One step forward, two steps back

Bangladesh are becoming something of a frustration to cricket watchers the world over. In the latest example of inconsistency, after some promising but ultimately unfruitful performances against India, they were blown away by New Zealand at Hamilton.

True, Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand themselves struggled when given the green light to play international cricket – it took the Black Caps more than a quarter of a century to record a first Test victory.

But Bangladesh have consistently shown they have players of great potential… who continue to fall down when it matters.

Habibul Bashar was the first to show genuine talent but fall short of fulfilling it, Mohammad Ashraful is in danger of going down the same route and Shariar Nafees may already be a lost cause.

The axe is falling on Bangladesh’s Test status but there is some cause for optimism, which should give them a stay of execution in the short term.

Shakib Al Hasan is a player of real world-class potential and Mashrafe Mortaza was quickly improving before injury and illness kept him out of the side for the India and New Zealand series. And Tamim Iqbal, the young opening batsman who clocked a rapid century in a losing cause against the Indians, is finally begining to realise his promise.

For the sake of the development of these talents, Bangladesh should be given some time to improve, but time is running out and there must be a point at which the cricket world says no, because right now they are doing little more than distorting the history books.

ODI Team of 2009

It’s Christmas Eve and most of the cricket in 2009 has been played. About time, then, for a team of the year; starting with limited overs cricket…

1. Tilakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) – 2009 record: 980 runs @ 57.64, top score: 160, 4 hundreds

Dilshan has come of age this year. His astounding eye and aggressive approach has ensured Sri Lanka a flying start and he has looked almost invincible towards the end of the year, culminating with a preposterous 160 from just 124 balls as his side just failed to chase 415 against India last week.

2. Shane Watson (Australia) – 1013 runs @ 50.65, top score 136*, 3 hundreds and 29 wickets @ 21.41, best 3-29

The Aussie opener did a good job when called upon to open during the Ashes, but he has found some real form in the shorter version of the game. Showing signs of turning into a world-beating all-rounder.

3. Virender Sehwag (India) – 800 runs @ 47.05 best 146, 3 hundreds

I almost left Sehwag out of both the Test and one-day sides, but after his recent form that seems a little harsh. Sehwag has played a number of telling innings in both forms of the game this year and spearheaded an India side who have reached no 1 in the world in Tests and no 2 in ODI rankings.

4. Paul Collingwood (England) – 705 runs @ 50.35, top score 105*, 1 hundred and 17 wickets @ 32.47, best 3-16

Collingwood’s form has been at the heart of England’s turn around in form.  In turmoil after the one-day series against Australia, the side hit back with strong performances at the Champion’s Trophy and an impressive victory in South Africa. Collingwood has been at the heart of it all; reliable with the bat, a partnership-breaker with the ball and stunning in the field.

5. Yuvraj Singh (India) – 783 @ 39.15, top score 131, 2 hundreds, 14 wickets @ 40.28, best 3-31

Another superb year for Yuvraj. Whilst his form has been patchy at times, he has been destructive at times, particularly towards the start of the year when he blasted centuries against West Indies and Sri Lanka. He has developed into India’s X-Factor and they missed him sorely at the Champion’s Trophy.

6. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 671 runs @ 51.61, top score 105*, 2 hundreds and 26 wickets @ 22.88, best 3-8

Shakib Al Hasan has single-handedly carried Bangladesh cricket for some time now. Another wonderful year by the all-rounder adds more weight to Bangladesh’s continued status as a Test-playing nation. It would be a tragedy for someone of Shakib’s quality to miss out on top level international competition.

7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India) – 1198@70.47, best 124, 2 hundreds

Has led India with style and ruthlessness. Dhoni’s wicket-keeping has been solid, his batting explosive and he even took the gloves off to have a bowl against West Indies – and took a wicket. Dhoni has matured into a world –class captain and has shouldered the responsibility of batting in the middle order with ease.

8. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) – 259 runs @ 28.77, top score 48 and 24 wickets @ 28.66, best 4-20

Often overlooked in such lists, the New Zealand skipper has stepped his game up a gear this year, especially in one-day cricket. Vettori’s miserly off-spin has made him one of the most valuable properties in world cricket and he has improved his batting in the lower order. Like Shakib, he is often left to carry a modest team.

9. Umar Gul (Pakistan) – 27 wickets @ 25.51, best 4-58

Had a wonderful World Twenty20 and has spearheaded the Pakistan bowling attack during a tough year, on and off the pitch. His sharp pace and spearing yorker make him the world’s premier limited-overs seam bowler.

10. Dale Steyn (Souh Africa) – 26 wickets @ 27.26, best 4-27

The Proteas paceman’s season has been hampered by injury lately, but his form early in the season, against Australia, was outstanding. He also enjoyed a good Champion’s Trophy, despite South Africa’s failings.

11. James Anderson (England) – 34 wickets @ 23.91, best 5-23

Over the last two years, Anderson has developed from a pacey chancer to leader of England’s bowling attack. Reliable in Test matches, he has been outstanding in the one-day game. When England need a wicket, they throw the ball to Anderson. Finished the year by destroying an experienced South Africa, claiming five for 23 to lead England to a historic series victory.

SA v Eng: Reaction – Test Cricket At Its Best

South Africa and England played out a thrilling draw in the first Test at Centurion. This was Test match cricket at its very, very best; providing twists and turns, changes in balance of power and drama to the final ball of the match.

Many will look at England, who were left clinging on against a rampant Friedel de Wet, and suggest they were lucky to escape with a draw.

But the tourists more than played their part in the match and a number of individuals turned-in excellent performances. Jonathan Trott continues to show his maturity, Graham Onions bowled well and showed his nerves are strong with the bat, Paul Collingwood demonstrated the determination and skills he has made his name for, and Kevin Pietersen’s swagger seemed to be returning during his vital 81 this afternoon.

Swann on song

And then there was Graeme Swann. Swann has enjoyed a superb year as England’s premier spinner and that continued at Supersport Park. A hard-earned five-fer and an innings-saving 85 saw him pick up the man of the match award.

But there are some concerns for the tourists, heading to Durban for the second Test. Alaistar Cook and Stuart Broad look horribly out of form and Matt Prior doesn’t appear to have the stomach for a fight, despite his improvment behind the stumps.

The biggest problem, however, is the continued selection of the gutless Ian Bell.

End of Bell?

How many times has Bell got to show the selectors what a poor player he is? Yes, his cover drive is nice to look at, but if you lack the mental qualities to apply that ability at the highest level, you haven’t got a hope.

The time has surely come to throw Bell on the scrapheap where he has regularly shown he belongs and look to the future.

Looking ahead to the second Test at Durban, starting on Boxing Day, the England selectors have a few big calls to make. Luke Wright should replace Bell, as a poll by the Guardian suggests; he has as much chance of scoring runs and offers something with the ball – it has clearly been a mistake to go in with only four bowlers.

Cook and Broad will probably get another chance, but chances are quickly running out.

Until then, we can all enjoy Christmas safe in the knowledge that Test match cricket is alive and well…. and England are just about level in the series.

South Africa All Out, Referrals Not Convincing

England dismissed South Africa for 418 in their first innings of the first Test at Centurion, in what is warming into a nicely balanced contest.

The tourists will be fairly happy with their display. The bowlers worked hard for their ten wickets,  Graeme Swann the pick of the bunch with 5 for 110.

For the hosts, Jacques Kallis stroked a chanceless hundred and there were decent contributions from Ashwell Prince, JP Duminy and Mark Boucher – but none made enough runs to take the game away from England.

The one contentious issue has been the new referral system. On day one it worked splendidly, giving reprieve to Prince and AB De Villiers.

But, on day two, Graeme Swann trapped Morne Morkel on the crease and everyone – umpire Steve Davies included – thought it was a straight forward decision.

Hawkeye, however, disagreed and Morkel was given another life. From every angle I saw, it looked as plum as an lbw can be.

If the system is there to make Test cricket better – and it needs something given the terrible crowd at Supersport Park – I’m not sure this system is it.

Watching Morkel, a hulk of a man, prod around for an extra half hour, blocking and nudging, is not going to turn anyone’s eye from Twenty20.

As if batsmen need any more help in this day and age; bigger bats and smaller boundries, now coupled with some extra lives, spells a dark era for the world’s bowlers.

Referrals: Should They Stay Or Should They Go?

Mark Benson is preparing to retire from umpiring after he returned home from the Adelaide test because of the controversial referral system, according to Cricinfo.

It is now high time the ICC made a decision about the future of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS).

First pioneered a year ago, the system has come under constant criticism from players and umpires alike.

Ricky Ponting was the latest to vent his dismay at the UDRS during the current Test with the West Indies, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was given not out, despite video evidence apparently supporting a dismissal. Ponting and bowler Doug Bollinger’s heated exchange with Benson is thought to be the chief reason for the English umpires walkout.

After a year of testing, the time has come to either integrate the UDRS permanently into all Test series or to scrap it and go back to the drawing board.

Not surprisingly, the notoriously idiotic big-wigs at the ICC are still dodging the issue.

If we have learnt one thing from the last year, it is that cricket has enough on its’ plate at the moment without having to worry about checking every decision with a bloke in the commentary box.

And where do 30-second breaks every couple of overs fit into the 100mph, rock-star slugfest that is Twenty20?

Replays have worked at international level for run-outs and, to a point, for catches. But the biggest problem with the UDRS is that it takes the professional game too far away from the grass-roots games being played on our parks every Saturday afternoon.

Football benefits dramatically from the fact that it is fundamentally the same game at Old Trafford as it is at the local recreation ground. Twenty-two players, two sets of goalposts, one referee, one ball.

The more changes you make, the wider the gap becomes between the pros and the amateurs.

Stop meddling ICC and lets get back to concentrating on bat vs ball.

Sehwag On the Verge of History

Virender Sehwag, the mercurial Indian batsman, stands on the verge of history today after playing the most brutal innings in Test history, on day two of the final Test with Sri Lanka.

Sehwag hammered 284 from just 239 balls and will become the first man to complete three Test triple-tons if he can find another 16 runs tomorrow, moving past Brian Lara and the great Don Bradman.

It will also most likely be the fastest triple in history, surpassing his own record of 278 balls against South Africa in 2008.

After struggling for consistency in the early part of his career, Sehwag has come of age, forming a key cog in the Indian Test side.

It can’t be easy playing in a side with greats of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. But if he finds the 16 runs he needs tomorrow, his name will be etched into the history books as holder of a record that will take some beating.

Dilshan Proves He’s No Flash in the Pan

Another day, another hundred for Tilakaratne Dilshan.

The oft-quoted notion is that Sohail Tanvir, the unorthodox Pakistan seam bowler, was the first player to make a career out of Twenty20 cricket. But, while Tanvir has struggled to impress in other forms of the game, Dilshan has used his prowess in the shortest form to propel himself to the forefront of Sri Lankan cricket.

The creator of the crazy Dil-scoop (see video below), Dilshan has seen his career take an extraordinary turn in recent years and he continues to impress in all forms of the game.

Always a huge talent, Dilshan never delivered the consistency required to cut it at the top and found himself not only shifted around the batting order but also in-and-out of the team for long periods.

That was until this year. After being brought back to the side and promoted to open the innings early in 2009, the World Twenty20 in England provided the stage for Dilshan to blossom.

His Dil-scoop baffled, his hitting destroyed and his consistency impressed the selectors enough to give him a chance at the top of the order in all forms. And boy has he taken it.

Since the turn of the year he has hit more than 1000 runs in Test cricket at an average of almost 68, with six hundreds.

But, perhaps the most astonishing statistic of all is the rate at which he has scores his runs. A strike rate of 83.15 would have been scarcely believable only a few years ago.

Dilshan must now be considered one of the best – and most innovative – batsmen in world cricket. Having added substance to his style he represents the changing face of cricket.

With a top-score of 168 in Tests – and that was against lowly Bangladesh – all he needs to really confirm his status is a really big score against top-class opposition. One suspects it will not be long in coming.

Brad Hodge Announces He is to Retire

Aussie batsman Brad Hodge has decided to call time on his first-class cricket career after losing hope of a Test recall.

He told PA Sport today:

“I feel the time is right to step down from first-class cricket. It’s been a wonderful journey, which hopefully has more to go at limited-overs and Twenty20 level. I’ve loved every time I’ve pulled on the navy blue cap and it was a dream come true to swap it for a baggy green for the times I did. Playing Test cricket for Australia was an incredible experience and I feel proud and blessed to have had that opportunity. Hopefully this decision will allow me to continue playing good cricket and also spend more time with my young family.”

A wonderful batsman, if Hodge had been from any other country or been around at any time other than the past 10 years, when Australia were blessed with a plethora of world-class players, he could have been a real force in the Test game.

Hodge averages more than 55 from six Tests – including a double-hundred – but has found it difficult to hold down a place in the competitive Aussie middle-order.

Having plundered 17,000 first-class runs in Australia and England, Hodge, unfortunately, retires as the nearly man of Australian cricket.

Superb England Put the Frighteners on Proteas

England produced one of their finest one-day performances to hammer South Africa at Port Elizabeth today, and Jimmy Anderson provided the star turn once again.

Anderson had his finest hour in the blue of England as the tourists rolled Graeme Smith’s men over 119, their lowest ever total in ODIs in South Africa, before Jonathan Trott’s unbeaten half century saw England home by seven wickets.

The spearhead of England’s attack, Anderson has emerged as a world-beater over the past two years and must now be considered as one of the finest fast bowlers in the game. His efforts today, bowling a full length and extracting uneven bounce from a pitch with a St John’s pitch with a grassy top, were as good as anything Brett Lee or Dale Steyn have produced.

The defeat leaves South Africa with no chance of victory in the one-day series and puts them firmly on the back foot heading into the Test leg of the tour.

England, awful against Australia at the end of the summer, now look like a real force in ODI cricket. Trott has brought assurance to the top of the order and the return of Kevin Pietersen brings quality to the top order.

In Collingwood and Morgan, England have players in extraordinary form who bring balance to the side. And, in Tim Bresnan, they seem to have found a bowler who compliments the qualities of Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad.

Most importantly they have the edge in the series and have installed in South Africa something which is not easy to shake – fear.

Greatest Sporting Icon of the Decade: Have Your Say!

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