PlayBack 2013 – Part Two – Team Reports

Part One Here

Australia

A testing year for Australia. When England and Australia met in Brisbane for the start of the return Ashes, Australia hadn’t won a Test since January, and an Ashes Test since December 2010.

Retirement of Michael Hussey ensured Michael Clarke had to lead the next generation all alone. The current crop of players who won the Ashes are the ones who crossed all hurdles. Whitewash in India and loss in England, rift between players, sacking of Coach Arthur and many more.

Lots of one match wonders like Ashton Agar were identified. People like Philip Hughes and Matthew Wade were tried. But in the long run, it was again back to the core group that Australia fell. Ryan Harris, who is prone to injury, came back fit; Mitchell Johnson breathed fire; Watson, Warner and Smith learnt from their mistakes, and Brad Haddin became the improved wicket-keeper batsman.

Debutants in Chris Rogers and George Bailey impressed too. But still Australia lacked one thing – top order performance. In all the 4 Test matches (first day of the 5th Test (Jan 3) as well), the top order failed and heavy load on the middle order, especially on Haddin to save face. This will not work for long given that they are touring South Africa shortly.

Retirement – Mike Hussey

Domestic – Pine Rivers’ Nathan Murray claimed a record of five wickets in one over in Australia’s Warehouse Cricket A3 North Division. The fast bowlers claimed 5 wickets for no run in a space of 6 balls.

Low – Disciplinary action against Watson, Pattinson, Johnson and Khawaja. CA sacking Coach Mickey Arthur 16 days before the first Ashes test.

Notable Contributions – Many a times Australia were saved by their batsmen from a worst beginning. But 2013 saw bowlers making their mark as batsmen. Some innings include Mitchell Starc’s 99 against India in march; Ashton Agar, the debutant scoring 98 at Trent Bridge in the first test of the Ashes in July, the highest by a No 11 in Test cricket history; James Faulkner’s batting blitzkrieg scoring 64 from 29 balls against India, particularly Ishant Sharma, in an ODI in October.

Bangladesh

Much improved performances marked 2013 for Bangladesh. When you see the year as a whole, Bangladesh is the only team that improved their standards in both Tests and ODIs. Though their crushing at the hands of Zimbabwe could prove fatal for the conclusion, their batting in the drawn test at Galle shuts down all doubts.

Their whitewash of New Zealand at home in ODIs was a feather in their cap. The reward for these better performances should have been an improved playing calendar 2014 but that doesn’t seem to be happening as the team again plays Sri Lanka (both home and away), Zimbabwe at home and West Indies away.

Retaining Mushfiqur Rahim as captain until 2015 world cup is an encouraging move but lack of match practice will haunt any captain. Team is no more dependent on Shakib but they look out to individual performances every time to take the team to the brim.

Record – Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim smashed impressive centuries against Sri Lanka in Galle. Rahim notched the first double century of his country. Bangladesh amassed 638, their highest total.

Low – Mohd Ashraful’s involvement in BPL’s corruption scandal. Another low point was Bangladesh’s crushing 335-run loss to Zimbabwe in April. Their combined total in the first Test match against Zimbabwe, 281 runs, was just eight more than Zimbabwe Captain Brendan Taylor had made during the game in an epic batting effort

England

England won their 3rd consecutive Ashes but were destroyed to ashes in a span of less than 5 months. How unstable the team went. Added to it was the shocking exit of Trott after the first test at Gabba sighting stress and Swann’s retirement sealed the fate for the team.

Forget the Ashes tour down under, England had a fantastic year. They defeated India in India in tests; retained the Ashes, a hat-trick; reached the final at the Champions Trophy.

But in the end, things turned emotional. England has made a planned elevation to the top. They make a prolific team at home and gave players enough chance to prove themselves. But an overkill of test matches did made the team lose interest. At the start of the year England were the top team in all formats but now where are they? With the Ashes lost and a 0-4 scoreline, England starts 2014 to avoid a whitewash and to gain a moral victory.

Throughout the year England didn’t have a steady batting line-up. Alex Hales and Joe Root were tried to partner Cook but Hales faded and Root is sought as the one-down replacement to Trott. Root, with the form he was against India, one never expected his place to be in question very soon.

Kevin Pietersen is always under limelight. He needs to be pushed to perform. James Anderson seemed to be the best at home but his performances abroad were poor. Finn and Bresnan remains in the dressing. Cook scored hugely during the last Ashes in Australia but this time he hasn’t scored. At the end, England has a new opener in Carberry, a new all-rounder in Stokes and a lot of fear. They are on top in the first session but rest of the sessions they gift to the opponent.

Retirement – Graeme Swann’s premature retirement may be considered as freedom given to the players but where is his replacement?

High – Retaining the Ashes at home with a 3-0 victory

Low – Definitely the surrender of the Ashes in the return tour.