Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

India v England in numbers

England have completed their first Test series win in India for 27 years.

After losing the first Test in Ahmedabad, they battled back to win in Mumbai and Kolkata, and draw the finale in Nagpur.

Here are some statistics from an enthralling series.

4: Number of Test series England have won in India. Alastair Cook joins David Gower (2-1 in 1984-85), Tony Greig (3-1 in 1976-77) and Douglas Jardine (2-0 in 1933-34) in leading England to victory there.

11: Wickets taken by Monty Panesar on his comeback Test at Mumbai. His 11-210 was the third best match figures at the Wankhede Stadium, behind Ian Botham (13-106), Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (12-181).

1984-85: India 1-2 England (5 Tests)

1992-93: India 3-0 England (3 Tests)

2001-02: India 1-0 England (3 Tests)

2005-06: India 1-1 England (3 Tests)

2008-09: India 1-0 England (2 Tests)

2012: India 1-2 England (4 Tests)

The series in numbers

12: Wickets taken by James Anderson in the series - and the combined haul of India's seamers from 190.3 overs.

16: Ian Bell's century in Nagpur was his first in India, in his 16th innings. Though he struggled with the bat and missed a Test after the birth of his first child, a couple of not-outs lifted his series average to 43.

18.66: Series batting average for India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who averages 23.80 for the year 2012 compared to a career average of 54.32.

19: Number of players in England's touring squad at one time. Fifteen played, while Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, James Tredwell and Stuart Meaker did not feature in the Tests.

20: Wickets taken by Graeme Swann and Pragyan Ojha, the joint leading wicket-takers in the series.

34.66: Batting average of opener Nick Compton after his first four Tests.

44: Number of maiden overs bowled by both Panesar and Swann apiece in the series. They combined for 25 in the final Test.

44: The number of innings Swann had batted since his last Test fifty in 2009, before his glorious 56 in Nagpur.

60.75: Batting average of Ravichandran Ashwin, who is in the India side for his bowling. He took 14 wickets at 52.64 in four Tests.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

91: Wicketless overs bowled by England seamers Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan in four combined appearances, at a cost of 299 runs.

93: Test batting average of 21-year-old Joe Root after scoring 73 and 20 not out on his debut.

99: Nmber of Tests played by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was dropped after the Mumbai Test and may struggle to play his 100th.

135: Samit Patel's bowling average for the series indicates he may have to earn future Test selection purely for his batting.

288: James Anderson, who ploughed a lone seam furrow for England for much of the series, is nine Test wickets away from equalling fourth-placed Derek Underwood in England's all-time bowlers' list, with Fred Trueman (307), Bob Willis (325) and eventually Ian Botham (383) in his sights.

438: Runs in the series by India's top scorer Cheteshwar Pujara, 185 higher than nearest rival Virender Sehwag.

528: Combined international wicket totals by Anderson (288 in Tests, 222 in ODIs and 18 in T20 internationals) and Botham (383 in Tests, 145 in ODIs), who now share the England record.

5: Set a new world record with centuries in his first five Tests as captain.

23: Cook became the first England batsman to score 23 Test centuries when he reached three figures in Kolkata. Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoff Boycott and Kevin Pietersen have scored 22.

Matches: 87 Innings: 154 Not outs: 10 Runs: 7,117 Highest score: 294 Average: 49.42 Hundreds: 23 Fifties: 29 27: Became the youngest batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs at 27 years 347 days

49.42: Cook's Test average has been pushed close to 50 by this series.

61.85: His Test average in India is only surpassed by his averages in Bangladesh (114) and Australia (65.12).

190: Top score for the series by Cook at Kolkata, his third highest in Tests.

866: Cook is now England's highest Test run-scorer in India, surpassing Mike Gatting's 863.

*Statistics correct as of 17 December 2012

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


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England make statement to Aussies

England's victory in India was an outstanding achievement and will send a shiver down the spine of the Australians ahead of back-to-back Ashes series in 2013.

It was a result that ranks alongside the Ashes victories of recent years, with England showing incredible character to come back from their heavy defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

5: Set a new world record with centuries in his first five Tests as captain 23: Cook became the first England batsman to score 23 Test centuries when he reached three figures in Kolkata 27: became the youngest batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs at 27 years 347 days 61.85: His Test average in India is only surpassed by his averages in Bangladesh (114) and Australia (65.12) 190: Top score for the series by Cook at Kolkata, his third highest Test innings 866: Cook is now England's highest Test run-scorer in India, surpassing Mike Gatting's 863

After that result, and taking into account the 3-0 defeat against Pakistan in the UAE earlier in the year, few could have predicted England would leave Nagpur with a series victory.

People will ask what happened between that match in Ahmedabad and the victory in Mumbai in the second Test.

First of all, England brought Monty Panesar back into the team and he gave them more balance.

Then Kevin Pietersen changed.

After two skittish and nervous innings in the first Test, he responded with a magnificent 186 in Mumbai. Alastair Cook also scored lots of runs and it became apparent that England had better spinners than India.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

I'm sure that has never been said before and it hurt the home side. They were puzzled and worried by it and many people are calling for a review into their domestic structure because of it.

England lost the toss in Mumbai, but once they had shown they could win the hard way, it gave them the belief to do the same in Kolkata in the third Test.

They preyed on India's insecurities, but we must also be mindful that the hosts played poorly. They have got a number of issues to address following this series - like the futures of their star player, Sachin Tendulkar, their captain Mahendra Dhoni and their coach Duncan Fletcher.

Australia visit India early in 2013 and that will be a fascinating contest because we will see how they respond, and also what Australia have got because this will have been a wake-up call for them too.

Cook will return home from his first tour as Test captain a very happy man. He has proved that the captaincy would not detract from his performances - as he did in one-day cricket - and he has earned the respect of all his players with his runs.

"There is a mild irony that Duncan Fletcher didn't trust Graeme Swann when he was England coach and was never sure how valuable Monty Panesar really was. These two have been invaluable for England. Even when Panesar was wicketless in patches, he gave his captain control. They've both had terrific tours, as has Jimmy Anderson, and we saw glimpses of Steven Finn in Kolkata. On the batting side, Cook was immense and Pietersen played one brilliant innings in Mumbai."

England still have some areas they need to think about when they tour New Zealand in March, but they are good issues.

I hope they let Nick Compton have an extended run as opener in conditions that are more suited to run-scoring because he has battled hard at the top of the order in India.

Then there is the number six position to think about, with Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan all wanting that spot.

People might also want England to consider playing two spinners in future - after the performances of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar - but that is unlikely in places like New Zealand, Australia and at home.

There are always areas to improve, but England will be happy. I think the 2005 Ashes victory was as good as anything when you consider the personnel in the Australia team.

Players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting played in that series, but the way England played in India, and the character they showed, means this can be ranked alongside such achievements.

Jonathan Agnew was talking to BBC Sport's Marc Higginson.

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


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VIDEO: Cook wants England to be 'ruthless'

England captain Alastair Cook says his side must take the emotion out of the game and "be ruthless" when they take on India in the fourth Test in Nagpur.

England won by 10 and seven wickets respectively in Mumbai and Kolkata to lead 2-1 and move within sight of a first series win in India since 1985.

BBC Sport's Joe Wilson reports.

Venue: NagpurDate: 13-17 DecemberStart: 04:00 GMT Coverage: Listen to Test Match Special's ball-by-ball coverage on BBC 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 long wave and online; text commentary on the BBC Sport website, tablets and mobiles; highlights and analysis podcast after close of play


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VIDEO: England should be proud - Flower

18 December 2012 Last updated at 07:03 GMT


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England seal historic series win

Fourth Test, Nagpur, day five:

England 330 & 352-4 dec drew with India 326-9 dec

England completed their first series victory in India for 27 years as Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell both hit centuries on the final day in Nagpur.

Trott scored 143 and Bell 116 not out as the tourists - who lost in Ahmedabad before winning in Mumbai and Kolkata - earned the draw they needed to secure an historic achievement.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

India took just one wicket all day as debutant Joe Root added an unbeaten 20.

England finished 356 runs ahead on 352-4 when stumps were drawn early.

Their final-day dominance was fitting because, since being beaten by nine wickets in the first Test, England have outplayed their hosts in every department.

While recent Ashes victories will rank as some of England's finest displays in recent years, former captain Michael Vaughan put the accomplishment into context  by describing winning a Test series in India as the hardest thing to do in cricket.

It is only the fourth time in history England have won there, and it is the first time since David Gower's tourists were triumphant in 1984-85.

"There were handshakes, hugs, embraces and slaps on the back all round in the England dressing room. They have worked so hard in this series. What odds were there on us witnessing that? It's quite remarkable. They have done it the hard way, through outstanding leadership on and off the pitch."

England also inflicted India's first series loss on home soil since the legendary Australia team of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting won in 2004 - a series which became billed as "The Last Step To Greatness". 

Cook's team may not be "great" yet, but they certainly gave players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Dhoni plenty to think about with their dominant performances.

Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar outbowled India's spinners, James Anderson underlined his status as one of the best seamers in the world, while - led by the insatiable run-scoring feats of captain Cook - all of England's batsmen scored runs.

Trott and Bell were the two players most in need of a good score on the final day of the match - and both delivered emphatically.

James Anderson:  "A truly amazing all round effort to win out here. Everyone has been brilliant."

Tim Bresnan:  "That is a monumental win for us. First time in India during my lifetime. Proud to play a small part in it."

Joe Root:  "First Test tour, Test debut, first series win - doesn't get any better than this!"

Jonny Bairstow:  "A day and tour I shall never forget! Absolutely brilliant!"

Matt Prior:  "Where's that tweet predicting 4-0 win to India Michael Vaughan? The boys can't seem to find it? #turnsroundquickly"

The Warwickshire pair posted their highest Test scores of the year, with a century particularly welcome for Bell who averaged just 18 in India before he came to the crease when England were stuttering slightly at 94-3 on the fourth day.

Scoring may have been slow, with Trott facing 310 balls and Bell 306, but it is a measure of England's progress that they suffered so few alarms on the final day after such a chastening start to the year.

Both Trott and Bell were part of the side in January which was bowled out for 72 against Pakistan, on their way to a series whitewash in the United Arab Emirates.

But there was no way Trott was going to allow the year to end on a sour note. He continued in a defiant manner on the fifth morning - timing the ball to perfection - as he eased a four through the leg side to bring up his eighth Test century.

It appeared he might bat throughout the final day until his dismissal just before tea. The 31-year-old chased a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery and chipped the ball into the hands of Virat Kohli at leg-slip.

Bell batted similarly serenely, but did enjoy a let-off on 75 when he slashed hard outside off stump and was dropped at slip by Sehwag.

1984-85: India 1-2 England (5 Tests)

1992-93: India 3-0 England (3 Tests)

2001-02: India 1-0 England (3 Tests)

2005-06: India 1-1 England (3 Tests)

2008-09: India 1-0 England (2 Tests)

2012: India 1-2 England (4 Tests)

The series in numbers

He capitalised on his fortune late in the day when he completed his 17th Test century - the slowest of his international career - as he and Root, who swept Ashwin for six to compound the off-spinner's misery, closed out the historic and memorable series victory.

England, who consolidated their second-placed position behind South Africa in the ICC Test rankings, travel to New Zealand for a three-Test series in March before hosting the Kiwis in the summer ahead of back-to-back Ashes contests.

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


View the original article here

England rest Anderson and Trott

Date: Thursday, 20 December (Pune); Saturday, 22 December (Mumbai)Coverage: BBC 5 live sports extra and BBC Sport website.

Date: 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 January 2013Coverage: BBC Sport website

James Anderson and Jonathan Trott have been replaced by Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler in England's one-day squad to face India.

Fast bowler Anderson, 30, and batsman Trott, 31, impressed in England's Test series victory and are being rested.

Dec 2012: India Test and T20 series (away) Jan 2013: India one-day series (away) Feb-March 2013: New Zealand Test and one-day series (away) May-June 2013: NZ Test and ODI series (home) June 2013: Champions Trophy (50 overs, home) July-August 2013: Ashes series (home) September 2013: Australia ODI series (home) Nov 2013-Feb 2014: Ashes tour (away) Joe Root, who was also one of the stand-out players in Nagpur, has been named in the Twenty20 squad.

Eoin Morgan will captain England in the absence of the injured Stuart Broad for this week's two T20 games.

An ECB statement read: "Woakes and Buttler replace Anderson and Trott in the India ODI squad as the selectors look to manage workloads."

England play T20 internationals with India on 20 and 22 December, before returning home for Christmas and the new year.

They return to India in the first week of January for the one-day series.

Twenty20 squad: Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, James Harris, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan (capt), Samit Patel, Joe Root, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.

ODI squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.


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AUDIO: Harris 'honoured' by England call

14 December 2012 Last updated at 07:32 GMT


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