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Australia’s marks out of ten for the Test series against South Africa

Daniel Brettig04-Dec-20129
Michael Clarke (576 runs at 144.00, 7 catches)Michael Clarke played two massive knocks, but all in vain•Getty ImagesMuch as Michael Clarke considered his 151 in Cape Town last year as both his best innings and the most irrelevant, due to the match result, so he may come to judge his run this series. Clarke pushed his batting to new heights in Brisbane and Adelaide with a pair of double-centuries as audacious as they were epic, and also marshalled his resources nicely to take Australia to the brink of a 1-0 series lead. But the bitter taste of a hiding in Perth and the sadness at Ricky Ponting’s exit will not sit well with him. As Australia’s best batsman, Clarke must now decide whether or not to move up the order.8
Michael Hussey (295 runs at 59.00)Like Clarke, Michael Hussey produced some wondrous feats of batsmanship in this series, but the failure to add to them on his home ground in Perth will haunt him. In Brisbane and Adelaide, Hussey started his innings as though he was already well established at the crease, his energy and poise at 37 putting younger men to shame. He also conjured a critical run-out in Adelaide to break Alviro Petersen’s opening stand with Graeme Smith. Having played with such vitality against South Africa, Hussey’s presence in next year’s Ashes tour is now all but assured.7
Ed Cowan (228 runs at 45.60)Subject to much speculation over his place entering the series, Ed Cowan made a breakthrough century in Brisbane that confirmed the quality the selectors had backed him to demonstrate, and the aggression he knew lurked within an obdurate exterior. South Africa’s speed-oriented attack was suited to Cowan’s preference for using the pace of the ball to score runs, and different challenges now await against Sri Lanka and India. Earned his Cricket Australia contract for 2012-13 by appearing in all three Tests.Peter Siddle (9 wickets at 38.00)Peter Siddle’s figures do not do him justice, as the heartbeat of Australia’s attack he bowled himself into the ground in Adelaide in pursuit of victory, so much so that he could not be considered for Perth. Siddle’s value was made plain in his absence, as Clarke sorely missed the Victorian’s blend of wholehearted effort and now considerable skill. Had a quieter match in Brisbane, but remains the closest thing Australia have to a spearhead.James Pattinson (5 wickets at 38.40)The rib/cartilage injury James Pattinson suffered in the first innings in Adelaide can be isolated as a turning point in the series. Up to that moment he had been Australia’s spikiest fast bowler, and had he been fit it is hard to imagine South Africa wriggling out of the second Test with a draw. But injuries appear a sadly inevitable part of bowling fast at the age of 22, and Pattinson’s arrived despite a careful lead-in to the summer. So long as he develops the required durability, Pattinson’s future is decidedly bright.6
David Warner (206 runs at 41.20)One sparkling century, one handy score and one abject dismissal at precisely the wrong time. David Warner’s mixed bag in this series was of the sort that can be expected so long as he bats at the top of the order for Australia. His innings on the first day in Adelaide was spectacular, and influential, but struggles in Brisbane and Perth demonstrated how Warner will likely never earn the tag “reliable”. Still, his strokeplay is singularly destructive when it comes off, and has a greater chance of doing so while Warner maintains an uncluttered mindset. Handy leg breaks, too.Nathan Lyon (12 wickets at 40.50)Injury and prevailing conditions cast Nathan Lyon in the lead bowling role in Adelaide, and he came close to fulfilling it ably. He bowled long spells, claimed regular wickets, and showed developing flair by delivering his backspinner “Jeff” with aplomb. Lyon’s dominance of Jacques Rudolph was the most conclusive victory by an Australian bowler over a South African batsman, and his harsh treatment in the second innings in Perth was not unexpected after the pacemen commanded neither wickets nor economy.Mitchell Starc (8 wickets at 26.12)Mitchell Starc bowled an effective spell on the opening day in Perth, but couldn’t back it up on day two•Getty ImagesPerth witnessed Mitchell Starc at both his world-class best and his wayward worst. His pair of late inswingers to clean bowl Petersen and Jacques Kallis on the first morning were indicators of how Starc may be able to confound batsmen in years to come, but loose spells on days two and three demonstrated how much he still has to learn. Showed resilience to come back well and claim six second-innings wickets, and spirit to hit out for an unbeaten 68 with the match in its death throes. Should be persisted with.5
Matthew Wade (121 runs at 30.25, 8 catches, 1 stumping)Granted a vaunted commission when the selectors retained him ahead of Brad Haddin at the start of the series, Matthew Wade’s first steps as Australia’s No. 1 Test gloveman were not always steady. Endured a difficult match in Adelaide when he missed a pair of important chances up to the stumps, and played a poor stroke on the final day of the series in Perth. Nonetheless, Wade’s fighting instinct is undoubted, and his first innings at the WACA was Adam Gilchrist in miniature. With Haddin pressing hard to regain his spot in New South Wales, Wade cannot afford an indifferent series against Sri Lanka.Ben Hilfenhaus (6 wickets at 35.50)In contrast to Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus’ respectable figures flatter him. For long stretches of Brisbane and Adelaide he kept batsmen quiet without ever looking like getting them out, having lapsed via Twenty20 into some of the bad old ways of the 2010-11 Ashes series. Reports varied as to whether Hilfenhaus was unfit for Perth or simply dropped, and he has some work to do in order to regain the bite he showed against India and the West Indies last summer.Mitchell Johnson (6 wickets at 27.33, 4 catches)Apart from an altered approach to the bowling crease, the new and improved Mitchell Johnson looked very much like the old. He threatened in bursts at the WACA ground, notably bullying South Africa’s debutant Dean Elgar, but did not move the ball much and oscillated in pace. Johnson’s undoubted athleticism and durability mean he will remain a part of Australia’s broadening pace bowling battery, but a consistent place may be as elusive for Johnson as consistent form.4
Shane Watson (35 runs at 17.50, 1 wicket at 46.00)The subject of acres of newsprint over the first two Tests, Shane Watson returned to the team with more whimper than bang in Perth. He bowled presentably, batted forgettably, and did little to suggest he should be Australia’s long-term Test match No. 3. Part of Australia’s problem is that via a glut of limited-overs cricket Watson has developed into a far cannier bowler than batsman, and for now he appears better suited to a commission lower in the batting order than first-drop.3
Ricky Ponting (32 runs at 6.40)For all the affecting fanfare surrounding his final Test match, Ricky Ponting’s final tilt at the ICC’s world No. 1 spot proved to be a series too far. His batting deteriorated to the point that even Ponting’s self-belief was shaken, leading to an emotional retirement announcement before the Perth Test. One of the curious things about Ponting’s decline is that his fielding and catching remained razor-sharp to the last, and his example around the team unsurpassed. Given his love for the game, it would not be a total surprise to see Ponting slip into the batting coach position vacated by Justin Langer.Rob Quiney (9 runs at 3.00, 5 catches)Unfortunately for Rob Quiney, the rave reviews he received for making a mere nine in his first Test innings was as good as things were to get. Nipped out for a pair in Adelaide, his chances of returning to the team in place of Ponting rest with the national selectors. Quiney’s temperament is much admired, and his catching and bowling in the series were useful, but his batting retains the air of a club and T20 cricketer who has tried to manufacture a more serviceable technique for the longer form.John Hastings (1 wicket at 153.00, 52 runs at 26.00)A fair choice as the into-the-wind merchant for Australia at the WACA ground, John Hastings disappointed, not so much for the fleeting swing he gained but for how his control varied so much. At only a fraction fast than medium pace, Hastings needed to be precise, and far too often he wasn’t, something exploited mercilessly by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

Australia have eight days to regroup before the third Test in Mohali. They will need them, to take a good hard look in the mirror

Brydon Coverdale 05-Mar-2013The halfway point in a Test tour provides a chance for reflection. That time has arrived a day earlier than it was supposed to. The second Test wasn’t meant to finish until late on Wednesday but Australia’s batsmen couldn’t survive that long. Couldn’t even last until lunch on day four. Their seven-day break before the next Test in Mohali has stretched to eight days. All the more chance to think about where they have gone wrong. It would be quicker to consider what has gone right.It’s a short list. Michael Clarke has batted like everyone knew he could in India, using his feet and scoring a century in Chennai and 91 in Hyderabad. James Pattinson has defied the conditions to collect eight wickets at an average of 23.62. That is a monumental effort given the lack of assistance he has received from his colleagues and the pitches. Moises Henriques made a half-century in each innings on debut. What else? Well, Clarke won the toss in both games, does that count?Everything else has been grim. The top order has been a disaster. The handling of the spinners by the selection panel has defied belief. The fast bowlers, Pattinson aside, have been blunted. Even the fielding has lacked sharpness. But the squad and its myriad support staff cannot give up and fly home. Two Tests and three weeks of this tour remain. Heck, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is even still up for grabs; Australia retain it if the series is drawn.Right now that seems as realistic as a Shane Warne comeback. But Clarke’s men cannot think any other way. They should note that the previous Test played in Mohali provided 25 wickets to fast bowlers and only 12 to spinners. That should give them a glimmer of hope. Their situation is glum but things are never as bad as they seem. This is not the Ashes of 2010-11. Three innings defeats at home provided a nadir that cannot be beaten. This is not losing at home to New Zealand.For decades Test squads from all countries have been travelling to India and failing, just as India were trounced 4-0 in Australia in 2011-12. Australia’s batsmen are not raised on spin-friendly pitches; India’s are not as accustomed to pace. That is the natural order of things. But the extent to which Australia have struggled since the competitive first couple of days of the Chennai Test points to some worrying underlying issues.One is the well-documented lack of spin depth in Australia’s domestic ranks. Sure, Jon Holland and Michael Beer could not be considered for this tour due to injury and Steve O’Keefe was overlooked, but how much difference would they have really made? The emergence of the legspinner Fawad Ahmed is a bonus but for now, Nathan Lyon remains the Test side’s best spin option. Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell picked up late wickets in Hyderabad, but none when it mattered.The retirement of Michael Hussey has also exposed the frailties of the batting line-up – at least in turning conditions, for they should do better in England later this year. None of Australia’s top four batsmen is averaging better than 30 in this series. The most worrying thing is that their batting performances have declined since their 380 in the first innings in Chennai. Losing 8 for 56 on the final morning in Hyderabad was a sign either of not having learnt, or just not being good enough in the conditions. Either way, it’s a concern.So where to from here?Clarke has already announced he will shuffle up the order in Mohali. It is a necessary move. Against the spinners, Clarke is so far in front of his team-mates that it’s like Michael Jordan leading the Washington Generals. Phillip Hughes seems to think R Ashwin is a Harlem Globetrotter and watches in awe as his fingers twirl the ball. He is utterly mesmerised. Hughes might be useful in England, but he cannot retain his place for the third Test in India.

Clarke has already announced he will shuffle up the order in Mohali. It is a necessary move. Against the spinners, Clarke is so far in front of his team-mates that it’s like Michael Jordan leading the Washington Generals. Phillip Hughes seems to think R Ashwin is a Harlem Globetrotter and watches in awe as his fingers twirl the ball. He is utterly mesmerised. Hughes might be useful in England, but he cannot retain his place for the third Test in India.

That would allow Clarke to move to No.4 and Shane Watson to first drop. Given that the Mohali pitch is likely to offer more for the fast bowlers, it makes sense for Watson to come in earlier. But he cannot keep failing. Watson has not made a Test century since last time Australia played in Mohali and that was two-and-a-half years ago. As a non-bowling batsman he is obliged to contribute big runs.After the Hyderabad loss, Clarke was asked how Watson could translate his one-day form to Test cricket. “I don’t know the answer to that,” Clarke said. “You probably have to ask Watto that question.” Really, Watson needs to ask himself that question. In all four innings this series he has looked okay and then found a way to get out. Spin and pace have done for him twice each; a strangle down the leg side to Ishant Sharma was his latest mistake.David Warner has to force patience on himself. He can do it; a gritty century against New Zealand in Hobart early in his career proved that. To state the obvious, he also needs a better plan against spin. His opening partner Ed Cowan showed some promising signs in a near three-hour innings in Hyderabad. He was patient and has learnt as the series has gone on. But thirties and forties will not save Australia.Usman Khawaja should be given a chance at No.5. What’s the point of having backup batsmen unless you’re prepared to play them when others fail? Under the circumstances, Matthew Wade and Henriques at Nos. 6 and 7 make sense. Wade’s first-innings half-century in Hyderabad was encouraging and Henriques provides a fifth bowling option. He is not a frontline seamer, but a useful backup.From 1 to 7, the batsmen need to play straight and wait until they are settled before expanding their repertoires too much. Clarke said he was disappointed at how many batsmen had fallen while playing across the line or against the spin so far in the series. With self-discipline, that is fixable.Despite the late wickets from Doherty and Maxwell, Lyon should return to the attack. He leaked too many runs in Chennai but also claimed four wickets and deserved a chance to show he had learnt. Pattinson and Siddle ought to be joined in Mohali by Mitchell Johnson, who claimed a first-innings five-wicket haul in the previous Test played at the venue.All of these are decisions for Clarke, Mickey Arthur and Rod Marsh, who will replace John Inverarity as the selector on duty this week. But none of their choices mean much if the men on the field offer no fight. Losing by an innings in India and going down 2-0 is not the end of the world. But it is time for the players to reflect. Or to put it another way, to take a good hard look in the mirror.

The last year and a half have brought him plenty of ups and downs, and he’s determined to learn from experience

Alex Malcolm09-Mar-2013Only three Australian tourists currently in India have scored Test centuries on the subcontinent. Australian fans will be a wishing there was a fourth. But as the disastrous tour unfolds, Shaun Marsh, with that debut Test century in Sri Lanka replaying in his mind, sits quietly in a Perth coffee shop. His right knee is still tattooed in black marker pen, pointing to the bandage protecting the sewn-up incision, from the procedure to fix his recently torn hamstring tendon.”Obviously the boys have had a tough start but they’re a good bunch of guys and good cricketers, so they’ll bounce back,” Marsh said. “When you do watch Test cricket you do want to be a part of it and you do want to get back there.”There are few rollercoasters in the world that could match the highs and lows of Marsh’s last 18 months. In September 2011 he became the 19th Australian to score a Test century on debut, and the second only since Bill Ponsford to do it from No. 3. It was thought Ricky Ponting’s replacement had been found. But a back injury flared and forced Marsh out for six weeks, making him miss three Tests in the process. One stunning Big Bash knock, in his only match during that time, was enough to see him return on Boxing Day for the first Test against India. But the high point of Michael Clarke’s captaincy era corresponded with a low-point in Marsh’s career. A 4-0 series whitewash for Australia matched the West Australian’s batting average for the series. His stocks, which had soared so high in Sri Lanka, suddenly plummeted so low he was dropped from the national set-up.”From the start I had against Sri Lanka to three months after that, with the series against India, it was one extreme to the other,” Marsh said. “I certainly learnt a lot of things from that. You can’t take things for granted. Especially at that level. It’s a tough industry. I learnt the hard way.”But just as the rollercoaster seemed to level off, a sickening, sudden descent explored deeper depths. An off-field indiscretion at the Champions League in South Africa in October 2012 saw Marsh dropped from the Perth Scorchers, and subsequently the WA team.The Lindisfarne Oval* in Hobart hosted a Futures League match in November which he was asked to start his redemption.”It was a bit of a shock I guess. Obviously playing Test cricket only 11 months before that to finding out I wasn’t playing for WA was a bit of a shock to me. I was struggling mentally at that time. I knew I had to just get away and score runs again.”A full and frank discussion with new WA coach Justin Langer helped facilitate the rollercoaster’s upward curve.”He laid down the laws for me. It was a good chat. I knew exactly where I stood with him, and I went away with a new belief, in terms of where I wanted to head. It gave me a lot of confidence to know that if I went back and scored runs in grade cricket and 2nd XI, I could get back into the team straight away.”Runs came, both in that game and with the immediate change of format. The start of the BBL was perfectly timed for Marsh, who has flourished in T20 cricket for both his home state and Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. It is a format that simplifies both his mind and his technique and allows his rare gifts to be showcased uninhibited.”That’s one of the good things about it and it’s probably why I’ve had so much success with it. I just try to keep my game plan as simple as I can. I can just go out there and play with a bit of freedom from ball one. It’s a format that I really enjoy.”Obviously with all the things that happened in South Africa, I made a conscious effort that I wanted to play really well for the Scorchers in this year’s Big Bash. I was really pleased with the way I went and the boys played really well and we’ve got to another Champions League. We’ve got some unfinished business there. I’m looking forward to that later on in the year.”Marsh was integral to the Scorchers reaching the BBL final. He finished the tournament as the leading run scorer, making five half-centuries in nine innings. It led to a recall to the Australian side for the T20s against Sri Lanka.He then continued his form on his return to WA ranks. He bludgeoned an unbeaten 155 in a one-day game against Queensland, and backed that up with 84 in the second innings of a remarkable come-from-behind Sheffield Shield win at the Gabba.Blackwell stamps her authority

Alex Blackwell was the most accomplished female cricketer in Australia in January, and underlined the fact by being part of the national side’s World Cup triumph in India in February. Scoring freely in both the National Cricket League and the national T20 competition, Blackwell maintained the consistent scoring that has made her a critical part of the Australian team over the past decade. This set her up nicely for the passage to India, where she contributed handy scores across several matches. Blackwell’s sturdy style has served her well down the years, both for Australia and throughout New South Wales’ latter-day dominance of domestic competition.

“I tinkered with my technique a little bit with JL before the Big Bash and it seemed to work really well. Hopefully I just play with a little bit more freedom in the longer formats of the game now. It’s one thing to try and take that Big Bash into one-day cricket and four-day cricket.”In the second innings of the Shield game up in Brisbane, JL had a chat to me and said, ‘Just go out and play with freedom as you’ve got nothing to lose’. I did that. I played my shots and it’s certainly something I’m going to try and do lot of more of in the coming years.” Marsh said.The rollercoaster had almost climbed back to its highest peak again. Named by his peers as the Australian Cricketers’ Association player of January, he was called up for ODI duty against West Indies. National selector John Inverarity indicated the importance of Marsh’s resurgence.”With Shaun we’ll just take one step at a time,” Inverarity said. “His form in the BBL has been absolutely compelling. He’s batted brilliantly and we all know how well he can play when he’s in a good space, and he seems to be in a very good space at the moment.”But just when Marsh thought the ride was over, that rollercoaster dipped again. At Bellerive of all venues, seeking his 100th run of all things, against the England Lions of all teams, his hamstring tendon gave way. Given the ills of the Australian Test team right now, the surgery and two-month recovery could not have come at a worse time.”Yeah it’s obviously been really hard over the last couple of weeks. Especially given that I’ve got myself back into the WA team now and playing well,” Marsh said. “It was one of the toughest periods of my life. It certainly only makes you stronger and it only drives you to be a better player.”I probably read too much stuff and looking back on it now, if I had my time again I probably wouldn’t read anything at all. It only puts doubts in your mind. If I get another opportunity I’ll definitely learn from the mistakes I made.”Marsh is hoping to be fit for the IPL. Given his return in the Big Bash, Kings XI Punjab would be keen to have him at full fitness.”I love playing the IPL. I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been a part of that now for all six years. It’s a great place to play cricket. It’s a great place to travel. Hopefully I can get the injury right before season starts and hopefully I can help the Kings XI boys play finals this year.”Marsh has no intention of playing county cricket in a bid to be in England for the Ashes mid-year. He will instead target the Caribbean Premier League as a springboard for the Champions League, as a trophy with either Scorchers or WA is becoming a major priority for him.”It’s really good down there at the moment. It’s a great feel, the team spirit is definitely there, trying to build that culture of winning success. Justin has certainly been at the forefront of that and the boys have taken on everything he’s said. It’s exciting times I think.”As far as Marsh’s personal ambitions go, he is keeping it simple.”I think the key thing for me is working hard, putting in the extra sessions outside of the cricket team. Having the extra hits, which is something I probably wasn’t doing at the start of the year. When I went away and did all that stuff, things started to turn around for me. I think also just having that belief, to know I’m good enough to play at state level and at national level. I’ve performed there before. I just need to keep that belief that I can do it again. There is a lot of cricket coming up in the next 12 months and I just want to be a part of it.”No doubt he will be hoping that rollercoaster stops so he can play a major part again.* March 10 1.45pm GMT The venue of the Futures League match has been corrected

Players who received plenty of applause but probably no standing ovations

Andy Zaltzman10-May-2013Apropos of not much, other than musing on Brendon McCullum being the only player to have twice been out in the 90s at Lord’s without also making an appearance on the honours board there for scoring a hundred, he is in he Confectionery Stall All-Time Honours Board Avoidance Test XI – the best players who never scored a century or took a five-for in Test cricket.(Qualification: ten Tests minimum. No time-wasters. All complaints regarding selection to be directed to the Confectionery Stall via the ICC, the UN, or a recognised industrial conciliation agency. And no arguments about whether or not there are actually honours boards at all grounds. Or whether the honours boards from defunct grounds still count. It is quite clear what I mean. No hundreds, no five-fors, ten Tests or more.)1. Bruce Laird (Australia, 1979-82): 21 Tests, average 35.2, 11 half-centuries, highest score 92
When a player scores 92 and 75 on Test debut, you would generally expect him to proceed to a stellar career, replete with a bundle of centuries. When a player scores 92 and 75 on debut against Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft, you might expect him to tear up the record books like an obstreperous lion tearing up a giant origami wildebeest. Bruce Laird was that player, but he proceeded to do neither of those two things.He scored four more half-centuries in five Tests against the sleep-hauntingly fearsome West Indies – of the 65 players who batted ten or more times against the Caribbean Colossi from the time of Laird’s debut in December 1979 until the end of the 1980s, his average of exactly 45 was bettered only by Martin Crowe, fractionally ahead of him at 45.33.However, despite a total of nine more fifties after his stellar debut, Laird never experienced the irremovable nirvana of a Test century. His average remains the highest by anyone who has scored more than 750 runs without a hundred in Tests.2. Chetan Chauhan (India, 1969-81): 40 Tests, average 31.5, 16 half-centuries, highest score 97
No one has waggled their bat in celebration of a Test half-century more often without ever repeating the gesture 50 runs later than India’s late-’70s rock. After three unsuccessful Tests in 1969-70, and two more in 1972-73, Chauhan was recalled late in 1977, and missed only one of India’s next 36 Tests. In that time, he recorded 11 century partnerships with Gavaskar, and reached 50 at least once in every series he played, scored almost 2000 runs at a creditable mid-30s average, but ended with the same number of Test hundreds as Ashish Nehra. He is still India’s third-highest-scoring No. 2, behind Sehwag and Sidhu.3. Ali Bacher (captain) (South Africa, 1965-1970): 12 Tests, average 32.3, 6 half-centuries, highest score 73
Several renowned captains qualify for this XI – foremost amongst them England’s philosopher-king Mike Brearley, who played 39 Tests without troubling the honours board engravers, but still managed to carve his name indelibly into the history of English cricket. But Bacher was a superior batsman, passing 50 twice in each of the three series he played, and he led South Africa to one of cricket’s most striking series wins – the 4-0 stroganoffing of Bill Lawry’s Australia – in their final series before the nation took a 22-year sabbatical from Tests to deal with some rather significant off-the-field issues.Bacher’s son Adam followed in the proud family tradition by playing 19 Tests without posting a century. Scientists are currently studying their DNA in attempt to locate the gene for not converting fifties into hundreds.4. William Bruce (Australia, 1885-95): 14 Tests, average 29.2, 5 half-centuries, highest score 80
Unspectacular stats by modern standards, but of the players who played for Australia in more than five Tests over the span of his career, Bruce had the highest average. And the most patriotic surname. He was “a real dasher”, according to no less a source than this very website, and a useful change bowler, meaning that, as I write, he is presumably chuckling melancholically in his long-occupied grave at his misfortune in missing out on untold IPL riches by just 120 years. Cruel, cruel fate.5. Graham Roope (England, 1973-78): 21 Tests, average 30.7, 7 half-centuries, highest score 77
Stunning slip fielder, admirable 1970s mane, useful batsman. Roope specialised in (a) making slip-catching look as easy as spotting a sleeping rhinoceros in an unoccupied bouncy castle, and (b) not converting good starts into big scores. After a dodgy beginning to his Test career, he averaged a creditable 36 in his final 16 Tests, in which time he scored all of his seven half-centuries. He reached 30 on 13 occasions, but managed a top score of just 77. His 35 catches in 21 Tests gave him a snaffles-per-innings rate of 0.945, second only to India’s legendary Picasso of Pouch, Eknath Solkar, among fielders who have played 20 Tests or more.6. Brian Close (England, 1949-1976): 22 Tests, batting average 25.3, highest score 70, 4 half-centuries; 18 wickets, bowling average 29.5, best figures 4 for 35
Close claims the allrounder’s spot because of the frankly heroic length of his Test career – 27 years without registering a century or a five-for (he posted 52 and 43 of them respectively in first-class cricket), during which time he played 9% of England’s Tests, at an average of 0.81 matches per year.Close began his Test career as England’s youngest-ever cricketer, and ended it as one of the oldest, bravest, and sorest, as he withstood hours and hours of West Indian pace battery armed only with a defiantly bald head. Notoriously tough, he gives this team a player unafraid to field insanely close to the bat, and actively enthusiastic about using his ribs and/or skull as means of protecting his bat. Dropped six times in his first seven Tests over three separate decades, Close could argue that he did not suffer from an excess of selectorial faith. And he could argue that convincingly.7. Horace “Jock” Cameron (wicketkeeper) (South Africa, 1927-1935): 26 Tests, average 30.2, 10 half-centuries
Unsurprisingly, wicketkeeper is the most hotly contested position in this not-particularly-illustrious XI, with many of the top glovemen from the earliest days of Test history right up until the 1990s failing to post a Test hundred. More recently, a keeper who cannot score hundreds has been viewed as, to all practical intents, a sure-handed 12th man unlikely to spill too many drinks. (India’s Kiran More was the last of the 20 wicketkeepers to have played more than 20 Tests without reaching three figures.)Cameron edges out, among others, Deryck Murray, Bert Oldfield, Wasim Bari, Bob Taylor and Andy Zaltzman (whose early fumblings as the stump-tender for his school Under-10s revealed the natural uncoordination and innate fear of fast-moving, hard, round, red objects that would blight his cricketing career for the rest of time), thanks to his brilliant, aggressive batting, and the fact that he was called Horace.His overall career average was exceeded only by England’s Les Ames of pre-war stumpers, and, of the 27 visiting wicketkeepers who have batted ten or more times in Tests in England, only Gilchrist (40.0) and Dhoni (39.0) exceed Cameron’s average of 38.5.As a wicketkeeper, his stumpings “dazzled the eyesight”, according to

The opening combination, the spinner’s spot, the pace bowing in less helpful conditions, the wicketkeeping, the captaincy … there was little that went right for South Africa in Sri Lanka

Firdose Moonda31-Jul-2013If South Africa are looking for comfort, they should avoid statistics. The numbers will only serve to depress after a series in Sri Lanka that was supposed to mark the start of a new dawn for the one-day team but now represents one of their worst points.Some of the lowlights include losing two matches by margins of more than 100 runs for the first time and the supposed leader of the attack Morne Morkel, sending down the most wides by a South Africa bowler in a bilateral series .The last time South Africa lost four matches in a one-day series was in 2008 in England, when they were basking in their Test success and forgot all else. Just after that, against Australia in the 2008-09 season, was the last time South Africa went through a series of five matches or more without a centurion.So yes, Russell Domingo has a much bigger job on hand than was initially thought. Individually and collectively, his team is a far cry from the South Africa who would reel off series wins – six in a row in 2000, five in succession in 2007 – at will. We already knew that before Domingo took over but it was laid more brazenly bare than we expected.Few thought the mix between the neglect of the limited-overs’ set-ups during Gary Kirsten’s two-year tenure, the current transition phase which was been exacerbated by injuries to key personnel like Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn and the destination – a place where South Africa have only won two ODIs against the hosts in history – would prove so toxic. That it did should surely shake Domingo and his staff into action and prompt brave decisions as South Africa looks to the 2015 World Cup.The first thing they have to decide on is an opening pair and they wasted the opportunity to do that in this series. South Africa fielded four different top twos and none of them had any success. The initial one of Colin Ingram and Alviro Petersen was enforced because of an injury to Hashim Amla and was the worst of the lot.Ingram is not an international opener. He showed that in the Champions Trophy and he showed it again in Sri Lanka. He has been shamefully treated with the constant moving up and down the order even though it is clear he is most comfortable at No. 3, but he will not get that role because it has been given to JP Duminy. That may mean there is no place for Ingram anymore and that would be a mistake.Likewise, relegating Quinton de Kock would be an error. But sending him back to the domestic game until he grows up will not be. De Kock’s inexperience means he is not ready for the highest level no matter how much AB de Villiers wants to hand over the wicketkeeping gloves. De Kock is loose outside the offstump and needs to learn basic elements of patience before he can be reconsidered.Petersen’s temperament and experience made him a sensible choice even though he did not have the domestic record to justify his selection. That he didn’t set the world alight in this series may mean South Africa have to look elsewhere. If they don’t rely on Graeme Smith’s return from injury, they could do worse than Heino Kuhn. Not only is the Titans’ man an aggressive and proven opening batsmen but he keeps wicket too.While inconsistency was the theme of the opening partnership, Domingo did well to put in place a middle order and run with it. That they all failed is a worry. Duminy showed he can bat at No. 3 although he only had one significant score and that is simply too little to justify keeping him there ahead of Ingram.In de Villiers and Faf du Plessis lies a major concern. De Villiers has proven he cannot bat, keep wicket and captain at the same and he has to be relieved of at least one of those roles. To use the excuse that he is a new captain is simply dishonest. He has been in the job for more than two years and no one calls a 25-month-old a newborn. His tactical acumen seems lacking, he struggles with bowling changes and fielding positions and he constantly flirts with the clock in terms of over-rate. The lack of another candidate may see him keep the job, though, in which case he would need to permanently give up the gloves.Du Plessis, who captains the T20 side, is in no form to take over the ODI team as well. He has not scored a half-century in nine innings. His last one was 62 against the Netherlands, which was his only score of fifty-plus in 15 innings. In this series, he was out driving four times. He played down the wrong line too often and his footwork needs improvement.With few contributions of note from the middle-order, it’s hardly surprising South Africa did not have a centurion. David Miller came close with 85 and showed his finishing ability but that is not all he is. He should bat higher in the order, certainly ahead of Farhaan Behardien, who did not look like he should be playing at all.Behardien struggles were obvious enough to evoke sympathy. He battled to pick Ajantha Mendis – who troubled most of the line-up and was the highest wicket-taker in the series – in two of the games he played and could not get off the mark until it was too late in the third. He has delivered at domestic level and perhaps needs to go back there to remember how it’s done.And that is just the batting. South Africa’s bowlers were slightly better when compared with the miserable descriptions above but it didn’t take much to achieve that. Ill-discipline was their biggest sin and they gave away 65 runs in wides across the five matches. Morkel could be relied upon to bowl a handful every match as he struggled with line, and even the spinners were guilty of it.In the spin department, South Africa’s strategies were completely flawed. They began by picking three slower bowlers – Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso and Duminy – because they thought pitches would turn. Having paint does not make one a painter and to throw two left-arm spinners to a line-up heavy with left-hand batsmen and some of the best players of spin in the game was puzzling.Peterson, much improved as he is, was ineffective. Phangiso and Duminy were slightly better, especially in terms of control, but South Africa’s lacked a match-winning spinner. Imran Tahir is one option. He has had success in the shorter formats and can, at least, actually turn the ball.As for pace, many believe Dale Steyn’s return will paper over all the issues. It will not. Boeta Dippenaar pointed out on these pages when the series started that South Africa’s quicks struggle when the surfaces offer them very little and he was proved right. Morkel can extract bounce, Lonwabo Tsotsobe is wily and Ryan McLaren is the only one who can land a yorker, but they don’t do any of that consistently. A swing bowler will help but if the rest can tighten up, they become more penetrative.South Africa only bowled Sri Lanka out once and they were bowled out three times. That is evidence enough of the gulf between the attacks on these strips. The public will not let South Africa get away with conditions as an excuse, because they have used it too often. It was their one of their reasons for not winning the Champions Trophy and it definitely is the reason they have lost so heavily in Sri Lanka. The 2015 World Cup will not be played on the subcontinent so some may think it does not matter but it does.Inability to adapt turns teams with potential into sitting ducks and that’s what South Africa were for most of this series. Even their usually sharp fielding was poor. Domingo may despair when he considers the amount of work that needs to be done but at least he can take comfort in knowing there is much time, many matches and enough talent in the domestic ranks to make sure it happens.

Stats highlights from the first day’s play of the Eden Gardens Test between India and West Indies

Shiva Jayaraman06-Nov-2013Mohammed Shami’s figures of 4 for 71 were the best for an India debutant at Eden Gardens, beating Ghulam Ahmed’s 4 for 94 against West Indies in 1949. Shami’s analysis was also the joint third best for India fast bowlers on debut in the first innings of a Test, after Abid Ali’s 6 for 55, in Adelaide in 1967 and Mohammad Nissar’s 5 for 93 at Lord’s in 1932. Venkatesh Prasad had also taken 4 for 71 on debut at Edgbaston in 1996.The change of ball at the end of the 40th over worked in Shami’s favour. His figures after his first two spells before the ball was changed were 7-1-39-1. Shami had conceded 19 runs off 13 balls to Marlon Samuels. After the ball was changed, however, Shami’s figures were 10-1-32-3. Samuels could score only five runs from ten deliveries Shami bowled at him with the replacement ball, before being bowled by the 11th. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is fast gaining a reputation of being a new-ball specialist in Tests. All seven of his wickets have come with the new ball inside 15 overs of an innings. Including Chris Gayle, five of his seven victims have been openers. Bowling in the first 15 overs of an innings, Bhuvaneshwar has taken seven wickets in 45 overs at an average of 21.71. After the 15th over, his effectiveness as a bowler is greatly diminished: he is yet to take a wicket and has conceded 120 runs in 31 overs. His bowling figures in ODIs also tell a similar story: bowling in the first 15 overs, he has taken 23 wickets at an average of 24.65 and an economy of 3.96. In contrast, in 38 overs he has bowled after the first 15 in ODIs, he has taken only four wickets at an average of 54 and an economy of 5.68.Samuels has scored 278 runs at Eden Gardens – the third-highest aggregate by a visiting batsman after Rohan Kanhai (346) and Younis Khan (297). Samuels averages 69.50 at this venue from four innings and has hit one century and two fifties. Samuels has scored 1008 runs in 14 Test innings since 2012 at an average of 77.53, the fourth highest among batsmen with a minimum of 500 runs in this period.Gayle managed five runs from 18 deliveries off Bhuvneshwar in this innings before edging one to the second slip. Gayle now averages 7.66 against Bhuvneshwar in international cricket: he has got out to him three times in 43 deliveries and has scored 23 runs. Shane Shillingford was Sachin Tendulkar’s 46th wicket in Tests. He has now taken five wickets at Eden Gardens, the most he has claimed at any venue in Tests. Tendulkar has 201 international wickets, including 154 wickets in ODIs and one wicket in T20Is. West Indies’ collapse was the sixth time they had lost their last seven wickets for less than 100 runs in their first innings against India. The last such instance was in the Jamaica Test in 2011. Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s dismissal was only the seventh time that he was bowled by a spinner in his Test career. The previous such dismissal was against Saeed Ajmal in May 2011, eighteen innings before this one. Of Chanderpaul’s 210 dismissals in Tests, he has been bowled only 23 times.

An anthology and a celebration of great players – both from the stable – allow us to experience a soothing sense of constancy

Alan Gardner29-Dec-2013At this time of year, we tend to look back. Newspapers will create “best of 2013” lists, while regular Joes might concern themselves more with where it all went wrong. The statistics in question – pints, pounds, personal shortcomings – will be addressed in the New Year, though such resolutions may fall quickly under the revolutions of time’s wheel. This will all take place in distracted fashion, recorded in Facebook status updates, and hazy declarations down the local hostelry. Almost without exception, it is a good thing that isn’t taking notes.For 150 years, cricket has had an assiduous biographer. The game’s changes have been manifold – fatter bats and slimmer, more muscular participants; technology and its discontents; the rise of India as its global centre – but so much remains familiar. To flick through the pages of is to experience a soothing sense of constancy. Cricket has always been in foment, bogged down in picayune disputes, and assailed by match-fixers; there have always been great players and fantastic feats to chronicle; and there will always be unusual occurrences.Does reading an anthology of an almanack make one a confirmed anorak? Probably. But then disciples of the “Little Wonder” – the nickname of John Wisden, who first compiled his eponymous tome in 1864 – have always worn such labels comfortably. At the same time, provides perfect introductory material for the neophyte. Many who pick up their annual yellow brick will only read a fraction of the content but the editors, John Stern and Marcus Williams, have taken a hammer to 133,491 pages worth of cricketing history (largely as viewed through English eyes) to sift the dust for diamonds.Beginning with a choice selection of Notes by the Editor – in which complaints about England selection, county finances, and the problem of throwing echo down the century, from Sydney Pardon (almost always from Sydney Pardon) to the modern day – the anthology devotes sections to players, records, obituaries and oddities, as well as the counties, which takes up the most space and reflects the centrality of the English summer to ‘s method. The features section, though mostly just excerpts, shows the depths beneath its surface of scorecards and statistics. In the 1948 edition, to take one example, the Essex bowler Charles Kortright – considered one of the fastest to have played the game – noted: “There is no magic in fast bowling; but, on the contrary, much hard work, coupled with intelligent methods, is the key to success.” Mitchell Johnson would doubtless agree.The editor’s job of further illuminating cricket’s brightest stars has long provided an anchor for the almanack in public consciousness. Since 1889 – when Charles Pardon (Sydney’s brother) chose “Six Great Bowlers of the Year” – has anointed the game’s superstars; strictly only once, according to the rules, though with a couple of exceptions. For the full, 570-strong list, you should look beyond the anthology, however, to the glossier charms of . Edited by Simon Wilde, cricket correspondent of the , and also released to coincide with the 150th anniversary, this would probably be termed a coffee-table book – in the sense that it is about the same size as a coffee table.Like itself, gets away with being a little unwieldy. As Wilde explains, the initial purpose of the award, based upon performance in the preceding English season, was to provide “medallion portraits” of the players, photographs rather than the colourful written sketches we expect today, with the player whose picture occupied the middle of the page considered to have the grandest stature. The book lives up to this original aim and the carefully produced images that go back to the 19th century – particularly those of impassive young (and not so young) men in flannels and moustaches – are fascinating.Initial winners were often only accompanied by a few words of description and Wilde, too, skips nimbly through these corridors of fame. Eventually the format became standardised at the familiar “Five Cricketers of the Year” but it was subject to editorial whim in the early years: in 1896, WG Grace bestrode cricket’s narrow world by himself; in 1901 the awards went to “Mr RE Foster and Four Yorkshiremen”; in 1921 and 1926, the page was given over to photographs of Pelham Warner and Jack Hobbs respectively, both former winners. Such curiosities – including the story of Harry Calder, a “Schoolboy Bowler of the Year” during World War I, who never played first-class cricket and only discovered about his award at the age of 94 – provide the special interest in an otherwise straightforward study of greatness.These two collections, lovingly compiled and slickly produced, may be the publishing equivalent of flaying a tiring attack with an old ball. But, given the season, in this year of amplified worship, it seems okay to overindulge.The Essential Wisden: An Anthology of 150 years of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack
Edited by John Stern and Marcus Williams
Bloomsbury
1104 pages, £50
Wisden Cricketers of the Year: A Celebration of Cricket’s Greatest Players
Edited by Simon Wilde
408 pages, £40

Plays of the Day from the Asia Cup clash between Bangladesh and Afghanistan

Mohammad Isam in Fatullah01-Mar-2014The surprise
Cartwheeling stumps: There is no greater sight for a seamer•AFPThe third umpire was beckoned to decide on whether Abdur Razzak had reached the crease in time or not in the 40th over. Replays showed that Razzak had not placed his bat in the crease, but the Afghanistan fielders had gone back to their original position thinking that it was not out. The big screen flashed the opposite, and they all got together, surprised and overjoyed.The blow
Among the five sixes hit during Afghanistan’s innings, the biggest was by Stanikzai when he smacked Abdur Razzak at the end of the 45th over. The ball kept climbing as it crossed the Fatullah field, and landed behind the sightscreen. The most dramatic view was for some of his team-mates who were sitting outside near the boundary boards in front of the dressing room. The ball landed a few metres behind them, as they stood up overjoyed.The cartwheel
Shapoor Zadran tore in from the media end and off his fifth ball, removed Shamsur Rahman’s off-stump in dramatic fashion, sending it cartwheeling several feet. Considered the best sight for a fast bowler, it was also the perfect start for Afghanistan.The flight
None of the Bangladesh bowlers are known to toss the ball up much, so Mohammad Nabi’s eyes must have lit up seeing Mominul Haque’s flighted delivery. He leant forward and went for a massive drive but it took the edge and was actually well caught by Nasir Hossain. Flight aside, the ball didn’t do anything other than land on the right spot to take the edge, which is perhaps why Mominul had a big smile on his face.The breaking point
The Fatullah crowd had been patiently waiting for a wicket as the Stanikzai-Samiullah Shenwari partnership started to flourish. The pair started to hit the big ones, but still they remained mildly cheerful. The breaking point of their patience came when Imrul Kayes, fielding in place of the injured Sohag Gazi, dropped Asghar Stanikzai twice in two overs. He first misjudged a catch at sweeper and simply letting the second chance spill through his fingers. The crowd behind him chanted , the Bangladeshi version of boo.The fortune
Nasir Hossain had dropped three catches, once in every game against Sri Lanka in the recent ODI series between the two teams. The cricketing gods returned the favour when Afghanistan dropped him thrice in one game. First it was Asghar Stanikzai at short third-man and then Samiullah Shenwari and Hamza Hotak dropped him twice, off their bowling. He offered two more chances, the first of which was too tough for long-on, but finally, he fell for 41.

ESPNcricinfo presents plays of the day from the match between Bangladesh and India

Mohammad Isam28-Mar-2014The unwelcome catcherSohag Gazi covered a fair distance from midwicket in an attempt to get under a mishit from Rohit Sharma, but he had no business to be there when Anamul Haque was running in from deep midwicket. Still Gazi kept going, reached the ball but dropped it as Anamul Haque slid in with an expression of shock in his face. It would have been a simple chance for Anamul. The bowler, Ziaur Rahman, and captain Mushfiqur Rahim looked on, as Bangladesh’s fielding slumped to a new low with this miss.The ballR Ashwin liberally uses the carrom ball in T20s. However, his first wicket of the match came off a classic offspinner’s delivery. The second ball of his second over was tossed up high and full at Tamim Iqbal. Even as the batsman came forward to defend, it started to drift and dip. It then spun and bounced as well, took the outside edge and went low to slip. Erapalli Prasanna would have been proud.The missIn the over before he fell, Tamim had survived a straightforward run-out chance. Anamul pushed one to mid-on and Tamim rushed for a non-existent single. There wasn’t one to be had, as Dhawan was around. Tamim had come too far out, though, and Dhawan, who had stopped the ball close to the pitch, could have as well jogged up to the stumps and removed the bails. He chose to flick t diving forward, however, and missed.The quick return to the dugoutShamsur Rahman was the only member of the Bangladesh squad to have not played in the World T20 so far. Given their batting performance, he was always going to be called up and just as soon as he was, he got out for a first-ball duck. He swept it right into Rohit Sharma’s lap at deep square-leg, the fielder not having to move even an inch. Shamsur was back to the dugout, where he had been throughout the tournament.The first sixMahmudullah finally hit a six this year, in his ninth innings. It was off the 13th delivery he faced when Amit Mishra offered him some room to swing his bat. It was a flat hit over midwicket, a shot he had used so liberally in 2010 and 2012, years when he had been in good form.

In an increasingly globalised game, cricketers are au fait with the jet-setting lifestyle. That’s not to say it isn’t without its complications though

Crispin Andrews16-Oct-201410. Neesham’s drugs bust
For a few days, last August, it seemed that Jimmy Neesham might be challenging Jesse Ryder for the title of bad boy of New Zealand cricket. Sure, Ryder has been on drinking binges and had the odd run-in with a bathroom window, but not even Jesse has had his cricket bat searched for drugs. Neesham was playing in the Caribbean Premier League for Guyana Amazon Warriors and was in the USA, travelling to his next game. The customs officials obviously didn’t like the look of the strange-looking hockey stick and drilled a few holes to take a look at what was inside. Neesham posted a photo on Twitter but later admitted the bat actually belonged to his team-mate Lendl Simmons. The customs officials obviously didn’t recognise Lendl, so perhaps he told them about his famous uncle, Phil? Bad move. In the USA, Phil Simmons is an Albuquerque optometrist who was sent down for drugs trafficking in 2010.9. Holey unacceptable
In 2009, Dilwar Hussain, a Blackburn club cricketer, ordered eight bats from Lahore, Pakistan, for members of Gujrat CC and Nile CC at a cost of £475. He’d arranged for DHL Pakistan to ship them over but when they arrived, the bats and some pads he’d bought were full of holes. This time, customs said they were looking for bombs in the bats. Bat bombs? Had they been reading too may superhero comics? Or perhaps they remembered that three years earlier a Blackburn car dealer had been jailed for trying to organise a car-bomb attack and believed Blackburn to be a hotbed of terrorist activity. Neither UK nor Pakistani officials would own up to doing the drilling and poor old Dilwar never got his money back.8. Starc reminder
In 2012, UK customs officials deported Mitchell Starc from Heathrow because the Aussie left-armer didn’t have the right visa to stay in the country and play for Yorkshire. Starc spent four hours being questioned by customs officials and was told to pop off home, fill in the right forms and come back the following day. That’s around 67 hours and 35 minutes in the air – not even Geoffrey Boycott needed that long to get a hundred on a Headingley green top. Yorkshire officials were furious, initially blaming Cricket Australia before the buck was passed to Starc’s agent. Starc eventually made it to Headingley but the Tykes refused to foot the bill for his unscheduled day-return trip.7. Dereliction of duty
In 2011, Indian customs officials kept hold of the World Cup trophy which was on its way to Mumbai because the ICC refused to pay a £30,000 duty. The duty was a mandatory fee that would enable the trophy to pass through Indian territory but the ICC didn’t fancy parting with the cash given that it would later be re-exported, meaning that when India won the tournament a few weeks later they were presented with a replica with the tournament logo – not the original trophy with the ICC logo. The ICC claimed that this was common practice, and that the original trophy always remained at ICC headquarters in Dubai. Critics suggested they were being a bit tight-fisted.6. Funky juice
In December 2008, UK customs at Gatwick Airport confiscated five cans of fruit juice belonging to former England allrounder Chris Lewis. No doubt the poor chap told the officials that he needed the juice to stay hydrated, as he was suffering from a bit of sunstroke after a holiday in St Lucia. Inside the cans, however, was £140,000 worth of liquid cocaine. Lewis denied the drug smuggling charge but was given a 13-year prison sentence.5. Boom Boom explodes
Shahid Afridi was at Karachi airport on his way back from the 2012 Asia Cup final win against Bangladesh when jostling fans attempting to grab his autograph knocked his three-year-old daughter Ajwa to the ground. Understandably livid, Boom Boom gave it the long-handle and slapped the nearest offender around the chops before Afridi’s brother stepped in to calm things down in an incident that was briefly explosive but didn’t amount to much. Now what does that remind you of?4. England’s wall of silence
With the Ashes media frenzy reaching unchartered levels of hysteria, England, perhaps unwisely, decided the best way to avoid further fanning the flames was to say nothing at all – absolutely nothing – when they touched down at Alice Springs airport for a tour match. Questions about the chastening defeat at Brisbane and Jonathan Trott’s decision to return home weren’t so much rebuffed as completely ignored, with Kevin Pietersen, headphones wrapped around his ears, repeatedly saying “I can’t hear you” in answer to whatever was said to him. In truth it all looked a little silly but at least it got a rise out of the Aussie press.Fawad Ahmed: a fast-tracked Aussie leggie•Getty Images3. Imran grounded
In October 2012, US officials in Toronto took Imran Khan off his plane bound for New York. The leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice Party was on his way to a fundraising do when officials decided to question him for an hour about his views on drones and jihad. Imran has long been a vocal critic of US drone attacks in northern Pakistan which he says kill many innocent civilians – claims the US government denies. Satisfied that Imran was not a terrorist, the officials let him continue his journey. Too late for his New York fundraiser, though.2. The sky’s the limit
Pakistan Customs once had its very own cricket team. From 1972 to 2010 the team competed in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and won the Patron’s Trophy in 2001, with star players including Mohammad Sami, Naved-ul-Hasan and Fawad Alam. After the 2010 season, Customs officials disbanded their team. Complaints from opposition players that mysterious drilled holes had started appearing in their bats and pads were never substantiated.1. Spin it to win it
In 2013, Australia’s immigration department rushed through Fawad Ahmed’s application for Aussie citizenship. The Pakistani-born leg-spinner was in Australia on a short-stay visa but claimed refugee status, saying that religious extremists back home had persecuted him for playing and coaching cricket. The fact that Australia had just lost 3-0 to England and had been searching for a world-class spinner since Shane Warne retired had nothing whatsoever to do with the fast-tracking of Ahmed’s visa, of course. As it turned out, Australia’s battery of quicks proved more than enough for England’s batsmen last winter. Ahmed is yet to make his Test debut.