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India beat West Indies (1-0) in 3 Test series, and winning their 2^nd consecutive series against West Indies.

India’s Key Performers

Rahul Dravid In every inning he came in to bat inside the 10^th over, & thrice in his presence team almost scored 100 runs, yet it didn’t allow India to reach 300 once. If Dravid can play a bit faster, at least 1 scoring shot in less than 4 balls, & bat long enough, then Mr. Consistent can be more productive.

VVS Laxman Like Rahul he too came into bat when India were in trouble, but his contribution as a batsman and as a player was far more than Dravids.

In last 2 test matches his scoring rate was much  better than his strike rate, as he was able to rotate the strike ( last 2 Test matches featured 60 % singles/ 25 +singles/100 balls). If Laxman, like Dravid play more aggressively then India’s lower order can be far more effective than other nation.

Suresh Raina Considering that he came into Test series with a very poor ODI series, this was an excellent performance, truly coming of age for this young batsman.

His performance marked the making of a Test player. Involved in most 100 partnerships(3), and he always performed when team where in trouble. His excellent scoring rate (3.43) allowed those partnerships to grow.

Praveen Kumar Accurate and effective, without bowling a single error ball (no ball & wide).

Ishant Sharma Making an excellent comeback to Test cricket. Consistent pace and accuracy was the key factor in his bowling. His accuracy fetched him 10 straight ball dismissal, adding to this 54% of victims were in single figure!.

 

India Batting  (6 Inns) : Runs 1409

(Primary Indicator)

Batsmen	Inns	Runs	H.S	50s/100s	P’rtnrsh’ps  (50+)	Avg	Balls/Scoring shots	(4/6s)  Scoring shots
Dravid   (496)*	6	251	112	1-1	5	50.20	4.19	3.63
Laxman(257)*	6	243	87	3	5	48.60	3.43	4.92
SK Raina	6	232	82	3	3	46.40	3.36	6.83
A Mukund	6	147	62	1	3	24.50	4.45	4.21
Harbhajan(56)*	5	98	70	1	1	24.50	3.28	8
M Dhoni(168)*	5	97	74	1	1	19.40	3.06	3.37
V Kohli	5	76	30	0	2	15.20	4.91	3.09
M Vijay	6	72	45	0	1	12.00	4.50	3
Total	6	1409	112	10.1	16	28.76	3.74	4.85

 

*Runs scored in last series v West Indies (2006)

 

Secondary Indicator

Batsmen	Inns	St.Rate	(1s)  Scoring shots	4s (%)	1s (%)	Value /Inn	Batsmen@crease  (Avg Team Runs)
Dravid	6	39.65	16.1	37.45	40.63	1.46	92
Laxman	6	47.83	20.27	41.15	42.38	1.39	89
SK Raina	6	54.	18.86	50	34.5	1.50	83
A Mukund	6	41.29	12.64	40.81	30.61	0.72	49
Harbhajan	5	60.86	18	55.10	29.59	0.75	46
M Dhoni	5	54.49	20.22	26.80	37.11	0.60	41
V Kohli	5	33.62	14.15	39.47	42.10	0.44	36
M Vijay	6	36.36	14.64	33.33	40.27	0.42	28
Total	6	50.39	17.18	39.32	34.14

 

 

 

Method of Dismissals

Batsmen	LBW	Bowled	RO	CB	Wicket – keeper	St
Openers	2	1			5
Middle Order  (III-IV-V)		1		2	5	1
Lower Order  (VI-VII-VIII)	2				1
Total	5	3	0	2	10	2

 

(Lower scores dismissals)

Dismissed under-10 Runs	L B W	Bowled	R O	C B	Wicket -keeper
Openers	2				2
Middle Order  (III-IV-V)	0	1		2	2
Lower Order (VI-VII-VIII)	1
Total	4	3	0	2	4

 

 

 

 

India Bowling ( 6 Inns) Wickets : 57

(Primary Indicator)

Bowlers	Inns	Overs	Runs	Wkt	Best	4/5/10	Avg	St.Rate	LER x  LSR
I Sharma	6	123.5	371	22	6-55	1-2-1	16.86	33.70	100.76
P Kumar	6	110	254	12	3-38		21.16	55	126.5
Harbhajan(11)*	6	125	279	11	4-75	1.0.0	24.50	68	151.64
A Mishra	2	26.5	113	4	2-51		28.25	40	168.4
S Raina	4	29.5	59	3	2-32		19.66	59.60	117.41
A Mithun	2	28	84	3	2-34		28	56	168
M Patel(14)*	2	44	119	1	1-48		119	264	712.8
Total	6	489.1	1353	57	6-55	2.2.1	23.73	51.49	142.73

 

*Runs scored in last series v West Indies (2006)

 

(Secondary Indicator)

Bowlers	Inns	R/O	Error(%)	Balls/Scoring shots	(4/6s)  Scoring shots	(1s)  Scoring shots
I Sharma	6	2.99	0.94	3.97	5.24	14.26
P Kumar	6	2.30	0	4.96	3.78	10.60
Harbhajan	6	2.23	0	4.90	3.73	13.60
A Mishra	2	4.21	3.10	3.35	9.93	17.39
S Raina	4	1.97	0	3.97	1.67	21.22
A Mithun	2	3	2.97	4.94	6.54	9.52
M Patel	2	2.70	0.37	4.47	5.68	12.12
Total	6	2.77	0.74	4.41	4.73	13.42

 

(Method of Dismissals)

Bowlers	L B W	Bowled	Slip(ct)	Wicket -Keeper	Low score (u-10)
I Sharma	5	5	3	4	12
P Kumar		2	2	3	7
Harbhajan	2	1	1	1	3
A Mishra	1			1	3
S Raina		1	1		1
A Mithun		1		2	1
M Patel				1
Total	8	10	7	12	27

 

 

West Indies Key Performers

Darren Sammy : Excellent performance, both as a leader and as a player. His captaincy will only get better provided he can be given more time and games to lead in all format (at least ODI & Tests)

Openers : West Indies opener provided the only 50 runs stand for the 1^st wicket in this series (Indian opener failed, avg 9.16). They need to back themselves while playing aggressively. With more opportunities

West Indies selectors need to give more opportunity(at least 3 to 4 Test series) to these selected openers. Barath & Simmons are technically sound openers, and they can be the answer to their Batting problem.

Darren Bravo : Bats very similar to Chanderpaul, slow and steadily building partnerships.

Samuels & Chanderpaul : Their experience can be handy for West Indies in near future, and if they are able to play a little faster, than it is possible for team to score 300 consistently, and give themselves enough  opportunity to win Test matches….which has been a rarity for them.

Fidel  Edwards : Expensive but effective, and if turns consistent than he can be very lethal.

Ravi Rampaul : Excellent performance, especially with the new ball. It is very difficult for one to remember a West Indian genuinely swing a   ball, as one associates seam and bounce from Caribbean bowlers. Rampaul has the ability to control his swing.

Devendra Bishoo : It’s a rarity that a rookie leg spinners is level headed, in-expensive, yet productive. Troubled experienced batsmen  with his basic leg spinning ball.

 

West Indies batting (6 Inns): 1353 Runs

(Primary Indicator)

 

Batsmen	Inns	Runs	H.S	50s/100s	P’rtnrsh’ps  (50+)	Avg	Balls/Scoring shots	(4/6s)  Scoring shots
Chanderpaul(301)*	6	241	116*	0.1	5	48.20	4.79	1.72
D Bravo	6	205	73	2	5	34.16	4.84	5.25
A Barath	5	150	64	1	1	25.00	5.24	5.34
C Baugh	6	145	60	1	2	29.00	3.04	8.45
K Edwards	2	116	110	0.1	1	58.00	3.20	4.46
M Samuels(114)*	4	96	78*	1	1	32	4.71	5.53
D Sammy	6	78	25	0	0	13.00	3.34	9.40
L Simmons	4	46	27	0	1	11.50	4.77	8.14
R Sarwan(257)*	4	29	18	0	0	7.25	5.18	3.61
Total	6	1353	116*	5.2	8	23.74	4.41	4.22

• Runs scored in last series v India(2006)

 

 

 

(Secondary indicator)

Batsmen	Inns	St. Rate	(1s)  Scoring shots	4s (%)	1s (%)	Value /Inn	Batsmen@crease  (Avg Team Runs)
Chanderpaul	6	32	14.21	21.57	44.39	1.59	100
D Bravo	6	39.88	12.26	52.68	30.73	1.42	85
A Barath	5	50.33	8.77	53.57	20.53	1.11	37
C Baugh	6	68.07	18.31	53.79	26.89	1.09	42
K Edwards	2	51.78	21.43	36.20	41.37	1.86	106
M Samuels	4	44.23	11.52	51.04	26.04	1.21	43
D Sammy	6	51.78	18.80	66.66	28.20	0.55	25
L Simmons	4	53.48	8.14	65.21	15.21	0.45	31
R Sarwan	4	34.93	10.84	41.37	31.04	0.35	20
Total	6	46.10	13.42	43.39	29.12

 

 

Method of Dismissals

Batsmen	L B W	Bowled	R O	C B	Wicket -keeper
Openers		2			2
Middle Order  (III-IV-V)	3	1			7
Lower Order (VI-VII-VIII)	4	4	0	0	0
Total	8	10	1		12

(Lower scores dismissals)

Dismissed under-10 Runs	L B W	Bowled	R O	C B	Wicket -keeper
Openers	0
Middle Order  (III-IV-V)	1				2
Lower Order (VI-VII-VIII)	4	2
Total	5	4	1		5

 

 

 

 

 

West Indies Bowling ( 6 Inns) Wickets : 57

(Primary Indicator)

Bowlers	Inns	Overs	Runs	Wkt	Best	4/5	Avg	St.Rate	LER x  LSR
F Edwards(2)*	6	114.2	380	19	5-76	2	20	36.1	119.85
R Rampaul	6	95.2	249	10	3-38		24.90	57.20	149.29
D Bishoo	6	122.5	391	12	4-65	1-0	32.58	61.4	195.25
D Sammy	6	116	268	7	4-52	1.0	38.28	99.4	229.61
Chanderpaul	6	10	38	1	1-38		38	60	228.00
Total	6	466.3	1409	49	5-76	2.2	28.75	57.12	172.75

*Wkts taken in last series v India (2006)

 

 

(Secondary Indicator)

Bowlers	Inns	R/O	Error(%)	Balls/Scoring shots	(4/6s)  Scoring shots	(1s)  Scoring shots
F Edwards	6	3.32	4.08	3.79	5.39	15.16
R Rampaul	6	2.61	0.87	4.43	5.59	14.14
D Bishoo	6	3.18	1.62	3.23	4.88	21.57
D Sammy	6	2.31	0.14	4.49	3.73	13.93
Chanderpaul	6	3.80	0	2.30	3.33	30
Total	6	3.02	2.17	3.74	4.85	17.18

Method of Dismissals

Bowlers	LBW	Bowled	Slip(ct)	Wk-Keeper	St	C B	Low  score (u-10)
Edwards	3	2	3	5	0		10
Rampaul	1	1	1	2	0	1	6
Bishoo	0	0	4	1	1		1
Sammy	1	2	0	2	0	1	5
Chanderpaul	0	0	0	1	1		0
Total	5	5	8	11	2	2	22

 

 

In forthcoming series, the Sri Lankans need to take advantage of the start they get(both in batting & bowling).

In England, Sri Lanka had played 6 games & in those games (12 innings) their average opening stand has been brilliant @ 76.07 (3 double century stand, & 3 fifties). This allowed them to post huge score. Same was the case in last Test series against West Indies at home, where their batsmen performed brilliantly.

Meanwhile their bowlers did a honest job of picking the first wicket very early, considering that their bowling attack is fairly inexperience, with both Muralitharan & Malinga retiring from Test cricket.

However if they have to become a force in Test cricket, & win more games overseas, then they require genuine set of fast swing bowlers, & right now they have Suranga Lakmal who is excellent with the new ball, although his experience is limited to 5 Tests matches, & has picked 10 wickets, but, good part for the Lankans is, out those dismissals, six batsmen were(60 %) dismissed for less than 10 runs, which says a lot on how he is able to use the new ball against quality batsmen.

If Chanaka  Welegedara can get his radar right which is not easy for a left-armer, then both he and Lakmal can trouble the best  batting side in world cricket. Like Lakmal, Welegedara has played few Test matches, but good part for him is, that  47.36% of victims as bowled & LBW!!.

Sri Lanka bowlers fail to capitalise!.

Despite getting an excellent start by opening bowlers, host teams manage to post big scores against the islanders. Here is a GFX of how Lankans bowlers fail to capitalise the start they attained

 

 

Sri Lanka v West Indies (2010)

Before the tour of England, Sri Lanka hosted West Indies to play a 3-Test series last Dec. Although there was no result in any of those games, but the Lankan openers(batting pair, & opening pair of bowlers) did a commendable job

Tests	Sri Lanka	Opening Pair	Wes Indies	Opening Pair
1st Test	378 all out	6	580-9	110
2nd Inn	241-4	102	Did not bat	Did not bat
2nd Test	387-9dec	10	243 all out	7
2nd Inn	57-1	55	12-2	9
3rd Test	Did not bat	Did not bat	303-8	0
2nd Inn	Did not bat	Did not bat	Did not bat	Did not bat

The Rose Bowl

Did openers lose opportunity at Southampton!.

Weather did play a big part in depriving both teams of a result. This venue has been helpful for seam and swing bowling, especially in the first session of a day. However after that it becomes easy for batsmen to score plenty of runs, & so far this is only the second time weather intervened at Rose Bowl.

Here is a GFX of 1^st class games played this year at Rose Bowl.

A snap shot of teams scores & opening stand,  both for Hampshire(home side) & visiting sides.