ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the Asia Cup final, between Bangladesh and Pakistan, in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam and Siddarth Ravindran 22-Mar-2012The four-finger celebration
Tamim Iqbal had come in to the Asia Cup squad under a cloud of controversy, having initially been left out. On reaching 50 in the first game, he had sent a message to the dressing room, with some agitated finger-pointing and shouting. In the final, when he completed his fourth half-century in four games, he had a more joyous celebration: looking towards the pavilion and counting out the number of times he has reached the milestone this series.The periscope
Tamim had showed his talent with a series of classy boundaries early in the innings, but his four off Aizaz Cheema in the 14th over could not be added to that list. Spotting a bouncer, he decided to duck but left his bat up. The ball deflected off the back of the bat and trickled down to the fine-leg boundary to bring up the 50-run opening stand.The injury
Nazmul Hossain was playing his 38th ODI in his eighth year of international cricket, and the scarcity of appearances has not been just because of lack of opportunities. He has had terrible luck with injuries. As he ran in to finish his eighth over, Nazmul went down tumbling in pain after his delivery stride, falling on his stomach. Umar Akmal hammered the intended slower delivery for a single but worse damage had been done to Nazmul. Replays suggested an ankle twist which was possibly caused by a shorter landing step.The trend-breaker
The Bangladesh fielders are not exactly tigers in the field, despite the nickname. Their failure to hit the stumps when required is often a point of ridicule. Nasir Hossain bucked the trend early in the game this time, ending Misbah-ul-Haq’s stay with a direct hit running in from point. The mix-up between Misbah and Mohammad Hafeez contributed to the dismissal but the sight of a Bangladesh fielder hitting the stumps was the highlight.The shot
There were several stand-out strokes in the Bangladesh innings, but few were as audacious as Mashrafe Mortaza’s to get a boundary to fine leg. With the match already seemingly lost, in the 47th over, Mortaza shuffled across the stumps to an Umar Gul short ball outside off and cheekily slapped the ball past short fine leg for four.The message
In Umar Gul’s first over, Nazimuddin could not locate the ball on four out of five occasions, swinging loosely outside off and missing. He was beaten every time Gul gave him a hint of width, which was obviously a veiled attempt to lure him into a caught-behind dismissal. After the fourth miss, someone from the Bangladesh dug-out told the 12th man, Anamul Haque, to get ready. Perhaps he delivered a message of caution to Nazimuddin because the next ball he faced after the visit was a solid defensive prod to keep out the fifth ball of the third over, bowled by Mohammad Hafeez. Nazimuddin ended up scoring 16 off 52 balls.The drop
Jahurul Islam was stationed at a shortish point position when Hafeez sliced one towards him in the sixth over. Jahurul dived to his left but couldn’t get his hands completely around the ball. It was a second lucky reprieve for Hafeez, who had survived a close leg-before shout in the fourth over. Hafeez went on to make a scratchy 40 off 87 balls before falling to a good catch by Nazmul Hossain at mid-on.The drop II
The fact that Nazimuddin did not come to attention till so late in the Pakistan innings meant only one thing: he had fielded safely. But off the third ball of the 45th over, Sarfraz Ahmed smashed one towards him at midwicket, and he timed his jump perfectly but couldn’t hold onto the ball.Edited by Dustin Silgardo

After 10 years as captain, Graeme Smith has another chance to take South Africa to the top of the world

Firdose Moonda18-Jul-2012It looks as though Graeme Smith can barely believe it. Years of being second best could end in five weeks’ time in England. It will present other problems, like figuring out how to stay on top, but that’s something Smith can worry about another day. For now, the reality that the top is within touching distance has sunk in and the dream of actually touching the top is three Tests away from coming true.South Africa have walked this road so many times before it has become a circle. They could have become the No.1 team twice in the last two years – if they had beaten India at home in 2010-11 or whitewashed New Zealand away in the three-Test series in March – and both times they fell short. They have been at the top for brief periods, sometimes after big series wins such as in 2008 against England, and other times not of their own doing but because a convolution of other results conspired to put them there.They would have us believe it does not matter. Gary Kirsten has taught every member of the squad to repeat that rankings don’t actually matter to them, but it is a thinly disguised statement. Having always come short, in World Cups and on standings for as long as either have existed, being the best is something that matters dearly to those involved in South African cricket. It will be represent a final coming of age and a completion of something they have heard said about them but have no proof of: that they have it in them to be called the world’s top team.Smith knows that South Africa have done all the hard work in all the right places to put themselves in a position where they can rightfully claim to the best. “We’ve been really consistent,” he said. “In all conditions, it’s fair to say, we’ve been the most consistent team over the last period of time.” He’s not wrong. South Africa have gone six years and nine series without losing away from home. In that time, they have won in Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, Australia, West Indies and New Zealand and drawn in India, twice, and the United Arab Emirates.The core of the squad from those trips have remained. Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were all part of teams that have conquered every corner. The remaining five spots in the starting XI have rotated between opening partners for Smith, different No. 6 batsmen, a third seamer, and Paul Harris, who was in the spinner’s position as recently as a season ago.Some of those have settled now, particularly in the bowling department. Vernon Philander arrived moulded into the third seamer’s role as though he was born to do it and Harris has permanently discarded for Imran Tahir. As a unit, Smith rates this bowling attack as the most dynamic he has captained in nine years in the job.”Morne and Dale are further along with their skills and development from the last time we played England but they still have the same pace,” he said. “On a number of those tours, our third seamer was new, whereas Vernon has come in and established himself quite well. With Imran developing really well, there is a lot to look forward to and a lot to work with.” The secret to South Africa’s bowling success is that those four front-liners do not represent their entire bowling reserves. Jacques Kallis is used in short bursts as an additional, fifth bowler. Smith called it a “massive blessing to have a batsman at No.4 who can bowl the way he does.” Andrew Strauss weighed in by saying England have only needed four bowlers to take 20 wickets, Kallis’ role is something that could prove the difference between the attacks.Cruel as it is, Mark Boucher, who was the core of the core until last week, is no longer part of the squad. His exclusion gives South Africa more options for now. With AB de Villiers set to keep wicket until the management have found the right time (read: an easier series) to blood Thami Tsolekile, South Africa can play an extra batsman or an extra bowler or someone who is both. JP Duminy is that someone. With his improved technique in longer forms of the game and his offspin, he becomes the person who could “offer something different” as Smith put it.South Africa have spent years searching for the “something different” that will set them apart from other teams. They have been criticised for being too predictable, lacking in variety and being a team that can dominate until the big occasion. Now that one of the biggest occasions is upon them, Smith believes they are ready to deliver.England is no longer the unchartered territory it was four years ago. South Africa have been here and won here. Although the England team they will come up against is, according to Smith, “a better team than they have had for a long time,” they face their own demons, which include holding on to that No.1 ranking, “being chased by a pack comes with its own pressure and this being the first major defence of their title,” Smith said.Whether that pressure will make England a more difficult prospect or an easier target is yet to be seen. Either way, South Africa may not even notice. They have prepared for this series with the focus solely on themselves and their processes because they know that what is at stake is bigger than anything they have had to tussle over before.

Having been picked in place of one of England’s finest ever batsman, Jonny Bairstow succeeded in the most testing of circumstances

George Dobell at Lord's17-Aug-2012Had Jonny Bairstow been accompanied on his walk to the crease by a wake of vultures, the pressure on him could hardly have been greater.On the biggest stage, against the best attack, with the No. 1 Test ranking at stake, Bairstow battled through several spells of wonderfully hostile fast bowling to record the highest score of the match to date and resurrect his side’s flagging victory hopes.England were teetering on 54 for 4 when he joined Ian Bell, still 255 runs behind and in danger of failing to reach the follow-on mark of 110. By the close they were just 101 behind with five wickets in hand. The Test, the series and the No.1 ranking all remain in the balance. It is largely due to Bairstow.In years to come, we may come to compare this innings with Jonathan Trott’s Test debut against Australia at the Oval in 2009. This is not Bairstow’s debut, of course. He has played three Tests previously but, having had some weakness against the short ball exploited by West Indies’ fast bowlers, he came into this match with many questions to answer about his technique and temperament and many doubters to silence. Certainly the South Africa side were quick to remind him – both vocally and with a number of searing short deliveries – of his previous struggles.Bairstow also played this innings in the knowledge that he was the replacement for Kevin Pietersen, the man of the match in the last Test and, arguably, England’s best middle order batsman for half a century. Bairstow knew that his was a controversial selection and he knew that some were willing him to fail. He knew, too, that when he came out to bat that his side were desperately in need of a substantial contribution. It takes something quite special to perform in such circumstances.But perhaps we should not have been surprised. Bairstow has only played 13 international limited-overs games and he has won the man of the match award in two of them. He has shown before that he has the temperament to thrive in such circumstances, not least on his international debut at Cardiff when he seized an ODI against the World Champions, India, by the scruff of the neck and pulled off a remarkable victory.

There is no doubt that, just as Pietersen was dropped for perceived flaws in his character, Bairstow was selected by perceived strengths in his.

Bairstow lost confidence after his experience against West Indies. His next eight innings after the series in all formats brought him a top score of just 27 and five scores under six. He spoke to Geoffrey Boycott, a close family friend for many years, and worked hard with England batting coaches Graham Gooch and Graham Thorpe but ultimately, according to his county coach, he just required more time in the middle. A century, albeit a century on a sluggish, flat pitch, against Australia A last week was perfect preparation for this match.”He was disappointed after the West Indies series,” Martin Moxon, the director of cricket at Yorkshire, said. “He had a rough few weeks and a little bit of doubt crept into his mind. It can be tough when you struggle a bit and then you hear people questioning you and your technique.”But I don’t think anyone who knew him well thought that he had a serious problem against the short ball. It was just that he hadn’t been exposed to that much genuinely quick bowling and, to improve, you have to face more of it.”The most important thing he could do was get that belief in himself back again. He needed a long innings and he got it by scoring a century against Leicestershire. He followed that with a century for England Lions against an Australia A side which included a proper fast bowler in Mitchell Johnson last week, so he went into the Test with his confidence restored.”It’s no surprise to anyone at Yorkshire that he has played this innings. He has character in abundance and I’m sure he’ll go on to have a long career for England now.”It would be naive to suggest that this innings proves that Kevin Pietersen may not be missed by England, though. Equally, it would be simplistic to conclude that Bairstow is certain to enjoy a long and glorious Test career.Sport rarely offers such certainty and it should not be overlooked that several of England’s top order – notably Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott – were guilty of strokes unbecoming of batsmen of their class. On merit and ignoring personality issues Pietersen still walks in this team.But it surely bodes well for Bairstow, for England and for cricket in Britain that a 22-year-old can be plucked from the county game and perform so admirably in such circumstances. There is still considerable work to do on day three – England need a first innings lead to be confident of forcing a result in this game – but from a position where they were clinging on desperately, they have now transferred just a little of the pressure on to the shoulders of the South Africa team. And their record of dealing with pressure is not the best.This was not a wholly convincing innings. There were times when Bairstow was unsettled by the short ball, times when he was beaten outside off stump and times, such as the edge that flew between the slips and the gully to bring up his maiden Test half-century, when he enjoyed some fortune.But perhaps those struggles made Bairstow’s innings all the more impressive. It forced him to work. It forced a thorough examination of technique and temperament and, in between some nervous moments, he showed the patience to wait for the scoring opportunity – after 69 deliveries he had scored only 28 runs – the ability to leave well and the ability to put away the poor ball – including the poor short ball – with encouraging confidence. Bairstow was tested, certainly, but he passed with some flair.”He showed great character,” Ian Bell, his partner in a stand of 124 for England’s fifth-wicket said afterwards. “He was tested on areas he has worked on and handled himself brilliantly. South Africa really tested him but he got through it.”He was probably committed to one thing against the short ball. Against the West Indies he maybe didn’t know whether he wanted to take it on or get under it. But he showed good technique, he got his hands out of the way to Morkel and Steyn then when he wanted to take it on he committed to that. We started to see the shots you hear about from him in county cricket.”Sometimes we make too much of character. While coaches often state that it is more important than natural talent that approach would, taken to its logical conclusion, mean Nelson Mandela opening the batting for South Africa and Florence Nightingale the bowling for England.But there is no doubt that, just as Pietersen was dropped for perceived flaws in his character, Bairstow was selected by perceived strengths in his. And, in arguably as high a pressure situation as a Test can be played, he fully vindicated that selection.

When you watch Pakistan play South Africa

Nitish Verma29-Sep-2012Choice of game
In my point of view, Super Eights are the star of this tournament. Pakistan v South Africa is always a good match to catch since they have a history of classic matches on the world stage: the 1999 World Cup and the 2009 World Twenty20 semi-final come to the mind. This one can be added to the list since it was a nail-biter.Key performer
Everyone was wondering whether Umar Gul would get to bowl since the spinners had South Africa in trouble. He came in the 18th over, got smacked for a six and dismissed AB de Villiers off his second ball. Then he came in to bat when Pakistan were 76 for 7. With Umar Akmal, he brought momentum to the innings and hit some of the biggest sixes of the day. His two back-to-back sixes showed he is confident while batting. The crowd went wild, to say the least.Security
Bags were checked twice and there were many cops around the ground. Despite the crowd dancing and singing, the security was enough tight enough to keep proceedings enjoyable and safe.Weather
Since my arrival in Colombo, I’ve heard thunderstorms being predicted daily. However, to everyone’s delight, conditions here were perfect for some T20 cricket.Crowd meter
The stadium was half full, and support for Pakistan overwhelmed the cheers for the South Africans. There were many neutrals who supported both teams. Sixes or wickets, the crowd was very involved in the game.Marks out of 10
9. A low-scoring game that went down to the wire. South Africa fought back from 28 for 3 to post a respectable score. Pakistan had begun their chase brightly when the South African bowlers struck, after which the two brave Umars brought Pakistan back into the match when all hope was gone. The tournament needed a match like this.

Tim Southee provided an exhibition of high-quality swing bowling during the first hour, and he’s still learning

Andrew Fernando in Galle18-Nov-2012So many details must align for a fast bowler to deliver a swinging delivery that at times it is a wonder when it is produced over and again, and sustained over a spell. Bowlers talk of rhythm in their approach to the crease; each footstep is as a drum sounding steadily louder, and if the beat is just not right, the crescendo is poorer for it. The front leg bracing on the popping crease just so – an inch of additional slide could throw the action out of kilter. The pivot in the hips that surges through the torso and up the arm to help impart the backspin that breeds the swerve. The wrist locked in place as all around it blurs in the bowler’s windmill. The fingers, the seam, the release.It is as if the bowler has a dozen dials to twist anew on each delivery, and if one is slightly askew, his body manufactures a dud.Tim Southee produced seven overs of swing bowling of such high quality at the start of day two, that the ball didn’t talk so much as scream at the batsman as it veered towards him. Sri Lanka arrived at the ground today with hopes of grinding out a large first-innings lead – a routine they rehearse almost every time they play in Galle. Yet fifty minutes into the day, at 50 for 5, they were staring down the barrel of a large deficit.It wasn’t just movement from Southee, it was nous and control too, and those are not qualities he has possessed for long. When Brendon McCullum put down Suraj Randiv at third slip, Southee immediately replicated the delivery, and had the batsman caught at second. He showed glimpses of that control in the ODIs, and it appears as if Shane Bond’s appointment as bowling coach has already begun to pay dividends for Southee and the remainder of New Zealand’s pace battery. Chaminda Vaas has also come on board for this tour as an advisor, and his influence too, seems evident.Vaas was once the master of the long con. He would set up the batsman over several overs, sometimes over a couple of spells, bowling exclusively outswing, then abruptly bring one back in to trap him in front or knock him over. Southee dusted off a decent impression today.Of the first 15 balls Southee bowled to Samaraweera, 14 were outswing deliveries and one was a bouncer. He finally jagged it back in on the 16th ball, but it pitched far enough outside off stump for Samaraweera to leave safely. Southee didn’t make the same mistake the next delivery. He pitched this one just outside off stump and seamed it back in to hit Samaraweera in line with off, as the batsman shouldered arms again. To have such command over both those deliveries is impressive, yet to use that variation as sparingly and effectively as Southee did is proof of his increasing maturity.”Chaminda’s got a lot of knowledge of playing in these conditions,” Southee said at the end of the day’s play. “He’s fit nicely into the environment and had a lot to offer since he’s been with us. There are little things that he’s passed on as a bowler and I think we bowled well as a result today. I spoke to him before and he said it does swing here, so we were expecting it to swing,”Southee has room yet to grow, but at 23, time in spades to do it. Excited by movement he was generating, Southee went looking for the dream delivery that pitched on leg and curled around to hit off, but his wrists wouldn’t comply on that angle, and that delivery would routinely be the only ball in the over that didn’t swing at all. Too often the batsmen found respite at the other end via an easy glance to fine leg.If Southee wants to become a truly great bowler, perhaps he would do well to develop the patience that would see him keep his opponents pinned. The magic ball looks great on the highlights reel back at the team hotel, but he can likely count on one hand the scalps he has claimed with it in his career, and on a pitch so dry as Galle, the odds are stacked high against him.He has been around the Test team for over four years now, and if his recent results in the subcontinent are any indication, his experience is doing him good. He took seven for 64 against India in Bangalore in September and was unlucky not to complete a five-wicket haul today. His legcutter to rap Mahela Jayawardene in the pads in the middle session is indicative of an expanding armoury and a sharpening wit.”I think I’m still on a learning curve,” he said. “I have had some very poor Tests over the last couple of years and I was out of the Test side at the start of the year. It’s good to be back and taking wickets. I’ll try and make the most of this period of time where I’m picking up a few more wickets and hopefully that can continue. I’ll keep learning how to bowl in various conditions in different parts of the world.”A burgeoning battery of young fast bowlers shapes as the ladder that will take New Zealand out of the mire they are presently in, in all forms of the game. As was amply evident today, Southee’s cricket is awash in skill. If his strategy and temperament continue to bloom, he will become the spearhead to shine the light for a string of sharp, young cohorts.

Plays of the Day from the third ODI between Bangladesh and West Indies in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur05-Dec-2012The awareness
Umpire Enamul Haque looked a little out of place in the 15th over, momentarily forgetting the free-hit rule. The batsman, Anamul Haque, however, was fully aware. Off the previous delivery, Anamul had given extra-cover a catch but the third umpire overturned the dismissal as Sunil Narine had overstepped. But the umpire didn’t signal the free-hit. Anamul, though, knew that he couldn’t be out stumped and charged Narine only to miss the ball that went through slip and the wicketkeeper for four byes.The non-awareness
Mashrafe Mortaza bowled one down the leg side. Marlon Samuels tried to tap it away but missed. The wicketkeeper missed it too. It got to the boundary. The result? Not five wides but a dead ball, courtesy umpire Ranmore Marinesz. Strange call, that.The missed landmark
It wasn’t a dropped catch that cost Kieron Pollard a match tally of four catches, but the Narine no-ball in the 15th over; it deprived him from becoming the first West Indies player in 17 years to claim such a tally. Pollard had earlier taken the simple catch that Naeem Islam offered, followed by the catches of Nasir Hossain and Mominul Haque to make it a personal record.The landmark
Mahmudullah took over from Khaled Mashud as the highest scorer at No. 7 in ODIs for Bangladesh when he reached 22 runs in the 30th over. It took him to 1074 runs and he then extended his tally to 1104, which is currently 74.4% of his career runs. Not surprising, as Mahmudullah has played 52 of his 70 ODI innings at No. 7.The stand-in
If you replace Shakib Al Hasan in the team, you must know how to bowl left-arm spin. Mominul Haque, might have only two first-class wickets but yes, he bowls his own brand of round-arm, left-arm spin, and was given a bowl in the 42nd over. On cue, he drew an edge from Samuels off his fourth delivery, but the chance was put down by Mashrafe at slip.

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the day from the 3rd ODI in Pallekele

Andrew Fernando in Pallekele06-Nov-2012The confusion
The time umpires spend looking at balls has been reduced dramatically by the ‘new ball from each end’ rule that keeps the ball visible, but Ian Gould still had to study his closely before the 27th over of New Zealand’s innings. The ball that remains at his end hadn’t been returned to him at the end of the previous over, and Jeevan Mendis was about to bowl the next over with the same ball before the other umpire took the ball off him and rolled it to Gould at square leg. Gould wasn’t convinced that it was his ball though. He stared at it suspiciously, like a man wondering if he had worn someone else’s shoes home after a boozy dinner party, and reluctantly pocketed it.The words
Tim Southee has a reputation for sometimes saying too much to batsmen, especially when they are batting well against him, but on this occasion he said just enough. He had been hit for two fours in his first over when he bowled a short ball that Upul Tharanga wore on the helmet as he was ducking. Southee extended his follow through and unleashed a volley of expletives at Tharanga, point blank, before bowling another short ball next delivery. Perhaps goaded by Southee to play a shot, Tharanga hooked, but half-heartedly, and sent the ball directly to Jacob Oram at fine leg.The bowler killer
Two return chances had gone down earlier in the day, but Trent Boult might not put Tillakaratne Dilshan’s straight drive in the 22nd over in the same category, despite the fact that it was hit straight at him. Dilshan bludgeoned it so hard, Boult’s reflex to duck underneath it was probably a good one, and he wasn’t even tempted to put a hand up in the hope it would stick.The shacklebreaker
Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers had not allowed New Zealand a boundary in the first seven overs of their innings, and they needed a fielder’s help to break the shackles. Brendon McCullum defended Lasith Malinga on the off side and took off for a single, but Thisara Perera running in from cover thought he had a chance of running McCullum out and let rip with an overarm throw. The ball missed the stumps, hit McCullum’s bat and flew over both the men backing up, and on to the ropes. It doesn’t officially count as a boundary, but it came out of the middle, and anyway, who’s splitting hairs?The drops
If the same fielder drops two catches in the same over, the bowler would be justified in letting rip with a few words or a stare, but that is a bit difficult for a bowler when the fielder is himself. BJ Watling and Ross Taylor both offered straightforward return chances to Angelo Mathews in his second over, but he spilt both in his follow through. He can’t be too disappointed though, as he trapped McCullum in front in between the missed catches.The injustice
Given McCullum collected four free runs when a throw ricocheted off his bat, Mathews will have felt hard done by when he was hit by a throw while scampering a single and had only a sore thumb to show for it. He needed the physio’s spray to keep batting, and couldn’t even lift his bat with just his right hand, when he was celebrating his fifty.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day in Nagpur

George Dobell in Nagpur15-Dec-2012Milestone of the day
Virat Kohli richly deserved his third Test century. The deathly slow pitch and some tight bowling forced him to work hard for his runs but he retained his concentration and discipline to help his side retain their hopes of levelling the series. His previous Test centuries had taken 199 balls (against Australia) and 187 balls (against New Zealand), but here he was forced to work for 289 balls before reaching three figures.His top score in the series before this innings was 20 as England worked on his impatience, tied him down and waited. While Kohli might have succumbed to temptation in the other games, here he demonstrated his growing maturity to play just the sort of innings his side required.Near miss of the day
Can a player ever have missed out on a Test century by a smaller margin than MS Dhoni? Having been stuck in the 90s for 17 overs having lost most of the strike – he faced only 30 deliveries in that period – Dhoni finally pushed the ball to mid-off and embarked on a very tight single. A direct hit from Alastair Cook and Dhoni’s failure to fully run his bat in meant that he was run-out by the narrowest margin: it took TV replays from three different angles before there was conclusive evidence that Dhoni was a centimetre or so out of his ground. While missing out on the personal milestone would have been a disappointment, Dhoni need not have worried.His stand with Kohli – worth 198 – had brought India right back into the game and renewed their hopes of squaring this series. Such issues are far more important that personal milestones. But bearing in mind the pressure that Dhoni and his team were under at the start of play, it is just possible that this might prove to be a career-saving performance.Damning stat of the day
Tim Bresnan has now bowled 448 deliveries since his last Test wicket. It was August 2 when Graeme Smith turned a leg stump half volley to square leg and since then Bresnan has gone wicketless in four innings to take his bowling average in 2012 to 55.43. Nor can he claim his batting is justifying selection: in eight Tests this year he has contributed 120 runs with a highest score of 39 not out and an average of 17.14.Chance of the day
It says much for the discipline of the batsmen and the lack of threat in the bowling that ball barely beat bat throughout the day. The closest England came to a wicket in the first two sessions was when Dhoni was on 72. Twice Bresnan was convinced he had trapped his man lbw with deliveries that nipped back, though replays suggested the umpire, Rod Tucker, was quite right to conclude they were slipping down the leg side. But Dhoni did survive a mishit on the same score when he pushed the ball back to Bresnan but the bowler was unable to cling on to a desperately difficult, low chance.Ominous sign of the day?
For large parts of the third day, England’s bowlers found nothing in this slow surface. Despite signs that it was beginning to turn on the second evening, the pitch seemed to have grown even slower on the third day and offered little to batsmen or bowlers. But, from the final delivery, Graeme Swann drew Piyush Chawla forward and turned one just enough to beat the outside edge and strike off stump. It would be wrong to read too much into the dismissal of a lower-order batsman but was a wicket that may just have caused the spinners of both sides to sit up and take notice with two days still to play.

Throughout his career, Harbhajan Singh has predominantly remained a bowler more likely to influence the course of Tests played in India but less so outside

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan21-Feb-2013After spending more than a year out of the Test team, Harbhajan Singh made an unexpected comeback in the second Test against England in Mumbai. The match, by itself, did not turn out to be special for Harbhajan, who bowled only 21 overs in England’s first innings and failed to trouble any of the top-order batsmen. After missing the next two Tests with an injury, he is poised to play his 100th Test in Chennai, a venue where he has the second-best match bowling performance among Indian bowlers. Harbhajan, who will become the tenth Indian player to feature in 100 Tests, is also one of only three Indian bowlers to pass the 400-wicket mark in Tests.The pinnacle of his 15-year career was undoubtedly the home series against Australia in 2001, when he picked up 32 wickets (including a hat-trick) as India completed an extraordinary turnaround. Throughout his career, Harbhajan established himself as a force in the subcontinent (predominantly at home) but proved to be far less effective outside the subcontinent. Harbhajan, who has played just seven Tests in the last two years (22 wickets at 38.45), will gather huge confidence from the fact that he is India’s most successful bowler in home Tests against Australia.Harbhajan’s impact, like that of most Indian bowlers, was felt at home. In 53 Tests in India, he has 260 wickets at an average of 28.63. Only Anil Kumble (25 five-fors) ended with more five-wicket hauls than Harbhajan (18) in home Tests. Harbhajan remains one of only five Indian bowlers to pick up 30-plus wickets in a home series. He is also one of only six bowlers to pick up a haul of 30-plus wickets in a series of three Tests. However, there is a sharp contrast between his home and away performances. Outside India, he has picked up 148 wickets at a high average of 38.83. While his overall figures outside the subcontinent are respectable (117 wickets at 33.60), his display in Australia, England and South Africa has been very ordinary (41 wickets at 48.00). Surprisingly, his numbers within the subcontinent (outside India) are well below par: in 14 Tests, he has 31 wickets at an average of 58.58 with just one five-wicket haul. Harbhajan is one of India’s most successful bowlers in wins (behind Kumble) with 216 wickets in 40 Tests at an average of 22.34.

Harbhajan Singh’s Test career

MatchesWicketsAverageSR5WI/10WMOverall9940832.2768.125/5Home5326028.5363.418/4Away4614838.8376.37/1In Subcontinent6729131.7368.019/5Outside Subcontinent3211733.6068.36/0In wins4021622.3452.214/4A lesser threat away
The contrast between Harbhajan’s home and away performances is most evident in matches against Australia. In 12 matches at home, he has picked up an astonishing 81 wickets at an average of 24.48 with seven five-wicket hauls. However, in Australia, his performances have been pedestrian. In four matches, he has picked up just nine wickets at a poor average of 73.22. Against England too, Harbhajan has been a more potent bowler in home Tests (31 wickets at 34.41). In England, he has picked up 14 wickets at an average close to 50. In home Tests against New Zealand and Pakistan, he has been especially disappointing averaging 41.63 and 37.84 respectively. While he has bowled superbly in New Zealand (21 wickets at 24.19), he has failed to pick up a single wicket in two Tests in Pakistan in 2006. Harbhajan has been quite successful against South Africa at home (42 wickets at 26.00) and fairly good away too (18 wickets at 34.00). Although he averages nearly 47 in Sri Lanka, his solitary five-wicket haul set up a win in Galle in 2008. He has also profited against an inconsistent West Indian batting line-up picking up 56 wickets at an average of 22.60 in 11 Tests.*

Harbhajan’s record against top teams (home and away) *

TeamHome (matches/wickets)Home (avg/5+ hauls)Away (matches/wickets)Away (avg/5+ hauls)Overall(matches/wickets)Overall(avg/5+ hauls)Australia12/8124.48/74/973.22/016/9029.35/7England9/3134.41/25/1449.78/114/4539.20/3New Zealand7/2241.63/06/2124.19/113/4333.11/1Pakistan7/2537.84/22/0-/09/2552.04/2South Africa7/4226.00/34/1834.00/111/6028.40/4Sri Lanka6/2731.29/19/2546.92/115/5238.80/2West Indies3/2016.75/28/3625.86/311/5622.60/5Overall51/24828.96/1738/12340.12/789/37132.66/24Missing consistency
Harbhajan is one of only four spinners to pick up 400-plus wickets in Tests. Against top teams (excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe), he has picked up 371 wickets at 32.66. In comparison, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan have averages of 25.52 and 24.87 respectively against top teams. Kumble, the highest wicket-taker for India, has a better average than Harbhajan (30.47). Warne has the highest percentage of away wickets (54.30) followed by Kumble (42.40). Among the four spinners, Harbhajan has the lowest percentage of away wickets (33.15). The average ratio (ratio of away average to home average) is the lowest for Warne (0.92). The corresponding value for Harbhajan (1.38) is slightly higher than Muralitharan’s (1.29) but lower than Kumble’s (1.48).Warne’s first-innings stats are by far the best among the four spinners. While Muralitharan and Kumble have averages slightly higher than 30, Harbhajan has a poor first-innings average of 41.44. Muralitharan has the best average in the second innings (22.67) followed by Warne (28.71). Again, Harbhajan’s average in the second innings (33.27) is the highest in the group. Harbhajan’s third-innings average of 25.12 is better than that of Kumble (30.25) but poorer than those of Warne and Muralitharan. Although, Harbhajan’s numbers in the fourth innings are quite good (44 wickets at 28.84), they are still inferior compared to those of the other three spinners.*

Stats of top four wicket-takers (spinners) – against top teams only *

BowlerWickets/avgAway wkts %Avg ratio1st inns (wkts/avg)2nd inns(wkts/avg)3rd inns(wkts/avg)4th inns(wkts/avg)Shane Warne685/25.5254.300.92150/27.22190/28.71210/22.87135/23.30Muttiah Muralitharan624/24.8740.381.29166/31.57198/22.67162/23.1998/20.74Anil Kumble566/30.4742.401.47151/35.56161/30.63160/30.2594/22.39Harbhajan Singh371/32.6633.151.38110/41.44103/33.27114/25.1244/28.84Best in his early years
In the first phase of Harbhajan’s career (1998-2002), his bowling was far more attacking and this is reflected clearly in the stats. He picked up 144 wickets in 33 Tests at an excellent average (26.59) and strike rate (60.4). However, in the second phase, his bowling average (36.27) and strike rate (71.4) went up considerably. The rate of matches per five-for remained approximately equal to three across the first two phases. The influence of playing a high proportion of limited-overs games was felt in the third phase of Harbhajan’s career. Although his average did not change much (34.75), his strike rate increased further to 72.8. In 38 matches between 2008 and the second Test in Mumbai, he picked up just five five-wicket hauls. Despite having a long and successful career, Harbhajan is likely to be remembered for the match-winning contributions in 2001 and 2002 when he ended with 81 wickets in 14 Tests at 21.32.

Harbhajan’s career in phases

PhaseMatchesWicketsAverageSR5WI/10WM1998-20023314426.5960.411/22003-20072810736.2771.49/22008-present3815734.7572.85/1Overall9940832.2768.125/5Top-class under Sourav Ganguly
Much of the success Harbhajan enjoyed came during the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. When India, under Ganguly, halted Australia’s record run of 16 consecutive Test wins in 2001, Harbhajan was one of the biggest factors in the series triumph. In 37 matches under Ganguly, Harbhajan picked up 177 wickets at an average of 26.84 with 15 five-wicket hauls. His strike rate in these matches (59.5) was also far better than his career figure of 68.1. However, Harbhajan’s form took a beating under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy. In 11 matches, he picked up just 30 wickets at an average of 46.83 and strike rate of 86.1, His luck was not too different in matches under Anil Kumble: he finished with 49 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 40. Under MS Dhoni, who took over as captain in 2008, Harbhajan has played 29 Tests and picked up 119 wickets at an average of 33.44 (three five-fors).

Harbhajan under various captains

CaptainMatchesWicketsAverageSR5WI/10WMSourav Ganguly3717726.8459.515/3Rahul Dravid113046.8386.13/0MS Dhoni2911933.4471.43/0Anil Kumble124940.0079.03/1Others *103332.4569.21/1Harbhajan Singh had the most success against Ricky Ponting, whom he dismissed ten times in 14 matches. The first five of those dismissals came in the 2001 series when Ponting only managed a total of 17 runs. In his next 16 innings against Harbhajan, Ponting was dismissed five times while averaging 45.40. Harbhajan also dismissed Matthew Hayden seven times in 15 innings (average 32.28) but Hayden managed to score at a fast clip (3.80). Both Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, whom Harbhajan has dismissed six and five times respectively, have high averages (57.16 and 58.20) and balls-per-dismissal figures (101.50 and 121.20). Harbhajan’s has an excellent head-to-head record against Ross Taylor, whom he has dismissed five times in six innings (average 20.00 and balls-per-dismissal 41.80).

Record against top batsmen (since 2002)

BatsmanInnings/DismissalsAverageBalls per dismissalScoring rateMatthew Hayden15/732.2850.853.80Jacques Kallis16/657.16101.503.37Hashim Amla14/558.20121.202.88Kamran Akmal10/523.8045.403.14Ricky Ponting16/545.4068.004.00Ross Taylor6/520.0041.802.87

After the establishment of the Wankhede Stadium, the Brabourne sort of faded in the background, but not in my mind

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013

	Tony Greig cradles Gundappa Viswanath in the 1973 Test © Cricinfo Ltd

On Wednesday morning I saw on TV, MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara walk out for the toss at the Brabourne Stadium at the third Test and my mind was transported back to 1956!It was in 1956 that I was first introduced to Test cricket. I was barely 12 years old and had no clue whatsoever as to what Test cricket really was about. Although, like all Mumbaikar children, I too played cricket, mostly with a tennis ball or even a ball made out of rags, I had never seen a Ranji Trophy match, let alone a Test.In 1956, the Australians had come to India, under the captaincy of Ian Johnson, on their way back home from England. My cousin had got three tickets for the match – for himself, his wife and his younger brother. As the younger brother was taken ill, I got the chance to go for the Test.When we got to the ground, I was completely dumbfounded. I had never imagined so many people could congregate in the same place and at the same time. The noise was unbelievable. Our seats were in the East Stand, in those days, comparable to SCG’s The Hill! We had to barge our way through the crowds to find three empty seats (no reserved seats in the East Stand then). By the time we sat down, the match had already started.We were so far away from the middle that it was difficult to make out who was fielding and who was batting. My knowledge of cricket was marginally better than that of my cousin, in the sense that I knew that in cricket they score runs and not points! Every player was in resplendent white clothing, though I had no idea who was who. I remember seeing these two tall fellows, running towards the stumps, waving their arms and finally bowling the ball, which I swear, I never saw, until it was being passed from hand to hand, back to the bowler. I learned later that those two tall fellows were Ray Lindwall and Pat Crawford.As my cousin’s younger brother recovered from his illness, the next day, the first day of that Test match was all I could see. But that was enough to convert me into a total cricket addict. After that I had a chance to Tests against West Indies, Pakistan and finally an inter-collegiate final between Ruia (my college) & Siddhartha College. The rivalry between these two Mumbai colleges was no less fervent than that between England & Australia.After the establishment of the Wankhede Stadium, the Brabourne sort of faded in the background, but not in my mind. Even today, some memories of those matches are as fresh in my mind as if they happened yesterday. Some memories do stand out among a host of others. The fearsome West Indian duo of Wes Hall and Roy Gilchrist running in to bowl and then ending up within hand-shaking distance of the batsman.In one of the matches, Garry Sobers was batting, hitting the ball to all corners of the ground. Polly Umrigar, the Indian captain went up to Ghulam Guard, the bowler and had a word with him. A couple of balls later Guard sent down a bouncer at Sobers. Before anybody realized what was happening, the ball was sailing into the middle of the crowd in the East Stand. That was the first time I saw a hook played off the front foot!Then there was the sensational announcement in the press that an Indian actress, Anju Mahendru, relatively unknown at that time, had got engaged to Sobers. As a publicity stunt, I don’t think, it has been bettered, yet!Then, in a Test against Pakistan, at the fall of the first wicket, as the No. 3 batsman was walking up to the wicket, a gentleman in front of me, stood up and started clapping enthusiastically, welcoming Hanif Mohamed to the crease. Only Hanif was not even playing in the match!Oh, memories, memories! To add to all those, Thursday I collected another treasure. That was the sight of Virender Sehwag, marching towards his third triple century. The only difference this time was, though Sehwag was on the hallowed and my beloved turf of the Brabourne Stadium, I was thousands of miles away in London. May be, my body was in front of the TV, in the sitting room. But my spirit was most definitely behind the bowlers arm in the North Stand. An unforgettable experience, indeed!