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Also: collapsing after big opening stands, and most first-class catches

Steven Lynch08-Nov-2016Three men were out for 110 in Sri Lanka’s Test last week. Was this some sort of record? asked Tushar Trivedi from India (and many others)

Those 110s by Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga and Dimuth Karunaratne for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in Harare last week did set a new mark for the highest score made three times in the same Test match. The previous-highest three-peat was 99, by Dennis Amiss, Majid Khan and Mushtaq Mohammad in the match between Pakistan and England in Karachi in 1972-73. The previous-highest scored three times by the same team was 78, by Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards and Richie Richardson for West Indies against New Zealand in Port-of-Spain in 1984-85.South Africa have won their last three Tests at Perth. Has anyone else managed this against Australia? asked Mikkel de Vries from South Africa

You’re right in thinking that Australia have a good record at the WACA ground in Perth – they have won 24 of the 43 matches there, and have drawn eight. Of their 11 defeats, South Africa have been responsible for the last three, in 2008-09, 2012-13 and 2016-17; the Proteas drew their only other Test there (in 2005-06), so are undefeated in Perth. England have won there only once, against an under-strength Aussie team during the World Series Cricket era in 1978-79; New Zealand pulled off their one and only victory in 1985-86, when Richard Hadlee took 11 wickets; and India won in 2007-08. But West Indies won their first five Tests at the WACA – in 1975-76, 1984-85, 1988-89, 1992-93 and 1996-97 – before coming down to earth with an innings defeat in 2000-01, and suffered another reverse in 2009-10.Apparently the Aussie collapse at Perth was the third-worst for a team whose openers put on 150 or more. What are the two entries above this? asked Stuart from South Africa

In the first Test against South Africa in Perth, Australia lost all ten wickets for 86 after David Warner and Shaun Marsh put on 158 for the first wicket. The only two lower totals after an opening stand of 150-plus were both by Zimbabwe: in their second innings against West Indies in Bulawayo in July 2001 they collapsed from 164 for 0 to 228 all out, then six months later in January 2002 they reached 153 for 0 in their first innings against Sri Lanka in Galle, only to subside to 236 all out, with five wickets apiece for Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya. The lowest completed innings to include a 150 partnership for any wicket is Sri Lanka’s 216 against South Africa in Durban in 2000-01 – Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene added 168 for the third wicket, but the other nine batsmen managed just 35 runs between them.Geoff Boycott was over 40 years old when he played his 100th Test, at Lord’s in 1981•Getty ImagesHow many players have scored more than 200 runs in a Test over two innings without being dismissed, as Kraigg Brathwaite did for West Indies against Pakistan? asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa

It was a slight surprise to discover that Kraigg Brathwaite, who made 142 and 61 – both not out – for West Indies against Pakistan in Sharjah last week, comes in only 17th on this particular list. It’s headed by the New Zealander Stephen Fleming, with 343 runs in undefeated innings of 274 and 69 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in April 2003; Sachin Tendulkar also made more than 300 runs over two innings in a Test without getting out, with 241 and 60 for India v Australia in Sydney in 2003-04. The most runs in a Test without getting out is, of course, Brian Lara’s 400 not out in just one innings for West Indies against England at St John’s in 2003-04. I was even more surprised, however, to realise that Brathwaite was the first opener ever to remain undefeated in both innings of a Test match.Who are the youngest and oldest players to appear in 100 Test matches? asked Timothy Rankin from England

The youngest man at the time of his 100th Test cap was England’s Alastair Cook, who was 28 years 353 years old when he reached three figures, in Perth in 2013-14 (he undoubtedly hoped for a better result: Australia won by 150 runs). Cook beat Sachin Tendulkar’s previous mark – he was 29 years 134 days old when he played his 100th Test, for India against England at The Oval in 2002. All the other 62 players to date who have won 100 or more caps were over 30 when they reached their century; the oldest remains Geoff Boycott, 40 years 254 days old against Australia at Lord’s in 1981. Clive Lloyd (in 1983-84) and Graham Gooch (1992-93) were both 39 at the time of their 100th caps.Former England keeper Bob Taylor took a record 1473 catches in first-class cricket•PA PhotosWho has taken the most catches in his first-class career? asked Sivaraman Narayanaan from India

There are nine men – eight of them wicketkeepers – who have taken more than 1000 catches in their first-class careers. All of them had long county careers in England, and top of the pile is Bob Taylor, who started with Derbyshire in 1960 and played on for them to 1988, when he was 47. Taylor, who also appeared in 57 Tests, finished with 1473 catches; 176 stumpings gave him 1649 dismissals all told, another record. The only outfielder on the list is Frank Woolley, with 1018 for Kent and England during a career that stretched from 1906 to 1938, by which time he was 51. The next man to join the list ought to be Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read, who ended the 2016 English season with 995 catches. It’s not too fanciful to suggest that Read will be the last man ever to reach four figures – the next current player on the list is the 36-year-old Essex keeper James Foster, with 775.Post your questions in the comments below

A look at six members of the ICC Americas squad who made the cut after clearing both phases of the selection trial

Peter Della Penna08-Oct-20151:37

‘Evans: Pleasing to see high level of intensity from Phase One players’

Ali KhanThe poster boy for why the whole ICC Americas Combine in Indianapolis was conducted in the first place – to discover players who had not been earlier identified, or were ignored, by the old system of national selection organized by local governing bodies. Khan hails from Dayton, Ohio, hardly a cricketing hotbed. As such, the fast bowler either travels 470 miles east to Washington D.C., or 300 miles northwest to Chicago, to find a decent game of cricket on the weekend.With the retirements of fast bowlers like Kevin Darlington and Usman Shuja in recent years the pace-bowling depth of the USA squad has appeared thin. But Khan was one of several fast-bowling prospects to emerge at the trial to demonstrate that there was still plenty of talent around the country that had not been found. His ability to bowl yorkers virtually on demand was the highlight of his performances and went a long way towards his progression into the final team.Timroy AllenContrary to Khan, Florida-based Allen has had a distinguished record for USA since his debut at 21 in 2008 in the WICB Regional 50-over tournament against Barbados. Since then, it has been a topsy-turvy journey for Allen, who has battled with his share of injuries – and USACA officials – while being a match-winning allrounder in the Andrew Symonds mould. Coming in at No. 7, Allen’s dynamic hitting with the bat turned matches upside down while he was equally effective bowling medium pace or offspin with the ball.In 2013, however, he vowed never to play for USA again – due in part to disagreements with coach Robin Singh – after a frustrating sequence of tournaments which saw USA fall short of a place in the 50-over World Cup Qualifier and finish last in their group at the World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE. Some people had questioned his attitude and dedication to cricket, but during the trial in Indianapolis Allen was the most electric player on the field. Not only was he a star with bat and ball, but won rave reviews from fellow participants for his leadership on and off the field. He will be a pivotal player for the team’s chances of victory in Trinidad.Danial AhmedLeft out of USA’s squad for the Twenty20 Qualifier in Ireland after a mediocre performance in the Americas Qualifier in May, Ahmed’s career with USA that started brightly in 2012 was dimming down to a flicker. But the left-arm spinner from Washington DC stormed back into prominence during the trial. Consistency, that had evaded him earlier in the year, returned and he produced spell after spell of stump-to-stump lines, strangling run-scoring.Ahmed doesn’t do a lot in terms of turning the ball, but he is solid at mixing up his speeds to keep batsmen off balance and, by attacking the stumps, he gains more than his fair share of leg-before decisions. His one weakness is in the field, but his inclusion is a recognition that his effectiveness with the ball more than makes up for that.An ability to bowl yorkers almost on demand was the highlight of Ali Khan’s performances during the ICC Americas trial•Peter Della PennaAlex AmsterdamOriginally from Guyana, Amsterdam represented his homeland at Under-19 level in 2009 in the WICB Regional U-19 tournament, where he was team-mates with Guyana Amazon Warriors fast bowler Ronsford Beaton. He came to New York not long after playing for Guyana U-19 and represented USA for the first time at the World Twenty20 Qualifier this summer in Ireland after completing the ICC’s four-year residency rule for eligibility.A left-hand bat, Amsterdam is more of a grinder than a flamboyant stroke-maker. His top score at the Qualifier came in a win over Hong Kong, where he made the most of a life on zero to finish 43 not out. In the trial matches in Indianapolis, he similarly made the most of his extra chances and top-scored in one game with 65 before retiring. He’s expected to stake a claim for a middle-order spot in the team.Srimantha WijeratneThe former Sri Lanka U-19 wicketkeeper-batsman was only able to participate on the final day of the trial’s first phase and was not among the eight players invited back for phase two with the expenses being paid for by the ICC. However, the selection panel identified four players who, if they paid their own way to return for phase two, would be given a chance to compete.Wijeratne was one of the four provisional invitees. His own personal investment to fly back from Toronto paid off in a big way with his inclusion in the final 15-man squad. Wijeratne is especially classy off his legs, playing gorgeous flicks to anything straying onto his pads, but also holds a strong cut shot. He only scored 11 runs in two matches at the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Scotland but a major confidence boost may come from knowing he was one of only six Canada players who made the final cut in the combined USA-Canada squad.Jeremy GordonAt 28, Gordon is two days older than Allen and in his prime as a solid medium-pacer for Canada. Like Wijeratne, he only showed up for the final day of the phase one section of the trial but immediately stood out with a hostile short-pitched spell that got him two wickets and threatened several more.In phase two, Gordon did not take a single wicket, but regularly had batsmen under pressure with the new ball. He brings an added dimension to the attack with his height and bounce. Gordon briefly represented Guyana for five first-class games after his debut in 2007, and will be heading back to the West Indies looking to prove that he’s a better player now than he was when he left for a new beginning in Toronto.

South Africa’s maiden ODI series win in Sri Lanka showcased the lessons they had learned from a chastening 1-4 drubbing the last time they visited – An improved top-order and a better spin attack

Firdose Moonda12-Jul-2014If progress can be measured by the way the result changes when going to back to the same place, South Africa’s one-day team has made some impressive advances.South Africa’s last visit to Sri Lanka 12 months ago presented them as a disjointed unit, lacking in key players, and clear game plans. Russell Domingo’s coaching tenure began with a 1-4 drubbing and the side deserved every bit of flak it attracted. But over the last week, South Africa have buried those memories with two clinical and energetic team performances to earn a first-ever ODI series win in Sri Lanka. They are due some generous praise and it was good to see the captain, AB de Villiers, leading the chorus.”We learnt from our mistakes. We came back here a more experienced team this time,” de Villiers said. “When I pushed on the buttons, everyone came forward and performed for the team.”Being wiser and responding to expectations were not the only differences between the South African class of 2013 and 2014. This year’s group had better personnel, improved techniques, sound strategies and a more focused mindset, all of which bode well for the future.They have dropped the dead weight from a year ago when Colin Ingram and Alviro Petersen were part of a rotating opening pair that never quite clicked and Robin Peterson was still being used as the premier spinner.Quinton de Kock’s progress has contributed to South Africa gaining better solidity. Twelve months ago he was a talented, but clueless kid who was riding on his promise but unravelled when he couldn’t meet his potential.De Kock returned home and demanded seemingly never-ending net sessions with his franchise coach Geoffrey Toyana. He honed his skills against spin and also worked on his temperament and timing. The results were evident last December when de Kock joined an elite club of six batsmen to have scored centuries in three consecutive innings. But there was still a question over his ability in the subcontinent. After two quiet games, de Kock answered them with a century that showcased improved levels of concentration to match his capability. He has inked his place as Hashim Amla’s partner.While de Kock’s international career is just starting, South Africa’s administration appear to have ended Peterson’s. His phasing out had begun during the T20 series in Sri Lanka last year, and Imran Tahir has taken over in all formats. Tahir was not part of South Africa’s limited-overs squads to Sri Lanka last year which cost the visitors dearly. From his international debut at the 2011 World Cup, the legspinner announced himself as a threat, particularly in subcontinent conditions and ideally should have had more matches under his belt by now.But Tahir is the type of bowler who does not mind being hit and South Africa have traditionally preferred a spinner who can contain. On this tour, Tahir has proved he can do both. He was South Africa’s second-most successful bowler with six wickets. He accounted for Mahela Jayawardene, an excellent player of spin, in all three matches and maintained an economy of 4.44.He also had an able partner in JP Duminy whose bowling has developed to the point where Domingo no longer considers him a part-timer. Duminy plays as one of three, perhaps, four allrounders in a South African side that likes the depth he provides. Although he lacked for runs in this series, his ability to find them in future should provide stability in the batting line-up and set David Miller up for a final assault. Miller was also not a major player in South Africa’s success but showed that he can be. Together with Ryan McLaren he added teeth to the lower middle-order and appears to have grown comfortable in his role as finisher.However, it was McLaren who was the find of the series for South Africa, if a 31-year-old more than a decade into his career can still be considered as such. He averaged 13.11 and his nine wickets was the best tally for the series from both teams. He was effective in the powerplay and at the death and out bowled the men he usually operates in the shadows of – Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.Steyn’s return was thought to bolster South Africa’s attack but he had only a modest impact. Morkel had better success, but McLaren, often operating at third-change was the danger man. His unlikely rise to heroism is a sign South Africa’s talent identification and nurturing is working.The individual components of South Africa’s one-day outfit have only two major questions: how much longer will they wait on Jacques Kallis to find form and if he delivers against Zimbabwe will that be enough to continue benching Faf du Plessis? And how does Vernon Philander fit into the attack? The return of Lonwabo Tsotsobe to full fitness may make the latter a moot point.There has been a sense of community in South Africa’s performance, which should buy them some time in answering those questions. It could be picked up in how JP Duminy was careful in ensuring de Villiers got as much strike as possible in Hambantota, from how the irritation is subdued when a catch is dropped as De Kock found out when he failed to convert a chance Dale Steyn produced or when Kallis, despite not bowling himself, was seen offering advice to the rest of the attack.There’s also evidence that South Africa are having fun: They enjoyed a team dinner at Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s restaurant, Morkel flew kites in Colombo and Steyn, McLaren and Miller went for a stroll on the beach to do some bird-watching in Hambantota.Their maiden series win in Sri Lanka ranks highly not simply because it allows them to enter new territory and make history but it also helps them override the more recent past; a past many of them were part of. Returning to the scene of their most severe series defeats and emerging victorious this time is something to be savoured.But de Villiers knows it is just the start. “It’s not a World Cup but it’s a huge step in the right direction.” Now, South Africa have to stay the course.

Harsha Bhogle, Tom Moody and Peter Kirsten review the tournament, and CSA’s head Jacques Faul offers his assessment of the league

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2012
Was it a successful tournament from a South African perspective? (2.10 – 3.05)
Peter Kirsten: Definitely. The great thing about the Champions League is that it gives the franchise teams in South Africa a chance to show what they can do against top-class international players of different nationalities. It gives the franchises all around the world not only an opportunity to make a lot of money – if they make the finals or win it – but also show the IPL bosses what exactly they can do. With the Lions making the final, it was a great success for the South African public and the organisers.The best team won in the end… (3.06 – 3.57)
Tom Moody: I agree. The Sydney Sixers showed true form and consistency throughout the tournament. They looked dominant in all three aspects of the game. I thought they were the best fielding side, the best performing bowling attack, and they also showed depth in their batting, particularly after Shane Watson left to go back to Australia early. They showed they were capable of doing something without such a key player around.Why did the IPL teams do badly? And why is it that the South African sides did well? (3.58 – 7.24)
TM: The IPL teams struggled with the conditions – they are a lot different to what Indian players would face in the subcontinent – and it’s early season in South Africa. There’s seam movement, swing, and there was that extra bit of bounce. The most significant point is that the IPL teams didn’t gel as quickly as the other teams. The IPL teams are brought together over a two-month period for an IPL extravaganza in the middle of the year. The teams that tend to do well in the IPL are the ones that get together and gel together quickly. In such a short tournament like the Champions League, there’s not a lot of time for that.PK: There’s quite a lot of national diversity in many of the other IPL teams. If you take the Lions, Titans and the Sixers, there’s only Nathan McCullum and Michael Lumb and [Sohail Tanvir]. The local teams definitely had the advantage, and it’s very difficult for a diversity of national players, such as the IPL teams, to suddenly get it together. And certainly, the conditions suited Australia and South African teams with the bounce. Unfortunately on the day, the Lions batsmen succumbed – yet again a South African team succumbing to the pressure.A well-fought contest between bat and ball… (7.30 – 11.25)
PK: Twenty20 cricket is also about playing good, decent cricket shots as Brad Haddin and Lumb showed in the final. The Lions batsmen played completely across the line against quality fast bowlers and spinners. So definitely, the bowling skills are coming to the fore. In terms of captaincy, I thought it was a masterstroke from Haddin to go with his gut feel and start with the spinners and it worked superbly for him on the day. A good bowling side definitely has a distinct advantage in Twenty20 cricket.TM: When there’s a little bit more in the conditions, it tests a true player and a true team. A player, whether bowling or batting, needs to adapt to the conditions and the situation. That was the beauty of this particular Champions League. It made it an intriguing contest between bat and ball, where it wasn’t one-way traffic. What it showed was that batsmen prepared to play with good technique and composure under pressure were generally the ones that came out on top in those contests.Were you happy with the quality of cricket played? (11.26 – 13.52)
PK: The Sialkot Stallions might have been a decent introduction to the [main round of the] Champions League. They definitely would have drawn the attention of many more Pakistan fans. The standard of cricket was generally pretty good, at this time of the year there’s a bit more movement similar to Australian pitches. Generally speaking, the quality of cricket improved, the fielding was excellent and what the batsmen would have learnt in South Africa is try and play straight down the ground, as you saw with the Sixers batsmen yesterday and Symes of the Lions. Perhaps they would need to look at the structure of the qualifying rounds the next time around.Is the role of spin changing in different conditions? The Indian spinners didn’t do well but the others did. (13.53 – 15.37)
TM: That’s more a coincidence. The Indian spinners didn’t perform, more to do with the fact that their team had no momentum and was playing poor cricket. At the end of the day, the spinners that did do well were complemented by the remainder of their attack. They were made as strong as what they were and their attack was also complemented by the way they bowled. It was a collective effort. Talk about Steve O’Keefe and McCullum – any spinner would love to know that at the other end is a Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood or a Pat Cummins, because it just complements their art.The standard of national teams is above that of franchise cricket, which is sometimes contrary to what we see in football. Also, is the South African national side a fair representation of the best franchise teams in the country? (15.38 – 19.25)TM: The national teams are the cream of the crop in every country. They are well-drilled and at the absolute peak of their powers as cricketers. What you’ve got is a hot-house of the very best of that country that are selected because they are good at that format of the game.PK: The domestic scene in South Africa is very strong. Over the last ten years, dare I say this, we’ve tended to copy the structures of Australian domestic cricket and in many ways it has worked. There is depth in South Africa. Coach Gary Kirsten and the selectors are looking to give guys a chance. Aaron Phangiso, Chris Morris came through beautifully. South Africa still need to pay a lot of attention to the dotting of the Is and crossing of the Ts in Twenty20 cricket. They were found out in Sri Lanka, and again in the final a South African franchise struggled to put it together on a big day. It’s a difficult one for coach Kirsten and the others to get the right team together.Who were the players that excited you in the Champions League? (19.26 – 21.53)
TM: There’s two from the Sixers side. One is Josh Hazlewood: he was the most consistent quick out of that star-studded line-up. The other is Moises Henriques: he was touted a few years ago as a star allrounder, was thrown into the deep end and he struggled. Henriques has had that period out of the international spotlight and he’s ready to go back in. He looked the real deal as an allrounder.

“The domestic scene in South Africa is very strong. Over the last ten years, dare I say this, we’ve tended to copy the structures of Australian domestic cricket and in many ways it has worked”Peter Kirsten

PK: It was wonderful to see Neil McKenzie have such a great tournament. I’ve had a bit to do with Neil’s batting over the years. Playing for South Africa in your mid-30s, mentally you’re strong. Unfortunately for him in the final, he played a poor shot. He was a key batsman in the middle order for the Lions.George Bailey had talked about the need for Australia to have mystery spinners. But John Inverarity has said Australian spinners won’t bowl like that, effectively saying the 15-degree rule is not right for the game. How does Australia approach slow bowling in T20s, for example? (21.54 – 24.10)
TM: I tend to agree with Bailey. You always look to expand and develop your game and if you come up with something different – like the switch hit, reverse sweep – why not. As long as it stays within the rules of the game – the 15-degree rule came over a decade ago – why not try to be a little different? Too often we try to develop players out of the manual. Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara, if you take a look at them through the ICC coaching manual, they probably wouldn’t pass. By goodness, haven’t they passed the test of time of international cricket? As long as it’s kept within the guidelines that’s clearly stated now, I don’t have a problem with it at all.What would you do different to the Champions League? (24.11 – 25.24)TM: I would like to see every country represented in the main competition and there not to be a qualifying stage for them.Excerpts from an interview with Jacques Faul, acting chief executive of Cricket South Africa and a member of the CLT20 governing council.In your view, has this tournament been a success?
The one thing is does do is provide your local domestic player an opportunity to play international stars, also from other countries. From a South African perspective, we’re very happy with the tournament and also because it provides the incentive for two of our six franchise teams to qualify.Are you concerned that viewership ratings are down, sponsorship is changing and as a viewing spectacle, this hasn’t quite taken off the way it should have?
There’s a concern in terms of the volume of entertainment and sport in general in the world. It seems to be escalating. I don’t think it’s isolated to the Champions League in itself, but it’s definitely something you’ve got to be mindful of. But it’s still a good product, if you compare it to other forms of entertainment and sport. The financial incentives are very good, so is the exposure value for players. For our South African teams, it’s a very important tournament. It boosts our domestic product.What does it mean to cricket in that territory to have that kind of money coming in?
They all receive, from CSA, US$600,000 as a yearly grant. That’s an annual grant, so to receive US$1.3 million or even US$500,000, that’s a lot of money. It’s a good incentive for players to win it as prize money. To give you the formula – the players get 50% of it, 25% goes to the winning franchises and the other franchises share in the remaining 25% of it. So, all our professional cricket structures benefit from it.Was the timing right? There was always the threat of rain.
Unfortunately, we had a lot of rain, it’s not the norm. I don’t think it’s a bad window.Were you happy with the number of people who turned up?
We are, but that’s affected by rain unfortunately as well. The opening match was unbelievable. The final, a lot of these matches were sold out. It also brings new people to grounds that have not supported cricket in the past, so very happy with it.Is it a weakness of the Champions League that it’s almost got to be too India-centric?
You can never underestimate the value of Indian teams playing in the tournament. The focus is not to deprecate the IPL, but still have the value of a large IPL influence and yet open it up to the world. It’s wonderful playing the IPL teams – they’re strong, well-structured and coached, but you can benchmark against it as well. Twenty20 brings teams closer. It’s good to have the best of the IPL combined with the rest of the world.How do you make the league stronger? For example, in the qualifying round, teams played one match and then were virtually out after losing.
Stronger teams from the members taking part will make it stronger, with the value in having strong and good players in it. Structurally, you can look at it. We’re going to have a debriefing on the tournament, get inputs from all stakeholders, team owners, officials, also the broadcasters. It is an evolving tournament and I can’t see it staying the same for the next five or six years.Is it possible for the tournament to move to Australia, with the time difference etc?
That’s probably an issue. Ultimately, it’s also important to have a strong television product. The financial model relies a lot on broadcasting rights and you’ve got to take that into consideration. I can’t say we’ll never have it in Australia, but you’ve still got to pay the bills and listen to your biggest investors and that’s probably broadcasting as well. I think there’s something wonderful and romantic about playing in India.Numbers Game (35.43 – 38.02)
Question: In the Champions League 2012, the spinners from which team had the poorest economy rate?

Both teams have been guilty of taking a backward step in what has otherwise been an enthralling series, but India’s tactics on the fourth day could prove decisive in the outcome

Sidharth Monga at Newlands05-Jan-2011This series will be remembered for many high-quality passages of play both with the bat and the ball – moments, spells, hours, days of individual brilliance – but for every such passage you will find uninspiring spells of defensive captaincy from both camps. The template was set on the first day of the series when Sachin Tendulkar – with the score 40 for 3 on a damp pitch – pulled Lonwabo Tsotsobe for a four. It was a calculated risk, a shot that avoided midwicket not by much, but Graeme Smith responded by sending the fielder back to the boundary.By the time the teams came to the decider, the captains were trying to outdo each other. In the first innings of this game, MS Dhoni refused to try and get Jacques Kallis out after a Sreesanth burst in the middle of the innings. In the second, with batting even more difficult, and with Tendulkar having to struggle for longer than Kallis did, it took just one six from Harbhajan Singh for Smith to spread the field out. And this when Dale Steyn was bowling one of the spells of our times.Dhoni might just end up with the last word here, though, with what could be a decisive show of defensive captaincy on the fourth day. It was quite extraordinary that an injured Kallis walked out in the second innings, with the score effectively reading 51 for 3, soon to become 62 for 4, with a long-on in place. Harbhajan, at that moment, was exploiting the rough outside off appreciably. His bowling figures were 4 for 10, and Kallis was starting out on a fresh innings. Soon Kallis reverse-swept him, a brilliant, calculated shot all right, but one that involved risk. The man that went from short third man to collect the ball from the boundary was asked to stay back there. After just one boundary. In a remarkable show of following the ball, that deep fielder kept moving to wherever the previous shot went, and Kallis had established the psychological upper hand already.This is to take nothing away from a superb century under pressure and in pain, but Kallis couldn’t have asked for anything better at that point of time than the easy singles down to long-on. It was quite similar to what India did to Thilan Samaraweera in the deciding Test of their Sri Lanka tour earlier this year. On the fourth day at the P Sara Oval, India had taken five second-innings wickets for 24 runs, reducing Sri Lanka to effectively 76 for 7, and Samaraweera was 4 when Lasith Malinga came out to join him. It took one boundary from him to open up the easy-single route to sweeper-cover, and another hit over mid-off to spread the field for good. The last three wickets then added 180 runs, and it took special innings from VVS Laxman and Tendulkar to level the series.Not learning a lesson, India perhaps took it a step further here. Kallis was not even batting with the tail; he started off with Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher. Of the four, de Villiers, too, was shown remarkable respect when he was welcomed with a long-on in place already. Why not ask a batsman to clear mid-on on a pitch that is offering you turn and variable bounce? Sadly, as Smith and other modern captains have shown over the years, this is not a problem with India and Dhoni alone. The moment they see a lesser batsman, they choose to attack only one of the two men batting, and invariably they get only two balls an over where they are actually trying to take wickets.Boucher, one of the beneficiaries of India’s defensive field-sets, gave an insight into modern captains’ mindsets. “Not really [not surprised at those fields],” he said. “We have been in that situation as well before. I came out looking to play aggressively, I had an aggressive mindset. I think in the back of a captain’s mind, you don’t want to give away many boundaries. If there’s stuff happening out there, you’d rather have catchers and in-and-out fields. Like I said, to protect the boundaries, and make the guys work the singles.”They are all worried about tailenders – admittedly better batsmen than the breed used to be in the era before heavy bats and protective cushioning on their bodies – adding quick runs, and the recognised batsman counterattacking. In the process they tell the opposition, they are worried and nervous. The bowlers start responding accordingly; it can’t be easy from bowling defensively to one batsman and aggressively to the other. That’s what happened with India today: they spent the last two sessions confused, conceding 220 runs for five wickets.Four years ago, when India came to Cape Town, they went in to lunch on fourth day with two second-innings wickets down and a lead of 114 in the bag. The next two sessions featured confused cricket, and India lost the series there. Here, too, going into lunch India had South Africa effectively at 119 for 5, soon to be 130 for 6. But the rest of the day almost played India out of the Test. Now it’s up to the Indian batsmen to put in yet another special show to prevent a repeat.

India had an eventful, often turbulent year, marked by all kinds of leadership-related turmoil, but it was a surprisingly successful one as well

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan07-Jan-2008

Crash out of one world event, storm to victory in another; fumble over the appointment of a coach, win a rare Test series in England; get flustered after one player resigns from captaincy and another refuses the job, revel in the newly appointed captain, dominating Pakistan in the process; panic after an informal league lures domestic players, watch the closest Ranji Trophy league round in recent memory.Rarely did a day go by in 2007 without Indian cricket throwing up something or the other. If it was an unnamed member of the team management leaking news at the start of the year, an unnamed selector was doing the same by the end of it. If none of the board officials made the headlines, there was always Sreesanth.Scratch the turbulent surface, though, and you have one of India’s most successful years. The year began with them squandering a series-winning opportunity in Cape Town and ended with a thrashing in Melbourne, but India made up with a couple of series wins against England and Pakistan in between – one after 21 years, the other after 27. Throw in a win in the World Twenty20 and you had a year to look back on fondly.If India rose steadily in Tests, in limited-overs cricket they oscillated from the pathetic to the inspirational. If they could do nothing right against Bangladesh in the World Cup opener, they were unstoppable against Australia in the World Twenty20 semi-final. When India won an ODI, it was usually owing to Sachin Tendulkar. Whether it was his 76-ball 100 in Vadodara that sealed the series against West Indies, or the twin 90s against South Africa in Belfast, or his magical 94 that helped level the series at The Oval, or even his uplifting 97 against Pakistan in Gwalior, he was the guiding force. His only weakness? Falling in the nineties.He was far quieter in the Test arena, preferring the path of least risk. Eclipsing him were two contrasting batsmen: the languid Wasim Jaffer and the enigmatic Sourav Ganguly. Jaffer’s efficient run-scoring underlined his coming of age as a batsman over the last couple of years, but it was Ganguly who made for the poignant story. Banished into exile a little over a year ago, he returned to conquer, batting better than he had ever done before. A number of moments stand out but his towering double-hundred in Bangalore will be talked about the longest.India went through much of the year without a coach. Greg Chappell resigned after the World Cup debacle and the board didn’t think it was urgent to appoint someone on a long-term basis. Ravi Shastri, Chandu Borde and Lalchand Rajput handled the responsibilities over different series before Gary Kirsten was finally handed a two-year contract.Captains changed too. Rahul Dravid relinquished the job after the England series and the selectors gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni the responsibility in the shorter formats. Anil Kumble was handed the reins for the longer version, though the appointment was likely to last only a couple of series at the most.

High point
The final of the World Twenty20 against Pakistan will top the list. India’s first victory on the world stage for 22 years was engineered by a bunch of rookies who started without much of a chance. Dhoni was leading a group of unknowns, but they turned in one fearless performance after another to strike gold. The Test series win in England must come a close second.Low point
The first-round exit from the World Cup. India were outclassed by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and never looked good enough to mix it with the best. A bunch of ageing stars dawdled in the field, and a helpless captain and garrulous coach bungled at the top.Several shenanigans of the board will vie for a close second.New kids on the block

A number of promising stars were part of the World Twenty20 squad. Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa shone bright but it was probably RP Singh who emerged the strongest, going from a second-change bowler to a new-ball exponent. He was probably India’s most consistent bowler in England, and began the New Year leading the attack.What does 2008 hold?

There’s no doubt that a number of voids will open up. With Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar, and Kumble nearing the end of their careers, India could be in for a serious depletion. The challenge would be to phase these players out gradually, blooding new talent at the right time and making sure the boat isn’t rocked too hard. It may turn out to be the most challenging task yet.

A La Liga club president has joked he will bring Cristiano Ronaldo back from Saudi Arabia "in his arms" amid speculation over the striker's future.

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• Ronaldo appears to confirm Al-Nassr exit
• Speculation over his next move
• Club president vows to "bring him back in his arms"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo shocked the footballing world when he appeared to suggest that his chapter with Al-Nassr was "over" following the end of the Saudi Pro League season. While rumours swirl over where the 40-year-old will go next, Rayo Vallecano president Raul Martin Presa has quipped that he wants him at his La Liga side next season.

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  WHAT PRESA SAID

  He told Radio Marca: "If Cristiano Ronaldo comes within reach, I'll go to Saudi Arabia and bring him back in my arms."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo wants to keep playing until he reaches 1,000 goals, something he is just over 60 shy of. Speculation is rife about where he heads to next, but it would be a huge surprise if the Real Madrid legend returned to La Liga. Even though Vallecano have qualified for next season's Europa Conference League, it seems unlikely the Portugal international will head their way.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  All eyes will be on where the former Juventus and Manchester United ace, who is set to become a free agent, will head to next ahead of the 2025-26 season. Ronaldo may even feature at the Club World Cup next month, with Chelsea, Botafogo and Flamengo all reportedly considering a short-term deal for the veteran frontman.