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A stats review of the Champions League Twenty20 2010

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan27-Sep-2010Superior with bat and ballThe difference between the batting run rate and bowling economy rate for Chennai is the highest among all teams and comfortably ahead of the next best team. The difference between their batting average and bowling average is an extraordinary 24.58, which is streets ahead of the Warriors, whom they beat in the final. None of the other teams have a run-rate difference of more than one, and only South Australia possess an average difference above ten. The overall stats of the top teams is summarised below.

The best spinnersR Ashwin and Muttiah Muralitharan produced excellent bowling displays in the final to restrict Warriors to a below-par total. In fact, the Chennai spinners were by far the best in the tournament, averaging just over six in the Powerplay overs and stifling most teams in the middle overs. Of the total 54 wickets picked up by Chennai’s bowlers, the spinners contributed 31 at an impressive average of just over 11.

Raising their game when it mattersWhen they were close to elimination in the IPL 2010, Chennai won six out of their last eight games. That was a longer tournament which allowed them to get away with a slow start. Here, there was little leeway, and they got into their stride straightaway, losing only a single match, and that too in the Super Over. They triumphed in a must-win match against Warriors before comfortably winning in the semi-final and final. They had a stunning record in the Champions League when they batted first, but a slightly more even record in the IPL.

Sharing the run-scoring burdenTwo of the top four run-getters of the tournament were from Chennai, and this proved to be a huge factor in the final result. Suresh Raina played a superb hand in the rain curtailed semi-final against Bangalore, while Murali Vijay, the highest run scorer of the tournament, was highly consistent and played important knocks in the semi-final and final. Davy Jacobs of Warriors and South Australia’s Michael Klinger were in fine form too, but Chennai had had greater depth, and more firepower.

Dominant bowlersChennai dominate the bowling department completely, with three of their bowlers among the top four wicket-takers in the tournament. Ashwin and Muralitharan turned the finals completely after a great start for the Warriors while Doug Bollinger was also among the wickets throughout. Shaun Tait’s lethal pace was a major factor in South Australia’s success, but he had an ordinary game in the semi-final resulting in their exit. Johan Botha and Rusty Theron were also consistent all tournament but they just didn’t have enough runs to play with it in the final.

Overall, the 2010 Champions League produced far more runs and boundaries than the 2009 edition, which was slightly surprising considering the fact that the previous hosts had been India, where pitches normally favour batsmen. The 2009 edition had lower average scores and poor batting performances by the IPL teams, but two out of four semi-finalists this time were from the IPL. The number of fours and sixes also went up in the 2010 tournament, clearly suggesting a better batting performance.

Both Chennai and New South Wales, the 2009 champions, lost just one game on their way to the title. While Chennai lost to Victoria in a Super Over, New South Wales lost a close game to Trinidad after a blitz by Kieron Pollard. Chennai were the better batting side, with a higher average and scoring rate. The stats for the bowling department, though, were even. Chennai’s bowling average was marginally better but New South Wale’s economy rate, which was below six, was better than that of Chennai.

The hosts shuffled their quick-bowling pack before the second Test but so far it has made little difference and Ricky Ponting has nowhere left to turn

Peter English04-Dec-2010Residents in the Adelaide Hills know lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice, but the Australians are quickly learning that the concept doesn’t apply to this Ashes series. For the second time in two innings the local attack has been burnt by English batsmen who are at home in conditions that were once so demanding.In three sessions in Adelaide, Australia have been twice as successful as during the second innings in Brisbane, where the riot finished at 1 for 517. There is nothing else to be cheerful about after the revamped attack failed to melt their opponents in the hot, dry conditions. There was no relief from the storms that were visible in the hills as the visitors skipped to 2 for 317, and another dose of punishment is due for day three.England, who have had more cases of heatstroke than series wins here over the past 20 years, are lining up for retribution. The Australian team is unrecognisable from four summers ago except for their leader and the colour of the caps. In times past they could bring in a replacement knowing that the original man could be covered without weakening the chain.Australia entered this match with a new bowling hand, but have done nothing more than swap a pair of 3s for a couple of 4s. No amount of bluffing on a flat pitch can turn that collection into a pot-grabbing success, especially against such in-form batsmen.Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger have joined Peter Siddle and are on the way to suffering the same damage that broke Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson at the Gabba. Having already been let down by the batsmen, who fell over for 245 on the most run-friendly pitch in the land, the fast men were already well behind.The effort of the trio cannot be mocked because they charged in throughout a day that peaked at 37 degrees. Bollinger collected a third-ball breakthrough with a teasing in-swinger and chances were created early and not taken. Once England overcame those difficulties they raced ahead, taking 54 runs in the first hour. They didn’t need to brake for long over the remainder of the day.While the batting was first-class, the collective standard of the bowling was much lower. Australia are ranked No.5 for good reason, with the side unable to make consistent runs or rely on regular wickets. The current crop isn’t sure what to do because it has never known such regular, helpless positions, and the leader’s requests keep changing.All are trying in unison with Ponting, who trials inventive fields and then regularly re-sets them. If he was winning he would be compared to Mike Brearley for his brilliance, but in this tinkering mood he looks like a mad professor. The complex demands aren’t working for a team of relative newcomers.

Ponting felt Doherty could follow the team plan, but he has been severely outclassed and unable to build pressure

In the first session, the bowlers were asked to target the leg stump of Jonathan Trott, who aimed successfully at the boundaries and ensured the momentum from day one remained with England. Before the new ball came, Siddle briefly attacked Cook with short balls, while having three men on the rope on the legside, but that burst passed without incident. Ponting was playing chess and not realising England were enjoying a simple game of draughts. Harris was the best performer and his only success came when Trott popped a catch to the regulation position of midwicket.Whenever Xavier Doherty, the left-arm spinner, was employed the batsmen were able to relax and wait to latch on to his short balls. Cook cut three boundaries in consecutive deliveries and the rest were untroubled by a man Ponting wanted in the side. Ponting felt Doherty could follow the team plan, but he has been severely outclassed and unable to build pressure.So far Doherty has given up 70 runs in 15 overs – ten fours came from short offerings outside off stump – in what could be his last Test innings. Nathan Hauritz, who took career-best figures for New South Wales this week, must come back to provide some confidence and control, even though he was cut so severely two weeks ago. What to do about the rest is as cloudy as the forecast for the latter stages of the game.In seven days, Ponting has used eight bowlers and nothing good has happened for them after Siddle’s six-wicket flicker when the curtain raised at the Gabba. The three specialist fast men in this match have been honest and committed, but not dangerous. Just like the second innings at the Gabba.These are unfamiliar times for Australia and they have to change direction to alter the course of the series. Toning down the test-tube fields and focusing on one line outside off stump is a starting point. It goes against Australia’s attacking philosophy to be so narrow, but the current tactics are failing and some disciplined boredom is required to stay in the contest. Without a quality spinner and an elite strike bowler, they have no choice but to grind.What they really need is some lightning but Johnson, the man most capable of those bolts, is out of the side and horribly out of form. On the second day all the flashes came from the dark clouds in the hills east of Adelaide, and the England batsmen in the middle.

The margin of the result was exactly the number of more runs India scored in the first 15 overs compared to Pakistan

S Rajesh30-Mar-2011As it turned out, almost all the experts read the wicket wrong. MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar admitted as much in the post-match presentation, and from the scores it’s obvious that run-making was a lot more difficult on this Mohali pitch than it was expected to be. The team composition and the early overs suggested a score of around 300 would be a par total, but later events showed it was another subcontinent track on which run-scoring against the hard new ball was much easier.In that context, the difference between the two teams was the runs they scored in the first 15 overs, when the ball was new. Pakistan’s top three played useful cameos too, but none of them exploded in the manner that Virender Sehwag had. Sehwag’s 25-ball 38 allowed India to rack up 99 in the first 15 overs, compared to Pakistan’s 70. The difference of 29 was exactly the margin by which Pakistan lost the match, which means in the remaining 35 overs, the two teams scored exactly the same number of runs. Of course, the approaches of the two teams at the start were obviously different since Pakistan knew the target in front of them, but Pakistan struggled as much as India did in the middle overs. What made their case worse was the fact that they got no reciprocal help from the Indian fielders, or from the dew which was expected to set in later in the evening.

Misbah’s mystery innings
Misbah-ul-Haq’s strike rate at the end of his innings was 73.68; Tendulkar’s rate for his 85 was 73.91. That, perhaps, is as good an example as any to illustrate the fact that stats without context is meaningless. Misbah’s inexplicable go-slow through the first half of his innings resulted in the asking rate climbing to unmanageable proportions, and it also forced the other batsmen to take risks that might otherwise have been unnecessary. He tried to make up for it later, but apart from helping him reach a personal landmark and improving his strike-rate, his late hits counted for little.Overall, Misbah played out 42 dot balls, which was the most among Pakistan’s batsmen. In his first 42 balls, he scored only 17 and played 27 dots. During this period, Pakistan’s asking rate went up from 6.07 to 8.45. Younis Khan’s sluggish innings didn’t help either – add his 13 from 32 balls to Misbah’s 17 in his first 42, and Pakistan have every reason to feel their two most experienced batsmen didn’t serve them well: in those 74 balls, the two batsmen got a grand total of 30 runs, with no boundaries. Even with the power-hitters to follow, that was a bridge too far.

A spell to remember
The batsmen’s poor effort ensured that a wonderful bowling performance by Wahab Riaz went in vain. He became only the second bowler, after Venkatesh Prasad, to take a five-for in an India-Pakistan World Cup match. He joins eight other Pakistan bowlers to have taken a five-for in an ODI against India.More stats

• This is India’s first World Cup semi-final win at home in three attempts. They’d lost to England in 1987, and to Sri Lanka in 1996. However, they’ve won both their World Cup semi-final matches away from home (in 1983 and 2003).
• Tendulkar has won nine Man-of-the-Match awards in World Cups, which is easily the highest. Three of those have been against Pakistan: he’d also won the prize against them in 1992 and in 2003.
• Sehwag and Dhoni joined five other Indian batsmen to score 1000 ODI runs against Pakistan. Tendulkar leads with 2474 runs at an average of 39.90.
• It was only the second time in his ODI career that Yuvraj Singh was dismissed for a golden duck – the first instance was against Kenya nearly ten years ago.

Although Pakistan are perceived as having one of the strongest bowling attacks of the tournament, West Indies have taken exactly the same number of wickets – 53

Firdose Moonda in Mirpur22-Mar-2011Enough. It means just the right amount. It’s adequate, sufficient, satisfactory and in this World Cup it’s West Indies.In a format where they only had to beat three teams to qualify for the quarter-finals, that’s exactly what they did. In a format where the three teams they had to beat were the weaker sides in the group, they overcame them and no others. That they were regarded as one of the weaker sides themselves is an aside, and one that can be forgotten now that West Indies have returned to the top eight in the ODI rankings, after being briefly displaced by Bangladesh.They have taken the least common denominator route to get to the knockouts, but for West Indies, it’s not a reason to be concerned or even relieved, it’s a reason to be delighted. “Whether you come in at number one or number eight, doesn’t matter,” Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, said at the pre-match press conference in Dhaka. “The quarters are where it counts.”Sammy is not one to waffle. He doesn’t churn out sweet candyfloss nothing at press conferences, he talks as though he has no words to waste. When he was asked what West Indies plan to do against Pakistan he said that, “It doesn’t matter what we do, we want to win, basically that’s it.”It reflects a certain amount of determination that has been absent from West Indies in recent years. It probably comes from wounded pride, maybe the Bangladesh rankings leapfrog hurt more than they let show and, after taking it out on the Bangladesh side when they played them in Dhaka two and half weeks ago, they’ve got a tiny bit of their groove back. They went on to beat Ireland even though the giant-killers were in a reasonable position at 187 for 5, chasing 252.Both matches West Indies played after that, against India and England, were games they should have won and didn’t because of a collapse in the batting line-up on the notoriously difficult Chennai pitch. The track can take some of the blame, but the batting has to accept the rest as stats like 4 for 3 (against England) and eight for 34 (against India) cannot be forgiven.The problem runs all the way through, starting with Chris Gayle and Devon Smith and finishing at number eight, because consistency of run scoring is not a feature of his line-up. Gayle and Smith have started forming an aggressive opening pair and have had a century partnership against Netherlands and 58 against England. If Gayle comes off it seems Smith is more settled but even when Gayle floundered early against South Africa, Smith was able to carry on. It’s likely that the two will be in each other’s company again and that combination should be the best defence against Umar Gul at one end and the possibility of a spinner at the other.The middle order of Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Sammy looks likely to be boosted by the inclusion of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is not in the best form, but carries some valuable experience. After his 73 against South Africa, Darren is due another respectable knock, Sarwan hasn’t reached a half century in the tournament yet and Sammy has to decide if he is going to come in to smash the ball around at the top or save himself for a burst lower down. It all comes down to whether or not West Indies can keep wickets in hand for something so structured.The clusters of wickets that keep falling, particularly when they are chasing, but also when they are batting first, as happened against South Africa, means that insurance and security is more likely to come into the fray. It’s a syndrome Sammy is aware of but “might need some help explaining.” What he does know is that it “affects the outcome” and that they “can’t keep losing wickets in patches.” Against a Pakistan bowling attack that has caused swift collapses, such as against Australia, that will require better execution than we’ve seen from the West Indies batsmen so far.They’ll be banking on their bowling to make up for any hiccups their batting might cause and, for a change, it’s a part of their game they can count on. Wickets have come from all over, Benn and Roach with the new ball laying claim to most of them, but Sammy and Russell have chipped in handsomely. Although Pakistan are perceived as having one of the strongest bowling attacks of the tournament, West Indies have taken exactly the same number of wickets – 53.In some ways, their quarter-final against Pakistan is the perfect mix of uncertainty, with both sides prone to implosion. It’s the one match where anything can happen and where enough may just be good enough.

Scheduling a two-Test series between Australia and South Africa, rivals with a rollicking recent history, was madness. And as a result, the series has no winner

Brydon Coverdale21-Nov-2011Ask the average South African or Australian cricket fan who won the Tests between the two sides in 2008-09 and they’ll probably be able to tell you. Six gripping Tests were played and each side won three, both teams winning their away series. It was a magic home-and-away battle, full of memorable moments. Ask the same people who won the one-dayers or Twenty20s on those same trips, and expect a blank look.In two years’ time few people will recall, or care, who won the T20s and ODIs played in South Africa over the past six weeks. But the Tests, what with 47 all out, 23 wickets in a day, Australia’s Wanderers chase, and the emergence of Pat Cummins and Vernon Philander, will be remembered. And fans will wonder how on earth it was only a two-Test series.The balancing act between Test cricket and the shorter formats is necessary; boards make more money from T20s and ODIs, and cash has become king in cricket. But it cannot be at the expense of quality Test cricket. Scheduling a two-Test series between Australia and South Africa, rivals with a rollicking recent history, was madness. And as a result, the series has no winner.The boards of both countries are stakeholders in the Champions League T20, which was played shortly before Australia’s tour began. And the Australians need to return home for their own summer of cricket, which begins in nine days against New Zealand. But it remains a mystery how a third Test could not have been squeezed in, when it took 16 days to play five games in the short formats.”I said that before the series, I think it’s disappointing,” South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith, said of the lack of a third Test. “When you have top teams playing each other it’s always exciting, it’s always competitive and it’s good for Test cricket. The last few series we’ve played have been that way. This was no different. We would have loved to have had more. In the future that’s certainly something that the administrators can look at.”Australia’s captain, Michael Clarke, was so exhausted at the end of the tense Johannesburg win that he wasn’t sure he could handle a third match. But of course he would have loved the opportunity to lead Australia to a 2-1 series victory.”Yes, now you would say it would have been amazing [to play three],” Clarke said. “I love winning. There’s nothing better than winning. But I think the way the series has panned out, a 1-1 draw, is a fair indication of where the teams are at.”Occasionally, a two-Test series can be justified, especially if the disparity between the teams is significant. But Australia and South Africa have provided some of the finest Test cricket when they have met in recent history, and combining their contests at home and away in 2008-09 with the series that has just finished, the results stand at 4-4.”Hopefully it’s a big thumbs-up for Test cricket,” Smith said. “I think hopefully the way people will talk and write and present the series will be in a positive light. Especially after the disappointment of the ICC not taking on the Test championship, I think this was obviously a big tick for Test cricket.”Both teams played 100% cricket. It probably wasn’t always pretty at times and not as skilful as what we would have liked, from a personal point of view, but I think it was all out there. Both teams left it all out there. Hopefully it was a big positive for Test cricket going forward.”Smith was right. It wasn’t always pretty. But it was always mesmerising. The teams provided fans with eight days of Test cricket that had it all. Both sides suffered calamitous collapses, Australia’s 47 in Cape Town following quickly on from South Africa being dismissed for 96.Hashim Amla scored hundreds in both Tests. Clarke opened the series with a brilliant captain’s century in trying conditions. Shane Watson starred with ball and bat and broke down. Ricky Ponting, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson all faced a last chance in Johannesburg, and all played key roles in Australia’s win.Most exciting, both sides handed debuts to exciting fast bowlers who delivered beyond expectation. Cummins was Man of the Match in Johannesburg and Philander was the Player of the Series. Nobody who watched the two Tests will forget the way Cummins and Philander sparked their sides. The same can’t be said of the limited-overs games.

For a first-time South African tourist to New Zealand, the sights are fresh but at times also familiar

Firdose Moonda16-Mar-2012March 2
After 8pm at OR Tambo International Airport, waiting for the longest flight I have ever been on. Not sure what it will feel like to be in limbo for so long. Sure, I’ll have stops along the way but the total journey will take two days. Didn’t think I would get to New Zealand at all, so it’s a long enough time to think about what I want to do when I get there. Can’t come up with too many answers besides: to look around. A rugby journalist friend told me New Zealand looks like a chocolate box. Not sure if he meant appetising or neat or enticing, but I’ll soon find out.March 3
First stop, Perth International Airport. Some will say it probably counts as a piece of South Africa, given how many have emigrated there in the last two decades. Buy papers, grab a yoghurt and muesli, and while away four hours. Wonder about South Africa’s result in the third ODI. If they secure a clean sweep, surely the disaster in Dhaka last March will be well and truly buried. What about New Zealand? Will they recover to make a fist of the Tests?March 4
Finally, New Zealand. Almost don’t get in at the arrivals desk. Am asked why I am visiting the country – even though South Africans can enter for three months without a visa – and say I will be covering the Test series. “Do you have any identification, like a press card?” the man at the desk asks me. Silently curse myself for never following through on that plan to get business cards. Rummage through my bag and wallet until something comes to mind. “Here’s my card from the Zimbabwean Media Commission when I went there…” Before I can finish, I am waved past. Thank goodness for the press laws in Zimbabwe.Drive to Dunedin city past endless farms and see endless (this is not a joke) rows of grazing sheep. Get to the apartment too early to check in, so find a cute café to have a meal. Too confused to find out whether it’s breakfast, lunch or supper. New Zealand Cricket has organised a 5pm press conference, which will help me stay awake until nightfall and beat the jetlag.March 5

Slept, refreshed and ready to go. Walk out of the hotel for a jog. Cold. Very cold. Johannesburg winter cold. Not sure I can feel my fingers or toes but remember commitments to stay healthy and fit and set out. So much to look at. Most interesting observation is the student homes. Discarded couches sit on every porch; most look weather-beaten. Why are they there?Also run past the University Oval, although I don’t know it then. That couldn’t possibly be the Test ground, I think. It looks like a field a club side would play on. Later that day, I discover I was wrong.See the South African team for the first time. AB de Villiers is the first to say hello. Find out from one of the New Zealand reporters that couches regularly get burnt in bonfires by the students, but nobody knows why.March 6
Have an interview with Nathan McCullum. Consider walking to Maori Hill but the hotel front desk tells me it’s not a good idea. Watching the hills get steeper from the back of a taxi I can see why. Also remember that Dunedin is home to the steepest residential street in the world – Baldwin Street.Arrive at Café No.7, and not having got used to the prices yet, think it’s one of the most expensive restaurants I’ve ever been in. Ask the hostess to please point McCullum my way when he arrives. She looks at me blankly and confesses she doesn’t know who he is. Chatting to him later, I can see why stardom has escaped him. Plenty of evidence that he has learned to make the most of his talent and a sportsman’s limited time frame in which to make a living.March 7
Match day. Another twist of South African-ness as the series opens with rain (the same has happened the last six seasons on the opening day of the South African summer). Play seems a long, long way away. The press box is a tiny, warm room that heats up like a sauna. From the outside it looks like one too, as the windows steam up.Lunch is moved early, eventually the ground dries, and the players get on the field at 2pm. Play ends at 7. A long day becomes even longer. New Zealand make it worth it. Few would have believed they could have South Africa on the ropes on a dead, flat pitch. Chris Martin does the damage with three wickets in four balls. Meet him at the press conference afterwards and am impressed by his careful and well thought-out answers.March 8
New Zealand undo all their good effort with the ball with an ordinary one with the bat. Vernon Philander’s career continues as it started. He gets the same movement he promised he would produce “anywhere in the world.”Spot Claire Taylor, former England international, who now lives in Dunedin, walking around the ground, and also serving drinks in the bar.March 9
A tight Test finally swings one way, South Africa’s. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis both score centuries but the real news happens off the field. Kallis questions the legitimacy of ball-tracking. He speaks as though he is interested in going on about it for hours. It is the first time Kallis seems so alive in a media conference. He does not hold back as he talks about the “plenty” of issues the South African change room has with the accuracy of the system. He doesn’t know it at the time but his comment that “99% of cricketers will tell you” that they believe ball-tracking is not as accurate as its made up to be will cause a big stink.March 10
It’s the birthday of one from our party and we have something special planned – a trip across the road to the Forsyth Barr Stadium to watch a Superrugby match. It means a scramble to complete work by the 7:35pm kickoff, but we are up for it. On arrival, we are immediately thankful for the roof, because wind and rain lash the surrounds. This weather will last well into day five of the Test, but while we are watching the rugby we don’t care. The Highlanders play an impressive running game to beat the Waratahs by one point. The match allows us to a see a slice of Dunedin life. It opens with a pipe band, an ode to the Scottish influence in the city – also seen in the architecture – and closes with a party in the student zone, the Zoo, which we were warned not to go into.March 11
Last night’s rain has become this morning’s pain as we walk into the ground under a heavy, hazy cloud. Even the diehards who were there on the first morning don’t show up. The only person in the ground who is not working on the match is in an Australian from Sydney called Aimee, who has flown all the way to watch South Africa play. She waits outside the change room hoping to get the signature of every South African player and watches in amusement as we rush in and out of the press conference venue.A furore over the DRS has broken out, with Ian Taylor, founder of Virtual Eye, threatening to pull out. It gives us something to work on while we wait for the match to be called off. The Taylor story becomes bigger and we end up working well into the evening. The rain, like the work, does not stop. Eventually we head out with some of our New Zealand colleagues to a restaurant called Little India. One of the finest butter chickens in the world emerges from that kitchen.March 12
Pick-up time is 4:30am for an early flight to Hamilton that will go via Christchurch. Don’t even get to say goodbye to Dunedin because morning light has not broken yet. The travel reminds me of some places in India – can’t go from A to B without passing C-Z first.Rain and cold are no worry for rugby•Getty ImagesChristchurch airport looks fine a year after the earthquake. Hamilton’s is a little like the one in Port Elizabeth, with a single carousel for baggage.Finally meet Kruger van Wyk, who I have been conversing with via email. His toughness and confidence are striking.The main street is a café culture connoisseur’s delight. Settle into an Italian one for dinner and pick up the South African waitress’ accent before she picks up ours. On realising we’re compatriots, she jumps to an immediate conclusion. “It’s safe here, hey?” she says. We nod. It’s a common sentiment among South Africans who have emigrated. One wonders what will happen when they’ve all moved here.March 13
The town is so small you’ll come across virtually everyone. Spot Gary Kirsten strolling past Starbucks, pushing baby Joanna in her pram. Spot Chris Martin and his wife walking down the road, also pushing a pram. Spot Martin Guptill and Doug Bracewell looking for somewhere to have a meal. Spot Imran Tahir’s lovely wife Sumayya – the one he moved countries for – arriving in New Zealand. Spot the bar where Jesse Ryder reportedly broke team protocol by having a few drinks after the T20. Spot the gorgeous Seddon Park, with a white picket fence and rolling grass banks. Spot the tinges of green on the pitch and wonder if they will be there for the start of the second Test.

Virat Kohli’s adaptability is a key strength that’s helped him play such a critical role in helping India overhaul big totals

Siddarth Ravindran at the Shere Bangla National Stadium19-Mar-2012″I really like playing on this ground,” Virat Kohli had said earlier this week, after being named Man of the Match for his 108 against Sri Lanka. On Sunday, he added another compelling reason for him to love the Shere Bangla National Stadium. His 183 against a top-quality Pakistan attack, in a high-pressure match in front of a packed house, was his fourth hundred at the venue. It also orchestrated India’s largest successful ODI pursuit, and underlined his credentials as a master of the chase.From the early days of his international career, he has shown his excellence as a chase artist. His first ODI century came in a little-remembered series of the many against Sri Lanka in recent years, stabilising India after the early loss of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar before helping them power through to a target of 316 with seven wickets remaining. He did something similar, though to a smaller extent, in the biggest match of his career to date, the World Cup final.Having made his debut in 2008, he was still struggling to stand out among the muddle of competitors for a middle-order spot in the Indian team till late 2010. That’s when he conjured another of his now regular centuries after India had been set a large target, against Australia in Visakhapatnam. It kickstarted an extraordinarily fertile spell, and he hasn’t missed a match since. The numbers he’s stacking up are staggering: in 48 innings batting second, he averages 58.40 and has seven hundreds and 13 half-centuries.Less than three weeks ago, Kohli masterminded a miraculous chase against Sri Lanka in Hobart, through an unbeaten 86-ball 133 in a crunch match. He had called it his best innings, but now, there’s a new contender for that title.Back in 2005, MS Dhoni had taken a step towards superstardom with a 183 of his own, against Sri Lanka in Jaipur. What that innings is most remembered for is the sustained brute-force hitting – Dhoni had clubbed 10 sixes in an innings that lasted 145 deliveries. Kohli’s effort on Sunday consumed just three deliveries more, but didn’t contain that kind of violence.For a 15-over spell till the start of the batting Powerplay, Kohli didn’t even hit a boundary, relying more on his favourite way of building through the middle overs – the risk-free single down the ground. The entire innings contained only one six, an effortless hit that crashed into the hoarding beyond extra cover. One of his trademark strokes, the whip off his pads to send the ball anywhere between backward square leg and midwicket, made a frequent appearance and fetched him a lot of boundaries.Even as late as the 40th over, he was coasting along at little more than a run-a-ball. Only at that stage did Kohli unleash a boundary-barrage with which Pakistan’s hopes completely evaporated. For the second time in a month, India had chased down 300-plus comfortably and they had hardly needed the services of Dhoni, the finest finisher in the game.What makes Kohli so dangerous is the adaptability of his game, something which Dhoni has also developed over the years. He can be the quiet workhorse, picking off the singles through the middle overs, or unfurl a Twenty20-style boundary spree. The ability to effortlessly mould his game to the match situation and the cool head to deal with the ever-present pressure of the asking-rate have been critical to his second-innings successes.The flexible playing style also makes him an ideal No. 3, capable of taking the baton after a cracking start or providing the ballast in case of early losses. “Batting at No.3 is a very important position for the team. I value my wicket much more now,” he said after the match, on a day when his one-day average breached 50. “I know if I get set, get a good platform for myself, then I can score more and help the team. As I said earlier it is [about] taking the game as close as possible. If one guy is doing very well at the other end, then I play a different role.”Many are put off by his invective-laden century celebrations, of which there was one more display in Mirpur, and the tattoos and the bling, but after an ultra-successful year and a half, few will be questioning his expertise at pacing a chase, or his position among the leading one-day batsmen around.

ESPNcricinfo’s Andrew Fernando picks his team of the Sri Lanka Premier League

Andrew Fernando01-Sep-20121. Dilshan Munaweera (Uva Next) (212 runs @ strike-rate 144.21)Came to the tournament as one of the most hyped young talents in the country, and unlike several others, justified that hype with several scorching innings. He saved his best for the final, clubbing five sixes and two fours to catapult Uva Next beyond the Duckworth-Lewis par score and into the Champions League. In doing so, he became the tournament’s highest run getter and finished with the second best strike-rate among batsmen who have scored more than 100 runs. The Sri Lankan selectors will now be ecstatic at having picked him for the World Twenty20 after he had had a good start to the SLPL, but had not yet proved himself completely worthy of international selection.2. Kamran Akmal (wk) (Wayamba United) (203 runs @ 121.48)Was the tournament’s top scorer until he had to leave for national duty in the UAE, having been the rock of Wayamba United’s impressive batting order throughout the round robin. Ruthless on anything short, and capable of thrashing the good length balls and full deliveries as well, Akmal mowed 23 fours in five innings – more than anyone else in the SLPL – despite many of the other leading batsmen having played more games.3. Aaron Finch (Ruhuna Royals) (137 runs @ 130.47)Asked to bat anywhere in the top four, Finch was one of the few bright spots for an underwhelming Ruhuna Royals side, who were expected to make much more of an impression of the tournament, given their star-studded roll. Finch’s 65 from 48 balls against Uthura Rudras was his biggest contribution, though his ability to handle the swinging ball in some of the low scoring matches in Pallekele was equally as important.4. Angelo Mathews (c ) (Nagenahira Nagas) (211 runs @ 139.73)Mathews has sometimes been criticised for not being there at the end of an innings often enough, but few who followed him closely at the SLPL will doubt his flair for finishing now. In four times in seven innings Mathews remained unbeaten, and each of those times he had contributed heavily to the team total. His 73 off 27 balls in the final was perhaps the innings of the tournament, as he showcased his ability to score a boundary off almost any ball when well set. Sri Lanka will need him to play a significant role in the World Twenty20 and he has played himself into fine form before the event. His marshalling of an inexperienced Nagenahira attack also added heft to his claim as the next Sri Lanka captain.5. Chamara Kapugedera (Uthura Rudras) (178 runs @ 143.54)Had a quiet start to the tournament, but his stunning 69 not out to resurrect Uthura’s chase against Basnahira Cricket Dundee and finally ignite their campaign was filled with the arrogant hitting that earned him several extended runs in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs sides. Sadly for him, his SLPL performances were not enough to retain his place in the national team. Perhaps the selectors have finally run short of patience following a long stretch of failures, or maybe they think some time away from the top level will do him good. Either way, he reminded fed-up fans of the dazzling talent he possesses, even if it has not been in evidence for Sri Lanka.Jacob Oram finished with an astonishing economy rate of 3.82•Shaun Roy/SPORTZPICS/SLPL6. Thisara Perera (Kandurata Warriors) (128 runs @ 172.97)Was not himself with the ball, but earns a place in the XI through his batting alone. His 72 from 33 balls was the highlight of his campaign, as he rescued Kandurata from a collapse to put them on course for a competitive score. He will be disappointed by his waywardness with the ball, and will hope his knack for making vital breakthroughs returns for Sri Lanka in September.7. Jacob Oram (Uva Next) (82 runs @ 167.34, 11 wickets @ strike-rate 12.50)Oram was not initially picked up in the draft, but Uva Next will be thankful that James Franklin – their original allrounder – was picked for New Zealand’s Test tour of India, forcing them to take Oram on. With a scarcely believable economy-rate of 3.82 in his 23 overs in the tournament, and a league-leading 11 wickets to boot, it is fair to say Oram was the engine room of a victorious Uva campaign. With the bat, his 41 from 17 balls in the semi-final knocked the wind out of favourites Wayamba United’s sails, and his opening spell of 1 for 9 from three overs in the final allowed his side to keep their target at a manageable level despite Mathews’ heroics.8. Sachithra Senanayake (Uva Next) (8 wickets @ 18)Didn’t make a huge impact in any single game, but was crucial for Uva during the middle overs when he backed up Oram’s parsimony with cheap spells of his own. His doosra is one of the more readable variations in the game, but he used it sparingly to good effect, particularly when batsmen were looking to aggress. Contributed with the bat on occasion, and was a livewire in the field, and that, combined with his economy rate is what sees him pip Ajantha Mendis for a place in the XI, despite Mendis having taken more wickets.9. Shaminda Eranga (Nagenahira Nagas) (11 wickets @ 13.6)The man of the tournament – though only because semi-final and final performances were not taken into account – Eranga, like Oram, led the league in wickets with 11 to his name. He was the lynchpin of Nagenahira’s attack, who were formidable when Eranga was intense, but friendly when not in the groove. Startled batsmen with plenty of pace off the pitch and also moved it appreciably off the seam in both directions.10. Sohail Tanvir (Kandurata Warriors) (11 wickets @ 10)The most penetrative seam bowler in the tournament, and though he was occasionally expensive, he was often unplayable. He swung the white ball as far as it’s ever likely been swung in Sri Lanka, and while he was a handful in Colombo, batsmen were forced to just see his overs out on a lively Pallekele surface. Of the bowlers locked on 11 wickets, he had played the least matches.11. Akila Dananjaya (Wayamba United) (9 wickets @ 14.6)Plucked from complete obscurity by Mahela Jayawardene and Graham Ford, Dananjaya’s first foray into professional cricket has been as successful as anyone could have hoped. Even Jayawardene has spoken of his surprise at the apparent ease with which Dananjaya has performed in the limelight. Some have hailed him as Sri Lanka’s next spin hope, and though that assessment is as unfair as it is premature, there is something in the way in which the 18-year-old manages his variations. The World Twenty20 will really test what he is made of.Second XI: Imran Nazir, Tamim Iqbal, Mahela Jayawardene, Cameron Borgas, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Isuru Udana, Umar Gul, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis

Australia A’s tour of England is destined to attract few headlines, but its potential value to the nation’s Ashes quest is immense

Daniel Brettig27-Jul-2012Striding the practice grounds at Southampton among Australia A’s players is the unmistakeable figure of the national selector John Inverarity, his shock of white hair rising above a school of baseball caps. Alongside him, in the dual roles of team manager and selector on duty, is Rod Marsh. Conversing also is Troy Cooley, no stranger to England and the senior man at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. Hitting slips catches is another recognisable figure, with a gait similar to his more famous father: the former Tasmania captain Dan Marsh.For what is a low-key tour late in the English summer, this amounts to a notable gathering of Australian cricket’s most influential mentors. Their presence is a pointed reminder of how much store is being placed in the information and confidence to be gleaned from this tour, ahead of the 2013 Ashes. It is the first developmental tour of England by Australia since an Under 19s visit in 1999, and the first ‘A’ tour of sorts since 1995.Back then, the Young Australia team led by Stuart Law included first-time England visitors the calibre of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Michael Kasprowicz. Matthew Hayden was there too, having already journeyed to England with the 1993 Ashes tourists. This formidable array of talent would win 11 and lose only three of 16 matches, foreshadowing future Test match success in England in 1997 and 2001.Seventeen years later and the Australia A side led by Ed Cowan is not so flushed with talent, nor confidence on English shores. The last two Ashes visits have resulted in defeat, and Australia’s batting stocks in particular are considered to be at a low. Inverarity’s selection panel is casting far and wide in their search for players capable of taking up the mantle soon to be left by the likes of Ponting and Michael Hussey, and the results on this tour will play a large part in helping them make up their minds.Cowan’s goal is a quartet of victories in matches against Derbyshire, Durham and the England Lions, starting in Derby on Friday. To achieve this would be to generate confidence among young players who were teenagers or younger the last time Australia claimed the Ashes in England, while also adding significantly to their knowledge of the northern summer, the Dukes ball and their prospective opposition in 2013.”On A tours there can be a development aspect and guys looking to put individual performances on the board, but the big focus for the trip is to get back into a winning habit in England,” Cowan told ESPNcricinfo. “That will put us in better stead than guys having a bit more of a focus on themselves, ensuring that the team does well means the individuals will look after themselves.”That confidence comes from winning and there is another aspect to the tour one year before an Ashes series, and that is information collection. That data is tainted significantly if it’s not collected at the right intensity. So it is important that individuals get used to the feel of playing cricket in England, but one way you get used to that feel is playing good cricket, good team cricket.”The scheduling of an A tour to England is a major indicator that Cricket Australia’s focus is back squarely on the Ashes, after a period in which the gaining of experience in the less familiar subcontinent was considered the more pressing challenge. Numerous tours, by A teams, Under-19s sides and Centre of Excellence intakes, helped to demystify India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, while those seeking UK grounding were welcome to resort to county or league cricket.But the tightening of Visa requirements in recent years, coupled with the decline in Australia’s results against England, has meant that CA can no longer look towards a visit to England with anything like the comfortable smugness that grew across four consecutive away Ashes wins from 1989 to 2001. In 2009 many of Australia’s tourists were unfamiliar with English climes, and this tour will go some way towards ensuring no-one in the 2013 touring team is similarly naïve.”It’s probably been odd that there haven’t been more A-style tours or Under-19 style tours, but that’s on the back of more open immigration and guys coming over here and playing county cricket or league cricket and getting their experience that way,” Cowan said. “I think because the doors have gone up a little bit on that, and considering the last two Ashes series over here, I think it is a really good idea to get guys up to speed playing cricket over here.”When you look at the A setup over the years it has been directed towards places where guys don’t play a lot of cricket generally. There’s been a lot of subcontinental tours, and a lot of winter cricket in Australia to get guys up to speed. That Young Australia tour was in 1995 and the last Under-19s tour was in 1999, so it is a long time between any non-Test team playing in England – it’s a pretty important development aspect, but winning is most important for guys to get up to speed.”Australia’s Twenty20 captain George Bailey is on tour, but the man with the official title of deputy to Cowan is the batsman Peter Forrest, he of a desperately poor ODI series for Australia against England earlier this month. Forrest’s lack of runs against England’s limited-overs team was partly marked down to his lack of batting time in the lead-up, but the selectors are eager to observe how he responds during the A tour, with the benefit of an extra month in the UK.”You can judge guys over a long period of time and Pete’s a high quality cricketer who didn’t score as many runs in the ODI series as he would’ve wished,” Cowan said. “He’s really looking forward to taking a step back from that spotlight of international cricket and getting back to spending some time in the crease, being able to build an innings, all the things that can be hard coming into an ODI series off the back of no cricket.

“I think the culture of Australian cricket is strong, from my experiences in the Test team, but there are probably areas where it could get stronger. Culture is a strong word that is being thrown around a lot at the moment, and the keys to a strong culture are getting the right leaders and good people in the right places.”Ed Cowan on Australian cricket’s culture

“Part of cricket and becoming a good cricketer is responding to challenges, and this is probably a point where a little challenge has been thrown up to Pete and I’ve got no doubt that he’ll overcome that. The challenge of batting at the top of the order is overcoming failure and finding a way to score runs in different conditions. He’ll be better for that experience and I’m expecting big runs for him on the tour.”As for Cowan, the tour is almost as critical personally as it will be collectively. Having established himself as a part of the Australia Test team without quite making the runs his position demands, he will have valuable training for the distractions of the international summer by juggling his own batting with the demands of leading a young team.”Test cricket is not just about what goes on in the middle, so to have a few things happening away from solely batting, it is good practice,” Cowan said. “It’s something that I’m looking forward to, the whole leadership aspect is something I haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to do, but something that I feel as though I can contribute with.”Not just in a team sense but actually helping guys get better and really create a culture within the A team that can mirror the Test team and that guys moving through into either the Test or ODI teams have a really strong sense of team. I think the culture of Australian cricket is strong, from my experiences in the Test team, but there are probably areas where it could get stronger.”Culture is a strong word that is being thrown around a lot at the moment, and the keys to a strong culture are getting the right leaders and good people in the right places. So people like George or Dan have fantastic information but there are other strong leaders in this A team and Australian cricket. A couple of state captains, even guys who’ve played Test cricket like Mitchell Johnson, will be looked upon as leaders with a job to do.”Good cultures aren’t created by a single person, they’re created by lots of people coming together and wanting to move in the right direction.”Those people include Inverarity, Cooley and the Marshes. Theirs is a fervent hope this tour will allow Australian cricket to look towards next year’s Ashes with far more optimism than dread.

Mitchell McClenaghan, who has impressed so far on the tour of South Africa, has the speed, the skills and the experience to be a long-term member of New Zealand’s pace attack

Firdose Moonda31-Dec-2012Every step Mitchell McCleneghan took when he ran shredded cartilage on his hips. The extra bits of bone he had in that area served as blades and sliced through his connective tissue.McClenaghan’s condition is genetic, so he could not avoid corrective procedures forever even though surgery would interrupt his fledgling cricket career.Over the course of two years, doctors fractured McClenaghan’s hip sockets, screwed the cartilage back into place and let the wound bleed until it healed. He remembered it simply as being “so painful” but did not delve into any further detail. Instead, he now talks about it with a smile that can only suggest he is thankful it’s over.It helps that in the last ten days, McClenaghan went from being nothing more than one of the five rookies in New Zealand’s Twenty20 squad to being selected across all three formats for the ongoing tour of South Africa. Of all the promising players on the current circuit, he is the most exciting. McClenaghan is quick; upper 140kphs quick. He is also accurate. An attack that has often lacked a front man who can combine speed with skill could have a future leader.For New Zealand cricket, that possibility alone is highly noteworthy. Add to that the fact that McClenaghan has some experience, which includes the growing pains of failing and having to start again, and you’ll probably be excited all the way from Auckland to Napier: the two places that made McClenaghan.At Central Districts, where McClenaghan made his first-class debut, he was just another hopeful. He spent three seasons taking wickets at an average of over 40 and being side-tracked by injury. Then he moved to Auckland, where the environment suited him better. “That was the start of things clicking. Under Gareth Hopkins, there were really clear roles for me. We thought about the game the same way and he just backed me no matter what,” he said.McClenaghan also had another mentor, the ageless Chris Martin. The 38-year old has never suffered from a serious injury and McClenaghan was inspired by his problem-free run. “I got a lot of tips from him while I was recovering. He is the ultimate professional and he is always doing the right thing, whether it’s in preparation, during the game or in recovery,” he said.Inspired by Martin, McClenaghan also incorporated major lifestyle changes into his routine. This season, he gave up bread, pasta and most sugars to focus on a diet which includes a large amount of broccoli. It’s not exactly the same as Australian quick Peter Siddle’s conversion to vegetarianism but it may be an even more eye-catching choice.McClenaghan has abolished most carbohydrates, the substance required for fuel for the body, but he has not suffered at all. McClenaghan believes he understands himself more because of the changes. “I know my body a lot better now, I know how to train and I know how to look after myself,” he said.In terms of results, he has been proved right. McClenaghan was the standout performer as Auckland bowled Otago out for 63 last season. His 8 for 23 came after four five-wicket hauls for the team, and had McClenaghan thinking his chance would come in the longer format first. “With the way things had gone, I thought I would get more of a chance to play Test cricket, so it was a bit of a shock to get the Twenty20 call-up,” he admitted.He had only played nine T20 matches before being included in the touring party but his potential had been recognised. His tenth, against the South Africa A side, was where he picked up his best haul in the format to date: 3 for 18. “The only pressure I had was the pressure I put on myself. I wasn’t getting any pressure from Mike Hesson or any of the coaching staff, and definitely not from Brendon McCullum. I was just able to get out there and as soon as I got over that first ball, it was just a dream,” he said.Although it looked easy, McClenaghan found the gulf between domestic and international cricket wider than he expected. “I was just gassed afterwards,” he said. “There’s a lot more adrenaline involved in playing for your country, so you definitely tire out a lot quicker. Also, you have to put everything into every ball, mentally and physically, so you get drained quicker. But if you don’t, you’re going to get hit to the boundary, that’s just the truth of it.”He played in all three matches of the series and regards it as good preparation for the ODIs later on. “I feel confident in the short form of the game now,” he said. Before that, New Zealand will face their toughest examination in the Tests, where McClenaghan is willing to wait for his turn.”The guys have come off a great Test win with pretty much the same attack so I can’t imagine there will be too many changes,” he said. Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult were part of the pace group that achieved success in Sri Lanka, but with Tim Southee out injured, McClenaghan and Martin may be in direct competition.If they opt for Martin, New Zealand will have certainty and safety in the knowledge that his record against South Africa has been impressive. If they choose McClenaghan, they would take a risk but on South African surfaces, it could be worth it. Although McClenaghan has not been told how strong his chances of playing are, he has a plan if he does get the opportunity.

“I see my role as someone who can come in and just go flat out for five or six overs and try to make something happen, whether it’s at my end by taking wickets or by creating a bit of pressure.”Mitchell McClenaghan

“I see my role as someone who can come in and just go flat out for five or six overs and try to make something happen, whether it’s at my end by taking wickets or by creating a bit of pressure,” he said. “You don’t have to be quick all the time in Test cricket. You just need to know when the right time is, when the team needs you to come and bowl a really quick spell. Even if you don’t take wickets, it can turn the match, especially when you haven’t taken wickets for a little while. It just gets everyone behind you and gets some energy going.”One of the best executors of that is Dale Steyn, who is known to get charged up when a little extra is needed. Steyn’s spells at The Oval and in Perth in 2012 are examples of that, and now McClenaghan will get to see him in action first-hand.Although the South African battery are regarded as much more potent than their opposing attack, McClenaghan said the reputations don’t bother New Zealand. They just want to see how they match up. “They are the best bowling attack going around in world cricket at the moment. This is a massive test for us. It’s going to be a really good chance for us as New Zealand bowlers to really test ourselves against them. Rather than looking at it as us against their batsmen, it’s our attack against their attack: let’s see where we are and let’s try and push them,” he said.When current South African bowling coach Allan Donald worked in the same position in New Zealand, he noted that the major area New Zealand lacked was in intent. McClenghan promised that had changed. “When Allan Donald was the coach, the aggressive mentality started coming and with Shane Bond, it’s the same. He is really driving to be aggressive, even if it’s aggressive dot balls and just to be at the batsman all the time.”In saying that, the fighting talk has begun. McClenaghan said if he plays, “the whole South African top seven are the men I am after” and did not isolate any scalp he would prize even though South African captain Graeme Smith has a weakness against left-arm bowlers. “There’s no point saving yourself for one person. We’re going after them all.”To those who see this series as the least anticipated on the South African calendar, statements like the one above may be brushed off as nothing to take too much notice of. New Zealand are without their best batsman, Ross Taylor, their best bowler, Southee, and have had internal problems coming into the contest. They are expected to be worked over.For the New Zealand young players, that pre-series prediction could result in negativity and demotivation ahead of the tour. But it hasn’t. McClenaghan sees South Africa as a place to make a mark. “We haven’t got all the results that we’ve wanted to get but it’s really exciting times for New Zealand cricket,” he said. “You might have to bear with us for a few series but hopefully it will pay off.”