The Reverse Sweep

Sachin Tendulkar's 99.94

It was going to take something pretty special to wake this lapsed blogger from his slumber. KP's childish spat with his team mates and the ECB? Not a chance. England winning a Test series in India? No way. An Ashes series in England? Close but no cigar. The retirement of the Little Master? You bet it does. Rip van Winkle has arisen (as I Am the Resurrection by The Stone Roses blasts out of my hibernation cave).

In pure Rafa Benitez style - except with no rants required - here are some facts we'd like to celebrate about the remarkable career of Sachin Tendulkar:

• Longevity: An international career of 25 years is a staggering achievement and one that aptly apes the player with a similar sobriquet as Tendulkar: Sir Jack Hobbs - The Master.  
• Records: Where do you start? 200 Test matches, 463 ODIs, just shy of 16,000 Test runs with 51 hundreds and close to 18,500 ODI runs with 49 tons. Wherever you look, the numbers are extraordinary.
• Sachin's 99.94: Incredible as it may seem, the Little Master's record number of Test hundreds is vulnerable with Jacques Kallis just seven three-figure scores behind and a certain Alastair Cook positioning himself well. But, Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds brokers no such threats. The closest challengers still playing (Chris Gayle with 21 and Virat Kohli with 17) are simply miles behind. This is Sachin's 99.94.
• Dignity:  Rarely can someone be so good at what they do that not even a smidgen of arrogance or cockiness is detectable. That fact that Tendulkar has been and will continue to be deified by 1bn countrymen makes his modesty all the more remarkable.

But is he cricket's best ever batsman? At the risk of being declared a heretic, this writer thinks not. Don Bradman wrote an indelible claim to that title when he retired with that average of 99.94 to his name. You need to add a batsman of the class of Clive Lloyd's Test average to that of Sachin's final score of 53.78 to reach the Don.

Whilst you can't compare eras that still brokers no argument in our book. Better to celebrate Tendulkar's career as the remarkable one it was rather than making claims that are impossible to substantiate.

Sachin has been amazing and I for one have enjoyed watching him grow from boy to man over his remarkable tenure of a quarter of a century as King of India. Cheers Sachin. 

Where next?

Sachin Tendulkar & Jack Hobbs: Masters with much in common

The 30 Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

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Alastair Cook keeps proving them wrong

Let's go back in time to two summers ago. Pakistan were visiting English shores for what would prove to be an eventful and never to be forgotten tour - and not for the right reasons sadly.

Alastair Cook couldn't buy a run. His game looked completely awry and Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer toyed with their new victim like an excitable pair of kittens with a cornered mouse.

Drop him was a familiar cry from pundits and spectators alike. But then from the depths of despair, Cook came out firing at The Oval with a courageous 2nd innings hundred that silenced the doubters and confirmed his place in the Ashes squad that winter. Not that it was ever really in question thanks to England's wise trigger shy selectors.

We all know what happened next. Cook morphed into a left-handed Jack Hobbs and plundered three hundreds and 766 remorseless runs as Australia were ground into the dust. Cook hasn't looked back and since the start of that Ashes tour has amassed over 2,000 runs at 72.75 with his hundred against South Africa yesterday making it seven hundreds in 21 Tests. These are phenomenal figures.

But Cook has not been content in merely becoming the best opener in Test cricket today. When he was handed the one day captaincy after Andrew Strauss retired from the 50 over format after yet another disappointing World Cup, even supposedly informed observers like Michael Atherton likened Cook to a donkey that did not have the game for 50 over cricket. Others felt Cook was not captaincy material not least because his supposed limitations as a batsman meant he wasn't worth a place in the side.

The critics were wrong again on both counts. His batting in a format that many thought was alien to him has been nothing short of a revelation. In 25 matches since assuming the captaincy, Cook has plundered 1180 runs at 51.30 with four hundreds and seven fifties. More telling is that he has done that at a strike rate of 88.65. Not bad for a donkey.

And what about his captaincy? Whilst his skills as a leader are still clearly developing, he has won five out of his six series at the helm - the aberration of course being the 5-0 whitewash in India - as England have climbed to number three in the ODI rankings.

In two years, Cook has gone from chump to being spoken of as the only challenger to Sachin Tendulkar's haul of 100 international hundreds. That is ridiculous of course as Cook is some 75 hundreds off achieving that, but it does show how far this unassuming character has come. Long may it continue.

Where next?

England vs South Africa - too close to call again?

Sachin Tendulkar & Jack Hobbs: Masters with much in common

How England won the Ashes: Part 4 - Runs, runs, runs...

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Sachin Tendulkar & Jack Hobbs: Masters with much in common

We learnt something new this week having not known before that Sachin Tendulkar's birthday falls on the same day - April 24th - as the first-class debut of Jack Hobbs in 1905.

This piqued our interest especially as in parallel the realisation dawned, that this was just one of many spooky coincidences linking The Master and the Little Master - even if unlike the modern day custodian of the mantle of the game's greatest batsman, Hobbs never became an MP - although his near contemporary C B Fry was offered the role of King of Albania.

The lineage of these two doyens of batting mastery is the subject of our latest piece for All Out Cricket's damn fine website, and if you read Sachin Tendulkar and Jack Hobbs: The Masters, you'll find out that the spooky coincidences go even further with Hobbs' first-class debut and the identity of the opposition captain.

Where next?

The 30 Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

Cricket heroes: Jack Hobbs

Fry and Ranjitsinhji - Brothers in Arms

A mention in Wisden? Surely not...

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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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Virat Kohli's starter for ten

Not content with smashing one of the greatest hundreds in ODI history in Hobart just a couple of weeks ago, Virat Kohli returned to plunder the Sri Lankan bowling once again in the Asia Cup this morning.

In so doing Kohli registered his tenth ODI ton in just his 80th innings in the format and thus becomes the fastest ever in terms of fewest number of innings to reach double figures for three figure scores in ODI - if you catch our meaning.

In fact Kohli obliterated the previous record of 99 innings set by Gordon Greenidge and also left the likes of Herschelle Gibbs (105), Marcus Trescothick (107), Brian Lara (109) and some bloke called Sachin Tendulkar (127) in his wake. The original Little Master has now gained some understanding of what it is to be the ugly bloke even if instead of missing out on girls, Tendulkar is left to watch all his mates (even R Ashwin) grabbing hundreds whilst his wait on 99 international hundreds now extends to 32 innings.

Kohli has no such worries and with Rahul Dravid confirming his retirement, a spot at number three in the Test side seems his for the taking even if his new record seems unlikely to last for long – the bearded Laxman Hashim Amla already has nine ODI tons from just 56 innings.

Where next?

Two Indian bookmakers, a Bollywood actress and some New Zealanders

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

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

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Virat Kohli's very very special innings

He may be a spiky individual who at times should control his emotions better, but there is no doubting Virat Kohli's brilliance with a cricket bat in his hands.

It is easy to forget sometimes that he is just 23, but yesterday's stupendous innings was the ninth ODI hundred of Kohli's short career - the same number as Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Smith.

His 133 off just 86 balls must rank as one of the best ODI hundreds of all time. Not just because it led India to an unlikely win and bonus point, nor because of the phenomenal strike rate of 154.65 and the way he dismantled the formidable Lasith Malinga.

All of these were impressive enough, but it was the style in which Kohli made his runs that stood out - some of his drives through the covers were as mouth watering as Scarlett Johansson in a negligee. His acceleration was better than an Aston Martin DB9: his first 50 runs came off 44 balls, his second off 32 and his last 33 runs came from just 10 balls.   

We've long believed that Kohli is by far the best of India's new generation of batsmen and yesterday's masterpiece confirmed him as the heir apparent to Sachin Tendulkar with a touch of the majesty of VVS Laxman's strokemaking. It also confirmed that Kohli is the best young batsman in world cricket today.

There have been many great ODI innings: Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni in the World Cup finals of 1979, 2003, 2007 and 2011 plus King Viv's monumental 189 against England at Old Trafford in 1984 to name just five; and Kohli has now joined them in the pantheon.

Where next?

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

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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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4th Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10

Gautam Gambhir - 3: Surprised by the extra bounce generated by Siddle after getting a start in the 1st innings and then fell early to his usual failing outside off-stump second time around. Has now gone 39 Test innings without a hundred and averaged just 20 in the series in England and Australia. Brilliant piece of quick thinking to run out Hussey from silly point. 

Virender Sehwag - 4: The captaincy failed to inspire him out of his form slump although his 2nd innings 62 was ferocious entertainment not least for its ending, which could yet go down in the annals of Test cricket as the most irresponsible dismissal ever from a captain. Like Gambhir, averaged just 20 in England and Australia and his run without a Test hundred has now extended to 26 innings.

Rahul Dravid - 2: Had his stumps rearranged for the sixth time in this series and then fell to a poor shot in the 2nd innings. Did a wonderful job of manning a burning bridge in England last summer but couldn't repeat it here. Will we see him again in Test cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar - 2: His form of the early part of the series deserted him and one wonders how much the interminable wait for the 100th hundred is weighing him down. Will get another chance in the ODI series but the torture and tedious hype has now lasted for 25 innings.

VVS Laxman - 3: Got a start in each innings but fell to atrocious shots both times - a probable sad end to a fabulous career. The purists won't be happy, but there is the bearded Laxman - Hashim Amla - to salivate over. The original has gone with a whimper averaging just 21 in England and Australia. 

Virat Kohli - 8: We saw the good, the bad and the ugly from India's leading run scorer in the series. The good was a splendid maiden Test hundred, the bad his foul-mouthed reaction to reaching this milestone and the ugly his brainless and grotesque run out in the 2nd innings. Is a wonderful talent, but could do with growing up a bit. 

Wriddiman Saha - 6: Was far more proficient and eager than the usual incumbent behind the stumps - he even dived for the ball on occasion. Batted well in unison with Kohli in the 1st innings and can be pleased with his contribution.

Ravichandran Ashwin - 4: Brought into the attack early in the 1st innings, handed the new ball second time around and did well troubling both openers each time. Needs to be more consistent but can be relatively pleased with his first overseas tour. 

Zaheer Khan - 5: Whilst India's whitewash will pain this passionate cricketer there will be some consolation that he has managed to get through the whole series. Considering the chasm between the sides, his 15 wickets in the series at 32 is a pretty good return.

Ishant Sharma - 3: Is he unlucky? Well, he does seem to go past the outside edge more than most, but perhaps his return of just five wickets for the series is more telling. Could do with a private session with Craig McDermott given how he has rejuvenated the Australian bowling attack.

Umesh Yadav - 2: He is young, so will learn from this chastening experience, but he has been far too expensive in this series - none more so than on the first day here in Adelaide. Definitely one to persevere with though.

Where next?

4th Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10

Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

3rd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

2nd Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

1st Test marks out of 10: Australia and India

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Virat Kohli points the way forward for India

There was some rare good news for the bedraggled Indian cricket team today. One of their batsmen finally managed to reach three figures in what has turned out to be the most one-sided Test series since India last played a Test series outside the subcontinent.

The even better news was that the identity of the century maker wasn’t one of their veterans rolling back the years for a final hurrah (or even a long awaited 100th international hundred). Nor was it one of the misfiring opening batsmen whose individual run without a Test hundred now extends to 38 innings for Gautam Gambhir and 25 for Virender Sehwag.

Today saw the maiden Test hundred for Virat Kohli and it was a good one too even if it probably won’t avert yet another heavy defeat for his side.

We’ve been quite impressed with Kohli for some time and his success could (and should) herald a radical new selection policy for India. One that should see long-service awards and pats on the back for VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and dare I say it the Little Master himself and their replacement in the side with Kohli's fellow new breeders namely Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.

As it has with Kohli it may take some time for the new boys to assimilate to Test cricket, but let’s be frank they cannot do much worse than the incumbents have fared in England and Australia. As an example prior to the Adelaide Test, Gambhir averaged 23.00 in the England and Australia series, Laxman 20.28 and Sehwag 16.09.

It’s time for Indian cricket to move on and Kohli’s hundred may well have pointed the way.

Where next?

Rohit Sharma: The Artist formerly known as Nohit

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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

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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

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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 

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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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Cricket memories of 2011: England trounce India to reach number one

It was the series everyone had been talking about. An Indian team defending their precious number one ranking against a supremely confident England side that had bullied Australia into submission in their own backyard.

Most thought that there was not even a hair’s breadth between the sides and predicted a close series with Sachin Tendulkar destined to score his hundredth international hundred – perhaps at Lord’s in the first match of the series on the occasion of the 2000th Test match.

As it transpired, India were on the receiving end of an absolute battering with the margin of the four defeat whitewash reflecting England’s total dominance: 196 runs at Lords, 319 runs at Trent Bridge, an innings and 242 at Edgbaston and then finally an innings and 8 runs at The Oval.

Tendulkar failed to reach his milestone as well although he did come tantalisingly close on the final day of the series when he was incorrectly given out just nine runs short. Instead it was Rahul Dravid (and to a lesser extent the whole-hearted Praveen Kumar) who manned the burning bridge admirably with three hundreds and nearly a quarter of India’s runs for the series.

England were magnificent: Prior, Cook (with 294 at Edgbaston) and especially Bell and Pietersen (who both passed 500 runs for the series) shone with the bat and Anderson and Bresnan proved deadly with the ball. But England’s man of the series had to be Stuart Broad, whose place was under threat from the outset after a poor series against Sri Lanka.

A strong all-round performance at Lord’s, which saw seven wickets and a vital second innings 74 not out proved the mere hors d’oeuvre to a Botham-esque performance at Trent Bridge. First Broad resurrected England’s 1st innings with a counterattacking 64, then with India moving into what looked a decisive lead he bagged a memorable hat-trick as part of an innings return of 6/46 to precipitate a collapse and swing the pendulum back to India.

With all the cogs in the machine running smoothly, the astute captaincy of Strauss, the visionary coaching of Flower and an immense team spirit, England could be set for a long reign at number one.

Where next?

England v India: England series marks out of 10

England v India: India series marks out of 10

The England cricket team's newest recruit from South Africa

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

It's that time of year again and like the rest of us, the cricket fraternity have been compiling their list of requests for Santa.

Here's what some of them may have asked for this Christmas: 

Daniel Vettori - Protection. With 2011 having seen a number of dictators leaving this mortal coil, along with President Assad of Syria, Dictator Dan is one of only a handful left

Phillip Hughes - It's not exactly been a good year for poor old Phil, so his list to Santa is bulging with wishes such as a request to rescind his decision to opt out of BBL now that he has lost his Test place, a book of the best Worcester hosteleries ahead of his stint with the county and for Chris Martin and Martin Guptill to be sent on a one-way mission to Mars

Ricky Ponting - A time machine so he can relive past glories

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - A DVD of The Great Escape and a tunnel making kit

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard - Lucrative contracts in the new Twenty 20 leagues in Outer Mongolia, Belarus and the Falkland Islands

Stuart Law - A one way ticket from Dhaka to Brisbane

Ijaz Butt - World War III 

Kevin Pietersen and Andy Flower - A bottle of paraffin, some matches and a lorry full of Graeme Swann's autobiography

Jonathan Trott - A Bob Willis voodoo doll

Jesse Ryder, Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith - A KFC bargain bucket per day for life

Shane Warne - Some humility

Kamran Akmal - A new pair of gloves made of industrial strength velcro coupled with a small accident for brother Adnan

Darren Sammy - Catching lessons from Kamran Akmal

Sachin Tendulkar - Something about a 100th hundred. Not quite sure what that is all about

Shane Watson and Zaheer Khan - New bodies in time for the Boxing Day Test.

Where next?

Chasing Sachin by Adam Carroll-Smith | Book Review

Jack Hobbs by Leo McKinstry | Book review

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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Chasing Sachin by Adam Carroll-Smith | Book Review

If humorous books about cricket hit the middle of your bat then you could do a lot worse than asking Santa for a copy of Chasing Sachin – the debut novel by Adam Carroll-Smith this Christmas.

In what is a highly original and easy to read yarn, Carroll-Smith, transfixed from childhood by the diminutive Indian batsman, resolves to not just bowl to Tendulkar on India’s tour of England last summer, but to knock his off-stump over too with just one single ball. Given that, as Carroll-Smith admits himself, he is not much of a cricketer his quest at the outset appears to fall somewhere between the impossible and highly unlikely categories.

We won’t ruin it by revealing whether Carroll-Smith succeeds in his aim, but we will happily recommend what is a hugely enjoyable read (unless your name is Ronnie Irani who comes in for a bit of stick), which is full of fun, frolics, alcohol and  plenty of self-deprecating humour.

Our favourite part is when Carroll-Smith in an attempt to get into the Indian dressing room to speak to Tendulkar during the tour match at Northampton tries the Obi-wan Kenobi trick of telling the steward that he doesn't need to see his pass. Naturally, Carroll-Smith's grasp of the force isn't quite up with Kenobi's and his plan is foiled with the pain deepened even further when he is advised that Tendulkar isn't even in Northampton.

Click on the link below to find out more and buy the book.  

Where next?

Jack Hobbs by Leo McKinstry | Book review

Sachin Tendulkar or Donald Bradman - Who is the greatest?

The 30 Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

Sachin Tendulkar's 99.94

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

The esteemed Indian cricket writer and fellow Liverpool fan Dileep Premachandran brought an interesting statistic to our attention on Twitter yesterday.

In illustrating Australia’s batting deficiencies, he highlighted that in an era dominated by batsmen only the discarded Simon Katich has a batting average of over 50 in Tests played since 1 January 2006.

The top ten (minimum qualification ten innings), which is dominated by batsmen from the sub-continent makes interesting reading (see full list here) and in reverse order from 10-3 comprises Misbah-ul-Haq, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jacques Kallis, Thilan Samaraweera, Jonathan Trott and Mohammad Yousuf.

But it is the identity of the top two that is perhaps the most interesting.

On reflection it is not a huge surprise to see Kumar Sangakkara with a stellar average of 68 at the top of the pile such is the brilliance and consistency of his batting. Moreover, the fact that he had the added challenge of captaining Sri Lanka for most of the period makes his record all the more impressive. Bowlers shouldn’t rest too easy either as if Sangakkara’s return from his most recent series is anything to go by (a defiant 516 runs at 86 against a dominant Pakistan) he is getting better and better.

Nestling just behind Sangakkara in second place is Younis Khan. Yes, the same Younis Khan that was treated so shamefully by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s former idiot-in-chief Ijaz Butt. Younis averages 65 in the period despite being betrayed when captain by a clique led by Shoaib Malik, ostracised by Butt and left out of the side. The fact that he averages over 80 since his return shows up Butt for the utter fool he is – if any further proof was required on that count.

Misbah’s calm captaincy and even calmer presence at the crease is one big reason why England should be wary of their upcoming series with Pakistan. The criminally underrated Younis is another.

England’s post-Ashes celebrations in 2005 were brought crashing down to earth in Pakistan a few weeks later and the newly crowned number one Test side could suffer a similar fate in the UAE against the same opponents in the next couple of months unless they are at the top of their game.

Where next?

Cricket heroes: Younis Khan

Responsibility and Misbah-ul-Haq

The Ten Commandments of Ijaz Butt

Kumar Sangakkara's captivating story of cricket in Sri Lanka

Who should England pick to face Pakistan?

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Virender Sehwag scores 219 in a ODI to spark interest from Boris Johnson

It was a tremendous exhibition of how to strike a cricket ball and to score 219 in a 50 over game of international cricket almost defies belief, but even Virender Sehwag would admit that the pitch in Indore couldn't have been any more perfect for batting.

There have been 3223 one day internationals and only Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar have scored double hundreds. Both pitches were prepared by the same curator, which is as remarkable as it is telling.

We don't want to take anything away from Sehwag or Tendulkar. They cannot be blamed for taking full advantage of the surfaces they were asked to bat on and the achievement of hitting a double hundred in a ODI is without doubt a notable one.

Cricket is at its best when the battle between bat and ball is an even one and even an attack of Marshall, Akram, McGrath, Warne and Murali in their prime would have struggled to have contained Sehwag on this pitch.

The first and third matches of this series have seen rivetingly close finishes on pitches that offered something for batsman and bowler alike, so this post is not a dig about Indian pitches merely this one.

Rumours that Boris Johnson is lining up the curator of the Indore pitch to build the runways at his proposed 'Boris Airport' in the Thames Estuary were denied by the Mayor of London's office, but on this showing it would hardly be a surprise. 

Where next?

Sachin Tendulkar or Donald Bradman - Who is the greatest?

The 30 Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

Virat Kohli's footballer tendencies

Rohit Sharma: The Artist formerly known as Nohit

Graduates from the Sehwag School for Batting announced

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Virat Kohli's footballer tendencies

Let’s make one thing clear, we believe that Virat Kohli is an immensely talented batsman here at The Reverse Sweep.

In our view Kohli is at the head of a new generation of Indian batsmen including Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane that promises the handover of power from the old guard of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman may be much smoother than once feared.

Neverthless, Kohli’s reaction to his dismissal in the third ODI against West Indies in Ahmedabad yesterday was unacceptable. Standing his ground and glaring at the umpire was bad enough, but his mouthing of obscenities and general childish demeanour was more befitting of the type of behaviour seen at Premier League football grounds.

As someone who has grown up with the filthy lucre of the IPL and in the full glare of a cricket obsessed country and media, Kohli lives the luxurious and closeted existence enjoyed by the likes of Wayne Rooney and John Terry.

And just as the behaviour of the England rugby squad has plunged the depths as the rewards and endorsements have gone in the other direction – mirroring their football counterparts, so is the danger for the cricketers of the IPL generation.

Kohli has said on many occasions how his game has benefitted from watching Tendulkar at close quarters and listening to his wise counsel, so he would do well to also heed the example the Little Master sets in terms of his modesty off the pitch and respect for the rich traditions of cricket.

Where next?

Virat Kohli - The (Little) Master's Apprentice

Rohit Sharma: The Artist formerly known as Nohit

Cricket's warning from football

Who are cricket's likely future greats?

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