campaign 'Not Trott's Fault' by leaving a comment on the site.

Where next?

India v England ODI series: England marks out of 10

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the King of Cool

Is it really Jonathan Trott's fault?

Are Cook, Trott and Bell more impressive than Pippa Middleton's derriere?

Jonathan Trott is a good starter

BREAKING: Bob Willis attacked; Jonathan Trott arrested

Jonathan Trott proves us wrong for the 4th and final time

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If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the King of Cool

You've got to hand it to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he really is the Fonz when it comes to batting in one-day cricket. Indeed, we have now officially designated Dhoni as the King of Cool.

There's been a lot written about Wales' impeccable preparation for the Rugby World Cup, which featured cryotherapy whereby the players would have to tolerate two five-minute spells per day in a freezing chamber where temperatures drop to-101C.

Dhoni doesn't need anything that - he just strolls to the middle with ice cool nerve in the midst of a tension filled run chase with his side requiring anything over seven runs per over.

After his masterful 91 not out and final flourish of a six won India the World Cup Final earlier this year, yesterday's chase in Mohali was but a mere inconvenience to the man who is as cool as a cucumber.

Jade Dernbach may be having a torrid time in this series, but he was correct in his assessment that Dhoni is India's key batsman in the one-day game, it's just that he neither his colleagues can get the Indian skipper out.

In the run-up to this series we suggested that Dhoni's crown had slipped on account of his previously unblemished captaincy record being badly dented in England this summer, but irrespective of what the rankings say we regard Dhoni as the best one-day batsman in the world at the Reverse Sweep.

Last week in Hyderabad he skilfully led India from a position of parity to a total of 300, and yesterday he once again displayed his unrivalled ability to time a run chase.

So, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, we crown you the King of Cool.

Where next?

The India vs England ODI series: Time for vengeance or an utter waste of time?

England are as bad as India

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Andy Flower and the curse of autobiographies

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's crown has slipped

There was a time just a few months ago when Mahendra Singh Dhoni couldn’t do a thing wrong.

Not only was he captain of the India team that had just won the World Cup on home soil, India were also unbeaten in his 11 Test series at the helm and sat proudly at the top of the ICC Test rankings.

If that wasn’t enough he also led Chennai Super Kings to their second successive IPL crown, having also claimed the Champions League for his franchise in 2010.

In short, Dhoni was the main man and a leader that was held in the upper echelon of leaders that inludes the likes of Genghis Khan and Napoleon.

But just as invading Russia proved a step too far for France’s diminutive Emperor, so the tour of England proved for Dhoni.

India weren’t just beaten. They were royally hammered.

Losing the Test series 4-0 was humiliating enough. But the magnitude of the defeats was staggering for a team that had been number one in the world: England won by 196 runs at Lords, 319 runs at Trent Bridge, an innings and 242 at Edgbaston and then finally by an innings and 8 runs at The Oval.

Dhoni’s own form suffered too – a couple of fifties at Edgbaston apart – and his performances behind the stumps were dreadful where it seemed his gloves were made of iron.

Things didn’t get much better in the limited overs matches with England winning the solitary T20 and the one day series 3-0 even if Dhoni’s upsurge in form earned him the man of the series award.

Then if all that wasn’t enough, no sooner had Dhoni returned home to India than Chennai lost their grip on the Champions League and finished embarrassingly bottom of their group.

So as much as Dhoni deserves a rest after an arduous schedule over the last six months, part of him may be glad for the chance to seek immediate retribution against England in the one day series that starts today.

As we wrote yesterday, the series may be pointless on most counts, but if it enables India to repair a few bruised egos and Dhoni to rebuild his reputation as a leader, he and his men will probably take that.

In truth, Dhoni is not a leader of the calibre of a Napoleon, but neither is he an Ian Duncan-Smith either and England will find India a much tougher proposition on their own pitches than they did in England over the summer.

We’re just not sure that we will be paying much attention to it.

Where next?

The India vs England ODI series: Time for vengeance or an utter waste of time?

Dhoni’s no-ball and the case for or against technology

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

England v India: India series marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir – 2 (102 runs at 17.00): Missed Trent Bridge because of injury and suffered concussion when making a complete mess of holding on to a skier from KP at The Oval. In between his batting against the short ball bordered on the shambolic making a mockery of a Test average of over 50.

Virender Sehwag – 2 (41 runs at 10.25): Was rushed back from his shoulder operation prematurely and bagged a king pair at Edgbaston. His brief second innings cameo at The Oval couldn’t hide the fact that he looked unfit and completely disinterested. 

Abinhav Mukund – 3 (64 runs at 16.00): Stood in for Sehwag in the first two Tests and looked a decent prospect when compiling 49 at Lord’s. Needs to work on his technique against the short ball and would be well advised to book into a masterclass from Dravid.

Rahul Dravid – 9 (461 runs at 76.83): Magnificent. Foisted into an openers role he despises from where he scored two brilliant hundreds – including becoming only the third Indian to carry his bat in the first innings at The Oval. Added a third hundred from his customary role as first drop at Lord’s and scored 23% of India’s runs in the series – it would have been even more but for a couple of dodgy umpiring decisions. Looked a better keeper than his captain when Dhoni had a bowl at Lord’s.

Sachin Tendulkar – 6 (273 runs at 34.12): Has the Little Master ever looked so uncomfortable on a cricket field? England’s pacemen bowled brilliantly to him and it wasn’t until the final day of the series that we saw close to the real Tendulkar. That 100th hundred eluded him, but don’t be surprised to see the milestone reached in the forthcoming ODI series.

VVS Laxman – 4 (182 runs at 22.75): A huge disappointment. Got a few starts and reached 50 twice but was unable to go on each time. Threw his wicket away a couple of times after he’d played himself in (most shockingly in the first innings at Edgbaston) and was castled twice by a couple of Anderson jaffas.

Suresh Raina – 2 (105 runs at 13.12, 4 wickets at 62.75): Apart from a battling 78 at Lord’s, Raina scored just 27 runs in his other seven innings and concluded the series with a tortuous pair at The Oval that spanned 42 excruciating balls. Everyone knew before the series that he would struggle against the short ball, but the reality was even worse. At least looked like he was trying in the field.

Yuvraj Singh – 4 (70 runs at 35.00, 1 wicket at 52.00): Played just the one match at Trent Bridge and rode some early good fortune to hit an impressive 62 in the first innings before becoming another victim of the short ball in the second. Injury ruled him out of the rest of the series thereafter.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 3 (220 runs at 31.42, 13 catches): His previously impressive record of not losing a series as captain was shattered. Disappointed with the bat – two defiant fifties at Edgbaston apart, looked like an amateur with the gloves and made several strange bowling changes and field placings.

Harbhajan Singh – 1 (2 wickets at 143.50, 58 runs at 14.50): Disastrous. Took only two wickets in the series and went at over four runs per over and was then promptly injured at Trent Bridge.

Amit Mishra – 4 (3 wickets at 106.66, 153 runs at 38.25): Looked more of a batsman than a bowler especially at The Oval where he featured in India’s highest partnership of the series with Tendulkar. His bowling lacked variety and thought, and like Harbhajan went at around four runs per over.

Praveen Kumar – 7 (15 wickets at 29.53, 110 runs at 18.33): Consistently impressed with the ball, threw himself around in the field and enjoyed himself with the bat – he hit the most sixes on either side. The only Indian bowler who can hold his head up high – what he lacks in pace he more than makes up for with know-how.

Ishant Sharma – 4 (11 wickets at 58.18, 24 runs at 4.00): Frustratingly inconsistent with the ball – his spell on the fourth morning at Lord’s was sensational and nearly turned the match India’s way. But a series bowling average approaching 60 and a strike rate of a wicket every 95 balls tells a pretty woeful story.

Sreesanth – 3 (8 wickets at 61.62, 18 runs at 4.50): Mr four ball disappointed after bursting into the series on the first day at Trent Bridge where he helped reduce England to 124 for eight. Down on pace and lacking the fire of the 2007 model.

Zaheer Khan – 4 (2 wickets at 9.00): For half of the first day at the series it looked like Zaheer was set to repeat his decisive role from 2007 snaring both openers and causing Trott and Pietersen no end of problems. Then after 13.3 overs it was all over and so as it turned out were India’s hopes.

RP Singh – 1 (0 wickets for 118 runs, 25 runs at 12.50): Atrocious. Came in for the injured Kumar at The Oval and extended his run without a Test wicket to 71 overs and 367 runs, put in a comical display in the field and left a bemused Munaf Patel (who unlike Singh had been named in the original squad) looking on from the sidelines wondering what he had done wrong.

Where next?

England v India: England series marks out of 10

4th Test: The Oval - England marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - England marks out of 10

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - India marks out of 10

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10

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4th Test: The Oval - India marks out of 10

Virender Sehwag – 4: So disinterested in proceedings that he left the field due to a headache, but at least lasted past the first over when he batted a second time - unfurling some of his trademark explosive strokes before being suckered by Swann.

Gautam Gambhir – 2: Made such a hash of attempting to catch a Pietersen skier that he suffered concussion in the process and had to bat down the order in both innings. Perhaps that is why he more closely resembled a fearful tailender than an opening batsman with an average over 50.

Rahul Dravid – 9: Became only the third Indian batsman to carry his bat as he was forced into the emergency opener role once again. Put the rest of the Indian batsmen to shame with his application, determination and fight. The only way England could get him out was through an umpiring error and the third umpire duly obliged with a bizarre decision.

Sachin Tendulkar – 7: Given a going over once again by England’s pacemen in the first innings where Broad had the temerity to hit the Little Master on the helmet. Had more lives than a particularly fortunate cat in the second until his luck ran out with a dubious leg before just nine runs short of that magical 100th hundred.

VVS Laxman – 4: Elevated again to his favoured number three position but failed both times. A great batsman but one that struggles to produce his best on England’s bouncier and seam-friendly Test wickets.

Suresh Raina – 2: No marks for his batting after a tortuously long drawn out pair covering 29 balls in the first innings and 13 second time around. After a torrid time against England’s fast men it was Swann that got him in both innings this time – even if the second of those was clearly not out. Took a smart caught and bowled to remove KP and at least showed some desire in the field.

MS Dhoni – 2: His work with the gloves was once again abysmal although captaining this attack must be a traumatic distraction. Disappointing with the bat this time with his wild drive in the second innings being horribly irresponsible.

Amit Mishra – 6: A better batsman than bowler on this showing after he followed up an ineffectual nought for 170 with two defiant knocks of 43 and 84 putting most of his top order batting colleagues to shame.

Ishant Sharma – 5: Mr Inconsistency once again after he faded badly after good opening spells on the first and second days. Failed in his nightwatchman duties.

RP Singh – 1: Now has nought for 367 from his last 71 overs in Tests and looked a shadow (albeit a more portly one) of the bowler who impressed so much in 2007. His fielding was even worse and ranked in the downright embarrassing category. Gets one mark for his breezy 25 in the first innings.

Sreesanth – 4: Must have earned the sobriquet of Mr Four Ball by now given that he bowls so many of them. At least he got three wickets though after another liquorice allsorts display with the ball.

Where next?

4th Test: The Oval - England marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - England marks out of 10

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - India marks out of 10

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10

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3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir – 4: Started well on the first morning before somewhat unluckily playing on to Bresnan. Outdone by the superlative Anderson second time around.

Virender Sehwag – 0: A King Pair means the great one fails to trouble the scorers here too. Lackadaisical performance in the field epitomised India’s malaise. It was a huge gamble to pick him and it failed badly, but at 2-0 down did India have any other choice?

Rahul Dravid – 5: No hundred this time, but it took the ball of the match from Bresnan to get through The Wall in the first innings. Failure to refer his second innings dismissal confirmed the state of India’s shellshock.

Sachin Tendulkar – 5: Tentative in the first innings when he was tormented by a tremendous over from Anderson. On the receiving end of the unluckiest dismissal in cricket when in full flow second time around just as that elusive 100th hundred looked a distinct possibility.

VVS Laxman – 4: Terrible shot to be dismissed when well set on day one before enduring a torrid time at the hands of Anderson when India batted a second time.

Suresh Raina – 2: He clearly has talent but his Test career will be brief unless he learns to play the short ball. Looked mentally shot after being dismissed by Swann in the 2nd innings.

MS Dhoni – 6: Sloppy with the gloves again and some of his captaincy decisions were frankly baffling, but at least found some belated form with the bat in the shape of two defiant fifties.

Amit Mishra – 5: Bowled tidily enough and got plenty of turn, but lacked the guile, nous and variation necessary to trouble the England batsmen. Where was the googly? An improvement on the Harbhajan Singh of Lord’s and Trent Bridge though.

Praveen Kumar – 7: Bowled his heart out and kept throwing himself around in the field. Put the top order batsmen to shame with two entertaining innings. The only one who can hold his head up high after this performance. If only India had eleven Kumar’s…

Ishant Sharma – 3: Like Raina, Ishant clearly has talent – his pre-lunch spell at Lord’s on day four provided ample evidence of that. However, here it looked like he was simply going through the motions and bowling on a different surface to England’s impressive pace trio.

Sreesanth – 2: If the eccentric Sreesanth is a Test quality bowler than I am the King of England. Lacks pace, control and brains even if his effort cannot be faulted.

Where next?

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - India marks out of 10

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

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2nd Test: Trent Bridge - India marks out of 10

Abinhav Mukund - 2: Lucky to escape a king pair and all at sea against the short ball as evidenced by his dismissal in the 2nd innings. The return of Virender Sehwag can't come quick enough for India.

Rahul Dravid - 9: His second successive hundred had put India in the driving seat before Broad's passable Ian Botham impersonation. Early dismissal in the 2nd innings made England unstoppable.

VVS Laxman - 7: Another unconverted fifty from the stylish Laxman before he was cleaned up by a pearler from Anderson second time around.

Sachin Tendulkar - 6: Dreadful shot to be dismissed in the 1st innings but looked in sublime form as India collapsed in the second innings. Still looking for that elusive 100th hundred.

Suresh Raina - 2: After his battling performance at Lord's, Raina really struggled against the short ball. Maybe that explained his soft dismissal in the 1st innings?

Yuvraj Singh - 6: Made the most of an early drop to form what looked like being a decisive partnership with Dravid before being the first victim of Broad's hat-trick. Another to fall to the short-ball in the 2nd innings.

MS Dhoni - 2: Full marks for his wonderful sporting gesture to recall Bell to the crease, but it couldn't hide some sloppy keeping, woeful captaincy and dreadful form with the bat.

Harbhajan Singh - 3: Another Test to forget for Harbhajan, who appears to be a fading force - even if injury didn't help. Lusty hitting in the 2nd innings delayed England's triumph by a few overs.

Praveen Kumar - 7: The pick of India's bowlers again and fully deserved his seven wickets. Has remarkable control of the ball, which more than compensates for his lack of pace.

Ishant Sharma - 6: Impressive in helpful conditions on day one, but less so in the 2nd innings when he went at nearly 4.5 runs per over.

Sreesanth - 6: Like Sharma, bowled well on day one and was rewarded with three wickets. Went at over five runs per over in the second though.

Where next?

2nd Test: Trent Bridge - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

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1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10

Abinhav Mukund – 5: Looked a decent prospect in compiling 49 in the 1st innings even if he was visibly uncomfortable against Tremlett’s extra bounce. Castled twice by Broad off inside edges.

Gautum Gambhir – 4: His recent struggles at Test level continued – he has now gone 20 innings without recording a hundred. Another of India’s walking wounded.

Rahul Dravid – 9: Immaculate exhibition of technical excellence to hold India’s 1st innings together, record his 33rd Test hundred and go past Ponting to become the second highest run scorer in Tests. Looked as good, if not better, than his skipper behind the stumps.

Sachin Tendulkar – 5: Failed in his final attempt to get on the Lord’s honours board thanks to some excellent England bowling that first becalmed him in each innings and then stole his wicket.

VVS Laxman – 5: Gifted his wicket in the 1st innings and then struck an attractive fifty on the final day before again giving it away with a lazy pull.

Suresh Raina – 6: Bounced back well from a 1st innings duck to compile a brave 78 second time around to justify his inclusion ahead of Yuvraj.

MS Dhoni – 4: Fell both times to Tremlett with the second new ball – the first dismissal was tentative and the second was shocking given his side were fighting to save the game. Not at his best behind the stumps and even gave himself 10 overs with the ball. Rumours that he also makes the tea in the dressing room are so far unfounded.

Harbhajan Singh – 3: A game to forget for Bhaji. Went at more than four runs an over in the 1st innings, only took one wicket in the match and scored 0 and 12.

Praveen Kumar – 8: He may not be the quickest, but Kumar showed his mastery of swing with a five wicket haul in the 1st innings. His performance was all the more impressive given Zaheer’s injury. He may find conditions at Trent Bridge to his liking.

Zaheer Khan – 5: Won his first duel with the England openers and had both Trott and KP in real trouble before departing with a hamstring injury. India’s chances of fighting back in the series probably depend on the timing of his return.

Ishant Sharma – 6: Innocuous in the 1st innings, but absolutely brilliant in his pre-lunch spell on Sunday when he brought India roaring back into the game. 

Where next?

1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

Kevin Pietersen, Wally Hammond, Len Hutton and Test double hundreds

Zaheer Khan: He came, he saw, he conquered....he got injured

Cricket heroes: Henry Blofeld

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England v India: 1st Test, Lord's - Preview

With all due respect to South Africa, this series is the real clash of the titans to see who is the best current Test side. England have won five series on the bounce and India are yet to lose a Test rubber under the leadership of MS Dhoni – so something has to give.

England and India are notoriously slow starters, so staging the 1st Test of the series on a Lord’s featherbed may suit both teams as they begin to feel each other out. However, with India having had so little time to prepare on these shores, England may come to regret not staging this Test at Trent Bridge or Old Trafford.

Intriguing is the word that comes most to mind when assessing this match. Firstly, it is the 2000th Test match (prompting the ridiculous ICC XI picked by the public – Kapil Dev instead of Sobers? Sehwag or Gavaskar instead of Hobbs?). Then there is the small matter of Sachin Tendulkar aiming for his 100th international hundred. And if that wasn’t enough, there is the presence of Duncan Fletcher as Indian coach.

The time for all the talking is nearly over, let the extravaganza begin.

Likely line-ups

It’s Broad or Bresnan for England – we’d opt for the latter to reunite the four man attack who were so impressive during the innings victories at Melbourne and Sydney.

India’s final XI is less clear given Sehwag’s injury and the absence of Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan from the squad that recently beat the West Indies. With Suresh Raina excelling in the Caribbean and hitting a hundred in the warm-up match at Taunton, we expect him to bat at six, which means it is a straight choice between Yuvraj and Abhinav Mukund for the final batting spot.

Ishant Sharma was a revelation in the Caribbean and will open the bowling with Zaheer. Munaf Patel or Praveen Kumar will join the two spearheads and Harbhajan in India’s four man attack.

Look out for…

Kevin Pietersen likes the big occasion and it doesn’t get much bigger than this – the 2000th Test against the best side in the world at Lord’s. Don’t be surprised if KP marks the occasion with a sparkling hundred.

The battle between Zaheer and Andrew Strauss promises to be one to watch, but it’s difficult to look past Sachin Tendulkar’s quest to hit his 100th hundred and finally get on that Lord’s honours board.

Previously at Lord’s

2007 – Match drawn

A battling 76 not out from Dhoni and bad weather on the final day allowed India to escape by the skin of their teeth with just one wicket left for England to get in the first game of a series India went on to win 1-0.

2002 – England won by 170 runs

A captain’s knock of 155 by Nasser Hussain laid the platform before the bowlers earned England a big first innings lead. Centuries by Michael Vaughan and John Crawley helped set India an impossible target of 568, which they fell well short of, but not before the hitherto unsung Ajit Agarkar lit up Lord’s with this only Test hundred.

1990 – England won by 247 runs

Graham Gooch made history with 333 and 123 as India were trounced at Lord’s after England piled up 653 for four declared in their first innings. India didn’t go down without a fight though with Mohammad Azharuddin hitting a sparklingly beautiful hundred and Kapil Dev hitting four successive sixes to save the follow on.

Prediction

The weather and the pitch will probably lead to a stalemate in this Test, but we go for England to win what promises to be a classic and close series 2-1.

Where next?

Cricket Zeroes: Graham Gooch

Strauss’s Somerset stint is a sad indictment of county cricket

Duncan Fletcher's secret mission as India's coach

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Historic India-Pakistan summit flounders due to cricket diplomacy

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Dhoni’s no-ball and the case for or against technology

 
No doubt the most heard phrase amongst the BCCI hierarchy over the last couple of days has been “I told you so…”, whilst the ICC will counter that the mistake occurred because the full DRS is not in use in the West Indies-India Test series.

But other than a rather amusing suggestion from King Cricket, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the people operating the technology are just as prone to error as the umpire in the middle.

No system can be 100% accurate when human beings are involved in the process. Get over it.

Until the scientists in the ICC laboratories create a robot version of Daryl Harper then mistakes will occur. And as a Terminator style Daryl Harper does not even bear thinking about, let’s all accept that a batsman will be dismissed sometimes when they weren’t out and reprieved occasionally when they were.

Just like international cricket for over 130 years in fact.  

Where next?

The best seat in the house for a batting masterclass with VVS Laxman

Rahul Dravid - India's man for a crisis

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

Daryl Harper - Goodbye and good riddance

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

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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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