Cricket in 2013 – Play back - Part One

Too many retirements

The year 2013 dawned and starred at the death of Tony Greig, Michael Hussey’s retirement announcement, change in ODI rules and the historic India-Pakistan series. Little did it know that more heart-breaks await.

Summing up

From an Australian collapse to an Australian victory. That pretty much sums up cricket in 2013. The cricketing year 2013 was a complete package – a whole load of retirements, double Ashes, South Africa becoming the top Test nation, an Australian collapse and revival, IPL and CLT20 continues, match fixing, corruption, several greats inducted into ICC Hall of fame, count down to the 2015 World Cup and many more.

Recap

A lonely walk to the middle amidst emotional spectators at a distance and a salute to the pitch in his own style, Sachin Tendulkar departed the arena emotionally. His farewell speech left a lump in every fan’s throat. 24 years, 200 Tests, 100 international centuries, 34000 runs and many more achieved by this little man. 2013 – a year of retirements and its hunger continued till the end starting from Michael Hussey, on the way swallowing few more and finally Jacques Kallis.

“I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and proud to be part of the Indian cricket team and serving the nation. Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit and right values” – were the farewell words of Sachin to his Team. But match fixing and corruption has spread its arms. International players were arrested during IPL, the country’s icon admitted to fixing in BBL and legends being interrogated in a possible fixing in NZ. Players need to ensure that the dignity of the sport is maintained.

Every team had its ups and downs. A meek surrender to England at home left Team India shattered but they came up strong in one-dayer’s by not losing an ODI series at home, in the way creating several high scoring records and also winning the Champions Trophy. But the ‘victory-to-draw’ at Wanderers and ‘draw-to-loss’ at Durban might tilt the table again.

When everyone felt England are fast becoming a better team in all formats, their heavy load of tests this year saw them suffocate in Australia. Trott felt the stress and Swann could no more handle the demands of cricket. What lays ahead remains unknown. But Australia have left behind their entire year long sorry tale and regrouped mightier.

It’s surprising to know that they had a 200 day winning drought before Aaron Finch steered the team to a T20I victory against England. But the surprise package of the year was Team Bangladesh. If their home season was all about new comers and bowlers and their records, the Sri Lankan tour was all about batsman.

Will they raise to the occasion every time going forward remains a puzzle. But with the Asia cup and world T20I scheduled in the country, opportunities are bright for the young team. There is another young team called Zimbabwe whose fate is to always suffer – not on-field but with their administrators. A heavy debt of their cricket board led to many players going unpaid but still the players had the strength and will to fight on-field.

Players moving out to county cricket became a routine. South Africa was denied some profit when India cut short their tour to the Rainbow Nation. But the party never ended. South Africa became the number one in Tests and they proved why they are so in every match they played. New captains, new players but the enthusiasm is the same. Their loss to Pakistan might be the nail on the head at the right time. Such loss at times is required to get back to reality.

More reality was realized when New Zealand almost lost to Zimbabwe. NZ, as a team, remained inconsistent throughout. They win, they try and then they lose. Big names are often missing from the squad. Winning against WI at home may be a nice end to the year given that they were thwacked by Steyn on the second day of the year. But how much have they learnt from their whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh? Learning is always in process for West Indies. 2013 was no different. They played India, they played New Zealand, they played Pakistan and they just played. Nothing remarkable. They can be proud of being part of Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell and that Chanderpaul is still around.

Sachin Tendulkar

Pakistan too was in a similar frame but they managed to beat South Africa. Misbah is the lone warrior and whose role apart from being a captain is to play a captain’s knock. Players who showed promise in the Indian tour slowly faded. New found fast bowlers and a young middle order will take Pakistan to better position in the rankings but loss of home support and to always remain away from home does affect the rhythm. There is no point in blaming the coach.

At least they have a coach who is willing to continue but for Sri Lanka, they searched and searched and zeroed on Paul Farbrace. Sri Lanka had a decent 2013 but they too had their share of dramas especially in search of coach and players’ threatening to boycott over payments. Things did settle down and Sri Lanka had good series against both South Africa and Pakistan.

Extras

• Sri Lanka were in Australia and rumors spread that Rangana Herath was dead alongside Vaas after perishing in a car crash. The next day Herath led SL for a game out at the SCG.

• Kevin Pietersen gets full England contract. He was frozen out of the contract in August 2012 when he was dropped from the final Test against SA over claims he sent text messages to rival players criticizing then England captain Strauss.

• Former Sri Lankan wicket keeper Guy de Alwis, Indian cricketer Rusi Surti, former test umpire Hanumantha Rao and Desh Prem Azad, Kapil Dev’s coach passed away. International cricket umpire Des Raj dies of cardiac arrest. As per his wish his organs were donated.

• Graeme Smith became the first cricket player to captain a team in 100 tests when he led SA against Pak at Wanderers. It also coincided with his 32nd birthday. The day was dedicated to him as Biff day

• Jesse Ryder went into an induced coma after being brutally beaten up outside a Wellington bar.

• Gayle notched 175, highest ever individual score in T20 cricket. He scored 175 off 66 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors

• ICC announced Laxman Sivaramakrishnan as the new player representative, sweeping aside concerns over their voting process

• Afghanistan gets associate membership

• A SL ‘A’ cricketer, Ramith Rambukwella, was fined 50 per cent of his tour fee for causing a mid-air panic. In a drunken state, he tried to open a British Airways flight door while flying back from West Indies. Rambukwella defended himself saying he was a natural sleep walker. Team manager claimed that Rambukwella was not able to find the toilet door as the lights had been dimmed.

• Shikar Dhawan scored 248 off 150 balls in a 50 over match between India A and SA A in Pretoria. It’s the highest score by an Indian in a limited over’s game and second highest after Ali Brown’s 268 (Surrey v Glamorgan)

• Aaron Finch scored 156, highest T20I score in a T20I match against England in Southampton and thereby helping Aus win by 39 runs which ended a 200 day victory drought for Australia.

• Rohit Sharma became the third batsman, and the third Indian, to score a one-day double-hundred, when he reached the milestone against Australia in Bangalore. He also hit a world-record 16 sixes in his innings; there were 38 sixes in all in the game, also a record.

• New Australian national Fawad Ahmed’s decision to not to wear a beer sponsor’s logo on his shirt due to his Islamic beliefs. This was supported by the Australian cricketers

• Sohag Gazi became the first cricketer in Test history to score a century and take a hat-trick in the same Test match

• 500 days countdown to World cup 2015 began on October 1 2013

• Vatican launches it cricket club and challenged the church of England for a match