Everything here is in my opinion, fair.
9 - Virender Sehwag: Scored 290 runs in three innings for an average of 96.66 with a strike rate of 87.34. More importantly, showed he can bat while everyone around him collapses, while being able to slow down his scoring rate to a Richardson-ish 70. Was responsible for snatching the game away from South Africa in the 2nd Test with a hurricane 165 as he rendered Steyn and Morne toothless for a large part of the game.
9 - Zaheer Khan: Took 7 wickets at 31.14, but bowled with great skill in both matches and kept India in the game in the 2nd Test when South Africa had started strongly, starting the collapse with the wickets of Peterson and Amla as he attacked relentlessly. Completely owned Graeme Smith, too. Dhoni used him a lot too, and the strain probably got to him as finally got injured on the 4th day, forcing him out of the ODI series. This is obviously a blessing in disguise, earning him well-earned rest ahead of the IPL, where he will be key to the Mumbai Indians' campaign.
8.5 - Sachin Tendulkar: 213 runs at 71 look like good figures, but the Master knows he could have done better. Failed in the first innings at Nagpur when India collapsed, but notched up successive centuries after that, the second of which was crucial at the other end of a Sehwag special. Can't have enjoyed getting out after the hundred twice, but he's done his job well enough, showing no signs of slowing down as a run-machine.
8 - VVS Laxman: 143 not out in his only innings at his favourite ground, and it was an important innings too, as he, in Dhoni's company, ensured that the start provided by Sehwag and Sachin wasn't wasted by the frailties of the new-look middle order. Still amazing to watch him bat, he showed us what India missed in Nagpur.
7.5 - MS Dhoni: Scored 163 runs at 81.5. He was left with too much to do lower down the order, twice at Nagpur. Was unlucky one of those times as an innocuous delivery from Harris reared out of the rough to catch his periscope/bat and fly to slip. Showed how much improved he is as a Test batsman at Kolkata with a busy hundred in a huge partnership with Laxman. As a captain, he made some decisions that may seem odd to us, but it's better to go along with him - there's no question he's been a huge factor in India's fortunes in the last few years.
7 - Harbhajan Singh: Took 10 wickets at 28.9. Was largely panned for his performance at Nagpur as the South African batsmen handled him with great ease, despite the pitch offering turn. There was no doubt he would bounce back at Kolkata, the ground where he made history 9 years ago. He bowled well without reward for most of the first day, and when Zaheer had broken through he got three quick wickets as the South African batsmen threw their wickets away to topspinners and armballs. Brilliant in the second innings, he bowled 48.3 overs and condeded only 59 runs as he successfully *choked* South Africa and snared five wickets in the process. Fed off the cheering crowd, he dealt the final blow with Morne's wicket to secure a famous win. Remains to be seen whether he will continue to do well overseas. Will do well for the Mumbai Indians, I hope.
4.5 - Subramaniam Badrinath: 63 runs at 21. Scored a very solid 56 in his debut innings, but went missing after that. Needs to tighten up his defence if he is to survive at this level. Good temperament though.
4.5 - Amit Mishra: 4 wickets at 72 is a terrible return for an Indian spinner in India, and all those wickets came in the 2nd Test. Was very unlucky at Nagpur where he beat the bat a lot, and he just didn't use enough variations. Found a much better line and length at Kolkata, but still bowled too many four-balls and no-balls. He used the turn on offer well in the second innings and accounted for the important wickets of Smith, Kallis and deVilliers. He needs to up his game, there's competition from Ojha and possibly Ashwin.
4 - Wriddhiman Saha: Thrown into the lion's den by the selectors, he was quickly taken out by Steyn in his first innings without scoring. In the second innings, though, batting with the tail, he played a gutsy innings of 36 and survived over a hundred deliveries, sweeping well too. He won't we back anytime soon though.
3.5 - Gautam Gambhir: Only 38 runs at 12.66. Cold, hard facts. Got out to two absolute jaffas from Morne Morkel in the first match, and started very well with Sehwag in the second before his partner ran him out in a moment of madness. He isn't really out of touch and will be back scoring in no time.
3 - Ishant Sharma: 3 wickets at 78.66, all wickets coming at Kolkata. Rubbish at Nagpur, no more words need be said. Was better at Kolkata, though not by a whole lot. One hostile spell to Amla paved the way for Zaheer and Harbhajan to get the wickets. With Zaheer out of the attack in the second innings, still wasn't the best seamer for India. Harsh, yeah, but he needs a break. Bring him back after that, but please, a break.
1 - Murali Vijay: 43 runs at 14.33 is not at all a good return for a top-order batsman, especially a number three. He was out leaving the ball in the first innings and sweeping in the second at Nagpur. Should lose his spot when Dravid and Yuvraj return.
South Africa to follow in a bit.
4 comments:
You are one harsh judge! I know at least 27 spinners who would sell their mother for Mishra's figures :P
Pakistan break the chains!
I think I've been spoiled by India's past spinners, and I definitely know that there are more spinners in India who could have done a lot better!
I think I would make a very good schoolteacher :)
Definitely, you have a very good and entertaining writing style ;)
I think it was at Purna's... don't remember what post, but she mocked the unjustified blind fear people have of Indian spinners... I remember having confessed guilty lol
Wes' last blog:
((( Kiwis have round butts )))
Thank you! Yours is pretty engaging itself!
Yeah there's no need to fear the current Indian spinners... no one else does! :P
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