The Reverse Sweep

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

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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

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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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It's surreal: Kieron Pollard fires a first ODI hundred; David Warner cracks a maiden Test ton

Having an opinion is pretty much a prerequisite to writing a cricket blog that is interesting enough for people to enjoy and as our two readers will no doubt testify that means there are times when we get it a bit wrong at The Reverse Sweep.

In the last few days, two familiar targets of our ire have done rather well. Firstly, Kieron Pollard, whom we have previously opined to be the most overrated cricketer in the world scored his maiden ODI hundred (at the 51st attempt) against India in Chennai (in a dead rubber, it should be noted).

Since conjuring up an improbable win (and consequently a lucrative IPL contract) against New South Wales in the inaugural Champions League, Pollard was become a very rich man indeed through essentially whoring himself around the World’s T20 leagues whilst consistently disappointing for the West Indies (for whom he still hasn’t played a single Test).

Many feel that Pollard epitomises everything that is wrong with cricket in 2011 - Michael Holding certainly isn’t keen having famously suggested that “Kieron Pollard, in my opinion is not a cricketer”.

But it seems that Pollard may have more about him than either we or Holding had hitherto imagined. We’d already noted that throughout the India-West Indies ODI series, Pollard appeared to be trying to play himself in before trying to hit the ball onto the next continent.

We were reliably informed that Sunday was the first occasion since March 2009 that Pollard faced more than 100 balls in a single innings. That should provide him with a sobering thought and together with the memory of his maiden hundred provide the basis for his approach at the crease in future.

However, Pollard would be advised to remember that one swallow does not make a summer, and an ODI average with the bat of 23 and a T20I one of 12 clearly requires drastic improvement.

The notion of one swallow applies as much to David Warner as it does Pollard.

Warner’s brave, glorious and unbowed maiden Test ton in Hobart may have proved to be agonisingly futile in the final reckoning, but it did suggest that we were premature and ok we’ll admit it irrefutably wrong in rubbishing Warner’s Test credentials.

Indeed, Warner’s reinvention of himself for the longer form of the game is to his credit. The very suggestion of him carrying his bat in a Test match would have provoked much laughter not that long ago, but Warner did it in his second Test, in a run chase on a devilishly tricky surface.

Whilst he would do well to remember that his opening partner in Hobart also made a stunning impact in his second Test match, unlike the hapless Phillip Hughes, Warner doesn’t seem to lack self-belief nor possess a fatally flawed technique.

Moreover, he also seems to have heeded the advice of Virender Sehwag who as The Old Batsman reminded us last week told Warner that if he played his natural game “you'll be a better Test cricketer than you are a Twenty20 player”.

We shall see about that, but Warner has certainly made an immensely impressive start.

Where next?

2nd Test: Australia vs New Zealand - Australia marks out of 10

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

Cricket Zeroes: The Twenty 20 harlot

The farcical Champions League and its band of cricket mercenaries

Cricket Heroes: Michael Holding

Top 20 cricket blogs: The Old Batsman

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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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Who are cricket's likely future greats?

In a piece on Cricinfo just five months before his death, Peter Roebuck asked Who are cricket's future greats? 

Roebuck concurs that cricket has seen its fair share of great players since the emergence of the formidable West Indies side of the late seventies. He goes on to name  half a dozen current batsmen deserving of the great tag: Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting, before adding the caveat that all are within a few years of retirement.

When it comes to bowlers, Roebuck argues that only Dale Steyn is worthy of a place in the pantheon of bowling greats. This is hard to contradict as those closest to Steyn like James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Zaheer Khan would seem to fall into the ‘very good’ rather than ‘great’ category.

We’d concur with Roebuck that of the current crop of batsmen, Hashim Amla seems the most likely candidate to attain greatness in the coming years. His Test career took a while to get into top gear, but his sublime style and appetite for runs has grown and he averages over 70 since the start of 2010. Judging by his recent hundreds against Australia in Cape Town and Johannesburg the best is yet to come.

The past week has thrown up two more fledgling candidates, albeit two at the outset of their careers but whose promise seems unlimited.

A lot of people are getting very excited about Australia’s new fast bowling discovery Patrick Cummins. Even as thoughtful, respected and usually restrained observer like Christopher Martin-Jenkins writes in today’s Times that Cummins is a gem in the mould of Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath.

New Australian coach Mickey Arthur also sees comparisons with Steyn and it has to be said that it is hard to recall a more impressive entry into Test cricket than the one made by Cummins in Johannesburg. His six-wicket haul almost single-handedly brought Australia back into the game and more than that it was the manner in which he bowled that marked him as something special. The fact he is only 18, and with just a handful of first-class matches under his belt is mind-boggling. Australia would appear to have found the basis from which to rebuild.

Another to provoke comparison with a recent great is the 22 year old West Indian batsman Darren Bravo, who with back to back centuries in the current series with India has the same batting average and just one run less than Brian Lara at the same stage of his career.

Bravo has reputedly based his batting on Lara and there is no mistaking the panache, style and manner of his fellow Trinidadian at the crease. Of the many promising players that have emerged in the Caribbean such as fellow batsman Kirk Edwards, speedster Kemar Roach and spinner Devendra Bishoo, Bravo stands at the head of the pack. A West Indian resurgence could be in the offing at last.

There are other promising young players – Virat Kohli to name but one, but the positive impression left by Cummins and Bravo in the last week means that they will be the ones to watch most closely over the next few years.

Where next?

Virat Kohli - The (Little) Master's Apprentice

Dale Steyn's formidable statistics

Cricket Heroes: Hashim Amla

The contrarian erudite genius of Peter Roebuck

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What Jacques Kallis had for breakfast this morning

We’re not sure what Jacques Kallis had for breakfast this morning (although we can guess it was served on a large plate), but we hope it becomes a staple part of his diet.

Whilst we are happy to readily acknowledge that Kallis is a great batsman – you don’t score 12,000 Test runs at an average of over 57 without being exactly that – he is not one that we normally particularly enjoy watching at the Reverse Sweep.

Stodgy is the word that most readily comes to mind when trying to encapsulate a Kallis innings into one word, but his knock today in the 2nd Test at The Wanderers was anything but stodgy.

He came to the wicket when South Africa were 43/2 and proceeded to smash 54 off just 41 balls with 10 boundaries including two sixes.

It was all over in a blur but not before Kallis achieved something that we didn’t think was possible – upstaging Hashim Amla, who played Kallis’s usual stodgy role with some aplomb whilst Kallis was plundering the Australian bowling attack.

If this continues, we will have to start suspecting that his hair transplant was done with follicles gleaned from one of Virender Sehwag’s batting helmets.

Where next?

Has Ricky Ponting lost his punch?

1st Test: South Africa v Australia - Australia marks out of 10

1st Test: South Africa v Australia - South Africa marks out of 10

Dale Steyn's duel with Michael Clarke

Cricket Heroes: Hashim Amla

Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis & Sachin Tendulkar: Three masters at work

Jacques Kallis is cricket's Thomas More - 'a man for all seasons'

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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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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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The IPL? No thanks...

 
We haven’t really paid any attention to the IPL this season at The Reverse Sweep.

After a six week tournament of coloured clothing, blanket advertising and Mr Cliche himself Ravi Shastri, the last thing we wanted was more of the same.

And to tell the truth, we don’t care much for the Twenty 20 format of the game – two pumps and a squirt and it’s all over.

So watching a bunch of mercenaries play a bewildering number of matches for teams franchises we frankly couldn’t give a damn for is not high on our to do list.

We did take a passing interest in the IPL last year and even adopted a team - Delhi Daredevils – the intoxicating mix of Sehwag and Collingwood proving irresistible.

But that was mainly down to the fact that the World T20 immediately followed last season’s IPL. So it was worth tuning in to see how the England players were shaping up.

To tell the truth, most of the action passed us by and by week two of the tournament we had lost interest.

Don’t get us wrong, if we were Indian and in our teens or early twenties, we’d probably love the IPL especially if our home city was one of the franchises taking part.

And one cannot argue against the popularity of the IPL.

We’ve just got back from Kenya, where all the matches were shown live in the hotel bar. You'd think after their shambolic performance in the World Cup, the last thing that Kenyans would want to watch is cricket.

Against our better judgement we decided to tune in to the conclusion of the Kochi-Kolkata match.

Other than the garish outfits – Kochi’s orange and purple number really is something to behold – we’ve already forgotten what happened – Kochi may have won and they may have not.

So, whilst the IPL may be the biggest thing in world domestic cricket and more important to Chris Gayle than playing for the West Indies, we much prefer our pipe, slippers and a large dose of county cricket. 

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week (#2 2011)

What next for Lalit Modi?

Check out all our Cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Our best XI of the 2011 World Cup

 
As the celebrations in India doubtless continue, it is time to select our Reverse Sweep World Cup 2011 XI based on performances over the six years weeks of the tournament:

Virender Sehwag (380 runs at 47.50, 1 100, 1 50, SR 122.58)

He may not have scored as many as others, but the impact of his runs was the most dramatic. In our view, Sehwag’s whirlwind cameo in the semi-final in the end proved the difference between the sides.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (500 runs at 62.50, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 90.74; 8 wickets at 15.75 ER 4.06)

The tournament’s leading run scorer takes his place as the apprentice in our opening partnership to Sehwag’s sorcerer. Dilshan’s bowling was more than useful too – just ask Andrew Strauss – and he ended up with only one fewer wicket and a better economy rate than Harbhajan Singh.

Sachin Tendulkar (482 runs at 53.55, 2 100s, 2 50s, SR 91.98)

Is it sacrilegious to push the Little Master down the order to accommodate our choice of opening partnership? Maybe, but Tendulkar is clearly good enough to bat anywhere and is the ultimate team man. His longevity is astounding.

Kumar Sangakkara (465 runs at 93.00, 1 100, 3 50s, SR 83.78)

King Kumar was serenity personified throughout the tournament and he captains our side (although it was a wrench to leave out Dhoni). Is there a more underrated batsman in world cricket?

Mahela Jayawardene (304 runs at 50.66, 2 100s, 1 50, SR 100.00)

His impeccable hundred in the final leapfrogged Jayawardene above AB De Villiers in our XI. A great strike rate and but for the prolific Sri Lankan top three restricting his time at the crease, would have scored more runs in the tournament.

Yuvraj Singh (362 runs at 90.50, 1 100, 4 50s, SR 90.50; 15 wickets at 25.13, ER 5.02)

Lazarus. A cricketer reborn. And a decent pick as the player of the tournament. Yuvraj left his annus horribilis of 2010 behind to take the World Cup by the scruff of the neck. Without his masterful composure in the quarter-final against Australia, India would have suffered an ignominious exit. Also proved to be more than the pie chucker he was famously tagged by Kevin Pietersen.

Shahid Afridi (21 wickets at 12.85, ER 3.62; 84 runs at 12.00)

His batting was dire, but his excitable captaincy and devastating leg breaks galvanised Pakistan and propelled them to the semi-finals. He may not have added to his wicket tally in Mohali, but his incredible haul and impressive economy rate mean his selection for this side was automatic.

Dale Steyn (12 wickets at 16.00, ER 4.15)

This lionheart deserved better than to be part of a fragile side that reverted to type in the quarter-final against New Zealand. Others may have opted for Brett Lee, Umar Gul, Tim Southee or Kemar Roach who all had impressive tournaments, but none of these could have turned the game around against India as Steyn did in their group game.

Zaheer Khan (21 wickets at 18.76, ER 4.83)

Tied with Afridi as the tournament’s leading wicket taker and initially carried the Indian attack on his shoulders until his influence had a more positive effect on those around him in the knockout stages. Equally as dangerous at the start, middle and end of an innings and a master of reverse swinging the white ball.

Lasith Malinga (13 wickets at 20.76, ER 5.54)

Malinga was expensive at times, but was always a threat with that unplayable yorker and subtle changes of speed. So close to being the hero in the final when snaring Sehwag and Tendulkar, and always likely to get you a wicket.

Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets at 19.40, ER 4.09)

The final proved a match too far for Murali’s battered and bruised body, but even on one leg Murali still had a stunningly influential World Cup and the departing hero just pips Imran Tahir and Ray Price for the final spot in our XI.

Where next?

Who writes Muttiah Muralitharan's scripts?

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

Bruce Springsteen was born to run, MS Dhoni was born to lead

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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Sri Lanka vs India in the World Cup Final - Preview and Prediction

 
Back before the World Cup started, which seems like 1995, The Reverse Sweep predicted that India and Sri Lanka would meet in the final - see the links at the bottom of this post if you don't believe us!

It’s not often we get things right here at The Reverse Sweep, so the fact that we did on this occasion leaves us feeling slightly too smug and self-satisfied.

Even Bollywood couldn’t have scripted it any better: Sachin Tendulkar will go for his 100th international hundred in the World Cup final in his home city of Mumbai whilst Muttiah Muralitharan plays his final international match.

So who will be smiling come Saturday evening? Sachin or Murali?

We tipped Sri Lanka to win the trophy beforehand and the form of their top four means we could end up being right. Dilshan is the leading run scorer in the tournament and Sangakkara and Tharanga are fourth and fifth respectively. If the top four don't fire though, there isn't much to follow.

Sangakkara also has the most balanced attack in the competition available with Malinga’s pace and yorkers dovetailing with the wily spin of Murali, Mendis and co.

However, Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the final – and even though cricketwithballs will doubtless claim that because he doesn’t exist, it won’t matter; Mathews is actually a key member of the side.

Although India have an injury concern with Nehra, they look in good shape coming into the final. But can they cope with the added pressure of winning on home soil – something no other host in World Cup history has achieved?

Sachin and Sehwag are crucial for them. If Sachin does register his 100th hundred the other players will visibly relax, and if Sehwag gets going then Sri Lanka will be in real trouble especially with the likes of an in-form Yuvraj to follow.

India’s bowling has been a bit hit and miss, but was much improved in the semi-final and Zaheer Khan is an inspirational leader of the attack.

It will probably come down to the fine margins and the toss could prove crucial – without stating the bleeding obvious, chasing under lights to win a World Cup would be a tall order for either side if the other has put decent runs on the board.

But we’ll stick with our original prediction and tip Murali to win the day over Sachin – whatever happens, let’s hope it’s a classic.

Where next?

India: Glory or effigies?

Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Why Kevin Pietersen opening the batting in the World Cup is a very good idea

 
A few weeks ago whilst bemoaning England’s atrocious form in the never-ending ODI series with Australia, we suggested on Twitter that Kevin Pietersen should be promoted to open the batting for the World Cup.

We didn’t for a minute think that Messrs Flower and Strauss would be reading, but perhaps they were?

We at The Reverse Sweep believe that his bold move (albeit belated) makes a lot of sense. Here are a few reasons why…

He thrives a new challenge

KP seems the type of guy who thrives on a new challenge being someone who gets easily bored with the mundane. We can empathise with that, given that we yearn for a fresh adventure from our sleepy work-by-numbers IT Sales position. KP’s ODI form may have been stale over the last couple of years, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him flourish in his new role. Just as he did when facing a vociferously hostile South African crowd in his first proper taste of international cricket in 2005 or when he made his test bow in the Ashes of the same year. Pietersen tends to swim rather than sink, when thrown in at the deep end.   

He likes to be the main man

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but KP’s form for England has been heading in the wrong direction just as some of his team mates have stepped up to show that England’s batting is not a one-man show. In ODI, Eoin Morgan has usurped KP as England’s most important batsman, but with the Irishman injured and KP’s ego no doubt boosted by his promotion up the order, Flower’s punt has a good chance of paying off.

He can take advantage of the Powerplay overs

The Powerplay overs will be crucial in this World Cup as once the ball gets softer, runs will be much harder to find. Is there anyone better than KP to get the England innings off to a flier? We can’t think of anyone better in the current line-up.

He isn’t a wicket-keeper – thank God

KP’s promotion to open with Strauss consigns (temporarily at least) one of the longest running and most unsuccessful experiments in the recent history of the England ODI team. That is the strange obsession of the keeper having to open the batting. Matt Prior in particular, has had enough chances first up for it to be blindingly obvious that he is not suited to the role – far better to have him down the order to add some momentum in the later overs.

KP scores hundreds

Ok not for a while, but he does have seven one day centuries to his name. As Virender Sehwag showed against Bangladesh, if your opener scores a hundred you are more likely than not to win a ODI match. KP seems best equipped in the England line-up to perform a similar role and with a career ODI strike rate of 87, if he does get a hundred; he is likely to do it quickly.  

He is still England’s best ODI batsman

His crown may have slipped in the last few years, but with Morgan absent, Pietersen is England’s best ODI batsman. He once averaged over 50 in the format – a phenomenal feat. Ok he is now down to a more modest 41, but now that he has up to 50 overs each innings expect that figure to rise sharply over the next few weeks.

He loves the big stage

KP was voted player of the tournament in last year’s World T20. He likes to strut like a peacock on the big stage. And his World Cup record is very good - he averages over 55 from his nine matches with two hundreds and three fifties. Flower’s decision is starting to look wiser by the minute.

Why not?

England’s recent World Cup record is shocking and they have been looking for a dominant opener in the 50 over game ever since the enforced retirement of Marcus Trescothick. Fortune favours the brave, so with any luck Flower and Strauss will be rewarded for their bold move.

Where next?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 5 - England: How far can resilience take them?

An XI of players likely to bid a fond farewell to ODI after the World Cup

Our XI to shine at the World Cup

The Quest for the Holy Gilchrist

ODI Series vs Australia - England marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including Marcus Trescothick, Paul Collingwood, Virender Sehwag and Andy Flower

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

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

 
It is understandable that Virender Sehwag has been getting all the plaudits following his wonderful 175 in the opening match of the World Cup yesterday. As a statement of intent, that was what we at The Reverse Sweep would call starting the tournament with a bang.

But Virat Kohli was equally impressive in scoring exactly 100 from 83 balls - not that you would have thought so with all the headlines focusing on Sehwag.

Kohli is only 22 and yet to play Test cricket, but he is making a real name for himself in the ODI format. He is ranked 2nd in the World in the 50 over game - behind only Hashim Amla, who reached batting god-like status long ago. There were whispers a while back that Kohli was a bit full of himself - hardly surprising given the riches that young Indian cricketers have access to now with the IPL. But if that was the case, Kohli is certainly letting his batting do the talking now.

Kohli averages 49 from 46 ODIs with five hundreds and 12 fifties, and one only has to watch him for a short time at the crease to see his exceptional talent. Indeed, we rate him the best of the new breed of Indian batsmen- better than the also impressive Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara and leagues above the over-hyped Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.

To think that there was some debate before the tournament, that Kohli may miss out to Raina for a place in India's XI. That would have been foolish and MS Dhoni is no fool and would likely have insisted on Kohli's inclusion.

It can be only a matter of time before Kohli is exhibiting his brilliance in the five-day game and he is certainly likely to justify his place in our XI of players to watch in the new decade, which we included Kohli in back in January 2010. We also picked him in our XI to shine in the World Cup. Not that we are claiming to be prophetic, you understand!

Where next?

An XI of players likely to bid a fond farewell to ODI after the World Cup

World Cup Team previews: Part 1 - India: Glory or effigies?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 2 - South Africa: Don't mention the 'C' word...

World Cup Team Previews: Part 3 - Bangladesh: Shock & Awe

World Cup Team Previews: Part 4 - West Indies: Calypso or Collapso?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 5 - England: How far can resilience take them?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 6 - Ireland/Canada/Kenya/Netherlands: Last chance for the minnows?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 7 - Zimbabwe - An army of spin

World Cup Team Previews: Part 8 - Australia: Four in a row?

World Cup Team Previews: Part 9 - Pakistan: Tigers or Pussies?

World Cup Team previews: Part 10 - Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?