Our correspondent goes behind the scenes to find dirt, and dirt he does find

Alan Gardner15-Jan-2021Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in… The Light Roller wasn’t alone in wondering recently about the lack of chirpz in Australia-India encounters, and the current tour had certainly got off to an unpromising start amid debutants being welcomed with “Go well youngster” rather than a mouthful of gravel. Post-IPL bonhomie was being slathered thicker than sunscreen.Sure, Justin Langer briefly threatened to short circuit over India’s savvy use of the concussion-sub rule during a T20I in Canberra, but the spray aimed at match referee David Boon looked from afar barely more than his daughters are used to when playing UNO.Then we reached the final day in Sydney, with the Test series still on the line, and sure enough things started to get a little frisky. Out came the smack talk and the goading. The gabby greens had rediscovered their inner mongrel, and boy, was the little fella ready for a good long spell of yapping. India, backs against the wall, weren’t going to know what hit them in the face of a good old Aussie barrage led by enforcer-in-chief ()… Tim Paine?Related

Was Paine's apology more disappointing than his behaviour?

Hussey on Paine vs Ashwin: Didn't like it, but no one crossed a line

In the immortal words of these godless times: “What is this I don’t even”Honestly, it was better the other way. This is why nobody calls him Tim “Bring the” Paine. Not even ironically. The least likely heel turn in cricket history – particularly given the Australia captain’s track record on mental-disintegration tactics – was also one of the most short-lived, as Paine could afterwards barely contain his own embarrassment over what we might kindly term attempts at sledging R Ashwin.The karma police certainly weren’t impressed, issuing a dropped catch spot fine moments later. Presumably Cricket Australia also swiftly arranged for Paine to attend some sessions at the Ernie Jones Memorial Indoor Quipping School to rehabilitate his banter.Even the on-field skulduggery was tepid, betraying just how out of practice Australia have become. Rather in the manner of Captain Renault from , Langer declared himself shocked – shocked! – that Steve Smith was being accused of deliberately trying to scuff up Rishabh Pant’s guard. And to be honest, we hope this is genuine, because why would you go to the bother of trying to sabotage something most batsmen mark afresh every time they face up anyway?Let’s not get into Matthew Wade’s am-dram turn at short leg, which would have earned a rebuke for overacting from the director of . The only things less effective than these various schemes were Australia’s bowling and fielding, as they managed three wickets to go with four dropped catches on the final day.Clearly there is a lot of work to do in order to bring back the glory days. The Ashes are less than a year away, and at this rate, the entire Australian team will end up being out-sledged by James Anderson in their own backyard. That might be enough to make Langer kick over a bin not pick up the contents.

****

Heart-warming news from New Zealand, where Kane Williamson’s side have provided conclusive proof that nice guys can finish first! (Although they get relegated to the support act in semi-humorous monthly cricket columns because, y’know, clicks. Sorry, Kane. You just can’t get the readership these days.)But don’t get it twisted – the world’s No. 1 Test side have that unmistakable bit of steel about them. In order to prove as much, the Light Roller has been travelling around the land of the long white cloud in a second-hand camper van to root out some of the hitherto unknown excesses engaged in by the squad after yet another politely insistent (emphasis on the polite) display of excellence against Pakistan.Kane Williamson: Returned home to life as a new father but forgot to buy formula on the way. Later fell asleep on the couch, thus welshing on nappy-changing duties.Ross Taylor: Reportedly once put recyclable material in with his regular trash. Has been approached for comment.Henry Nicholls: Gave a four-star rating to his Uber driver in Christchurch – despite the impeccable service – after being mistaken for former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.Kyle Jamieson: Inconvenienced a couple sat in the row behind him at an Auckland cinema. Witnesses said the skyscraping allrounder “could have slid down in his seat a bit further”, although conceded leg room was also at a premium.Tim Southee: Regularly drinks milk straight from the carton.Trent Boult: Used a family member’s login to watch on Disney+. Doesn’t intend to pay for a subscription.Neil Wagner: Much praised habit of running through brick walls for the cause has led to significant repair bill at his local gym.Rumours that New Zealand are no longer world cricket’s most-welcoming hosts and “frequently hand out brutal thrashings” to tourists are being looked into.

To those who have seen the youngster from close quarters – like his sister and his childhood coach – his success at the Gabba was inevitable

Deivarayan Muthu17-Jan-2021Pat Cummins, the No.1-ranked Test bowler in the world, pings Test debutant Washington Sundar on his left shoulder. Washington doesn’t flinch at all. Cool as.Two balls later, Cummins bangs another short ball and pings Washington on his hip. Washington doesn’t flinch again. Cool as.Washington has seen – and overcome – more painful body blows. When he was about seven years old, he was struck flush on the helmet by a wild full-toss at the nets and suffered a deep cut that needed four stitches. Despite doctors and his family insisting on rest and recovery, Washington turned up for an inter-school game a couple of days later and batted lower down the order to score a match-winning thirty-something.Washington was a prodigy in the Tamil Nadu cricketing circles. His dad M Sundar, a former Tamil Nadu prospect, began training him with a tennis ball when he was in kindergarten. Sundar would later train Washington and his elder sister Shailaja at the Chepauk ‘B’ nets, with their cousin Avaikarasan also joining them.Related

Sundar, Thakur heroics ensure Australia don't end too far ahead

Frustrated Australia lose their edge at critical moment

Stand-ins Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar stand out, add twist to fairy tale

Reactions – 'Steel running through India's veins!'

Ashwin to Thakur: Talk us though your 'Richards-type drives'

Washington played Under-16 cricket for the state when he was in sixth grade and by the time he was 13, he was playing first-division league cricket in Chennai facing boys twice his age. To put things in perspective: when Washington broke into the robust first-division Chennal league, S Sriram was still an active player there. Sriram is now with the Australia side as their spin-bowling coach.Oh and Washington was primarily an opening batsman back in the day. He wasn’t quite the opening bowler who would pin down batsmen in T20 cricket. He was more known for his organised technique, sound judgement outside off, and ability to handle pace. Washington re-emerged during his fifty on Test debut against arguably the best Test-bowling attack in the world right now.Washington Sundar was in kindergarten when his father began training him to play cricket•Getty Images”Playing against or with (older boys) like Sriram, Venugopal Rao and his brother Gnaneswara Rao in first-division cricket at such a young age was a learning curve for Washi and it shaped his career,” Shailaja tells ESPNcricinfo. “Having also played many fast bowlers at the MRF pace foundation, he has that game-sense to adapt to speed. Not many can adapt to it easily and that too on your debut as a youngster in Australia against a top-class attack. It’s a big thing.”Shailaja, a top-order batter herself, was particularly thrilled to see that “old Washi” on show at the Gabba.”If you ask me or others who have seen Washi grow up, he was an opener,” Shailaja says. “I’m more a fan of his batting than bowling. The Washi I saw today was more the Washi I know. When he was so young, his drives were so clean and graceful. All the others could see his batting talent today.”

****

Around the time of his birthday on January 4, Sundar had a strong gut feeling about Washington making his Test debut in Australia. As it turned out, Washington replaced the injured R Ashwin in the series decider, following up his three-wicket haul with 62 off 144 balls.Once the Sundars came to know about Washington’s debut on the eve of the game, there was cause for more celebrations during the Pongal (harvest) festivities.Washington Sundar’s sister Shailaja says he is more batsman than bowler•AFP via Getty Images”My dad had a strong feeling that Washi will debut in Australia,” Shailaja recalls. “We woke up at 3.30am because we wanted to see Washi get his cap. (Very) special! Mom (Prema) did her special puja and to see him get (Steven) Smith was pleasing. Our dad has faced a lot of struggles to get here and whenever we saw Washi growing up, we always thought he will be a Test cricketer. The world is now witnessing it.”

****

Washington had no business playing this Test. He was originally picked as a net bowler for the Test leg of the tour to tune up the batsmen against Nathan Lyon. But, here he was pulling off a no-look slog-swept six against Lyon. Cool as.Washington’s job isn’t done yet and M Senthilnathan, who had identified Washington’s talent as a 13-year old at MRF, reckons that he could play a bigger role with the ball with his stump-to-stump lines if the Gabba pitch breaks up on Monday.”If the wicket is a little rough and if it assists the spinners, Washington Sundar will be difficult to bat against,” Senthilnathan says. “He will be somewhat like Jadeja; Jadeja is very difficult to bat against in a turning track. Washington won’t also give you time and will be exactly on the stumps. Imagine if on a turning track you don’t get bad balls or don’t get time to step out, how will you score runs?”

And which bowler’s action was described as “all arms and legs… like a porn movie without the sex”?

Steven Lynch05-Jan-2021Has any bowler taken 100 wickets in ODIs against a single country? asked Mahesh Malhotra from India

No one has yet reached a century of wickets against a particular country in one-day internationals. Top of the list is Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 96 against Pakistan. Wasim Akram comes next, with 92 against Sri Lanka and 89 against West Indies, while his old sparring partner Waqar Younis collected 84 against Sri Lanka and 79 against New Zealand. The leading current bowler is Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, who has so far taken 74 wickets against Zimbabwe.It’s a different story in Tests, in which there are 39 instances of a bowler taking 100 or more wickets against a particular country. Shane Warne leads the way with 195 against England. He also took 130 against South Africa and 103 against New Zealand; Muralitharan dismissed 112 Englishmen, 105 Indians and 104 South Africans.The record in T20Is is held by the Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan, who has taken 34 wickets against Ireland. Next comes New Zealand’s Tim Southee, with 23 against Pakistan.What is the most runs scored by a batsman in a calendar month in Tests? asked Mike Harrison from England

The record currently stands at 665 runs, by Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan. In three Tests against West Indies in November 2006, he scored 192 in Lahore, 56 and 191 in Multan, and 102 and 124 in Karachi. This was the culmination of a remarkable sequence in which he scored seven centuries (four of them higher than 190) in seven Test matches. The record Yousuf broke was established by England’s Graham Gooch in July 1990, when he made 640 runs in just two Tests – 154 and 30 against New Zealand at Edgbaston, and 333 and 123 against India at Lord’s.Whose bowling action was described as “all arms and legs… like a porn movie without the sex”? asked Ian McKenzie from Australia

It seems that the man who came up with this colourful description was the distinguished Australian sports and feature writer Greg Baum, and he was describing the beanpole left-arm fast bowler Bruce Reid, who was over two metres tall and almost painfully thin. Reid picked up 113 wickets in 27 Tests for Australia, including 13 for 148 against England in Melbourne in 1990-91; in the following year’s Boxing Day Test at the MCG, he took 12 for 126 against India.Reid has one distinction, which I think is unique in Tests: in Wellington in 1985-86, he dismissed his cousin, John F Reid, who was playing for New Zealand. Sadly, John Reid passed away last week, aged 64. The only other pair of cousins who opposed each other in Tests, as far as I am aware, were the Hearnes – Jack played for England and Frank for South Africa in Cape Town in 1891-92, but neither dismissed the other. Frank’s brothers Alec and George also played for England in this match, the only Test for both of them.The 6’8″ Bruce Reid played 27 Tests for Australia and took 113 wickets•Getty ImagesI noticed that Hedley Verity took 14 wickets on one day of the 1934 Lord’s Test. Was this a record? asked John Kirkpatrick from Scotland

The Yorkshire slow left-armer Hedley Verity spun England to victory over Australia at Lord’s in 1934 with match figures of 15 for 104. Fourteen of those wickets came on a rain-affected pitch on the third day, when Australia lost 18 wickets for 200 runs in all. Verity had already removed Don Bradman on the second evening, and accounted for him again during next day’s carnage. The story goes that Verity had almost missed the start of play that day – on the way to the ground his car ran over a black cat, and a distressed Verity spent some time trying to locate its owner.The only man to take more in a day’s play in a Test is another England left-arm spinner, Lancashire’s Johnny Briggs, admittedly against less formidable opposition. On the second day of what was only their second official Test match, in Cape Town in 1888-89, South Africa collapsed for 47 and 43, with Briggs taking 7 for 17 and 8 for 11. Three seasons later, in Adelaide in 1891-92, Briggs took 12 Australian wickets on the third day as England set up an innings victory.There have been only seven other instances of a bowler taking ten Test wickets in a day, the most recent by Yasir Shah, for Pakistan against New Zealand in Dubai in 2018-19.Who scored three centuries in Kerry Packer’s “Super Tests” but none in official Test matches? asked Gordon Hamilton from Australia

The player with this peculiar record is the Australian opener Bruce Laird, whose three centuries in World Series Cricket “Super Tests” was exceeded only by Greg Chappell, who hit five hundreds, and Viv Richards, who made four. Laird had not played an official Test when he was signed up by Kerry Packer for WSC, but made his debut once peace was restored. He scored 92 and 75 in his first match, against West Indies in Brisbane in 1979-80, but never made it to three figures in 20 further Tests, although he did end up with 11 half-centuries.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Professional educator Peter Sutcliffe cleared a coaching path successors at the ECB have since smoothed and modified

Paul Edwards08-May-2021
There is more chance of Priti Patel appearing on than us seeing any cricket today. Yorkshire may be God’s own county but He has shown no favouritism towards His chosen people this morning regardless of how much brass they have in their building society accounts. (Suspicions are growing in Harrogate that the Almighty might be a bloody leftie.) The rain set in early and has displayed an adherence of which Emmott Robinson would have been proud. The umpires have announced an inspection for 11.00 and the only thing they can possibly be considering is whether the day’s play should be abandoned.If so, Messrs. Kettleborough and Hartley could spend their afternoon reading Yorkshire’s 2021 Yearbook. After all, they are both in it, as is every other cricketer who has represented the White Rose in a first-class game. The 123rd edition arrived in the Roy Kilner auditorium -why not press box? – yesterday and, as usual, it occupies a smaller area than its counterparts in other counties and is also much less glossy, but it contains far more pages. In other words it is a proper book and should Yorkshire think of changing the format the consequent uprising would make the Pilgrimage of Grace look like a philatelists’ outing.As ever, the Yearbook is a fine read, as much for its articles as its extraordinary quantity of statistics. The most sombre section is the obituaries which, this year, include my tribute to a Yorkshireman who never played a first-class game yet whose contribution to the game should be better known, particularly in a summer when “engagement” is a buzz-word and women’s cricket becomes stronger by the week. What follows is an edited and also augmented version of that obituary and another moment of quiet fame for Peter Sutcliffe:Related

Zak Crawley's old-fashioned elegance belies the ambition of youth

Gary Ballance, Joe Root raise Yorkshire's hopes against Kent

Peter Sutcliffe coaching on the outfield•Simon SutcliffeAnd that is where Peter Sutcliffe’s story ends and also where it continues. For unlike his father, Simon Sutcliffe became a professional county cricketer who represented Warwickshire for three years before moving into teaching while also coaching and playing the recreational game to a high level. In recent seasons, as Master-in-Charge of cricket at Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, he has played an important role in the development of Tom Hartley and George Lavelle, both of whom made their first-class debuts for Lancashire last summer.”Pass it on, boys. That’s the game I wanted you to learn,” says Hector in Alan Bennett’s play If one was not on the verge of tears by that stage of the play, one would be inclined to cheer. Hector’s words are a reminder that inheritance is about more than blood and money; it concerns choice, responsibility, guardianship. Peter Sutcliffe could never see the full results of his coaching or his initiatives, much less will he be able to follow the careers of Lavelle and Hartley. But if we value what we see, it is plainly right that we should preserve it for others to love as well. This is not the worst thing to remember on a wet May morning in Leeds as we prepare for a summer of change and, some might say, threat.

Offspinner keen to continue development after “great experience” in India and Sri Lanka

Alan Gardner04-Apr-2021For any cricketer who has spent a winter touring with England and waiting in vain for their chance, the start of a new county season is bound to loom enticingly. For Amar Virdi, who was a reserve squad member in Sri Lanka and India, bowling in the nets for weeks in case of injury or illness affecting England’s frontline spinners, it will be an opportunity to be grasped with particular relish.A bouncy, bearded 22-year-old, Virdi has long been thought of as an England prospect, having emerged as an ever-present during Surrey’s 2018 Championship-winning season. Fitness issues limited his progress but, having trained in England’s Test bubble last summer, his merits as an attacking offspinner were on show during the Bob Willis Trophy, when he finished as Surrey’s leading wicket-taker.Virdi described his time with England on their trip to the subcontinent as a “great experience” but is now focused on a strong county showing with Surrey to push his case for a Test cap. April may be the cruellest month for spinners in England, but Virdi is eager to get back on the field and work out “a few different gameplans” for the grassier surfaces that are likely to predominate during the opening two-month block of Championship games.”The last time I played a game in April would have been when we won the Championship,” he said. “This time of year, as a spinner, it’s a bit of a new experience for me playing on these pitches. I haven’t really played on early-season pitches. I’ve always found you get a bit of grip when I played before, so I think this year might be a bit different.Related

• Virdi hoping to jump to front of England spin queue

• 'Pitches need to produce good cricket' – Fraser

• J Overton ready to step up sibling rivalry after leaving Somerset

• Somerset start on the back foot in bid for elusive glory

• Borthwick's return as captain marks Durham's levelling up

“It’s just a lot of excitement, everyone raring to go. You want to get out there, obviously with Covid and everything that happened we had a shortened season last year, so I think after a long winter like this you just want to get out there and play some games.”Even when considering what might likely be a holding role in the early part of the season, Virdi gave an indication of his approach to the spin bowler’s craft.”I think it’s not necessarily a case of being defensive. I wouldn’t say I’m a very defensive bowler,” he said. “I think it’s a case of finding other ways to attack. So it might be through maybe a defensive mindset, trying to bowl a lot of maidens and keeping things very simple and attacking in that way. I’m always looking to attack. I think I’ll always keep that mindset, regardless of the conditions.”Although England did not ultimately consider their spin-bowling reserves, which included Matt Parkinson and Mason Crane, for selection in Sri Lanka or India, Virdi was pleased with how his time as part of Joe Root’s touring party went. In particular, he said observing at close hand the level of control exhibited by India’s spinners, R Ashwin and Axar Patel, who claimed 59 wickets between them during the four-match Test series, had been instructive.”It was a great experience,” he said. “Quite a long trip, but I think it was very beneficial, being in an environment like that, that’s where I want to play. That’s where I want to be so getting an insight as to what it’s like bowling to guys like Rooty and [Ben] Stokes in the nets. It’s great practice, and I think it’s really helped my game.

“I think you’ve got to be prepared to bowl on any type of pitch. It’s a case of trying to be a well-rounded bowler and being able to bowl in different conditions”

“The big difference is there’s no room for errors. If there is, it’s very minimal, even when the conditions are perhaps in the favour of the bowler. You still need to have that consistency and I think that was one of [India’s] main strengths. You take Axar for example, just being able to land it in a certain area over and over again, and then relying on the pitch or allowing the pitch to do the work, seemed like the way forward. So, I think they did that very well. And I think that just overall in terms of consistency. I think it’s a very important part of Test cricket.”England’s struggles in India highlighted both the lack of depth in their spin bowling, as well an ability to counter it effectively – in turn raising the perennial debate about the nature of pitches for County Championship cricket.The Kia Oval has long been a ground where spinners have needed to play their part, and with the impressive left-armer Dan Moriarity also coming through the ranks, Surrey could be tempted to lean in that direction. However, asked whether his development could be aided by bowling on more helpful surfaces, as was the case with England’s incumbent spinners, Jack Leach and Dom Bess, Virdi said that he felt it was important to gain a grounding in a variety of conditions.”My experience with county cricket has been that I find a lot of pitches do turn around the circuit. You’re playing at Essex and it spins there, I’ve played at Hampshire and it spins there, I’ve played at Worcester and it spins there. So I think it really just depends on you as a bowler, what you can actually get out of the pitch. It might not turn straight away, but it may turn as a game goes on, or you get the footmarks to work with.Amar Virdi was part of England’s Test bubble last summer•ECB”I think you’ve got to be prepared to bowl on any type of pitch. If you’re always bowling on pitches in your favour, you could go to a Test game and pitch doesn’t turn for four days, then you’re used to bowling really wide outside off stump and trying to spin it through the gate – and you’re like ‘what do I do?’ So I think it’s a case of trying to be a well-rounded bowler and being able to bowl in different conditions.”You’ve just got a face what’s in front of you, I think that will keep you in good stead going forward. Speaking with Leachy and Bessy, we always have chats. I speak to Leachy quite a lot, he’s a great guy, but it’s not something I’ve spoken to him about necessarily, playing down at Somerset and how it’s aided his development. It’s more about different things as a bowler that you can do on different pitches and things like that.”With Bess enduring a difficult time in India, and Moeen Ali missing the opening chunk of Championship cricket while at the IPL, Virdi could soon have the chance to put pressure on Leach for a Test spot. But for now, Virdi’s chief concern remains attacking April with gusto and seeing where that takes him.”I’m just thinking about county cricket at the moment and having the best season I can. If I have a good season and I perform well, then I think that I can’t really control the things that come outside of that. So my focus is going to be on doing my best for Surrey and trying to win another Championship.”

How India’s historic win at The Oval reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket for this fan

Amit Bordia07-Sep-2021Choice of game
We now live at a stone’s throw from The Oval, so I wasn’t going to miss this game. With the series delicately in balance, an Indian team that must have been equally buzzing and hurting after Lord’s and Leeds, I was looking forward to a great time at the ground, and the prospects of enjoying the lunch break with aloo parathas at home.My commute regularly takes me to the road outside The Oval and for the last full year, I have seen it become a construction site, with a new stand being built. There was almost no cricket there in all of 2020. Often, I was left wondering how the feel of the ground would change. It was nice to be in the same stand, having seen them built slab by slab. They have been a great addition to the facilities and provide a modern touch to the gasholders in the backdrop.The build-up
Here we were – 4th Test, day five – with all the four results possible. I left for the stadium early and even then the streets from Vauxhall station were packed. The stands were full well before Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja started the proceedings. Schools and offices in the UK are now fully open – and one could sense that there were more than a few bunked classes, a few sick leaves and work-from-home requests that would have enabled those in the stands to be there.Related

• Jasprit Bumrah happens. And England's challenge ends

• England have looked outgunned and outplayed by India

• Stats – India's first Test win at The Oval since 1971

• Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar to miss fifth Test after positive Covid-19 results

It was absolutely buzzing. By the end of day four, England had provided hope by their staunch resistance. While I knew that such a score has never been chased at The Oval, one of my earliest cricket memories was reading about India at the venue in 1979, and how Gavaskar’s 221 took India to 420 odd, just a few runs short of the target. Then there always was Headingley 2019 in the back of the mind! And of course, India did not have R Ashwin.The crowd
Whoever said Test cricket is on a decline needed to be at The Oval. Most of the fans were in their seats before the start of play. Not just the usual faithful but also young kids and families were all around. The stands were packed to the rafters all five days.The Indians get into a huddle as Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed walk out•Getty Images for Surrey CCCBetween shouts of support, it was normal to hear someone explaining to their kids how the ball could reverse. The more passionate Indian fans were still arguing about the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane (a banner saying “oh Rahane- no more (excuses)” was a crowd favourite) and the exclusion of Ashwin – who was seen practice bowling in almost every break.I had been to a few games at the Hundred this summer and the buzz in the crowd in the last five days matched the best of those – and that speaks volumes of the love of Test cricket in these parts.The resistance from the England openers carried on through the first hour of the day. But just when the Indian supporters were starting to feel a bit down, the first couple of wickets fell. All hell broke loose.The Indian supporters were in full swing. Dhols (Indian drums), turbans, flags, and people dressed in all shades of blue – the dark-blue retro jerseys from the 1992 World Cup, the light blue ones from 1996 to 2007, and then the slightly darker versions that the World Cup champions wore in 2011 – were all there.An ode to The Oval
To a cricket fan, The Oval does not have the history and reverence that Lord’s enjoys, but it does almost always assure an incredible atmosphere and a buzz – slightly rebellious and much less formal than the “Home of Cricket”.It is also one ground where the dressing room is very accessible to the viewing public – and a seat at the Bedser Stand is one of my favorite spots in the world to watch cricket. For it not only provides a great behind-the-bowlers-arm view of the game, it allows a rare glimpse of the body language of those walking up and down on their way to battle, and those in the dressing rooms.My Bedser Stand favourites have included a near ring-side view as Inzamam-ul-Haq called his team from the field in 2006, as Kevin Pietersen waited to bat, sitting in a very contemplative mood, against South Africa in 2012, and as Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid made their way to the middle after following-on in 2011.Fans arrive at The Oval•Getty Images for Surrey CCCThe wow performance
By far, the best cricketing performance of the day belonged to the smiling assassin, Bumrah. He has such an energy about him – the way he bowls, and then turns almost hurrying to his mark and smiling all the way back – it is hard not to love him. In many ways, he is very similar to how Neil Wagner, another much-loved character, goes about his business.The six-over spell that Bumrah bowled was my defining cricketing memory of the day. Old ball, dead pitch, strong home support, good batting line-up, tired body – none of these seemed to have mattered to him.Fifty years on…
The last time India won at The Oval was when Bangladesh had just become a nation, Sunil Gavaskar had made his debut a few months back, India still played three-four spinners overseas, and my parents weren’t even married – and I am not young by any standards! By all measures, this was a historic win. But more importantly, it reaffirmed the joy of Test cricket – for how it unfolds over many sessions and days, and how a day (or two) at the cricket beats almost everything else. The Oval might not be the Home of Cricket, but for the last five days, for me and for many others – it was the “Heart of Cricket”!
Want to do a Fan Following report? Read our FAQ here.

The question of who fills the middle-order position(s) heading into the T20 World Cup remains unanswered

Andrew McGlashan02-Jul-2021The target is 185. Australia are 160 for 4 after 18 overs. Who do you want at No. 6 to finish that chase?As Aaron Finch’s side travels to the West Indies then onto Bangladesh for 10 T20Is the question of who fills the middle-order finisher position(s) heading into the T20 World Cup remains one of the key areas they need to answer.Once again this won’t be a full-strength Australia side with numerous withdrawals over bubble fatigue. The batting has been especially hit without David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.However, uncertainty over middle-order batting positions (for the reference of this piece that will cover Nos 5-7) has not just crept up on Australia in recent months. It has been the area of the side that has proved the most difficult to settle upon.Related

Matthew Wade signs all-format deal with Worcestershire for 2022

Matthew Wade taking latest selection audition in his stride with 'nothing to lose'

Australia's T20 shake-up – who has the most to gain?

Finch refocuses on T20 World Cup build-up

Opportunity knocks for late T20WC bid amid Australia's absences

Whose turn is it next?
Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, where Australia did not get out of the group stage, they have used 25 players across those three middle-order slots. There will always be an element of batters moving through positions given the various scenarios created in T20 matches, but only Sri Lanka, with 30, have cycled through more options so far between World Cups.Stoinis, Alex Carey – who is no longer a starter in the XI – and Ashton Agar have had the most regular opportunties and while Stoinis’ numbers are decent it would be a leap to say the solution has been found.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt is the strike rate Australia have managed from those positions which highlights the issue. Since the last T20 World Cup the Nos 5-7 have struck at 118.53 putting them between Ireland and Bangladesh at the lower end of the table (with a cut-off of 20 matches). Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, UAE, Oman and PNG are the other teams below them.Another way to look at it is the balls-per-boundaries and per-six from that same group of middle order positions. Again, Australia do not stand up well. They are bottom on balls-per-boundary among the current top 10 teams of the rankings and only Bangladesh have a worse balls-per-six ratio.ESPNcricinfo LtdSquare pegs, round holes?
One of the issues for Australia’s selectors is that they have largely put players out of position for those middle-order roles. Most of them are top four batters in the BBL which is logical for those clubs who want the best out of those players but does not give them a proper chance to adjust to what is a very specialist and skilled role lower down. That was shown by Carey’s difficulties adapting down the order.”If you ask most batters around the world, batting later in the innings or it might not so it is a difficult role mentally to keep backing up.” Carey said from St Lucia. “It’s either hit or bust and we’ve seen around the world the best teams have probably got a hitter at the death. There’s probably only a handful of really good finishers around the world. It’s a specialist position and every team would love to have a powerhouse coming in late but you also rely on your top order to set you up and score the big runs.”It was a subject Dinesh Karthik, the India wicketkeeper-batter, recently discussed in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. He was referencing the India team, but the point he makes is relevant to Australia.Alex Carey has struggled to make an impact lower down the order•AFP via Getty Images”In the T20 format, it is a far more niche slot, something that you need to have done over and over again,” he said. “And that’s why you have the Pollards and the Russells or the Dhonis, who have done this over a period of time, who have helped play so many of these impact innings.”You don’t want to go to a World Cup with people who have batted in the top four consistently and throw them in at five, six, seven and expect them to do well.”The numbers from the last two seasons of the BBL would suggest that Mitchell Marsh is worth considering, with a high overall strike-rate and very strong numbers at the death, although at international level over the last two years he has struck at barely a run-a-ball.ESPNcricinfo LtdMaxwell, as ever, is an interesting debate. Such is the dynamism he brings as a batter in T20 that putting him below No. 4 can feel a waste, but in the last two years of BBL he has a strike-rate of 160 at No. 5.It is also worth remembering that as of last season the BBL had the Power Surge available after the 11th over of an innings that will impact the strike-rates of those involved. Although the Surge was widely accepted as the most successful of the innovations, one of the issues raised was that it is not a condition used at international level.Australia may look to Matthew Wade to bat down the order•Getty ImagesBalance of the side
In recent times, Australia have gone down the route of selecting five specialist bowlers – often including two spinners – which has put Agar at No. 7. When the team clicks, as it did during the 2019-20 home season, the middle order was barely needed – Carey, for example, did not get a bat during the six home games that summer – but Agar’s batting numbers at international level have suggested a lack of power ideally needed.There have been warning signs about the middle order: during the run of success they lost to South Africa in Port Elizabeth when they failed to chase 159 from 98 for 1 in the 13th over and last year contrived to lose against England in Southampton.Finch has indicated they will look to alter things in West Indies, but the other issue which impacts who fills the middle-order positions is what Australia do with their wicketkeeper. Since Carey was ditched at the end of the series against England last year, Matthew Wade has taken the gloves and most of the time opened the batting. However, that has been filling in for the absence of Warner; at the World Cup he will resume his partnership with Finch. Steven Smith then has to slot in at No. 3 followed most probably by Maxwell at No. 4. So, again, Australia look like needing their wicketkeeper to bat in the middle order.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt might be that Wade has to take one of those positions by default; Australia need someone behind the stumps and he is viewed as a versatile and selfless player (as demonstrated by opening the batting in the Tests against India). Though Wade has done it at times during his career, it would be another case of a player out of his natural position: 73 of his 121 T20 innings have been in the top three and he has batted at No. 4 or lower only three times in the last three years – all for Australia. It could be that a few options are cycled through during the matches against West Indies and Bangladesh.One name who isn’t in the squad but has been gaining traction is Josh Inglis of Perth Scorchers. He has had a lot of success at the top of the order, which is where he is currently batting for Leicestershire in the T20 Blast, but significantly has also adjusted to the middle order albeit still no lower than No. 4. He is, however, considered an excellent player of spin.Will Dan Christian be Australia’s unlikely savior?•Getty ImagesHiding in plain sight?Those of you who have reached this far may well be thinking of one name: Dan Christian. In the last few weeks he is suddenly back in the frame having not played for Australian in four years. With the withdrawals from the squad for West Indies and Bangladesh, Christian now has the chance to make a last-ditch bid for the World Cup squad.His credentials have been endorsed by his BBL coach Greg Shipperd who talked of his “fearless” approach. Crucially, too, he is a middle-order batter. And, even if three consecutive scores of 1 in the aborted IPL are perhaps a cautionary note, his recent BBL numbers are even more impressive than the table earlier in this piece which were pulled down by his 2019-20 campaign with the Renegades.”He’s got a unique skill set as a strong finisher through the middle and at the back-end with the bat,” Shipperd said.Even with the significant number of absentees it would be strange to recall a 38-year-old if he wasn’t a serious chance of being involved in the T20 World Cup. Before departing, Finch gave a strong indication Christian was at the forefront of their thoughts amid the rethink of the make-up of the team.”He’s someone who is so dynamic and we saw the impact he had especially towards the business end of the Big Bash last year, he came in and had a high strike-rate from ball one, he’s explosive with the bat, has tricks with the ball, he’s experienced, he doesn’t get fazed and he’s a brilliant fielder,” Finch said. “Dan’s a superb player and an unbelievable competitor.”Is he the man you want walking out with 25 to win in two overs? The next few months will tell us.

Being in a group full of Asian oppositions could prove a test if the pitches are slow and low

Deivarayan Muthu21-Oct-2021

Big picture

Just four months ago, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor sealed victory in the World Test Championship final, leaving the New Zealand public clamouring for image of the pair walking off to be immortalised as a statue at the Basin Reserve. New Zealand are now out to have another crack at a world title in the same year, but at this T20 World Cup in the UAE, they will have to do so without Taylor – their joint-most-capped player in T20Is – and there are also some (minor) concerns over Williamson’s fitness in the lead-up to the tournament.Related

• Lockie Ferguson ruled out of T20 World Cup with calf tear

• Guptill hopes to draw confidence from 2016 T20 World Cup performance to turn UAE form around

• Williamson on course for T20 World Cup opener

• T20 World Cup prize money: Title winners to get $1.6 million

• Fit-again Conway ready to create World Cup 'legacy' after Test high

New Zealand dominated their most recent home summer, which saw the emergence of Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway, winning 10 of the 13 completed T20Is. From thriving on easy-paced hit-through-the line tracks on small grounds, Williamson’s men will have to adapt quickly to the slow, low pitches on bigger grounds in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.It helps New Zealand that ten of their 16 squad players were part of the recently concluded IPL, and they can also draw some confidence from the past. In the 2016 T20 World Cup group-stage game in Nagpur, they benched Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan to accommodate three spinners in Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Nathan McCullum – and stunned India on a rank turner.While Williamson has already indicated that conditions will decide New Zealand’s XI, facing India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh – if they qualify for the tournament proper – will be a tricky proposition.

Recent form

None of New Zealand’s World Cup squad players travelled to Bangladesh, where a Tom-Latham-led second-string side lost the T20I series 3-2. The subsequent tour to Pakistan was called off amid security concerns, minutes before the first ODI was scheduled to begin in Rawalpindi. However, a good chunk of New Zealand’s players have been active in franchise cricket, including the IPL, CPL, the Hundred and the Vitality Blast.

Batting

Phillips and Conway have evolved into versatile middle-order batters, and a fit Williamson could have a big role to play, but there could be a bit of trouble at the top if Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert can’t maximise the powerplay in these conditions. Guptill has played nine T20 games in the UAE, scoring 126 runs at an average of 14 and a strike rate of 104.13. Seifert has had stints with the Knight Riders’ franchises in the CPL and IPL but has played just 10 T20s in Asia.Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell, picked ahead of Colin de Grandhomme, will be tasked with the responsibility of finishing the innings.Lockie Ferguson could be a vital cog in the bowling line-up•Getty Images

Bowling

Having recovered from injury and Covid-19, Lockie Ferguson proved his form and fitness for Kolkata Knight Riders in their run to the final in IPL 2021. Ferguson can devour oppositions with his breakneck speed, which most subcontinent teams aren’t used to facing. Adam Milne, who was in stellar form in the Hundred, could have added more X-factor to New Zealand’s attack, but the team management has instead leaned towards the experience of Boult and Southee, keeping Milne as a reserve bowler.New Zealand don’t have a specialist offspinner although Phillips is open to doing the job against left-handers. Santner was the only New Zealander who didn’t get a game in this IPL, but head coach Gary Stead believes he will be able to shake off the rust during the warm-up games.Kyle Jamieson had impressed with his change-ups in Chennai during the first leg of the IPL, but his T20 form has tapered off since. In his last seven T20s, he has managed just a solitary wicket at an economy rate of 10.09.

Player to watch

Ferguson aside, Phillips has become a sought-after T20 package. In addition to being the top six-hitter in T20s this year, Phillips is one of the better players of spin in the New Zealand line-up, having honed his skills while working with Ramnaresh Sarwan at the CPL. A back condition has limited his ability to keep wicket in recent times, but he can aggressively patrol the outfield and bowl quickish offspin.

Key question(s)

Do New Zealand have enough depth in their squad? They’ve picked only one reserve player in Milne, and left out compelling T20 options in Colin Munro and Finn Allen. If the ball doesn’t swing or seam around, how effective will Boult or Southee be in the UAE?

Likely XI

1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tim Seifert (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson/Daryl Mitchell, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult/Tim Southee