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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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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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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2013 World Test Championship - What might have been...

With Pakistan's 'green-wash' over England confirming that there is no dominant side in world cricket today, we decided to get the old crystal ball out of the loft, give it a good dusting and peer into it to see what might happen if the ICC performed yet another u-turn on staging a World Test Championship in England in the summer of 2013.

The results of our research are over at All Out Cricket's snazzy and wonderful site, so click on the link now to read 2013 World Test Championship: What Might Have Been.

Where next?

Pakistan vs England - Pakistan series marks out of 10

Pakistan vs England - England series marks out of 10

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

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Pakistan vs England - Pakistan series marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez – 7 (190 runs at 38.00; 5 wickets at 16.00):  Set the tone with the early dismissal of Cook on the first morning of the series and followed up with the bat in the first game and the ball in the second where he also snared Cook to set England’s pitiful 2nd innings collapse in motion.

Taufeeq Umar – 3 (87 runs at 17.40): Started off the series well with a fifty as he and Hafeez set a national record with their fifth century opening stand. Struggled badly thereafter, firstly against Swann in Abu Dhabi and then versus Anderson back in Dubai.

Azhar Ali – 9 (251 runs at 51.20): Gave his bowlers something to work with in Abu Dhabi and then set up another win in the final game with a career defining 157. Displayed remarkable powers of concentration, restraint and skill throughout the 727 balls he faced over the course of the series and was the only batsman on either side to average over 40.

Younis Khan – 7 (193 runs at 38.60): For two and a half Tests, England kept Pakistan’s master batsman quiet but it was always likely his class would shine through and so it proved to pass with a majestic hundred in the final Test. Now averages 67 since returning to the side in October 2010. With mentors this good, it is no surprise that the likes of Azhar are blossoming so well. See also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq - 9 (180 runs at 36.00): His calm, disciplined and calculated approach at the crease and in the field was mirrored by his charges. Even when Pakistan were behind in the last two Tests, there was no panic and a bowling change here and a fielding change there by Misbah helped Pakistan prevail. His record now stands at five wins and two draws in his seven series as captain during which time he also averages 65 with the bat. Imran had his cornered tigers, but Misbah has created the most professional side in Pakistan’s history. His captaincy was so good that he gets two extra marks for it. See also Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

Asad Shafiq - 7 (167 runs at 33.40):Learnt his lesson after playing across the line when well set in the 1st innings in Abu Dhabi to play a decisive knock in the 2nd innings that helped give his bowlers something to play with. Stood tall with 45 as Pakistan were routed for 99 in the final Test to show that he has a big future at this level.

Adnan Akmal – 6 (89 runs at 17.80; 9 catches, 2 stumpings): Defied his unpromising gene pool to shine for the most part behind the stumps with only his vociferous and persistent appealing grating (even Stuart Broad is positively mute in comparison). A fifty in the 1st Test hinted at promise with the bat too.

Abdur Rehman – 9 (19 wickets at 16.73): Formed a lethal partnership with Ajmal where his accuracy was rewarded with the first two five wicket hauls of his Test career – the first of which spun England to catastrophic defeat in Abu Dhabi. Struggled badly with the bat against Swann.

Saeed Ajmal – 10 (24 wickets at 14.70): Magnificent. Teased with the teesra, tortured England’s batsmen with his accuracy and variation and tormented Ian Bell in particular with his doosra. Was the daddy from the off with his seven for 55 in the 1st Test where he made a friend for life in Bob Willis. Usurped Swann as the best spinner in world cricket on the field and best entertainer off it. If that wasn’t enough he also became the fastest Pakistani ever to 100 Test wickets.  See also Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Umar Gul – 8 (11 wickets at 22.27): Underrated by many and underestimated by England’s batsmen. His burst of wickets in the 2nd innings in the 1st and 3rd Tests helped finish England off and provided marvellous support to his spinners throughout.

Aizaz Cheema – 4 (1 wicket at 70.00): Only delivered 27.2 overs in his two Tests but actually bowled pretty well. At least he will be able to tell his grandchildren that he played in the side that whitewashed (or more accurately green-washed) the world’s number one side.

Junaid Khan – 2 (1 Test, no wickets): Made Aizaz look overworked when he replaced him for the 2nd Test, delivering just eight overs in the game and bagging a pair at number 11. Nice work if you can get it.

Where next?

Pakistan vs England - England 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

India vs Pakistan Tests, if only...

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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 - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez –  4: A quiet match for the Professor. Fell victim to the DRS on the first morning to a not out decision that should never been overturned on review. Missed a sweep shot second time round and bowled just five overs in the game.

Taufeeq Umar – 2: A poor game for the opener with just six runs and he also dropped a dolly to reprieve Cook early in England’s run chase.

Azhar Ali – 9: Mentored by Misbah and inspired by Younis in their mammoth stand, the youngster really came of age with a masterful exhibition of composure, concentration and class. His 442 ball knock was over100 balls longer than either side’s 1st innings.

Younis Khan – 9: There was always the sneaking suspicion that he was too good a batsman not to play at least one telling innings in this series and so it proved. Also took a stunner at slip to get rid of the obdurate Cook – see also The criminally underrated Younis Khan

Misbah-ul-Haq – 6: For once didn’t make much of a contribution with the bat, but his leadership was astute, inspiring, calm and even lucky when an extended debate on whether to take the second new ball saw Broad hit the new cherry down Taufeeq’s throat. The Presidency of his country surely awaits.

Asad Shafiq – 6: Batted well whilst chaos reigned all around him in the 1st innings but undone by Monty second time around.

Adnan Akmal – 6: Apart from a shocking drop to reprieve Strauss that even big brother Kamran would have snaffled with his eyes shut, Adnan put in another good display behind the stumps as well as breaking the sound barrier with his over-eager appealing. No runs this time.

Abdur Rehman – 8: Tormented England again with a second successive five wicket haul to raise Pakistan from the floor after being bowled out for 99. Forms a lethal partnership with...

Saeed Ajmal – 9: Magnificent and far too good for England’s traumatised batsmen as he weaved his magic again. Dismissed Bell for the fourth time in the series. Did Danish Kaneira really use to be preferred to Ajmal?

Umar Gul – 8: Why is he so underrated? Gave his side an immediate boost with the wickets of Cook and Trott after they had folded with the bat on the first day and then took four more wickets to seal the whitewash (or should that be greenwash?).

Aizaz Cheema – 4: Came along for the ride, didn’t score a run and bowled just eight overs in the match. Good work if you can get it.

Where next?

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

2nd Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

88 all out & other batting collapses

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

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India vs Pakistan Tests, if only...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

Historic India-Pakistan summit flounders due to cricket diplomacy

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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Are Pakistan about to shoot themselves in the foot over Mohsin Khan?

Did the ECB even consider for a second replacing Andy Flower as England coach in the immediate aftermath of last winter’s Ashes success in Australia? Of course not. Similarly, are Cricket Australia likely to debate the tenability of Mickey Arthur’s position in the wake of the whitewash over India? Don't be silly.

But believe it or not, Pakistan’s interim coach Mohsin Khan is strongly rumoured to be being replaced by Dav Whatmore in the next few weeks despite masterminding his team’s superb Test series win over the number one ranked side in the United Arab Emirates.

Whatmore may be an experienced international coach, but why would the PCB want to meddle with the strong team dynamic that Mohsin and his skipper Misbah-ul-Haq have forged with a young team?

Mohsin has brought consistency in selection, unity, nurtured individual and team responsibility, positive results on the pitch and all without even the merest hint of scandal – all things hitherto thought impossible in the mad, bad and crazy world of Pakistan cricket.

Given how his players hoisted him on their shoulders as they celebrated their amazing victory in Abu Dhabi on Saturday it is evident how highly they regard Mohsin. The last thing this settled and talented side needs is a change at the top – Misbah knows it, the players know it and for the sake of Pakistan cricket let’s hope the PCB realise it before it is too late.

Where next?

2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

Misbah-ul-Haq second only to Bradman

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

Andrew Strauss - 3: Captained the side well again and at least showed some fight in anchoring the run chase. Sadly the skipper's lack of form and his colleagues lack of stomach did for Strauss and for England. Should consider dropping to three in an effort to regain form.

Alastair Cook - 6: Typically resilient in the 1st innings where his diligence and concentration deserved a hundred. His early loss in the run chase proved terminal for England - it was Cook's sixth single figure score in his last nine Test innings.

Jonathan Trott - 6: Poor footwork cost him his wicket in the 1st innings after he and Cook had done all the hard work. Illness meant it is difficult to level any blame on Trott's shoulders for his failure in the run chase when he eventually came in at number seven. Definitely not Trott's fault.

Kevin Pietersen - 1: Whilst those questioning his place are clearly insane his complete lack of form in this series - only 17 runs to date at 4.25 - and his overall record in Asia where he averages just 29.54 from 13 Tests (excluding matches against Bangladesh) are real causes for concern. 

Ian Bell - 2: The best Test batsmen of 2011 has been made to look a novice by Pakistan's spinners. Seems as likely to be able to read Ajmal's doosra as a tourist in London has of spotting a family of Tyrannosaurus Rex's enjoying a vegetarian picnic in Hyde Park. 

Eoin Morgan - 1: Supposedly in the side due to his ability against spin, but there has been little evidence to date on this tour with his dismissal in the 2nd innings being especially grotesque. Impressing in limited overs internationals is one thing, but Test cricket is quite another. Should be replaced by Ravi Bopara for the final Test.

Matt Prior - 4: Sound again behind the stumps and prepared to battle more than most in front of them. Unfortunately, his game is the least suited of England's top seven to facing quality spin bowling on these type of wickets as evidenced by his tendency to play back too often.

Stuart Broad - 8: Didn't deserve to finish on the losing side after another fine exhibition of bowling and a counterattacking 1st innings fifty that seemed to have put his side in control. As an enforcer he was more Barbie than Rambo, but since he dropped the tough guy act he has taken 33 wickets in six Tests at less than 16. 

Graeme Swann - 7: His hold over the Pakistani left handers - against whom he averages five -continued, but in truth he was outbowled by Panesar for the majority of the Test.

James Anderson - 7: As in Dubai, he barely wasted a ball and performed manfully in conditions that are pretty alien to him.

Monty Panesar - 8: After 29 Tests in the wilderness, Monty made a magnificent return and certainly got through some work, bowling 71.3 overs in the match and taking seven for 153. Looks to have more control, variety and a more attacking line than Monty v1.0.

Where next?

2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

All-round Stuart Broad no longer a Charles Hawtrey figure

England's tale of woe against spin in Asia

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2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez - 8: After starring with the bat in Dubai, this time he contributed with the ball removing Strauss early on in the 1st innings and snaring the crucial wicket of Cook in the second after he had put England in a stranglehold with the new ball. A very fine all-round cricketer.

Taufeeq Umar - 4: The early signs were good as he and Hafeez compiled another fifty opening stand on the first morning, but looked unsure against spin and heard the death rattle in both innings against Swann.

Azhar Ali - 8: Courageous four hour 13 minute vigil for 68 precious runs gave his bowlers something to play with. Some criticised his approach, but without his Misbah-esque knock Pakistan would have been doomed.

Younis Khan - 3: Pakistan are 2-0 up in the series and their best batsman has yet to contribute. He got a beauty from Broad in the 1st innings an even better delivery from Panesar second time around.

Misbah-ul-Haq - 9: The MBA captain proved to be the master strategist again. His own contribution with the bat saw an impeccably watchful and well-timed 1st innings 84, but it was the way he organised, energised and deployed his troops that was so impressive. In seven series as captain (including the one off Test with Zimbabwe), his side have won five and drawn two with Misbah's own contribution being 1133 runs at 70.81. That is extraordinary.

Asad Shafiq - 8: Gave his wicket away when well set in the 1st innings but no doubt chastened by the criticism of Mohsin Khan, he quickly learned his lesson to form the crucial partnership of the Test with Azhar second time around. 

Adnan Akmal - 5: Failed to deliver with the bat this time and was like an excitable puppy behind the stumps where he made Stuart Broad look a reluctant appealer in comparison. Could do with turning down the volume and doubling the concentration.

Abdur Rehman - 9: Turned the ball more than anyone and having played the support role to Ajmal with aplomb took centre stage to devastating effect to rip England's doomed run chase to shreads.

Saeed Ajmal - 9: Became the quickest Pakistani to 100 Test wickets and the fastest since Ian Botham over 30 years ago. England played him better than they had in Dubai, yet Ajmal still took seven for 130 in the match and now has 17 wickets in the series at 13 a piece.

Umar Gul - 6: Only bowled 16 overs in the game, but did help peg England back by removing Ian Bell with the second new ball. A couple of lusty blows helped raise England's target even further.

Junaid Khan - 3: Bagged a pair and bowled just eight overs in the match, so should have plenty left in the tank for Dubai.

Where next?

2nd Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

1st Test marks out of 10: Pakistan and England

Misbah-ul-Haq second only to Bradman

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan's gripping yarn keeps on spinning but fails to enthral Hollywood

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

We've gone on record before about Billy Bowden's irritating and incompetent umpiring. The crux of our argument being that Billy is the antithesis of a good umpire in that they should neither be seen nor heard.

With Billy, it is essentially all about Billy. Whether it is his silly hand gestures and signals or consistently irrational decision making, Bowden invariably becomes a major talking point of the day's play.

However, yesterday in Abu Dhabi, with Billy sidelined in the role of video umpire and England turning what should have been a straightforward pursuit of 145 into an attempt to scale Everest without oxygen, sherpas or any discernable plan, the last person we expected to hear about was Bowden.

But when the on-field umpires referred what appeared to be a simple appeal for a bat-pad catch at short-leg by Azhar Ali, Billy grabbed his opportunity to seize the spotlight.

Everyone else watching - English, Pakistani and neutral alike - saw that the catch had been taken cleanly and that Andrew Strauss was out, but not Billy. Oh no, not Billy.

Despite  viewing the replay more times then he probably caresses and kisses a framed bedside picture of himself signalling a six every morning, Bowden inexplicably adjudged that the evidence was not clear and that Strauss should be reprieved.

In that moment Billy achieved what we thought was impossible and proved that he is an even worse umpire off the field than he is on it. It takes an especially unique character to make the case for DRS when he is on the field of play and then to make the contrary argument against it when he is esconsed in the video umpire's chair.  But Billy did just that.

It was going to take something especially cretinous to outmanouvere England's batsmen as the biggest clown in Abu Dhabi yesterday, but good old Billy pulled it off with typically inept aplomb and consequently achieved the impossible not once, but twice in the same afternoon.

Where next?

England's tale of woe against spin in Asia

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

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Pakistan's gripping yarn keeps on spinning but fails to enthral Hollywood

We once wrote that Pakistan had forced a dismayed Hollywood to tear up its script after they failed to renact that famous defeat to Australia in Sydney by beating the same opposition at Headingley in 2010.

Those with long memories may recall that this was Salman Butt's first Test as captain after Shahid Afridi had jumped ship after just one match. Of course, Butt's captaincy ended even more unhappily than Afridi's.

Whilst England's sorry defeat in Dubai last week left us like most England fans feeling a bit miserable, it did at least confirm that Pakistan - international cricket's most exciting team - are back where they belong at the top table of international cricket.

It has been an unlikely tale of redemption and one that we felt deserved the wider audience offered through All Out Cricket. So as England hope to redeem themselves in Abu Dhabi, read Pakistan's gripping yarn keeps on spinning and wonder if there are more twists and turns to come in the thriller that is the Pakistan cricket team.

Where next?

A canned Hollywood film about cricket, fixing and a homeless team

Is this the most blatant example of a fixed cricket match ever?

Win a brand new kit for your cricket team

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Misbah-ul-Haq second only to Bradman

Whilst Don Bradman's dismissal for a duck in his last Test innings may have deprived him of finishing his career with a batting average of 100 it failed to dim a much lesser known but perhaps even more formidable statistic.

In 24 matches as captain, Bradman's average actually increased to an even more remarkable 101.51 whilst his side failed to lose even one series - not bad considering that Australia lost Bradman's first two Tests as captain to leave them 2-0 down in the 1936/37 Ashes. This was but small fry to the Don, who hit 270, 212 and finally 169 in the next three Tests so that for the only time in history, a side came back from 2-0 down to win a five Test rubber.

Misbah-ul-Haq's record is not quite that of Bradman's but it is mightily impressive. As well as doing the impossible in creating a unified, solid and dependable Pakistan team since his appointment as captain he has led the way with the bat, averaging 74.07 with one hundred and 11 fifties in 21 innings. After conquering this Everest, perhaps Misbah should co-ordinate efforts to rescue the Euro and avert a nuclear flashpoint in Iran?

Misbah's record ranks second to Bradman of Test captains with a minimum of 15 innings - see full list here. He is certainly ahead of some impressive names with the rest of the top ten featuring Kumar Sangakkara (69.60), Mahela Jayawardene (66.93), Michael Clarke (65.00), Gary Sobers (58.80), Hanif Mohammad (58.73), Graham Gooch (58.72), Brian Lara (57.83) and Alan Melville (57.00).

Of course, Misbah will do well to maintain this record in the current series let alone for the remainder of his reign as captain, but in terms of leading from the front and setting the benchmark for the rest of his side, he is doing a pretty good job.

Calm, composed, cunning, tactically astute and full of runs, Misbah is shaping up as some captain - only Pakistan could have waited until he had reached the ripe old age of 35 before handing such a natural leader of men the reins of power. 

Where next?

Bradman Inspires Australia To Come Back From The Dead In 1936/37

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

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Podcast: Pakistan v England, Australia's dominance over India & much more

We had the pleasure of joining Blaise and Jonathan for this week's One Hand One Bounce podcast on the excellent World Cricket Watch where we had the dubious task of defending England after their pitiful defeat in Dubai last week and talking up the chances ahead of the 2nd Test that starts in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

To hear whether Andrew Strauss should be worried about his place, Monty Panesar should be picked and how much of a ribbing we got from Blaise (an Aussie, as you ask), give it a listen below.

As well as a post-mortem on England, Blaise, Jonathan and Punter Steve discuss Sri Lanka's comeback
in South Africa and Australia's continued dominance over India. There are also the coveted weekly awards, plus all the latest news and happenings in world cricket.

NB: Please allow a moment while it buffers/loads

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Don’t miss a single episode of the One Hand One Bounce Podcast. Automatically get each new episode by subscribing via iTunes or subscribing to the RSS feed.

Where next?

Top 20 Cricket Blogs: 8 - World Cricket Watch / @worldcricketw

Gideon Haigh speaks about Peter Roebuck

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

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An Arctic Tale starring Alastair Campbell, Andy Flower and the England cricket team

We were at an event the other night where Tony Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell (a master of the Teesra long before Saeed Ajmal) gave the keynote address and shared with us a list of acronyms that he kept close to hand during his time in government.

Number six or seven (we cannot remember exactly) was HAP, as in get your head above the parapet in times of crisis.

That's exactly what England coach Andy Flower did the day after England's humiliating ten wicket defeat to Pakistan in the 1st Test in Dubai (a location that still doesn't sound quite right for Test cricket).

Flower's honest appraisal was that the nature and extent of the loss would act as a wake-up call to the squad with him reasoning that the long break between England's last Test against India at The Oval in August and this one had left the team fatally under prepared and undercooked.

With the bowlers, we are not sure this really applies. The four man attack stuck to their task well, hardly gave anything away and bowled Pakistan out for a sub-standard total on that pitch.

The problem of course lay with the batsmen who barely exceeded Pakistan's total in their two innings put together. Not content with playing Ajmal as if he was the devil himself - one would have thought that having endured 13 years of Campbell's New Labour England would be able to handle a bit of spin - they seemed to be attempting to outdo each other to see how many times they could be strangled down the legside. The cherry on the top though was Kevin Pietersen's (an absolute liability before he has got off nought) grotesque, hare-brained dismissal in the 2nd innings.

Indeed, Pietersen, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook only totalled 15 runs between them during the match - less than James Anderson on his own and nearly five times less than the number of Graeme Swann managed. That's not undercooked, that's frozen - arctic like frozen.

Where next?

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

How good are this England cricket team?

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1st Test: Pakistan vs England - Pakistan marks out of 10

Mohammad Hafeez - 8 : Struck with his third ball to further embellish his golden arm tag. Batted beautifully but fell just 12 runs short of a deserved hundred after missing an attempted sweep off Swann. Had the honour of hitting the winning runs.

Taufeeq Umar - 7:  Notched up another fifty as part of his fifth century opening stand with Hafeez (a Pakistani record) before being undone by a peach of a ball from Broad to lose his off-stump.

Azhar Ali - 1: Surprised early on by movement off the seam to feather an edge behind off Broad: a failing that was all too evident in England in 2009.

Younis Khan - 5: Struggled initially against England's plan of bowling straight to him, but looked well set on 34 before suffering the embarrassment of being dismissed by the innocuous Trott.

Misbah-ul-Haq - 8: If Margaret Thatcher was the Iron Lady then Misbah is rapidly beoming the Iron Captain. Master stroke to turn to spin in the sixth over of the match brought immediate dividends. Batting falls into the efficient and effective category rather than the entertaining and engrossing one but brought up 2000 Test runs and his 12th 50+ score in 21 inns since taking over captaincy during which time his average is 74.

Adnan Akmal - 8: It is hard to believe that he comes from the same gene pool as the butter-fingered Kamran such was his tidiness and dependability behind the stumps. Looked assured with the bat too. Labour may have picked the wrong Milliband, but it seems Pakistan eventually picked the right Akmal.

Abdur Rehman - 7: The support act to Ajmal in the 1st innings although he did get one to turn to get the crucial wicket of Swann. Picked up three victims second time around though including Morgan with a clever arm ball. A good foil to Ajmal.

Umar Gul - 7: Perhaps the frustration of bowling on this pitch prompted his ridiculous persuasion of Misbah to refer one that pitched two pitches outside leg stump in the 1st innings, but kept running in and was rewarded by the collective brain fade of England's top four second time around.

Saeed Ajmal - 9: Made a friend for life in Bob Willis and a potential bunny in Bell as he dismantled England on the pitch and in the mind with a seven wicket haul in the 1st innings and ten in the match. Has 93 wickets in his 18 Tests now and 63 at 23.60 in the 11 Tests since Misbah assumed the captaincy. The best spinner on the planet? On this showing, without a doubt. Could even afford to smile at falling foul of the DRS (and the bungling Bowden) when batting.

Aizaz Cheema - 6: Suckered Trott into a dreaded legside caught behind on the first morning and looked lively until suffering a hamstring injury in the 2nd innings. That Pakistan will probably be stronger and more balanced if Junaid Khan or Wahab Riaz replace him is no reflection on Cheema.

Where next?

1st Test: Pakistan vs England - England marks out of 10

Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

How good are this England cricket team?

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Cricket heroes: Saeed Ajmal

This may seem a strange thing for an England supporter to write the day after a bowler has just taken seven for 55 against our country, but it just confirmed that we're big fans of Saeed Ajmal here at The Reverse Sweep.

Ajmal adds a splash of colour to an otherwise obdurate and unusually attritional Pakistan side led by the calm and composed Misbah-ul-Haq.

Off the pitch, the ebullient Ajmal understands theatre - one only needs to view his post-match interviews to see that.

He also knows that he has got into the heads of the England batsmen, who simply cannot pick him. As such his pre-series assertion that he had developed a new delivery - the Teesra - in part led to the confusion that unfolded in the middle yesterday. Shane Warne, who has invented more deliveries than the Royal Mail would be proud.

Ajmal is a late-developer - he only made his Test debut at the age of 31, but he has proved a quick learner on the biggest stage (perhaps that understanding of theatre again) and already has 90 wickets in seventeen and a half Tests at a decent average of 28.

Those figures are impressive enough, but since Misbah took over the captaincy in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal in October 2010 and he finally became a first-choice pick, Ajmal has got even better with 60 wickets in nine and a half Tests at 24, with an economy rate of 2.5 and strike rate of a wicket every 57 balls.

He was the leading wicket-taker both in Tests and international cricket in 2010, and if he continues to bamboozle the number one side is likely to usurp Graeme Swann as the best spinner on the planet come the end of the series.

Suggestions that his action is suspect seem like sour grapes to us and thankfully have not been backed up (in public at least) from the England camp. Ajmal is just a damn good bowler who for the England batsmen at least seems impossible to read - an anomaly in this digital age.

Let's hope that Ajmal continues to add an unpredictable splash of colour in the spectacle of Test cricket. With Misbah, Younis Khanand now Ajmal all having been bestowed with hero status here at The Reverse Sweep, Pakistan are rapidly infiltrating our minds. That's mastery of vulcan mind tricks that we can also add to Ajmal's arsenal.

Where next?

Cricket memories of 2011: Pakistan rise from the abyss

The criminally underrated Younis Khan & the criminal negligence of Ijaz Butt

Cricket memories of 2011: Butt, Asif and Amir are sent to jail

The best Test XI of 2011

How good are this England cricket team?

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