PlayBack 2013 – Part Three – Special Mentions

Part One Here | Part Two here

Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke’s enthusiasm to declare at unexpected junctures never reduced. He will make sure that the score line doesn’t read ‘all out’ as well he will ensure his bowlers are fresh enough to attack again. On Jan 5th, he declared with the score at 432-9 against SL with a first innings lead of 138 just before lunch.

In the Ashes Test at the end of year as well he never bothered to wait for Warner’s 100 and also started their 2nd innings even though follow-on could have been enforced for an innings victory. A quick lead, an overnight declaration. Was great to see their bowlers bowl a barrage of bouncers at great pace and ended the 4 year drought.

He also declared on the first day of the Test at Hyderabad with the Aussies at 237/9. It was the first time since 1974 that a team has declared on the first day of a Test. On the 5th day of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, he declared at 111/6 in the 2nd innings setting a target of 227 post tea but the match ended in a draw due to bad light.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell speech. The fairy-tale ending was a planned one. He has to play his 200th Test match at home, contribute in front of his home crowd, in front of his near and dear ones and at the same time the team needs to win. West Indies accepted the invitation.

Everything planned. Stage set. Number 199 at Eden Gardens and number 200 at Wankhede. Special postage stamps released, specially minted toss coin and loads of take-aways. But little did everyone know that Tendulkar too has planned something. Celebrations that were planned at Eden Gardens couldn’t be completed as the match ended in 3 days. Wankhede too wasn’t different.

Even though Tendulkar scored 74 in his final innings, fans couldn’t get the feel of any match happening. On November 16 2013, exactly after 24 years and 1 day, the man retired. Cameras concentrated only on Sachin (remember India won the series 2-0?). He came out for the presentation with his wife and children and also with a piece of paper in his hand which had some points to remember.

And then it was all Tendulkar. ‘Friends settle down let me talk’ were his initial words. ‘My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that wonderful journey has come to an end’. No. This is not what fans wanted to hear but then everyone realized that the most dreaded day in cricket has arrived.

Tendulkar didn’t miss anyone in his speech. He went to the middle and touched the ground and left; but that left a lump in everyone’s throat. ‘Even God needs rest’ was a wonderful headline in next day’s newspaper.

Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson’s sudden surge of form made him the go-to bowler for Australia now. Post the retirement of McGrath, Lee and Gillespie, Australia looked towards Johnson to lead the pace attack. With Ryan Harris prone to injuries, Johnson is expected to lead the new comers as well.

It was never his form but only that it took him hat-trick of Ashes defeats to get to that role. His 2009 Ashes stint in England was the worse and everyone knows how wayward his bowling was. But now, finally, after all those set-backs, punishments and dedication, Mitchell Johnson tasted Ashes victory.

It not unfair if we say it’s because of Mitch, Australia won the Ashes (Brad Haddin as well. But looks like Johnson would have cleaned the opponent even if it’s a low target)

MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s records in 2013 cannot be ignored. In ODIs – only captain to manage average of fifty-plus amongst captains with 2000 runs or more; only player to register average of 100-plus while chasing successfully (min qualification 1000 runs); one of the 3 wicket keepers to have completed double of 7000 runs and 200 dismissals along with Sangakkara and Gilchrist; his average of 75.81 in wins is the highest amongst the batsmen with 3000 runs or more.

In TESTS – first Indian wicket keeper to hit a double century(206*) beating Budhi Kunderan’s 49 year old record of 192, also became the top scoring Indian captain; became the 2nd Indian to score 200 in a day after Sehwag, who has done it thrice; Dhoni(2667) overtook Ganguly(2561) as the third highest Indian run getter as captain.

First 2 are Gavaskar(3449) and Azhar(2856); holds the record for most international runs as captain(8197) surpassing Azhar(8095); became the most successful Indian test captain with 22 wins in 45 games surpassing 21 in 49 by Ganguly.

Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq’s knack to remain unbeaten when his team collapses became a fact these days. 15 ODI half centuries and the leading run scorer of 2013 with 1373 runs. But still he remains in the sidelines of great players. In that Johannesburg Test where Pakistan lost heavily, Misbah stood there for hours in the second innings.

In the Test which they lost against Zimbabwe, Misbah held together the 2nd innings but ran out of partners on 79 and lost by 24 runs. Even in the ODI’s he scored 2 half centuries in 3 matches. In the ODI against Scotland, Pakistan could score just 231 and Misbah top scored with 83 not out. Bowlers did their job in Pakistan victory.

In the 5-match ODI series in West Indies (which Pak won 3-1, one tied match), Misbah scored 4 half centuries in 5 games and was rightly adjudged player of the series. When all his careful innings in ODI couldn’t take him to that maiden century, Misbah crafted a better innings in the Test in Abu Dhabi in which Pakistan beat South Africa.

He scored a hundred in the first innings and stayed till the end in the second innings and ensured his team won. Even in the last Test of the year against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi, Misbah scored a first innings century. At 39 years, Misbah still has the strength to take his team to bigger wins but he cannot always play the captain’s knock.

New Zealand’s young pace attack – the Test trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner and added to them was Doug Bracewell and Mitchell McCleneghan in ODIs became a nightmare to the opponents. And recently Adam Milne as well and they still have Kyle Mills around. Curerntly, New Zealand pack attack seem to be the best in the world and given that the World Cup is set in home conditions, these bowlers are definitely a pack of horror movies.