The Reverse Sweep

India: Tigers at home; pussies away

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

 

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

 

263

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

 

461

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

 

30.23

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

 

40.58

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

 

33

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

 

0

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

 

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

Where next?

Annus mirabilis: The best Test XI of 2011

Annus horribilis: The Worst Test XI of 2011

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

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

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

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

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Annus horribilis: the worst Test XI of 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

The worst Test XI of 2010

The best Test XI of 2011

The best Test XI of 2010

Read our Cricket Review of 2011

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

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

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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 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Virat Kohli - The (Little) Master's Apprentice

We have long held the view here at The Reverse Sweep that Virat Kohli is by far the best of the new generation of Indian batsmen.

Whilst the likes of Murail Vijay, Suresh Raina and to a lesser extent Abhinav Mukund have all been handed earlier and more frequent opportunities to cement a place in the Indian Test line-up, it is blindingly obvious that in terms of talent and technique all should lag someway behind Kohli in the pecking order.

Kohli has certainly made a big impact in the one day international arena and already has seven hundreds and an average a tick under 47 from his 68 matches thus far. He has simply been too good for England in the current series with his hundred at Delhi being an innings that his English counterparts could only dream of compiling on slow Indian wickets.

Yet Raina also has a good one day record, so what makes Kohli stand a class apart in our opinion?

Both are talented without a doubt, but it is Kohli who seems to have by far the better temperament and it is Kohli who looks to have a technique that would flourish on different types of wickets - be they slow turners, or fast and bouncy.

Kohli's Test career may have started inauspiciously in the Caribbean earlier this year with just 76 runs in three Tests, but we'd put a fairly substantial wager on those stats being vastly improved sooner rather than later with Kohli likely to supplant Raina in the side in the not too distant future.

The likes of Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid and even Sehwag may not have that much gas left in the tank, but the future of India's batting seems in fairly safe hands with the Little Master's Apprentice.

Where next?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the King of Cool

England are as bad as India

Is it really Jonathan Trott's fault?

Virender Sehwag was brilliant, but don't forget Virat Kohli

An XI of youngsters to shine in 2010 and beyond

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

England v India: India series marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

England v India: England series marks out of 10

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

3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - England marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

3rd Test: Edgbaston - England marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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3rd Test: Edgbaston - India marks out of 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

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

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

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

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

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

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

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where next?

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

The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad

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

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

Cricket heroes: Henry Blofeld

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

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

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

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

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

Likely line-ups

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

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

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

Look out for…

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

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

Previously at Lord’s

2007 – Match drawn

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

2002 – England won by 170 runs

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

1990 – England won by 247 runs

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

Prediction

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

Where next?

Cricket Zeroes: Graham Gooch

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

Duncan Fletcher's secret mission as India's coach

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - A born leader

Historic India-Pakistan summit flounders due to cricket diplomacy

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Read all our County Cricket coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

 

 

 

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

 
With Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambhir all sitting out India’s tour of the Caribbean, talented youngsters like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Abhinav Mukund have been given a chance to shine.

The results so far have been mixed with only Raina grabbing the opportunity with both hands on what have been tricky pitches for batting in Jamaica and now Barbados.

The youngsters have certainly found out that Test cricket is exactly that – a thorough examination of your technique and temperament under pressure on a variety of different surfaces.

But whilst Kohli and Mukund have fluffed their lines so far they will have learned much from watching masterclass innings from Rahul Dravid in the 1st Test and VVS Laxman yesterday.

Laxman’s 85 was a typically unflustered one and took India from a precarious 38/4 to a total that their bowlers will feel relatively confident about defending - especially given the brittleness of the West indies batting line-up.

Raina had the best seat in the house during his 117 run stand with Laxman and doubtless Kohli and Mukund were watching closely from the balcony.

With masters like these to learn from the next generation of Indian batsmen appear to be in extremely capable hands.

Where next?

Cricket Heroes: VVS Laxman

Rahul Dravid - India's man for a crisis

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

Duncan Fletcher's secret mission as India's coach

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

 
2010 was an unadulterated disaster for Yuvraj Singh. Injury, loss of form and gluttony led to him losing his place in the Indian Test side, a disastrous season with Kings XI Punjab and questions as to his place in the Indian World Cup squad.

Indeed 2010 wasn't just a bad year for Yuvraj; it was an annus horribilis.

Yuvraj's troubles didn't go unnoticed at The Reverse Sweep and we wrote a post accusing him of being over-rated, arrogant and with an ego the size of Jupiter.

Whilst we stand by with most of what we wrote - especially where Test cricket is concerned - let's give credit where credit is due, Yuvraj has been absolutely outstanding in this World Cup.

It's difficult to imagine a more pressurised situation than the one that confronted Yuvraj in yesterday's quarter-final with Australia. When Dhoni fell, India still required 74 runs off 75 balls with just five wickets left. With the last recognised batsman Raina joining him at the crease, the onus was on Yuvraj to lead India home. Defeat would have led to the usual recriminations and burning effigies.

But Yuvraj took it all in his stride. He cajoled Raina to produce the goods, led from the front himself and he used his arrogant demeanour to stunning effect.

As it stands, Yuvraj is arguably the player of the tournament of the World Cup thus far. He is the fourth highest run scorer with 341 runs at 113.66 with one hundred and four fifties from his six innings. And with the ball, Yuvraj has been India's outstanding bowler after Zaheer Khan with 11 wickets at 25 at an economy rate of just under five runs per over.

No one would have predicted that Yuvraj would be in the running for the player of the tournament, not even his biggest supporter - namely himself.

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

The worst Test XI of 2010

Ricky Ponting's "up yours" message to Cricket Australia

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

India vs New Zealand: 2nd Test: India marks out of 10

 
Yet again India's lack of punch with the ball prevented them from overcoming New Zealand after Harbhajan's second successive hundred had given his side a 122 run lead. With their main strike bowler Zaheer Khan lame, India were more or less impotent, although credit must be given to Brendon McCullum for his double hundred and the likes of Kane Williamson for the sterling support they offered (see New Zealand marks out of 10 here)

India now go into the final test at Nagpur on Saturday under some pressure to record the victory that will give them the series. Here's how they rated at Hyderabad.

Gautam Gambhir - 6: Will have been relieved to have got his first fifty for six tests but will have been furious with himself for the leg side dismissal that wrecked all his hard work.

Virender Sehwag - 8: Missed a hundred in the first innings after an injudicious slog sweep against Vettori led to nothing but the dreaded death rattle. But two fifties in the match is not exactly a poor return.

Rahul Dravid - 6: Outdone by Southee after a typically dogged knock - it's not often you see The Wall missing a straight one.

Sachin Tendulkar - 4: A very strange innings indeed from the Little Master and a dismissal most unbecoming of him. If his poor series continues at Nagpur, expect Vettori's phone to be ringing from all the other international captains on the circuit.

VVS Laxman - 7: A combination of finally playing a Test on his home ground and some tight New Zealand bowling meant that this was one of Laxman's more circumspect innings. Will have been disappointed not to turn his patient 75 into a hundred in front of his adoring public.

Suresh Raina - 3: A dreadful dismissal suggests Raina has a lot of work to do before he can justifiably call himself a test batsman. Chipped in with a couple of wickets in the second innings.

MS Dhoni - 3: Dismissed after being beaten in the flight by Vettori to continue his recent struggles with the bat. Not his most inspiring performance as captain either.

Harbhajan Singh - 9: At this rate they'll be calling him an all-rounder after his second successive hundred made it 295 runs in the series. Bowled excellently in the first innings but his poor recent form returned in the second. Now has 31 wickets at 44.7 from his last nine Tests and he's needed more than 97 balls for each of those wickets. That's not good enough for a bowler of Harbhajan's ability.

Zaheer Khan - 7: Is out of Nagpur with a dodgy groin and without him India were devoid of ideas. Bowled well in the first innings and now has 41 test wickets at 22.92 this year - that is close to superhuman given all of his efforts have been on subcontinental wickets.

Pragyan Ojha - 5: Three wickets in 74 overs tells you everything you need to know. Now has 28 wickets at 46.96 from eight games in 2010 with a woeful strike rate of 100.3. How India miss Kumble. Maybe it is time for Mishra or Ashwin to be given a chance?

Sreesanth - 6: Batted well to help his old sparring partner Harbhajan to his hundred and gave everything with the ball. Is probably already dreaming of bowling on the more receptive South African pitches in a few weeks.

Where next?

1st Test ratings: New Zealand and India

Sachin Tendulkar's Annus Mirabilis

Heroes: VVS Laxman

India vs New Zealand: 1st Test: India marks out of 10

 
We were wrong. We fully expected this series to be utterly one-sided with India winning every game at a canter. But New Zealand regained the powers to punch above their weight, which had been as absent as Zulqarnain Haider in the recent 4-0 ODI reverse in Bangladesh.

For India, there will be disappointment and even some embarrassment at slipping to 15 for five in their second innings, but also pride in their fightback on the last day through the wonderful partnership between Harbhajan and that master of second innings knocks VVS Laxman.

Gautam Gambhir - 3: Missed a straight one from Ryder in the first innings and then got a duck in the second. Has now scored only 86 runs in his last nine test innings and must be close to getting the axe in favour of Murali Vijay.

Virender Sehwag - 8: A typical blazing hundred in the first innings and a failure in the second courtesy of a crazy run out to continue his poor record in the second innings.

Rahul Dravid - 7: Probably cemented his place for South Africa with a first innings hundred, but then ran out Sehwag in the second innings before tamely departing himself.

Sachin Tendulkar - 6: So the man is mortal after all. Will have been disappointed to fall to the innocuous Patel when well set in the first innings and can judge himself a bit unlucky to have played on to Martin in the second. We wouldn't be surprised to see normal service resumed with a big Tendulkar hundred in the second test at Hyderabad.

VVS Laxman - 9: For the third test in a row, Laxman produced a second innings masterpiece with India in trouble. It took a shocking umpiring decision to prevent the silky one from registering a hundred but Laxman can console himself with the fact that he had shepherded India to safety by then. Gets extra marks for getting the runs when they really count.

Suresh Raina - 2: A Test to forget for Raina with scores of 3 and 0 and the manner of his dismissals suggest that he has much work to do on his game if he is to succeed away from the subcontinent.

MS Dhoni - 5: Occupied the crease in the second innings after coming in at 15 for five, but looks to be struggling a bit with his batting at the moment. Brilliant stumping of McCullum was one of the highlights of the match.

Harbhajan Singh - 9: Fantastic performance with the bat to score 69 in the first innings and then his maiden test and first-class hundred in the second to suggest that he could be an all-rounder in the making. Will be disappointed with his bowling however and he must be concerned that in his last 11 Tests he has averaged 44.25 with the ball at a strike rate of 90.5. But those worries can wait for another day for the hero of the hour.

Zaheer Khan - 6: The pitch didn't offer much assistance to India's premier strike bowler and nor could he find the devastating reverse swing that so unsettled Australia. But he bowled tidily and showed enough to demonstrate that New Zealand's batsmen will find him hard to handle on a more helpful pitch.

Pragyan Ojha - 6: Ojha may have taken four wickets in the match, but one can't help but feel that he is a pale imitation of former great Indian spinners. His test bowling average of 40 would seem to confirm this observation.

Sreesanth - 5: Gave his all as usual but the pitch didn't help him but one wonders if he has the quality needed to be a top test fast bowler.

Where next?

Sachin Tendulkar's Annus Mirabilis

Is India's batting future post Sachin, VVS and Dravid brighter than expected?

Heroes: VVS Laxman

Is India's future post-Sachin, VVS and Dravid brighter than expected?

 
When Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put the pads in their kit bags for the last time, India is set for a decline in its fortunes to match that of Australia once Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist amongst others retired. Well that's the script peddled by most commentators anyway.

Its certainly true, that any side would miss three all-time great batsmen such as these especially if they were to retire simultaneously or within a short timespan of each other. But firstly the form of Tendulkar and Laxman at least, who both average over 90 in test cricket this year, would seem to suggest that they have plenty of gas left in the tank.

And perhaps more importantly, it would appear that India has a plethora of young batsmen ready to step into the footsteps of this illustrious trio - Suresh Raina has had a brilliant start to his test career and averages 68 after four matches. Murali Vijay hit a majestic hundred in the recent Bangalore Test and looks a class act. Cheteshwar Pujara looked every inch a batsman with a first-class average of 60 when pitched in at the deep end in his first test. Virat Kohli may not have made his test bow yet, but has looked to have all the ingredients required for the longer form of the game in his outings for the one day side. Even Rohit Sharma looks like he may finally deliver on his obvious promise. And my Indian spies tell me there are others too.

Yes, these five batsmen need to prove they have the games to shine outside the subcontinent. And they certainly need to stay away from the many distractions that now face every young Indian cricketer thanks to the IPL and the celebrity circus, but the future looks brighter than many Indian fans fear.

So, India could yet be set for a long reign as the number one side in the world. The next eighteen months where India play away series in South Africa, England and Australia will go a long way to demonstrating if any changing of the guard sees them reinforce their lofty position or slip away from the summit. Our money is on some of these boys at least becoming men.

Where next?

Sachin Tendulkar's Annus Mirabilis

The IPL XI of the 2010 tournament

The best Indian test XI 1980-2010

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

 
India reinforced their position as the number one ranked test side in the world ahead of a testing 18 months when they will play away series in South Africa, England and Australia. Given the form of Sachin Tendulkar and the emergence here of young players like Murali Vijay and debutant Cheteshwar Pujara, India seem well positioned to take on this triple challenge.

So with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy retained after what in the end proved an easy win, how did the Indian XI rate on the Reverse Sweep marks out of ten scale?

Murali Vijay - 9: Played the support role perfectly in that huge partnership with Tendulkar and was rewarded with a deserved maiden test ton. Then provided impetuous to the run chase in the second innings despite the early loss of Sehwag. With Gambhir's weakness against the short ball likely to be tested in the next 18 months, Vijay could get an extended run in the side at some point.

Virender Sehwag - 5: So he is human after all. Cheap dismissal after typical brutal 30 in the first innings was followed by another second innings failure. Don't worry Sehwag lovers, the next run-a-ball hundred is probably just around the corner.

Rahul Dravid - 5: Made a poor mistake to get out to Johnson again in the first innings and was then shoved down the order in the second before seeing India over the line in partnership with Sachin. Pujara's emergence could yet hasten Dravid's march to the exit door.

Sachin Tendulkar - 10: A supreme double hundred in the first innings saw the Little Master past 14,000 test runs. Incredible. The icing on the cake was the unbeaten fifty in the second innings as his Annus Mirabilis continued. How can you not give him a ten after that performance?

Cheteshwar Pujara - 8: Bounced back from getting a shooter three balls into his first test innings to impress hugely when promoted to three in the second. Given he has a first-class average of 60, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised he looked so composed. Dravid's successor looks to have been identified.

Suresh Raina - 6: Batted well enough for his 32 before falling to a sucker punch when Ponting moved long on into the circle and Raina then promptly holed out next ball to the new mid on. More difficult assignments await. Will be delighted to have snared Ponting as his first test wicket.

MS Dhoni - 6: Kept much better than he did at Mohali without ever looking entirely convincing and made a patient 30 in his only innings. His status as a captain continues to grow. 

Harbhajan Singh - 7: Six wickets in the match, with all but one being a top order batsman and his bowling was tidy enough. Still doesn't look like the Harbhajan of old though and his batting seems to have travelled rapidly downhill.

Zaheer Khan - 7: India's one genuine world-class seamer was again on form on an unhelpful pitch and deserved more than his four wickets. Will be relishing the regular opportunities to bowl on pitches outside the subcontinent in the next 18 months.

Pragyan Ojha - 7: Bowled much better and with more threat than he did at Mohali and was duly rewarded with six wickets in the match. Looks to be a good, if not outstanding spinner.

Sreesanth - 5: We're not convinced by Sreesanth. If he is India's third best seamer after Zaheer and Ishant, it doesn't say much for the rest. Grabbed two second innings wickets after taking none in a poor display first time around.

Where next?

1st Test: Mohali - India marks out of 10 

The best Indian test XI 1980-2010

Zeroes: Vinod Kambli

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

 
The debate over whether India are deserving of their status as the number one test side in the World will likely roll on until we see how they fare on forthcoming tours of South Africa and England. But one thing is for sure - they don't seem to know when they are beaten, which is surely a trait of all the best teams in any sport.

In what was one of the most memorable finishes to a test match in an eon, VVS Laxman again showed that he is the man to see his side over the line in a run chase and Ishant Sharma deserves equal credit for the sterling support he provided in their match-winning ninth wicket partnership.

But how did they and the other Indian players rate over the five days in Mohali?

Gautam Gambhir - 4: Once again failed to impress against top-level fast bowling as he did in the mini-series against South Africa. That said, he did get an absolutely shocking decision in the second innings.

Virender Sehwag - 6: Typical run-a-ball fifty in the first innings before he paid the price for being too circumspect in the second, guiding a ball to gully that he would have normally brutally upper cut for four.

Rahul Dravid - 7: Seemed set for a big score in the first innings before losing concentration and then made another mistake in the second. Are there a few missing bricks from 'The Wall'?

Sachin Tendulkar - 8: Looked to be in complete control before inexplicably losing his wicket to North to continue the strange pattern throughout his career of getting out to second rate spinners. Poor shot to lose his wicket at a crucial time on the final morning.

Suresh Raina - 7: Rode his luck in the first innings and only just missed out on his second hundred in only his third test. Then his old demons against the short ball returned in the second indicating that he could be set to struggle in tests outside the subcontinent.

VVS Laxman - 9: Showed nerves of steel for the second test in succession to see India over the line and to continue his impressive record against Australia. His bad back didn't seem to hinder him on the final day. Marvellous performance and a marvellous batsman.

MS Dhoni - 5: His ridiculous run out looked to have sounded the death knell for India's run chase, so will be indebted to Laxman and Sharma. Continues to show good leadership though as India's great resilience suggests.

Harbhajan Singh - 7: - Another five wickets against his favourite opponents and he was certainly miserly throughout. Disappointing with the bat.

Zaheer Khan - 9: Eight wickets and thoroughly deserved for a consistently threatening and fiery performance with the ball. Found impressive reverse swing and troubled all of the Australian batsmen. Gets an extra mark for winding up Punter.

Ishant Sharma - 7: A real liquorice allsorts of a performance from Ishant. Woeful with the ball in the first innings, he turned the match for the first time with his three quick wickets in the second to precipitate Australia's collapse. Then he turned the game along with Laxman for a second decisive time with his brave test best knock in the run chase.

Pragyan Ojha - 6: Bowled tidily enough, but three wickets from 68 overs in the match is not a great return. Showed bottle to see India over the line.   

India's not so ideal preparation for the Asia Cup

When Suresh Raina's shadow Indian side were beaten in the group stages of the Triangular one day series in Zimbabwe, we thought it may be a blessing in disguise for their chances in the Asia Cup.

Not only would they have the might of the players that were rested from the trip like captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, but the players that were humbled by Zimbabwe would have more time to prepare for what is and should be a much more important assignment for India.

With the World Cup looming ever closer, the Asia Cup should be a good barometer of India's chances of achieving immortal status and sparking a slew of celebratory Bollywood movies by winning the biggest prize in limited overs cricket at home in front of their fervent supporters.

So when we checked Cricinfo on Saturday, we wondered if we had drunk one too many glass of red wine the night before. Why? Because Cricinfo said that India were playing Zimbabwe in a Twenty 20 match in Harare. So that meant that seven of India's squad for the Asia Cup were in another continent only five days before they were due to play Bangladesh in Dambulla.

This utter madness was compounded when we checked Cricinfo again yesterday and saw that India and Zimbabwe were playing a second Twenty 20 match. Whoever in the BCCI agreed to this crazy schedule should be taken out and shot. Well maybe not shot, but at least summarily sacked. He won't admit it in public, but we doubt that skipper Dhoni is amused that half of his squad will not be able to join him until today at the earliest.

Even if India won both games to save further embarrassment from their safari in Harare, how can playing two Twenty 20 games on another continent be any sort of preparation for the Asia Cup three days later?   

India's new generation of mediocre cricketers

Suresh Raina and his chastened team will be getting plenty of bad press in India in the next few days following their second successive defeat to hosts Zimbabwe in the Triangular One Day Competition. The first match was close, but the second yesterday was an absolute cakewalk for the home team who cantered past the winning post with over 11 overs to spare after restricting India to 194 for nine from their 50 overs.

In India's defence they are without regulars Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, who have been rested for the tournament. Any side would miss players of that calibre. They are also without Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh. The first two no longer feature in the one day side and if recent history is anything to go by, an out of form, unfit and seemingly uninterested Yuvraj is no real miss.

But even with these players missing, most people would still expect India's supposedly talented new generation to deal easily with Zimbabwe. And it's not if most of the players are inexperienced. Of the team that played yesterday, Dinesh Karthik (44), Suresh Raina (93), Rohit Sharma (45) and Yusuf Pathan (36), have all played over 30 ODIs. Suresh Raina's comment before the tour that his "team had no weakness" is coming back to bite him on his rather portly bum.

Given that some of the same players also disappointed in the recent World T20, it would seem that India does not have much strength in depth to eventually replace the likes of Tendulkar when they finally hang their pads up. Players like Pathan and Karthik have had plenty of chances but don't seem to have what it takes to succeed in international cricket.

We would have put Sharma (below) in that bracket too before his first two one day hundreds came in the first two matches of this tournament. Rohit (or The Artist formerly known as Nohit - as amusingly named by Bored Cricket) is clearly talented but an average of 31 (even with those two hundreds) in over 40 ODI is simply not good enough. Maybe he can kick on from here now that the monkey has been lifted off his back.

We would guess that all this shouldn't affect India too much in the World Cup next year because Dhoni, Sehwag and Sachin et al will return and be the core of the side hoping to win the competition on home soil. But soon after, some of these players may retire completely or at least give up playing ODI. That must be a sobering thought for embarrassed India fans this morning, who will not take mediocrity lightly. They will comfort themselves that at least Raina and Virat Kohli look like they will become very good players. 

The IPL XI of the tournament

The fallout from Kochigate and the subsequent suspension of Lalit Modi over-shadowed the final and helped us forget to write a post naming our XI of the tournament.  We didn’t watch every game. In fact we didn’t even watch half of them, but we have seen enough to name our XI. As per the IPL rules, we have limited ourselves to a maximum of four overseas players – although we have in fact only picked three.

1.  Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai)– the leading run-scorer in the tournament was the main reason behind Mumbai’s dominance of the regular season. If he was playing for Indiain the World T20, the organisers may as well give MS Dhoni the trophy now.

2. Murali Vijay (Chennai)– Controversially (probably) selected ahead of Kallis, we have opted for Vijay because his superior strike (156.84) would dovetail better with Tendulkar than Kallis’ more methodical approach. And his 127 off only 56 balls against Rajasthan was arguably the innings of the season.

3. Suresh Raina (Chennai)– Third in the leading run-scorers list and at a strike rate of over 142 too, Raina continued his good form in the T20 format and was consistency personified. Man of the match in the final and his fielding was top-class throughout

 

 

4. Saurabh Tiwary (Mumbai)– Gets in ahead of more celebrated names like Symonds, Watson and Jayawardene. Tiwary continually provided the icing on the cake to the excellent starts usually provided for Mumbai by Tendulkar; and in the semi-final (when Sachin failed) his innings provided the platform for Pollard to launch Mumbai into orbit.

5. Robin Uthappa (Bangalore) – The muscle man who warmed up with a medicine ball was the most consistent of the kamikaze attack-at-all-costs batsmen (see post on the Lovers and the Shaggers). Uthappa can win a game in less than five overs as a strike rate of over 171 would suggest. Why is he not in the Indian T20 squad ahead of the disappointing Yuvraj Singh?

6. MS Dhoni, Captain (Chennai)– The inspirational captain behind Chennai’s success and the man that saved their bacon in the do-or-die match against Punjab. Dhoni is rapidly becoming India’s greatest ever captain.

7. Kieron Pollard (Mumbai) – The best all-rounder in the tournament. With the bat he had the highest strike-rate (185.71), with the ball he took a steady supply of wickets at a relatively good economy rate and he was electric in the field. If Mumbai had not held him back until it was too late in the final, who knows what could have happened?

8. Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai)– With a superlative economy rate of 6.10, Ashwin’s off-breaks typically gave Chennai a great start with the new ball. Ashwin was yet another factor behind Chennai’s resurgence from the mid-point of the season.

9. Amit Mishra (Delhi) – This is probably a biased choice given that Delhiwas my adopted side, but Mishra performed consistently well and took 17 wickets during the competition. To be honest, it could just as easily have been Harbhajan, Ojha, Kumble or Murali though as spin came to the fore.

10. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai)– Malinga’s ability to bowl yorkers at will is a priceless commodity in T20 and with his unorthodox action, he can be unplayable at times. Took 15 wickets and did so at a decent economy rate of just over seven.

 

11. Doug Bollinger (Chennai) – Just pips his Australian colleague Ryan Harris and Zaheer Khan. The arrival of Bollinger coincided with Chennai’s resurgence and his performance in the semi-final and final played a big part in his team’s triumph. In his first match he took two for 15 from four overs against Rajasthan. This was the match that saw 469 runs making it all the more astounding.