ENGLAND SINKS IN KINGSTON

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo

Venue- Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica [February 2009] 

In the year 2009, English Cricket Team toured West Indies to play 4 test matches. The first test of the series took place in the historic Sabina Park. On a batting friendly pitch England won the toss and elected to bat first.  Riding upon Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior's half centuries, England managed to score 318 runs in their first innings. In response the West Indies scored 392 runs in their first innings. Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan scored brilliant hundreds for their team. Whereas Stuart Broad was the leading wicket taker for the visitors as he picked up 5 wickets for 85 runs. 

The visitors were just 74 runs behind the West Indian total when they started their second innings. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. The strong English batting line-up was bowled for just 51 runs in their second innings. It is interesting to note that it took just 33.2 overs to bowl England out in their second innings. The English batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards in front of Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn. Except Andrew Flintoff, no other England Batsman was able to reach the double-digit mark. 

Jerome Taylor picked up 5 wickets for just 11 runs, whereas Benn picked up 4 wickets for 31 runs. The bowling of Jerome Taylor reminded us of the old great West Indies team which used to demolish their opponents with their sheer pace. The ball which he bowled to dismiss Pietersen in the second innings was simply unbelievable. 

[Postscript- West Indies won the test by an innings and 23 runs. Jerome Taylor was awarded the man of the match award for his excellent bowling performance. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that all the remaining tests of the series ended in a draw. As a result, West Indies won the Wisden Series 1-0.]

To watch the spell of Taylor and Benn, click here.   

ZAHEER KHAN AND THE 2011 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP

 

Image Credit- Hindustan Times

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will always be a special world cup for the Indians. After all India lifted the coveted trophy after 28 long years. It is also interesting to note that by doing so India became the first ever host to win this major trophy. There were many heroes because of whom we were able to lift the biggest trophy of world cricket. As a result it will be wrong to point out just one name because of whom we won the cup. However the impact which Zaheer Khan had in this tournament is often under noticed.  Zaheer Khan was the leading wicket taker of the tournament. He picked up 21 wickets in 9 games with an economy rate of just 4.83.  The stats itself shows how good he was in that world cup. But, stats don't tell you the impact he had in each and every game. 

His spell against England will always be remembered and cherished by the Indian cricket fans. At one stage, England were cruising in for a comfortable victory against the hosts. However Zaheer Khan came in from nowhere and picked up 3 quick wickets of Strauss, Bell and Collingwood. By doing so he brought back India back into the game. It is pertinent to note that Strauss and Bell were well set on the pitch. Bell was batting on 69. Whereas Strauss was batting on 158.  As a result everyone lost hope that India can ever make a comeback in this game. However Zaheer turned everything upside down and helped Indians tie that game. 

It was a regular phenomenon in the world cup that whenever India needed a wicket the captain handed the ball to Zaheer and Zaheer delivered every single time. 

Without him it would have been impossible for us to lift that cup. Thank You ZAK for all the memories. 

To watch Zaheer's 2011 World Cup performance, click here. 

AN INNINGS WHICH WON AN ASHES

 

Image Credit- Fox Sports

Venue- The Oval, London [September 2005]. 

It was the final day of the 2005 Ashes series. The English were 2-1 up and were eying a series win after 16 long years. On the other hand, the Aussies too were also desperate for a win so that they can level the series and retain the urn.

In response to England's 373, Australians scored 367 in their first innings. At the end of day 4 play's, English scorecard read 34/1 [Lead of 40 runs]. 98 overs were to be played on the final day of the match and these 98 overs were to decide the outcome of the great series. The game as well as the series was evenly poised and could have gone on any side.

Ricky Ponting, the captain of Australia, put his faith in Warne and McGrath, the two all-time great wicket-takers. For the first 40 minutes of the play, England played effectively, with Vaughan challenging the Australian bowlers, but McGrath bowled two stunning outswingers to dismiss both him and Ian Bell (for a pair) in quick succession. A couple of uncharacteristically dropped catches did hamper the Australian charge, but Warne and McGrath combined to take four wickets before lunch, giving England a lead of 133 runs with just five wickets left.

However, Kevin Pietersen struck his first Test century in such adverse conditions. He scored 158 of just 187 deliveries. His innings consisted of 15 boundaries and 7 massive sixes. The way he played the fearsome Australian bowling was something truly incredible. It was pure class of Super Kev. His power hitting impressed everyone. Due to his great innings England managed to score 335 runs in their second innings.

There was little chance for the Australians to catch up to their deficit of 341 runs as they started their innings. They were given the light almost immediately, and after accepting it, both teams had to go back to their dressing rooms to wait for the game to officially end. The crowd was ready for England to receive the Ashes and for the festivities to start as the game was practically done. At 18:17 BST, umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Bowden put up the stumps to declare the conclusion of the game and the series after a brief period of ambiguity and confusion.

The match was drawn, and the urn returned to England after 16 long years. Kevin Pietersen was chosen as the Man of the Match by Channel 4 viewers for his first test century at such a critical moment. John Buchanan, the coach of Australia, nominated Flintoff as his Man of the Series, while Duncan Fletcher, the coach of England, chose Warne. Additionally, Flintoff also received the new Compton-Miller Medal for being the series' top player, as chosen by the chairman of selectors for each team, Trevor Hohns and David Graveney. 

To watch Kevin Pietersen's innings, click here. 

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRICKET- KEVIN VERSUS MURALI

 

Image Credit- Wisden

Venue- Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham [May 2006].

 

In the year 2006, Sri Lanka toured England to play a test series comprising of 3 test matches. The first test at Lords ended in a draw and the teams now moved to Birmingham for the second test. Mahela Jayawardene, the captain of Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.

However soon it appeared to be a wrong decision as England used a swinging wicket to reduce them to 82/8 before Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga put up a half-century partnership and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 141 runs. Liam Plunkett was the leading wicket taker for the hosts. In response England started very well. At the conclusion of the first day, they had almost eliminated the deficit when play was called off. The English scorecard read 138/3. However, Muttiah Muralitharan kept troubling the English batsmen and it appeared that they won't be able to take a big lead.

But that is when we witnessed one of the greatest cricketing duels. Kevin and Murali went head-to-head. There were balls which troubled Kev. There were deliveries which made him feel uncomfortable. However, the way he played Murali was something unbelievable. Afterall no one has ever played a switch hit to the great Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pietersen scored 142 of 157 deliveries. His innings consisted of 20 boundaries and 3 sixes. In the words of Mark Nicholas, "it was a rare privilege to be here and watch Kevin Pietersen bat". Due to the heroics of Pietersen England managed to score 295 in their first innings. However, it will be wrong to say that this match completely belonged to Kevin. Afterall Muttiah Muralitharan picked up 10 wickets in the game and kept Lankans in the fight. 

However, at the end of the day the hosts won the match by 6 wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Kevin Pietersen was awarded the man of the match for his blistering knock. 

To watch Kevin and Murali's face off, click here.

To watch Kevin Pietersen's knock, click here.

To watch Muttiah Muralitharan's spell, click here. 

THE BEST OF KEVIN PIETERSEN

 

Image Credit- Wisden.

Venue- Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds [August 2012].

In the year 2012, South African Cricket Team toured England for a 3 match test series. After winning the first test of the series the visitors were on a roll. On the other hand, the hosts were on backfoot. In a do or die test, English Captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to field first. 

The South Africans continued from where they ended in the first test. They battled for around 140 overs and posted a big score of 419 in their first innings. In response the hosts had a solid first wicket partnership of 65 runs. However, at one stage the English scorecard read 173/4. The match could have gone anywhere and that is when Kevin Pietersen blasted upon the scene.

Pietersen scored a brilliant 149 of 214 balls and made sure that his side is in a safe position. His innings consisted of 22 boundaries and 1 six. It is pertinent to note that this innings of his was not just power hitting but was also about timing and finding gaps. Furthermore, the straight six which he hit to Dale Steyn will be remembered for ages. Apart from the six his pull shots and footwork were also equally entertaining. 

In short it was just sheer class of Kevin Pietersen. By the time he was dismissed the scorecard read 351/6.  The English were eventually all out for 425 runs, thereby getting a lead of 6 runs. The test match ended in a draw. But this test will always be remembered by the fans for the iconic knock of one and only Kevin Pietersen. 

The commentator of the game said it right- We run out of superlatives when Pietersen bats like this.   

To watch Kevin Pietersen's innings, click here.