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The former Australian PM Bob Hawke was a wicketkeeper and loved cricket and Bradman. But he once left the Don speechless with the force of his political convictions

Ashley Mallett23-Apr-2014Few deliveries got past Don Bradman’s guard.As a cricketer Bob Hawke was a competent wicketkeeper-batsman and he didn’t bowl, but a verbal delivery by him to Bradman in 1970 had the legendary batsman floundering.”The 1970 Springbok rugby team had just flown home and Bradman rang me,” Hawke said when I spoke to him last week. Then head of Australia’s most powerful collective of trade unions, the ACTU, Hawke had led opposition to the visit by the South African rugby side, and Bradman had seen for himself how difficult it had been for officials, security staff and police to prevent protesters from damaging the ground and disrupting play. However, the Australian cricket board wanted to host South Africa and months earlier had issued an invitation for the South African cricket team to tour Australia in the summer of 1971-72.To that end, he invited the ACTU president to Adelaide for a secret meeting.”I went out to his home in Kensington Gardens,” Hawke said, “and he said, ‘Bob, I don’t think politics should come into sport.'”And I said, ‘I couldn’t agree with you more, Don. We haven’t brought politics into sport; it is the government of South Africa which has brought politics into sport, because the government of South Africa has a policy that no person who isn’t white is allowed to represent their country in sport. That’s bringing politics into sport.””He looked at me for about 30 seconds and then he said, ‘I’ve got no answer to that, Bob.'”Hawke, in a sentence, had managed to get Bradman to see the light. On September 9, 1971, the board met and decided to withdraw the invitation for South Africa to tour. Bradman informed the press and that announcement was the start of more than 20 years in isolation for South Africa’s cricketers.As with a couple of legendary politicians – Robert Menzies and HV “Doc” Evatt – before him and John Howard after him, Hawke is what is known as a cricket tragic.

“With blood streaming from the wound I collapsed on the outfield of James Oval, where the visiting South Africans were playing a match. Roy held my leg together in a vice-like grip until an ambulance arrived”Bob Hawke on how Roy McLean saved his life

Born in Bordertown, South Australia, in December 1929, one of Hawke’s earliest cricket memories was listening to the 1938 Ashes series in England. “I’d go to sleep very early, so I could wake and listen to the simulated wireless broadcast of the Test matches.”[Don] Bradman was god. I can still feel the world falling apart when Len Hutton hit the world-record Test match score of 364, overtaking Bradman’s 334.”Hawke remembers the Australian 1948 team playing a game against Western Australia before sailing to England from Fremantle.”Keith Miller was bowling and WA batsman Basil Rigg drove him majestically for four. Next ball was a vicious bouncer and down went Rigg and he was stretchered off the ground. WA lost three or four more quick wickets and back came the injured Rigg, and there was Don Bradman, after calling back Miller to bowl, rushing to meet the incoming batsman and showing him how to hook!”Hawke’s parents, Clem and Ellie, travelled from Bordertown to Perth at the start of the Second World War, and the youngster was soon revelling in his studies and sport at Perth Modern School. There he was for two years the wicketkeeper-batsman for the school’s first Xl.”One game I particularly recall was in the annual Boys versus Masters match. Traditionally any boy hitting a hundred was given a brand new cricket bat and this day I had reached 93 when the physics teacher, a slow legspinner called Cyril Calcutt, had his lbw appeal upheld for a ball which pitched a mile outside leg stump and I was given out. So I missed getting the new bat. I will never forget the bastard.”Young Hawke excelled in his studies and his great interest in student affairs and in pursuing a political career inspired him more than the prospect of becoming a top-flight cricketer did.”I did have a lot of fun playing with university in the WA grade competition. I began in the A grade team same day as John Rutherford, but I didn’t have the same almost-obsessive passion for the game which he had. He was the hardest-working player of my experience.”Rutherford toured England in 1956 and Keith Miller dubbed him Pythagoras, because “he was ever trying to work things out”.”I caught up with Jack at the Perth Ashes Test this year and he looked in good shape,” Hawke said. “I cannot think of any cricketer who possessed such absolute dedication.”As a wicketkeeper Hawke was no mug behind the stumps. Once when Ray Strauss, the star swing bowler of University of WA, was operating, eagle-eyed Hawke noticed the batsman, Bill Alderman (Test player Terry Alderman’s father), tended to drag his back foot forward when attempting to glance a ball that strayed down leg side.”I approached Ray and said, ‘Now, see if you can slide a big swinging inswinger down leg side on the second ball of this over.’ Sometimes in a sporting life you just do something perfectly and that’s what happened. Strauss bowled the perfect delivery; Alderman went forward and he got a faint nick which I caught, and in the same instant I whipped off the bails and yelled to the square leg umpire, ‘Howzat?'”The square-leg umpire, who no doubt looked like an old-time version of David Shepherd, said in a booming voice: “Bloody marvellous!”Cricket has been Hawke’s greatest sporting love, and a Test cricketer once saved his life.Early in the summer of 1952-53, the very year the South African Test team was touring Australia, the 23-year-old Hawke was working as a gardener at the University of Western Australia.”I was filling in time getting some cash together before heading to Oxford. I had the noble task of spreading shit [manure] around the trees. Then came the time to refill the cart.”The horse was reluctant to move, so I went to the front and pulled hard at his head, only for the shaft to somehow spring free. The point of the thing cut into my leg, causing a huge gaping gash from above the knee to below the groin. With blood streaming from the wound I staggered out from the trees and collapsed on the outfield of James Oval, where the visiting South Africans were playing a match against the Governor’s XI.”South Africa Test batsman Roy McLean dashed to Hawke’s side. “Roy held my leg together with his big strong hands and my leg remained in his vice-like grip until an ambulance arrived. No doubt, Roy McLean saved my life that day in 1952.”Hawke and British PM Margaret Thatcher, their spouses, and England Test captain David Gower at 10 Downing Street in 1989•PA PhotosHawke was elected Australian prime minister in 1983. When South Africa were finally readmitted to the international cricket family, their board chief Dr Ali Bacher invited Hawke to be guest speaker at a function celebrating the first Test in the republic in the post-apartheid era.”I told them the Roy MacLean story and added, ‘I guess some of you people would have hoped Roy didn’t do what he did’, and a couple of blokes in the crowd yelled, ‘Yeah, yeah!'”Round the time of the Centenary Test between Australia and England at the MCG, Hawke was invited to play in a charity match at Drummoyne Oval. I didn’t know about the talks he was having with former Test players, including Ian Chappell and Bob Cowper, about helping them form a players’ union, so I was surprised when Chappelli indicated that he would like me to go easy on Hawke when he came in to bat.He got 30-odd and batted well. And the players’ union idea fell away pretty smartly when Kerry Packer took on the establishment with World Series Cricket.Hawke loves the cut and thrust of top-flight cricket, just as he revelled jousting with the opposition at question time in parliament. For him the joy of cricket has long been the enduring humour in the game’s characters and their stories.”I suppose you’ve heard the one about Joel Garner,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “The West Indians were in Australia for a Test series and there were some girlies hanging about at the ground. One girl sidled up to Joel and said, ‘Is it true what they say, that you are built in proportion to your height?’ ‘Young lady, if I was built in proportion I’d be 8ft 10in.'”Hawke’s parting shot: “I’ll tell you a very interesting sociological fact. I can keep you entertained for a couple of hours telling cricket and golf stories, but I have not heard one funny story from any code of football.”

An explainer of the procedure followed in the charge against James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja, the hearings and the appeals

Bishen Jeswant01-Aug-2014What is the procedure for James Anderson’s hearing?
The procedure is at the discretion of the Judicial Commissioner, as long as the hearing is conducted in a manner that offers the player a fair opportunity to present evidence and examine witnesses. The accused, the person who lodged the complaint, and a representative of ICC’s legal department must be at the hearing, and they will be allowed to have their lawyers present. The Judicial Commissioner should announce his decision in writing – along with his reasons, details of the incident and sanction, and any right of appeal – in 48 hours from the conclusion of the hearing.What sort of proof is necessary to find Anderson guilty?
Under Article 6.1 of the Code of Conduct, the standard of proof shall be whether the Judicial Commissioner is ‘comfortably satisfied’ that the alleged offence has been committed. Depending on the seriousness of the allegation, the standard will vary from a mere balance of probability to proof beyond reasonable doubt.’Balance of probabilities’ is a standard of proof usually used in civil cases. It can be met if the proposition is more likely to be true than not true. ‘Proof beyond reasonable doubt’ is the highest standard of proof usually applied in criminal proceedings and can be said to have been met if there is no plausible reason to believe otherwise.Because Anderson is facing a Level 3 charge, and the Code of Conduct says the standard of proof shall be determined on a scale between a ‘balance of probability’ and ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’, the Judicial Commissioner could be ‘comfortably satisfied’ by a standard of proof that is somewhere between the two.What if there is no video evidence, making it a person’s word against another?
In the absence of video evidence, the Judicial Commissioner may be comfortably satisfied about Anderson’s innocence – or guilt – based on oral testimony, legal submissions and cross examinations. Criminal courts routinely satisfy the ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ standard without the luxury of video evidence.The situation will be similar to the incident at the SCG in January 2008, where there was no audio or video evidence when Harbhajan Singh was accused of directing racist remarks at Andrew Symonds. The match referee Mike Procter relied on the oral evidence of three Australian players to find Harbhajan guilty. The sentence, however, was suspended following an appeal.Another possibility is that Anderson may admit to having committed a lesser offence. In Harbhajan’s case Justice Hansen, who oversaw the appeal, was unconvinced of his guilt based on the evidence submitted before him, but charged Harbhajan with a lesser offence – abuse and insult not amounting to racism – to which he pleaded guilty. In the absence of video evidence at Anderson’s hearing, the scenario could possibly play out in such a manner.What is the maximum punishment Anderson can get, if found guilty?
Sanctions are of three types – a fine, suspension for a period of time, and imposition of suspension points. For Level 3 offences, four to eight suspension points are imposed on the player. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test or two ODIs, depending on the format the player is scheduled to play next. If found guilty of a Level 3 offence, Anderson will be banned from at least the remaining two Tests of the current series.If found guilty, will Anderson be allowed to appeal?
Decisions made by a Judicial Commissioner under a Level 3 charge may be challenged either by the player or the ICC chief executive. An appeal must be lodged with the ICC’s Head of Legal within seven days of the receipt of the written verdict.The appeal process will not be very different from the initial procedure. An appeal panel, comprising three members of the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission, will hear the matter from the beginning. The panel has the power to increase or decrease, amend or substitute the previous sentence/decision.Why is Ravindra Jadeja’s appeal being conducted alongside Anderson’s hearing?
Jadeja was charged under Level 2 but found guilty of a Level 1 offence by match referee David Boon. According to the Code of Conduct, the match referee’s decisions in relation to a Level 1 Offence shall be non-appealable.Though Jadeja had been denied an appeal on this basis, he has now been allowed to appeal after the BCCI’s lawyers got involved. One possible legal submission might have been that the appeal was against the original Level 2 charge and not the Level 1 sentence. The Judicial Commissioner for Anderson’s case will also oversee Jadeja’s appeal via videoconference.Could a decision in Jadeja’s appeal, if heard first, have bearing on Anderson’s hearing?
Conducting Jadeja’s appeal first is unlikely to have any direct bearing on Anderson case. If the Judicial Commissioner clears Jadeja of any wrong doing, however, it may become a bit more difficult for Anderson to claim his reaction was in self-defence and a response to Jadeja’s alleged provocation. Should Jadeja’s appeal fail, it will not necessarily strengthen Anderson’s defence, because it will only maintain the status quo.

Plays of the day from the fourth ODI between Australia and South Africa at the MCG

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG21-Nov-2014The bird herder
Pigeon-fancier Bill Lawry wasn’t in the commentary box to make observations about the influx of seagulls that swarmed around the MCG playing surface late in the game. But someone in the broadcast team had the bright idea of trying to shoo the birds away using Spider-Cam. At the end of the 46th over, with the result in the balance and the birds having already distracted the batsmen, Spider-Cam was sent flying around the ground in a circular motion, herding the birds like an Australian sheepdog does his flock. It briefly worked, but soon enough the birds were back.The changes
Both teams fielded almost unrecognisable attacks from the bowling units that played in the third ODI in Canberra. South Africa surprisingly left out Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander along with batsman Rilee Rossouw, while Imran Tahir was injured. They brought in Kyle Abbott, Wayne Parnell, Ryan McLaren and Robin Peterson. Australia gave Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh a rest and omitted Kane Richardson and Xavier Doherty, bringing in Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell. It added up to four changes per side, and meant Dale Steyn and Mitchell Starc were the only frontline bowlers from either side to retain their places.The injury
Coulter-Nile spent several months this year recovering from surgery on his left hamstring, so he looked understandably disconsolate when he felt the muscle go again in this match. Coulter-Nile bowled only three overs before he had to leave the field and Cricket Australia announced that he would take no further part in the match. It was unclear how long he would be sidelined but it was far from ideal timing for a man pressing for a place in Australia’s World Cup squad.The break
It’s fair to say Glenn Maxwell hasn’t hit them quite as well as he’d have liked over the past month. Maybe it was just a case of a dodgy bat. When Maxwell walked to the crease in this game the first ball he faced was a straightforward nudge to midwicket off Dale Steyn that brought him a single. And broke his bat. Maxwell held up the limp bit of wood, handle dangling at an unhealthy angle, and asked for a replacement from the rooms. The new bat brought him only one more run. It’s been that sort of series for Maxwell.The disappointment
International cricket in November, before the Test summer has started, will always struggle to draw spectators in Australia. But a crowd of 14,177 at the MCG on a Friday night was still disappointing. “This is not a good crowd and it’s not something we’re terribly happy about,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said. “We would have hoped for a few more. We need to understand a little bit more. It’s an unconventional time of the year for us to be playing [at home], but at the same time there’s a lot more to it. We’ll do our own assessments.”

New Zealand have been the epitome of consistency in World Cups, but they haven’t cracked the art of winning knockout matches

Bishen Jeswant08-Feb-201540 Number of World Cup matches won by New Zealand, the second-most for any team after Australia (55). However, New Zealand’s win-loss ratio is only 1.38 (40 wins and 29 losses), which is the second-worst among the top-eight teams.1 Number of teams that have gone past the group stage in each of the last six editions of the World Cup, since 1992: New Zealand is the only one. They have gone beyond the group stage in eight out of the ten World Cups, while four-time champions Australia have only done this seven times.7 Number of knockout matches that New Zealand have lost at World Cups, the most for any team. England have lost seven as well, while Pakistan have lost six and South Africa four. New Zealand have only ever won one knockout match – against South Africa, in the the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup.5.7 Number of balls per boundary for New Zealand during the last ten overs of an ODI innings since 2013, the best for any team. The poorest top-eight team in this regard is England, who only hit a boundary every 7.6 balls in last ten overs during this period.18 Number of four-wicket hauls taken by New Zealand’s pace bowlers since 2013, the most for any team. Their average (29.5) and strike rate (32) is the second-best for pacers from any Test nation.58.2 Kane Williamson’s batting average since 2013, the second-highest for any batsman in this period (min. 25 innings). Williamson has scored 1630 runs from 31 innings in this period, including 12 fifties and four hundreds.

25.6 Mitchell McClenaghan’s bowling strike rate, the best for any bowler since 2013 (min. 25 innings). McClenaghan has taken 66 wickets from 34 ODIs at an average of 24.8. He has taken four or more wickets seven times in this period, also the most for any bowler since 2013.

5 The number of 50-plus stands since 2013 by opening pairs from New Zealand, the fewest for any top-eight team. Their opening pairs only average 21.7 during this period, which is in fact the lowest for any Test nation.30 Average runs per wicket since 2013 for New Zealand’s last five wickets, the best among Test-playing teams. Five teams – South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – average less than 20 runs per wicket for the last five wickets in ODIs.

A statistical preview of the Group A match between Afghanistan and Scotland on February 26 in Dunedin

Bishen Jeswant25-Feb-20155-3 Afghanistan’s win-loss record against Scotland in ODIs. Afghanistan have won three out of the last four clashes.4.63 Economy rate of Afghanistan’s bowlers since 2013, the best for any non-Test nation (minimum five ODIs). Scotland’s bowlers have conceded at 5.09 runs per over in this period.29 Number of 50-plus scores by Afghanistan’s batsmen since 2013 (26 fifties and three hundreds), the most for batsmen from any non-Test nation. Scotland are next with 24 fifty-plus scores, including six centuries. Batsmen from no other non-Test nation have scored more than three hundreds in this period.1.14 Afghanistan’s win-loss ratio in ODIs prior to this World Cup, the best for any non-Test nation. They have 24 wins and 21 losses. Ireland are next-best with a ratio of 1.0 (41 wins and 41 losses). Scotland have lost far more ODIs than they have won (26 wins, 44 losses) with a win-loss ratio of 0.59.3 Number of Afghanistan batsmen who have scored 500-plus runs since 2013. No other non-Test nation has more than two batsmen scoring over 500 runs. Afghanistan’s Samiullah Shenwari is the highest run-scorer among them (722 runs).24 Number of ODIs played by Afghanistan since 2013, the most for any non-Test nation. Scotland have played 21, the next highest.2 Number of ODI centuries scored by Nawroz Mangal since 2013, the most by any Afghanistan batsman in this period. Usman Ghani is the only other Afghanistan batsman to score even one century in this period. Mangal’s batting average of 46.41 is also the best for any Afghan batsman during this period.21.2 Josh Davey’s bowling strike rate since 2013, the best for any Scotland bowler. He is one of only two Scotland bowlers to pick up a five-wicket haul in this period, with the other being Majid Haq.

Stats highlights from the World Cup semi-final between Australia and India in Sydney

Bishen Jeswant26-Mar-20155:00

Insights: Spinners in the World Cup

328 Australia’s score at the SCG today, the first 300-plus total and the most any team has made in a World Cup semi-final. No team has chased a 300-plus score in a World Cup knockout game.95 Australia’s margin of victory in this game, the highest for any team in the semi-final of a World Cup. The previous biggest margin of victory was 91 for India versus Kenya during the 2003 World Cup.3 Number of players who have scored 6000 ODI runs when captaining their respective sides; MS Dhoni (6022) is the third. The other players to achieve this feat are Ricky Ponting (8497) and Stephen Fleming (6295).10 Fifty-plus scores for Steven Smith in ODIs. Australia have won each of the ten ODIs when Smith has gone past this mark. This is Smith’s fourth hundred, but today’s 105 is his career-best score.1 Indian bowler who has taken a four-wicket haul in a World Cup knockout match – Umesh Yadav, who has achieved this twice, in the quarter- final and semi-final of the 2015 tournament.18 Wickets taken by Umesh in this World Cup, the third-highest for any bowler. He went past his team-mate Mohammed Shami, who has taken 17. Mitchell Starc picked up two wickets to retain second spot (20 wickets) while New Zealand’s Trent Boult leads the pack with 21.4 Indian batsmen who have scored 400-plus runs in a single World Cup. Shikhar Dhawan, with 412 runs is the latest and joins Sachin Tendulkar (1996, 2003 and 2011), Saurav Ganguly (2003) and Rahul Dravid (1999).2 Times R Ashwin has dismissed Glenn Maxwell in seven ODI innings. Maxwell has scored 77 runs off 55 balls, a strike rate of 140, against Ashwin. Maxwell has also scored 71 runs off 27 balls, at a strike rate of 262, against Ashwin in the Indian Premier League, where he has been dismissed by Ashwin only once.4 Wickets lost by Australia between the 34th and 44th overs. They only scored 61 runs in this period. Australia scored 197 in the 33 overs before and 70 in the six overs after that phase.

Ajinkya Rahane and Shane Watson are polar opposites technically but achieved the same devastating effect for Rajasthan as part of five takeaways from the Royals win

Devashish Fuloria in Mumbai16-May-2015The role reversal
Kolkata Knight Riders, the master of big chases in bigger games. Rajasthan Royals, the master of uneventful exits. It was a no-brainer who were the favourites at the Brabourne Stadium.Despite the strong start to Royals’ innings, despite their mid-innings slowdown, despite their 199, Knight Riders were never really out of it. They had conquered such chases to win finals.The camera, thus, searched for Rahul Dravid in the dugout every time a Knight Riders batsman tore into the bowling, his stony-faced stare hiding the possible twitchiness. Shah Rukh Khan, Knight Riders’ face in the stands, was similarly reserved, keeping his nervousness and enthusiasm all bottled up.It came down to the last over, to the last pair, the hope forbidding to leave Knight Riders, the shadow of despair not too far from Royals. It ended soon, neither with a six nor a wicket, but with quiet hugs and handshakes. No one charged madly to the middle, no one screamed out loud and no one threw a cap.The man mountain
Shane Watson’s roar that echoed around the Brabourne Stadium was perhaps also a sigh of relief. Royals had lost the momentum of four consecutive wins since his return, forcing him to step aside and concentrate on his role as an allrounder. That he held his arms aloft in the direction of the dressing room and let the applause soak in was a reminder to others of his value.The 104 not out may have come off 59 balls but it included a period of careful consolidation. In that sense, it was not typical Watson mayhem. After Rahane’s departure, he let others take risks, and only chose to go big when presented with a half-volley. “It’s as good as I have batted for a while,” he said after the match. Take his innings out and Royals might have struggled to reach the eventual score. The arms were up again when it came down to 11 off the last ball.The Morris effect
On a pitch made for batting, there was just one antidote and fortunately for Royals only they had it. Chris Morris picked up three wickets in his previous outing and found some help first ball after the ball had barely beaten the bat in Royals’ innings. By the end of the over, he found it for the second time, stinging Gautam Gambhir with a sharp bouncer.As he took a breather, Knight Riders found a second wind, Yusuf and Andre Russell hitting around the ground to catch up with the rate. The bowlers became fodder as Russell found his range. Morris, all this while, was held back.On a day when even Morne Morkel struggled to make an impact, Morris had the genie of lateral movement. Russell, facing him for the first time in the 14th over, did not account for it and ended up toe-ending a swipe to long-off. Two balls later, one darted away and took Suryakumar Yadav’s outside edge.Morris was held back for five more overs, during which time Knight Riders found more fuel. Asked to defend 15 in the last over, Morris killed it in one ball, ending Shakib Al Hasan’s stay. Game over.The opening duet
Ajinkya Rahane and Watson. It’s not often you get an opening pair that uses methods polar opposite to each other with the same devastating effect. Within two overs, both presented evidence that they had brought their top game. The contrast was worth noting. Watson using all that power and muscle to hit consecutive fours, both skimming the grass all the way through to the rope while Rahane, his bat moving like a wand, steered Morkel for a six over point.The two maneuvered or smashed the ball as per the need. But more than the big hits, the running had been aggressive, especially from Rahane. Twice, in the sixth over, Rahane charged to the danger end to give Watson a pair of twos. But an over later, when it was Watson’s turn to run for his partner, he pulled out late and left his partner in no man’s land. The two had been flawless till then, helping Royals to an imposing 80 in seven overs.The first timers
Throw them at the deep end and they will learn to swim, some say. Still, the inclusions of Azhar Mahmood and Brainder Sran in a must-win game were debatable.Azhar replaced Sunil Narine, who had bowled a ripper to Rohit Sharma two days ago. Narine might not have extracted the same help here, but perhaps would have been more testing with the bigger boundaries at the Brabourne. Azhar has a wealth of experience, but he looked rusty, overstepping a couple of times, while presenting plenty of easy deliveries. His three overs went for 41.Azhar maybe a known name but Sran is not. He played first-class cricket in 2011 for Punjab before disappearing. If there were nerves, he did not show them at the start. The tall left-armer bowled a superb first over, troubling batsmen with bounce as well as pace. Then he cracked, leaking 29 runs from his last two overs.

Statistical highlights from the second day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle

Bishen Jeswant13-Aug-20153 Indian openers who have scored two back-to-back hundreds in away Tests – Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and now Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan scored 134 in the first innings of this Test, and 173 in his last Test innings – against Bangladesh in Fatuallah.227 The partnership between Virat Kohli and Dhawan, the highest third-wicket stand for India in Tests against Sri Lanka. Their partnership was India’s 16th third-wicket stand of 200-plus runs, but their first in a Test against Sri Lanka.8 Test scores between 100 and 120 for Kohli. He has gone past 120 only thrice out of his 11 Test centuries. Kohli was dismissed for 103 in the first innings of this Test. In fact, this is the third time he has been dismissed on exactly 103, the only 100-plus score he has been dismissed on more than once.0 Previous instances in Test history of both opening batsmen being dismissed by spinners for ducks in the same innings. During the second innings, Sri Lanka’s openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva were dismissed for ducks by R Ashwin and Amit Mishra respectively.4 Centuries scored by Virat Kohli in his first four matches as captain. Only two other players have scored four centuries in their first four matches as captain – Alastair Cook and Sunil Gavaskar. Cook scored five centuries in his first five Tests as captain.8 Indian batsmen who were dismissed either bowled or lbw, the joint-most for India in Tests. There have been five instances of eight Indian batsmen being dismissed either bowled or lbw, with the last of those coming against Pakistan in 1982.72 Number of balls played by India at the start of the second day without scoring a single boundary. Dhawan hit India’s the first boundary – a four – in the 13th over of the day.1 Fifty-plus scores for Kohli in international cricket since his century (107) against Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup. Since then, he had not made a single 50-plus score in 12 innings till his 103 in the first innings of this Test.2 Number of of Indian wicketkeepers who have made a 50-plus score in Tests in Sri Lanka. The only keeper to do this before Wriddhiman Saha (60) in this Test was MS Dhoni, who scored 76 at the SSC (Colombo) in 2010.

Statistical highlights from the second ODI between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Harare

Shiva Jayaraman11-Oct-20151:12

By The Numbers – A rare series win for Zimbabwe

0 Batsmen to hit two hundreds in successful chases for Zimbabwe before Craig Ervine. Six other batsmen have hit one hundred each in successful chases for them. Ervine had hit an unbeaten 130 against New Zealand at the same venue in August.269 Target chased by Zimbabwe in this match, the third-highest total they have chased successfully in ODIs at the Harare Sports Club. Their highest successful chase had also come this year – against New Zealand last month when they had chased 304.8 Number of times before this match that Zimbabwe had taken an unassailable lead without losing a match in a bilateral series involving three or more games. The last such instance came against Bangladesh in 2011 when Zimbabwe took a 3-0 lead. This series is also the second such instance against Ireland – Zimbabwe had led them 2-0 in a three-match series in 2010. Overall, this was Zimbabwe’s 14th series-win in a bilateral series involving three or more games.111.66 Ervine’s average batting at No. 3 for Zimbabwe in ODIs. He has made 335 runs in five innings at No. 3, including two unbeaten hundreds and one fifty. Ervine has hit 494 runs this year at an average of 54.88 from 11 innings – the most he has hit a year in ODIs.1 Number of instances of three or more Ireland batsman scoring fifty-plus runs in an ODI against a Test team before this match. Paul Stirling, Niall O’Brien and Gary Wilson got fifties in this match. In the earlier instance, Stirling, O’ Brien and Ed Joyce had hit fifties against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup.3/49 Sikandar Raza’s bowling returns in this match, his best in ODIs and only the second time he has taken a three-wicket haul. He had taken 3 for 59 against Pakistan in Lahore earlier this year which was his previous best.72 Runs scored by Paul Stirling, the second highest by an Ireland opener against Zimbabwe in ODIs. Jeremy Bray’s 115 not out in the 2007 World Cup is the highest and the only century.8 Number of times Ireland have posted a total of 250-plus against a Test team in ODIs including their 268 for 7 in this match. Four of these totals have come in 2015.18 Runs Niall O’Brien had scored against Zimbabwe in six ODI innnigs before this match. His fifty in this match was O’Brien’s first score in double-digits against them. Including this game, he has made 68 runs at an average of 9.71 in ODIs against Zimbabwe.

A short hop between the entirely different worlds of the Wankhede and the Brabourne takes South Africa out of the limited-overs whirl and into the serious business of preparing for a long and arduous Test series

Firdose Moonda at the Brabourne29-Oct-2015No matter whose side you were on, you have to admit the limited-overs’ legs of the series between India and South Africa looked like a lot of fun. From a distance it felt like cricket had come to life for both teams. They pushed each other and then pulled away, took the packed crowds through a party atmosphere of ups and downs and played with a passion that is usually reserved for the real stuff. The stuff that’s coming.The Test series is where things get serious. There is more at stake than just rankings’ points, there is reputation. India have built a fortress at home, losing only one Test series on their own turf in the last ten years; South Africa are road warriors and are in their ninth year of not being beaten on the road. These are the kinds of feats eras are built on.As though the schedule is serving as a reminder of the shift in mood, the action has moved from the shower of sound that is the Wankhede to a sanctum of sport, the Brabourne. The Wankhede is the India I have come to know in my decade of visiting the country, bullish and brash like Ravi Shastri’s six sixes in an over in a first-class match; the Brabourne is the kind of India my father told me about, refined and regal with cherry-coloured wooden tables and chairs, a stained-glass skylight and club members lunching in suits and ties.There are only 750 metres between the two venues but South Africa chose to make a 1200km round-trip to Goa to get from once to the other, probably so the physical shift could mimic the mental one. In the beach-side state, they put their feet up and switched their minds off. They spent two days as tourists, and visited the second-oldest church, although Dale Steyn wondered out loud (read: on Twitter) why they didn’t get to the oldest, and they transitioned from the frenetic pace of the last fortnight or so into the more considered clip a Test series demands.In personnel terms, South Africa’s more serious statesmen have arrived. Temba Bavuma, Simon Harmer, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt and Dane Vilas are entirely different characters to David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien and Aaron Phangiso. Speak to the former group and you will be listening to cricket chat for the learned soul, speak to the latter and you will more than likely have a laugh too.That’s why it seems only sensible that Vilas was retained in the Test squad and de Kock, despite a comeback of confidence and class in ODIs, made to go back to the domestic game to earn his spot. South Africa want to build a Test squad on maturity and Vilas offers that at the moment. He knows that moment won’t last forever, especially with de Kock nipping at his heels, and he is determined to seize it. He was last man out of the nets at the Brabourne on Thursday and could well be the first back in them ahead of the warm-up match on Friday.Vilas is not the only one playing for a long-term future. Imran Tahir has been given a last chance to prove he belongs at this level, Philander will be looking over his shoulder as 20-year-old tearaway Kagiso Rabada gains on him, and Stiaan van Zyl probably needs a few more solid knocks to successfully convert from a No.3 to an opener and if he can do it in India, all the better.Van Zyl knows the importance of this tour for him. He has said all the right things, that, “India will be up for the challenge”, that the pitches will be challenging because they are so unlike what he has at home – “a lot slower and spin a lot” – and that he will call on past experience such as his 96 for South Africa A in an unofficial Test against India A earlier this year for motivation.Talk amounts to very little in this game, which may be why van Zyl’s words were so sparse. Action is everything. The shorter formats already proved that; the longer one should be even better.