 |
| "What do you mean 'player of the series/" |
After Australia wrapped up the home series against India, taking 4 wickets in an hour on the 5th day at Adelaide, two other venues added an avalanche of wickets on the same day. In the United Arab Emerites at Abu Dhabi, 16 wickets fell as first Pakistan and then England were dismissed in the second innings, with the English managing only 72. New Zealand and Zimbabwe take the prize for the most dismissals with their extraordinary day at Napier. After the Kiwis lost 2 wickets before declaring at 7 for 495, Zimbabwe were rolled twice in the remainder of the day for 51 and 143, meaning 22 wickets had fallen for the day.
That's 42 Test wickets in one day.
Bowlers were further shined on when Peter Siddle was named man of the match for the Adelaide Test after taking 5-49 and 1-47. Apparently Ponting's 221 and 60 not out wasn't good enough. In New Zealand, Chris Martin got the nod for his second innings 6-26, leaving Ross Taylor 122 retired hurt and BJ Watling 102 not out wondering what more was needed. Only in Abu Dhabi did it seem fitting that Abdur Rehman should get the gong for routing England.
In the player of the series award for the Australia v India series, it would seem fitting that Michael Clarke was the award winner. His captaincy was brilliant and how many times does a man, whose name isn't Bradman, score a triple and double century in the same series but spare a thought for Ricky Ponting. His series breakdown was 62, 60, 134, 7, 221, 60x. Clarke's, by comparison was 31, 1, 329x, 18. 210, 37. It might have been splitting hairs but I think I might have leaned the old man's way.
2012 will be a very interesting test cricket year with a resurgence of sorts from Pakistan, little word on West Indies - either on the pitch or off it for once, India's 8 losses abroad in a row, England's problems with spin, Aus' pace stocks and more.
ReplyDeleteIndia's reluctance (and the BBCI's really) to honestly evaluate it's touring performances will come back to bite them quickly. Imagine they lose their next home series! What have you got left to boast about then? ODI performances? Some of the Indian players would have done well not to mention playing at home when asked about playing abroad. Kohli was somewhat of a revelation considering how poorly evey other batsman (bar you know who) batted. But if youth don't get an extended run shortly India can expect equally as disastrous results overseas next time.
England's ineptness at facing Ajmal and Rehman should not take away from these bowlers' efforts but it a little puzzling they have been as bad as they have been. Granted Morgan is an unknown quantity at this stage and KP is, well, he's KP. But Bell has been all at sea, Strauss' poor form is being realised and for once (in the last 18 months) Cook hasn't lasted 16 hours at the crease.
Aus have some cracks that were papered over by Clarke, Ponting and to an extent Hussey. However, Marsh at 3 is the only real concern with Warner and Cowan showing more than just promise with their opportunities. Cowan puts a high price on his wicket while Warner will either burn brightly or be sent back to state cricket if he fails for 4 innings in a row. I hope it's the former as his talent is obvious and he's just so damn good to watch. Poor Marsh has made it easy for selectors to drop him for Watson and I'm not convinced we'll see him again. At 28 he has time but if someone else takes the opportunity with both hands he may be Phil Jacques'd.