PlayBack 2013 – Part Three – Special Mentions

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.