Surprises in Test Cricket Today
Joe Root's Exceptional Start in International Cricket
Very rarely do I write about something not related to Pakistan cricket. But certain matches, cricketers, and cricket related activities are so exceptional that I need to write about them.
Joe Root is one such cricketer who has compelled me to find out more about him and dedicate some time in praising his exceptional start in international cricket.
Three months ago, I had not even heard of Joe Root.
I first heard about him when England announced their test squad for India. According to the England selectors, Root's double century in a game against Hampshire was enough to earn him a place in the squad.
Even though the 2012 domestic season was not all that productive, Root, who plays for Yorkshire, had impressed several people that mattered in 2011 when he amassed over a 1,000 first class runs.
Considering that the England middle order boasted of Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, and there were thoughts of using Samit Patel at number 6 in India, Joe Root was unlikely to make his international debut in India.
But he got his chance in the 4th and final test of the series when the experiment with Samit Patel had failed and England gave the boy a game ahead of Morgan and Bairstow.
Joe Root's first test innings lasted 229 deliveries - the 6th longest debut innings by an England batsman in terms of number of balls. He scored a patient 73 and shared a century partnership with Matt Prior for the 6th wicket to get England out of a troubling position of 139-5.
Even then I didn't take much notice even though such display of patience, that too by a 22 year old, is very impressive.
Then came the ODI series against India, and Root played all 5 matches. He didn't get to bat in the first ODI, but in his first 4 ODI innings he produced scores of 36, 39, 57*, and 31.
Quite a start to an international career.
That innings of 57 was particularly impressive as he helped England to a total beyond 250, which they didn't look like achieving when he walked to the crease and England were 140 odd after 37 overs. His innings came off only 45 deliveries and included 8 boundaries and a six.
Root's success at the international level was so astonishing that it even surprised their ODI coach, Ashley Giles who went on record to say "I didn't know he could bat as well as he has".
That says more about Root's performances than Giles' knowledge of England's cricketers.
Just like a courier delivery service, Joe Root has been packing away all the bowlers he has come across thus far in his short international career.
Root has continued to impress with every game. In the 1st ODI of the ongoing series against New Zealand he scored a solid 56 while putting on 90 runs with Trott for the 3rd wicket.
And then came today when Root produced the best innings of his short ODI career. Chasing an imposing 270 to win in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand, England were well placed at 149-2 in 32 overs when Root walked out to bat.
From that position, the match could have been a close contest, England could have struggled to reach the target, or England could have even collapsed.
But Root's unbeaten innings of 79 off only 56 deliveries took England to a comfortable 8 wicket win with over 2 overs to spare. Root knocked 7 boundaries and 2 sixes in his highest ODI score yet.
Root now has a tally of just under 300 ODI runs in 6 innings and is averaging a whopping 74.5!
I know its too early in his career and that he has a long way to go and he's only 22 and what not. But that is an exceptional start to what can also be an exceptional career.
It is quite unbelievable that Root's lowest completed international innings is 31 and that his 8 international innings have produce scores of 73, 20*, 36, 39, 57*, 31, 56, and 79*.
I doubt there was anyone out there who knew how good a batsman Joe Root was given that he averages less than 40 in first class cricket and 36 in List A cricket.
His ODI average is double his List A average! And 3 out of his 7 List A 50s have come in ODIs.
Root has been some find for England and considering that he has showed his batting skills in varying conditions in India and New Zealand, it looks like he has a long career ahead of him.
Joe Root is one such cricketer who has compelled me to find out more about him and dedicate some time in praising his exceptional start in international cricket.
Three months ago, I had not even heard of Joe Root.
I first heard about him when England announced their test squad for India. According to the England selectors, Root's double century in a game against Hampshire was enough to earn him a place in the squad.
Even though the 2012 domestic season was not all that productive, Root, who plays for Yorkshire, had impressed several people that mattered in 2011 when he amassed over a 1,000 first class runs.
Considering that the England middle order boasted of Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, and there were thoughts of using Samit Patel at number 6 in India, Joe Root was unlikely to make his international debut in India.
But he got his chance in the 4th and final test of the series when the experiment with Samit Patel had failed and England gave the boy a game ahead of Morgan and Bairstow.
Joe Root's first test innings lasted 229 deliveries - the 6th longest debut innings by an England batsman in terms of number of balls. He scored a patient 73 and shared a century partnership with Matt Prior for the 6th wicket to get England out of a troubling position of 139-5.
Even then I didn't take much notice even though such display of patience, that too by a 22 year old, is very impressive.
Then came the ODI series against India, and Root played all 5 matches. He didn't get to bat in the first ODI, but in his first 4 ODI innings he produced scores of 36, 39, 57*, and 31.
Quite a start to an international career.
That innings of 57 was particularly impressive as he helped England to a total beyond 250, which they didn't look like achieving when he walked to the crease and England were 140 odd after 37 overs. His innings came off only 45 deliveries and included 8 boundaries and a six.
Root's success at the international level was so astonishing that it even surprised their ODI coach, Ashley Giles who went on record to say "I didn't know he could bat as well as he has".
That says more about Root's performances than Giles' knowledge of England's cricketers.
Just like a courier delivery service, Joe Root has been packing away all the bowlers he has come across thus far in his short international career.
Root has continued to impress with every game. In the 1st ODI of the ongoing series against New Zealand he scored a solid 56 while putting on 90 runs with Trott for the 3rd wicket.
And then came today when Root produced the best innings of his short ODI career. Chasing an imposing 270 to win in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand, England were well placed at 149-2 in 32 overs when Root walked out to bat.
From that position, the match could have been a close contest, England could have struggled to reach the target, or England could have even collapsed.
But Root's unbeaten innings of 79 off only 56 deliveries took England to a comfortable 8 wicket win with over 2 overs to spare. Root knocked 7 boundaries and 2 sixes in his highest ODI score yet.
Root now has a tally of just under 300 ODI runs in 6 innings and is averaging a whopping 74.5!
I know its too early in his career and that he has a long way to go and he's only 22 and what not. But that is an exceptional start to what can also be an exceptional career.
It is quite unbelievable that Root's lowest completed international innings is 31 and that his 8 international innings have produce scores of 73, 20*, 36, 39, 57*, 31, 56, and 79*.
I doubt there was anyone out there who knew how good a batsman Joe Root was given that he averages less than 40 in first class cricket and 36 in List A cricket.
His ODI average is double his List A average! And 3 out of his 7 List A 50s have come in ODIs.
Root has been some find for England and considering that he has showed his batting skills in varying conditions in India and New Zealand, it looks like he has a long career ahead of him.
Expect a better show from Pakistan in the 2nd Test vs South Africa
After facing the embarrassment of being bowled out for 49 and sort of saving face with a relatively much improved performance with the bat in the second innings of the first test, Pakistan will take the field once again to battle South Africa in two days.
It has been a long break since the end of the first test of the series and Pakistan have had plenty of time to regroup, practice, and think about tackling the mighty South Africans.
The 2-day game against an Emerging Cape Cobras XI was a successful one for Pakistan as they completed a 10 wicket win and got some valuable practice as well.
Pakistan will be pleased with Younis Khan getting some runs under his belt and more importantly with him spending some time in the middle. Pakistan continued to bat after reaching their target of 58 to get some batting practice, and Younis made full use of the opportunity by knocking an unbeaten 74 and spending over 2.5 hours at the crease.
In 5 innings on tour, prior to this one, Younis had failed to score more than 15. While Hafeez, Nasir, Misbah, and Shafiq have all been among the runs on this tour, it has been the struggle of Younis and Azhar Ali that has been a major spot of bother for Pakistan.
With Younis gaining some confidence, it leaves only Azhar Ali who is yet to score more than 15 on this tour. Azhar's 6 innings thus far include scores of 2, 3, 13, 18, 11, and 12.
Azhar Ali has been Pakistan's leading run scorer in test for the past 2.5 years. Even though people believe that he has only scored on dead subcontinental wickets, it is not true as Azhar has scored runs in England, New Zealand, and the West Indies, besides the more batsmen friendly pitches of the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
But he is struggling in South Africa.
Many have suggested that a defensive approach will not work for him in South African conditions, especially against Dale Steyn & Co., because he is bound to get an unplayable delivery at some point, which he will succumb to after consuming many deliveries and scoring very little.
A more aggressive approach is required, but unfortunately Umar Akmal is not around. Perhaps someone like Asad Shafiq, who likes to keep the scoreboard ticking, can be pushed up the order with Azhar batting at number 6.
There have been suggestions to play Faisal Iqbal instead of Azhar Ali, largely because of Faisal's breezy knock of 33 against the Cape Cobras. Faisal was definitely in good touch and looked in control hitting 7 boundaries in his innings. But he hasn't played a test for Pakistan for over 4 years, with his last appearance coming against Australia in January 2010.
There is something to think about for the Pakistan team management, but I don't see them changing the composition of their trusted top 6. What I would do, however, is move Younis Khan up a position and ask him to bat at number 3, where he has batted for the better part of his career.
Younis moving to number 4 was a good strategic decision as it helped groom Azhar Ali as a long term number 3, but in South African conditions, Pakistan will be better off using the experienced Younis at number 3 and keeping Azhar Ali back.
Given Shafiq's current form, I would bat him at 4, followed by Misbah and Azhar.
The bowling has not been a worry for Pakistan, but a selection blunder in the first test cost them heavily. Rahat Ali is at best a mediocre bowler, and his inclusion instead of Mohammad Irfan was inexplicable.
Everyone has been harping on about how Irfan can't bowl long spells, won't last 5 days, and so on. But everyone is also aware of his effectiveness. Or rather, should have been. A 7 footer bowling on South African pitches is a dream for any captain and yet Pakistan decided not to play him on fitness grounds.
Unbelievable.
How many times have we all seen Shoaib Akhtar, Shane Bond, and Brett Lee being used in short bursts of three 4-6 over spells in a day in test matches? Their captains understood their effectiveness and limitations and used them effectively.
The same can be done with Mohammad Irfan. 4-5 overs is all that bowlers of his nature need to make an impact. It is also very easy to hide fielders in a test, so Irfan's energy can be easily protected.
After his performance against the Cape Cobras, it will be criminal to leave him out of the team for the second test starting on Thursday.
I wish there was some way that Rehman could be included in the XI, but it is a luxury to play two spinners in South Africa and impossible to replace Saeed Ajmal. Despite that an attack comprising of Junaid, Irfan, Gul, Ajmal, and Hafeez presents lip licking prospects.
Beating this South African team will be a gargantuan task, but I expect a much improved show from Pakistan and a tougher fight than the one given in the first test.
Series abhi baaki hai mere dost...
My XI for the test: 1. Mohammad Hafeez, 2. Nasir Jamshed, 3. Younis Khan, 4. Asad Shafiq, 5. Misbah Ul Haq, 6. Azhar Ali, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed, 8. Umar Gul, 9. Saeed Ajmal, 10. Junaid Khan, 11. Mohammad Irfan.
It has been a long break since the end of the first test of the series and Pakistan have had plenty of time to regroup, practice, and think about tackling the mighty South Africans.
The 2-day game against an Emerging Cape Cobras XI was a successful one for Pakistan as they completed a 10 wicket win and got some valuable practice as well.
Pakistan will be pleased with Younis Khan getting some runs under his belt and more importantly with him spending some time in the middle. Pakistan continued to bat after reaching their target of 58 to get some batting practice, and Younis made full use of the opportunity by knocking an unbeaten 74 and spending over 2.5 hours at the crease.
In 5 innings on tour, prior to this one, Younis had failed to score more than 15. While Hafeez, Nasir, Misbah, and Shafiq have all been among the runs on this tour, it has been the struggle of Younis and Azhar Ali that has been a major spot of bother for Pakistan.
With Younis gaining some confidence, it leaves only Azhar Ali who is yet to score more than 15 on this tour. Azhar's 6 innings thus far include scores of 2, 3, 13, 18, 11, and 12.
Azhar Ali has been Pakistan's leading run scorer in test for the past 2.5 years. Even though people believe that he has only scored on dead subcontinental wickets, it is not true as Azhar has scored runs in England, New Zealand, and the West Indies, besides the more batsmen friendly pitches of the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
But he is struggling in South Africa.
Many have suggested that a defensive approach will not work for him in South African conditions, especially against Dale Steyn & Co., because he is bound to get an unplayable delivery at some point, which he will succumb to after consuming many deliveries and scoring very little.
A more aggressive approach is required, but unfortunately Umar Akmal is not around. Perhaps someone like Asad Shafiq, who likes to keep the scoreboard ticking, can be pushed up the order with Azhar batting at number 6.
There have been suggestions to play Faisal Iqbal instead of Azhar Ali, largely because of Faisal's breezy knock of 33 against the Cape Cobras. Faisal was definitely in good touch and looked in control hitting 7 boundaries in his innings. But he hasn't played a test for Pakistan for over 4 years, with his last appearance coming against Australia in January 2010.
There is something to think about for the Pakistan team management, but I don't see them changing the composition of their trusted top 6. What I would do, however, is move Younis Khan up a position and ask him to bat at number 3, where he has batted for the better part of his career.
Younis moving to number 4 was a good strategic decision as it helped groom Azhar Ali as a long term number 3, but in South African conditions, Pakistan will be better off using the experienced Younis at number 3 and keeping Azhar Ali back.
Given Shafiq's current form, I would bat him at 4, followed by Misbah and Azhar.
The bowling has not been a worry for Pakistan, but a selection blunder in the first test cost them heavily. Rahat Ali is at best a mediocre bowler, and his inclusion instead of Mohammad Irfan was inexplicable.
Everyone has been harping on about how Irfan can't bowl long spells, won't last 5 days, and so on. But everyone is also aware of his effectiveness. Or rather, should have been. A 7 footer bowling on South African pitches is a dream for any captain and yet Pakistan decided not to play him on fitness grounds.
Unbelievable.
How many times have we all seen Shoaib Akhtar, Shane Bond, and Brett Lee being used in short bursts of three 4-6 over spells in a day in test matches? Their captains understood their effectiveness and limitations and used them effectively.
The same can be done with Mohammad Irfan. 4-5 overs is all that bowlers of his nature need to make an impact. It is also very easy to hide fielders in a test, so Irfan's energy can be easily protected.
After his performance against the Cape Cobras, it will be criminal to leave him out of the team for the second test starting on Thursday.
I wish there was some way that Rehman could be included in the XI, but it is a luxury to play two spinners in South Africa and impossible to replace Saeed Ajmal. Despite that an attack comprising of Junaid, Irfan, Gul, Ajmal, and Hafeez presents lip licking prospects.
Beating this South African team will be a gargantuan task, but I expect a much improved show from Pakistan and a tougher fight than the one given in the first test.
Series abhi baaki hai mere dost...
My XI for the test: 1. Mohammad Hafeez, 2. Nasir Jamshed, 3. Younis Khan, 4. Asad Shafiq, 5. Misbah Ul Haq, 6. Azhar Ali, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed, 8. Umar Gul, 9. Saeed Ajmal, 10. Junaid Khan, 11. Mohammad Irfan.
Is Salman Butt for Real?
Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, two cricketers who will never step on to the cricket field in Pakistan colors ever again, are in Switzerland for hearings of their appeals filed against their bans from cricket.
Sometimes I really wonder what world these two are living in. Do they actually think they have a chance to play cricket with dignity again?
Not only are they fighting their case, they, or at least one of them (Salman Butt) is also giving public statements about playing again.
Seriously?
"It may be easy for some people to say that a five-year ban from cricket is all right but what they don't realize is that for a sportsman like me - this is like a lifetime ban"
No shit sherlock!
Did Salman Butt really not understand the point of a 10 year ban (5 of which are suspended)? The point was to keep him away from cricket forever.
And please, you are no sportsman. You are a bloody disgrace!
"Cricket is my life and every single day that has passed has been so painful because I have not been able to play. All I want is an opportunity to get back into cricket whilst I am still young and I can still play well."
Sometimes I really wonder what world these two are living in. Do they actually think they have a chance to play cricket with dignity again?
Not only are they fighting their case, they, or at least one of them (Salman Butt) is also giving public statements about playing again.
Seriously?
"It may be easy for some people to say that a five-year ban from cricket is all right but what they don't realize is that for a sportsman like me - this is like a lifetime ban"
No shit sherlock!
Did Salman Butt really not understand the point of a 10 year ban (5 of which are suspended)? The point was to keep him away from cricket forever.
And please, you are no sportsman. You are a bloody disgrace!
"Cricket is my life and every single day that has passed has been so painful because I have not been able to play. All I want is an opportunity to get back into cricket whilst I am still young and I can still play well."
Oh so you can fix a few more games and corrupt a few more promising players? No thank you! Please stay the hell away from Pakistan cricket.
You should feel lucky that some people even allow you to comment on the game on TV. And luckier that some people even take time out to listen to your utter bullshit.
Hell I'm taking time out to write about you.
What a waste seriously.
Kieron Pollard was really catch-happy Today!
Pollard's awesome catches against Australia in the 3rd ODI in Canberra
Is Dale Steyn the best Fast Bowler of All Time?
No one really expected Pakistan to win a test match in South Africa, but no one expected them to be bowled out for 49, their lowest test score ever, either.
It is very easy to point fingers at the Pakistan bastmen and criticize them for a poor technique, bad footwork, and a lack of application.
However, one must remember that the same pace attack bowled out Australia for 47 and New Zealand for 45. When you are up against the number 1 team in the world that has a pace attack comprising of Steyn (Ranked 1), Philander (Ranked 2), and Morkel (Ranked 9) in their own backyard, batting is really really tough.
Pakistan's wrecker-in-chief was Dale Steyn who had match figures of 11-60, which is his best return ever in a career spanning 63 test matches.
With the new ball, Steyn was unplayable. Particularly in the first innings, where he produced a devastating spell and had astonishing figures of 6-8 !
Steyn's match haul of 11-60 earned him his fifth 10-wicket haul in test matches, which is now the most number of 10-wicket hauls for South Africa. Before this test, he was level with Makhaya Ntini on four.
His 5-wicket hauls in each innings of the match took his tally to 21 5-wicket in an innings hauls, surpassing the South African record of 20, which was held by Allan Donald.
Steyn's 323 test wickets are still behind those of Shaun Pollock (421), Ntini (390), and Donald (330), but he has also played a fewer number of tests than each of them. With age on his side (he is only 29), he looks well set to become the top South African wicket taker of all time.
Someone said that he's got Donald's pace, Ntini's fitness, and Pollock's seam and swing, which arguably makes him the best fast bowler ever to play for South Africa.
Currently, he is also the best fast bowler in the world.
But is Dale Steyn also the best ever fast bowler of all time?
Steyn is currently at number 17 among the top 20 wicket takers of all time in test cricket, but as I mentioned he has played fewer tests than the rest of them and has a long way to go still. Considering his fitness levels, he can play well beyond another 5 years easily.
Steyn's strike rate of 40.8 is the best among the top 20 bowlers. Better than McGrath's, Hadlee's, Waqar's, and Marshall's. In fact his strike rate is the 5th best strike rate of all time in test cricket behind Lohmann, Philander, JJ Ferris, and Shane Bond.
Steyn's five 10-wicket match hauls are level with Wasim and Waqar, and behind only those of Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, and Richard Hadlee.
The most glaring statistic, however, is Steyn's wickets per match. He averages 5.13 wickets per test match, which is the most that any fast bowler with over 200 test wickets averages in test cricket.
Dennis Lille and Richard Hadlee are the only other two fast bowlers who averaged over 5 wickets per test match in their career.
If you include spinners into the equation, then Steyn's 5.13 wickets per test is the third highest behind Muralitharan's 6.02 and Grimmett's 5.84.
Those truly are some outstanding numbers.
Dale Steyn may well end his career as the best ever fast bowler to have played the game.
It is very easy to point fingers at the Pakistan bastmen and criticize them for a poor technique, bad footwork, and a lack of application.
However, one must remember that the same pace attack bowled out Australia for 47 and New Zealand for 45. When you are up against the number 1 team in the world that has a pace attack comprising of Steyn (Ranked 1), Philander (Ranked 2), and Morkel (Ranked 9) in their own backyard, batting is really really tough.
Pakistan's wrecker-in-chief was Dale Steyn who had match figures of 11-60, which is his best return ever in a career spanning 63 test matches.
With the new ball, Steyn was unplayable. Particularly in the first innings, where he produced a devastating spell and had astonishing figures of 6-8 !
Steyn's match haul of 11-60 earned him his fifth 10-wicket haul in test matches, which is now the most number of 10-wicket hauls for South Africa. Before this test, he was level with Makhaya Ntini on four.
His 5-wicket hauls in each innings of the match took his tally to 21 5-wicket in an innings hauls, surpassing the South African record of 20, which was held by Allan Donald.
Steyn's 323 test wickets are still behind those of Shaun Pollock (421), Ntini (390), and Donald (330), but he has also played a fewer number of tests than each of them. With age on his side (he is only 29), he looks well set to become the top South African wicket taker of all time.
Someone said that he's got Donald's pace, Ntini's fitness, and Pollock's seam and swing, which arguably makes him the best fast bowler ever to play for South Africa.
Currently, he is also the best fast bowler in the world.
But is Dale Steyn also the best ever fast bowler of all time?
Steyn is currently at number 17 among the top 20 wicket takers of all time in test cricket, but as I mentioned he has played fewer tests than the rest of them and has a long way to go still. Considering his fitness levels, he can play well beyond another 5 years easily.
Steyn's strike rate of 40.8 is the best among the top 20 bowlers. Better than McGrath's, Hadlee's, Waqar's, and Marshall's. In fact his strike rate is the 5th best strike rate of all time in test cricket behind Lohmann, Philander, JJ Ferris, and Shane Bond.
Steyn's five 10-wicket match hauls are level with Wasim and Waqar, and behind only those of Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, and Richard Hadlee.
The most glaring statistic, however, is Steyn's wickets per match. He averages 5.13 wickets per test match, which is the most that any fast bowler with over 200 test wickets averages in test cricket.
Dennis Lille and Richard Hadlee are the only other two fast bowlers who averaged over 5 wickets per test match in their career.
If you include spinners into the equation, then Steyn's 5.13 wickets per test is the third highest behind Muralitharan's 6.02 and Grimmett's 5.84.
Those truly are some outstanding numbers.
Dale Steyn may well end his career as the best ever fast bowler to have played the game.
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