A performance to savour
An analysis of England's individual performances in the Tests against India
Andrew Miller
23-Mar-2006
Ravaged by injury and written off by the critics, England's achievement in coming back from 1-0 down to draw their Test series in India was a performance that was "right up there with the Ashes," in Duncan Fletcher's estimation. Arguably, it even surpassed that effort. Their spirited display re-established England's credentials after a disappointing tour of Pakistan before Christmas, and an array of new talent was unearthed and found to be both eager and able
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10
Andrew Flintoff
Tireless, inspirational and the indisputable man of the moment, let alone the series. If there had been doubts beforehand about the wisdom of handing Freddie the captaincy, he harboured none of them himself - and crucially, neither did his players, who rose as one to follow his irrepressible lead. Eleven wickets in the series, four fifties in five innings, and stewardship of England's first victory in India for 21 years. He returns home this week to see his new-born son for the first time - don't be surprised if he pilots the plane as well.
Andrew Flintoff
Tireless, inspirational and the indisputable man of the moment, let alone the series. If there had been doubts beforehand about the wisdom of handing Freddie the captaincy, he harboured none of them himself - and crucially, neither did his players, who rose as one to follow his irrepressible lead. Eleven wickets in the series, four fifties in five innings, and stewardship of England's first victory in India for 21 years. He returns home this week to see his new-born son for the first time - don't be surprised if he pilots the plane as well.
9
Matthew Hoggard
Four years ago he was Nasser Hussain's lackey - a greenhorn seamer with one Test under his belt and strict orders to bowl a foot outside off stump and bore India's batsmen into submission. Even last summer he was derided as the "shop-floor steward", the man whose job was to sweep up after the big boys. Now, however, he was England's go-to man in his own right - the master of conventional swing, he proved unexpectedly adept at reversing it as well, and sharp enough to undo Virender Sehwag with the bouncer to boot. This was his crowning glory.
Matthew Hoggard
Four years ago he was Nasser Hussain's lackey - a greenhorn seamer with one Test under his belt and strict orders to bowl a foot outside off stump and bore India's batsmen into submission. Even last summer he was derided as the "shop-floor steward", the man whose job was to sweep up after the big boys. Now, however, he was England's go-to man in his own right - the master of conventional swing, he proved unexpectedly adept at reversing it as well, and sharp enough to undo Virender Sehwag with the bouncer to boot. This was his crowning glory.
8
Alastair Cook
The most exciting find of the series? Probably. English batsmen are not meant to be sufficiently mature at 21 years and two months to cruise to 60 and 104 not out on debut, let alone in the stifling heat of Nagpur and with two of the finest spinners in the world harrying and hassling them at every turn. But Cook did all of this and more, compiling his runs with a left-handed technique that seemed to amalgamate the best qualities of each of his senior colleagues, Trescothick and Strauss. Twin failures at Mohali showed that he still has plenty to learn, but then again, they should help ensure that his precocious success doesn't go to his head.
Alastair Cook
The most exciting find of the series? Probably. English batsmen are not meant to be sufficiently mature at 21 years and two months to cruise to 60 and 104 not out on debut, let alone in the stifling heat of Nagpur and with two of the finest spinners in the world harrying and hassling them at every turn. But Cook did all of this and more, compiling his runs with a left-handed technique that seemed to amalgamate the best qualities of each of his senior colleagues, Trescothick and Strauss. Twin failures at Mohali showed that he still has plenty to learn, but then again, they should help ensure that his precocious success doesn't go to his head.
8
Paul Collingwood
His superlative performance in the first Test at Nagpur evoked memories of Steve Waugh at his best - the manner in which he rode his punches, trusted his tail, and ultimately cut loose to the tune of 170 unbeaten runs in the match. Originally made his mark as Graham Thorpe's replacement in the one-day side, but now showing he can emulate him over five days as well, with nudges, nurdles and powerful clips to the boundary. An undervalued team man for much of his career, there's little doubt he was one of Flintoff's key lieutenants in a supremely high-spirited squad.
Paul Collingwood
His superlative performance in the first Test at Nagpur evoked memories of Steve Waugh at his best - the manner in which he rode his punches, trusted his tail, and ultimately cut loose to the tune of 170 unbeaten runs in the match. Originally made his mark as Graham Thorpe's replacement in the one-day side, but now showing he can emulate him over five days as well, with nudges, nurdles and powerful clips to the boundary. An undervalued team man for much of his career, there's little doubt he was one of Flintoff's key lieutenants in a supremely high-spirited squad.
7
Owais Shah
At last we've seen a glimpse of what all the fuss is about. Shah was the youngest England A team member of all time when he toured Australia in 1996-97 as a 17-year-old, so it beggars belief that he has since been waiting in the wings for nearly a decade. But when he finally got his opportunity, he seized it with two cocksure performances that revealed a talent that has been burning under a bushel for too long, and some breathtaking leg-side play that could prove rather handy Down Under next winter as well.
Owais Shah
At last we've seen a glimpse of what all the fuss is about. Shah was the youngest England A team member of all time when he toured Australia in 1996-97 as a 17-year-old, so it beggars belief that he has since been waiting in the wings for nearly a decade. But when he finally got his opportunity, he seized it with two cocksure performances that revealed a talent that has been burning under a bushel for too long, and some breathtaking leg-side play that could prove rather handy Down Under next winter as well.
7
Shaun Udal
Players have been placed in the last-chance saloon in the past, but few have supped as thirstily or gloriously as Shaun Udal. He turned 37 on the first morning of the match, and began the last knowing it was now or never to make his mark in an international career that began almost 12 years ago. He came good spectacularly, utilising a tasty patch of rough outside off stump to rip the spine out of India's second innings. Overlooked after a fruitless display in Pakistan, he could never play again, and still retire happy.
Shaun Udal
Players have been placed in the last-chance saloon in the past, but few have supped as thirstily or gloriously as Shaun Udal. He turned 37 on the first morning of the match, and began the last knowing it was now or never to make his mark in an international career that began almost 12 years ago. He came good spectacularly, utilising a tasty patch of rough outside off stump to rip the spine out of India's second innings. Overlooked after a fruitless display in Pakistan, he could never play again, and still retire happy.
7
James Anderson
His rehabilitation is complete, and England's bowling stocks are all the healthier. Anderson's second coming as an international bowler began with an incisive spell in England's one-day series in Pakistan before Christmas, but by his own admission, it was a summer spent in the anonymity of county cricket that made the difference. Overs under his belt, and a new wife by his side, have brought out a more rounded personality.
James Anderson
His rehabilitation is complete, and England's bowling stocks are all the healthier. Anderson's second coming as an international bowler began with an incisive spell in England's one-day series in Pakistan before Christmas, but by his own admission, it was a summer spent in the anonymity of county cricket that made the difference. Overs under his belt, and a new wife by his side, have brought out a more rounded personality.
6
Monty Panesar
His performance at Nagpur had the pundits salivating - 42 supremely tight overs and the maiden wicket of Sachin Tendulkar heralded the arrival of a man who could yet prove to be England's first matchwinning spinner since Phil Tufnell. Like Tufnell, however, Panesar's fielding and batting aren't exactly out of the top drawer, and even his performances with the ball faltered as the series progressed. Needs to be handled sympathetically this summer, when opportunities may not arise too readily.
Monty Panesar
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6
Andrew Strauss
After failing to pass fifty in five Tests since the Ashes, Strauss needed a big score at Mumbai and duly delivered with a gritty 128. But his stock has nonetheless slipped since the Ashes, and the manner of some of his dismissals would have raised eyebrows had they been committed by the middle-order, let alone his regular opening partner, Trescothick. Even so, his tally of eight centuries in 24 Tests remains phenomenal.
Andrew Strauss
After failing to pass fifty in five Tests since the Ashes, Strauss needed a big score at Mumbai and duly delivered with a gritty 128. But his stock has nonetheless slipped since the Ashes, and the manner of some of his dismissals would have raised eyebrows had they been committed by the middle-order, let alone his regular opening partner, Trescothick. Even so, his tally of eight centuries in 24 Tests remains phenomenal.
6
Geraint Jones
Leapt like a rampant salmon at Mumbai to snare six catches, three of them quite breathtaking. Confidence and enjoyment fuelled his performances with the gloves, though his batting remained some notches below the blazing returns that are expected of the modern-day No. 7. That said, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his hugely-hyped opposite number, produced the biggest gaffes of the series with both gloves and bat, so Jones must be doing something right.
Geraint Jones
Leapt like a rampant salmon at Mumbai to snare six catches, three of them quite breathtaking. Confidence and enjoyment fuelled his performances with the gloves, though his batting remained some notches below the blazing returns that are expected of the modern-day No. 7. That said, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his hugely-hyped opposite number, produced the biggest gaffes of the series with both gloves and bat, so Jones must be doing something right.
6
Kevin Pietersen
Another series in which his successes, 87 in the first Test and 64 in the second, were overshadowed by the exasperating nature of his failures - such as his drag-on to Sreesanth in the midst of a fiery over at Nagpur, and his sweeping, driving and general heaving out of the leg-side rough on countless other occasions. But the slow, low pitches of the subcontinent were never likely to be his favourite arenas, so 417 runs in six Tests of naturally uninhibited strokeplay is probably par for the course. His infectious indomitability cannot be underestimated, either.
Kevin Pietersen
Another series in which his successes, 87 in the first Test and 64 in the second, were overshadowed by the exasperating nature of his failures - such as his drag-on to Sreesanth in the midst of a fiery over at Nagpur, and his sweeping, driving and general heaving out of the leg-side rough on countless other occasions. But the slow, low pitches of the subcontinent were never likely to be his favourite arenas, so 417 runs in six Tests of naturally uninhibited strokeplay is probably par for the course. His infectious indomitability cannot be underestimated, either.
5
Steve Harmison
For Pietersen with the bat, likewise Harmison with the ball. Another player whose natural game belongs in bouncier climes, he followed up a scattergun first-Test with a wickedly threatening second spell at Mohali, though he received little but shin damage for his efforts. By missing the Mumbai match, he allowed Anderson to have his moment of glory, and for England's prospects of broadening their squad, it was a very timely niggle indeed. Some time at home during the one-dayers will be good for his peace of mind and England's - there are other contests looming in which his attributes will be crucial, as opposed to merely useful.
Steve Harmison
For Pietersen with the bat, likewise Harmison with the ball. Another player whose natural game belongs in bouncier climes, he followed up a scattergun first-Test with a wickedly threatening second spell at Mohali, though he received little but shin damage for his efforts. By missing the Mumbai match, he allowed Anderson to have his moment of glory, and for England's prospects of broadening their squad, it was a very timely niggle indeed. Some time at home during the one-dayers will be good for his peace of mind and England's - there are other contests looming in which his attributes will be crucial, as opposed to merely useful.
5
Ian Bell
Worth his place for his catching alone, with two efforts standing out in particular - a screeching one-handed interception in the covers at Mohali, and that bat-pad snaffling of Tendulkar at Mumbai. But his primary job is as a batsman, and with pressure for places hotting up all the time, he needs to shake off the suspicion that he is a soft touch and score runs when the pressure is really on. Gamely stepped into the opener's role when Cook fell ill at Mumbai, but a solitary fifty in six innings meant that his sterling returns in Pakistan have been all but forgotten.
Ian Bell
Worth his place for his catching alone, with two efforts standing out in particular - a screeching one-handed interception in the covers at Mohali, and that bat-pad snaffling of Tendulkar at Mumbai. But his primary job is as a batsman, and with pressure for places hotting up all the time, he needs to shake off the suspicion that he is a soft touch and score runs when the pressure is really on. Gamely stepped into the opener's role when Cook fell ill at Mumbai, but a solitary fifty in six innings meant that his sterling returns in Pakistan have been all but forgotten.
4
Liam Plunkett
Performed admirably in adversity on debut before Christmas, but was anonymous in his second coming. Bowled just 11 nervy overs at Mohali and was palpably out of his depth when asked to slot into the troublesome No. 8 position. Will have benefited immensely from this winter's experience, and at the age of 20, time is most certainly on his side.
Liam Plunkett
Performed admirably in adversity on debut before Christmas, but was anonymous in his second coming. Bowled just 11 nervy overs at Mohali and was palpably out of his depth when asked to slot into the troublesome No. 8 position. Will have benefited immensely from this winter's experience, and at the age of 20, time is most certainly on his side.
3
Ian Blackwell
Ashley Giles's like-for-like replacement proved to be nothing of the sort in his one outing of the tour, though had Panesar not proved such an instant success, he might have been forced to shoulder more of the burden. It might be some time before he graduates from the one-cap wonder club, though with the World Cup looming he has another goal that is more relevant to his particular talents.
Ian Blackwell
Ashley Giles's like-for-like replacement proved to be nothing of the sort in his one outing of the tour, though had Panesar not proved such an instant success, he might have been forced to shoulder more of the burden. It might be some time before he graduates from the one-cap wonder club, though with the World Cup looming he has another goal that is more relevant to his particular talents.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo