Sri Lanka the fighters

Sri Lanka ended losing the triangular CUB one-day finals series to the Australian side 2-1, but not after a bit more of the fight typical of the Sri Lankans shown in this series.  Although the Australians were well deserved victors although not being a class above but by being the most consistent, Sri Lanka can return home with their heads held high.

Tonight however they just couldn't do it, with a low total to chase impeded by some excellent early Australian bowling early on lead by Clint McKay with a fiver wicket haul.  But after the dark couple of months, with Kumar Sangakkara the erudite leader stepping down from the captaincy because of political interference and then Tillkeratne Dilshan stepping into the breach, with a baptism of fire soon enough against Australia at home.  Dilshan unfortunately not only suffered through his batting but also through not winning a series as captain.  Hence Mahela Jaywardene took over the reigns.  And immediately showed why he was earmarked by Ranatunga Sri Lankas only world cup winning captain as a future SL captain.

He has shown calmness and authority holding the captaincy and has been able to get the best out of his players.  Dilshan with a hundred in the finals series is also looking back to the cracking form that made him once the most watchable batsman in cricket.  It is amazing how Sri Lanka as a country has the orthodoxy and brilliantly classical and technical such as Jaywardene, Sangakkarra, Attapatu, De Silva with the unorthodox and unpredictable with Malinga, Mendis, Murala and Jayasuria for starters.  It is this combination of both extremes that make Sri Lanka one of the most watchable teams in the world and perhaps also explain why they've been very successful especially in the limited forms of the game (WC 1996 winners, SF 2003, Finalists 2007 & 2011 and Twenty20 finalists).  This also makes it a shame that they are departing, because besides the amazing run chase from India they have been an entertaining and admirable side to watch, they can certainly leave with a real excitement for the future.

Michael Clarke- Future (or current) Australian Test Great

For the third time Australian Cricket Test captain Michael Clarke has won the Allan Border medal, Australia's most prestigious cricket individual prize.  The first time he won it he was a youngster who blasted onto the scene with a quick footed century in India to help win Australia's first test series in India since the captaincy of Bill Lawry and then scoring another equally blistering century against New Zealand at the Gabba.  Quick footed and a slashing player he played he shots reminiscent of Michael Slater, his cricketing hero.  The next time he won it he was a humbled player having been dropped from the team and eschewing some of his shots for building an innings, perhaps not as spectacular but much more solid as shown by him being Australia's best bat during a losing Ashes series.  The third time he won it was as a captain of the two longer forms of the day, in charge of rebuilding the least successful Australian team since the one captained funnily enough by Allan Border.

Clarke was also tasked with rebuilding the side after the retirement of greats such as border but after that the comparisons end.  Whereas Border was not the best communicator or tactician and just forced through on sheer mass of will, was even reluctant to take the captaincy; Clarke is one of the best tacticians in the game, seems to communicate well with his young side and has coveted the captaincy and indeed been groomed for the job before he played his first match for Australia.

The result of his captaincy? A series win in Sri Lanka, drawn series in South Africa, drawn series against New Zealand, a 4-0 test romp of an extremely disappointing Indian side and not having lost a one-day series to date.  His batting?  Stacks of hundreds including his monumental and unselfish 329* in Sydney. There has been hiccups along the way but you cannot argue with those figures. Australia should therefore be completely behind him, but there are many Clarke doubters out there?

The reason? Nothing during his captaincy but things done before. The argument with Simon Katich after a test win at the SCG, (Clarke is on the whole judged to be in the wrong but as shown by Katich's behaviour after rightly being dropped Katich is no bleeding-heart Australian Angel, the way he's carried on since being dropped especially towards Clarke has been poor), the tats, the Lara Bingle thing (not going there) and also a couple of times during tests where he's complained about pitches being too green or not publicly endorsing some of Pontings tactics when vice-captain.  Somehow Clarke does small things they get picked on but with Warne they slip off, truly the Mr Sheen of Australian sport.

The truth is however Clarke has handled himself flawlessly of late, there's been no off-field controversies(really none at all during his whole career), no complaining about bad decisions or umpiring, handles media conferences well, complete support of his team and complete dedication to his country.  He will retire as one of Australian's great batsmen and captains.  Australia still has a huge problem with tall poppy syndrome, but I guess in a country so good with good, well-off (overall) people etc somethings got to not be going well.  Herald Sun for starters should not show a negative comment from a "fan" after every day of cricket and Australia should get fully behind Michael.  It's only what he deserves.

Virat Kohli-India's steam train

Ok, pardon the horrible name, if Kohli is named after any train it'd be those top of the line train's that zip through Japan or Europe at amazing rates.  Or perhaps a Jet. Seriously what an innings.  Would have to rate as one of the best one-day international innings seen in Australia, up there with two titanic Bevan chasedowns and a record score by Mark Waugh at the time and some masterclass Symonds and Dean Jones innings.

India all tour have looked disinterested this series, like they can't wait to be home.  They've been snappy at umpires, disgruntled behind the scenes, just a rabble.  When Sri Lanka smashed 320 through a dashing Dilshan century and a sublime one to Sangakarra to back it up you could just see the Indians coming of the field asking for departure times to come back to the expensive comforts of the IPL.  The fact that India not only had to chase down that imposing score but within 40 overs to claim a bonus point to see them through to the final looked mission impossible.

Sehwag and Tendulkar started well and with purpose but Kohli looked in another sphere.  He chanced his arm and played his shots and got rewarded, not to mention the fact that he plays lovely cricket shots appreciatable in any form of the game not just the twenty20 slog is all the more power to him.  He averages over 47 in one-dayers with already nine centuries to his name and has looked India's best batsman on tour.  The simple thing to do?  Get him in the test side.  NOW.  Quality such as his the class of his shots needs to be in there, might just be the regeneration India needs (Not to mention the fact that he's a much better fielder than some of those old stagers)

And what of Sri Lanka?  A fine batting performance not backed up by any of the bowlers except Herath who was underbowled and Matthews.  Malinga was perhaps a tad unlucky that 2 of his overs were hit that blew out his figures but where were those on target, low impossible to hit yorkers?  Seemed to be serving up half volleys outside off or on leg stump.  After an encouraging series ably led by Jaywardene this was a sad way to go out.

Wading in on the Australian Wicketkeeper debate

There has been much conjecture recently about the wicketkeeping post which since the retirement of Adam Gilchrist after the 2008 Australian Home Test and One-Day series has been Brad Haddin's to keep(pun not intended).  But after poor series with the bat and gloves against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and India and the up-and-coming Matthew Wade public opinion has swayed towards time for Haddin to hang up the gloves.  But is it that simple?

Brad Haddin without a doubt has been a great servant of the Australian side across all 3 facets after patiently waiting for his opportunity.  He has been an energetic keeper behind the stumps, a leader and most of all extremely unselfish with the bat.  Just like the keepers before him (Gilchrist, Healy) he sacrificed at least 5 runs off his average to get quick runs for Australia from dominating positions instead of digging his heels in for easy runs.  This is what people sometimes forget.  However despite what he might be saying to the contrary he has been rattled this summer; sledging has been much more aggressive (although with the "Indian's are fragile"  he was proven to be right) and in the test series against India he looked confused as a batsman, not knowing whether to attack or defend on occasions.

Perhaps a bit harsh-in Sydney after waiting over a day to bat after the 3 batsmen in front of him scored centuries he scored and enterprising 42 not out, but overall Haddin lately has been un-Haddin like nonetheless.  Haddin is still bogged down by the shot he played against South Africa when Australia were bowled out for 47.  At 5-18 Haddin charged down the wicket to an on-fire Philander.  Even for taking up the attack to the bowler it was a horrible shot, one you couldn't even see a Shahid Afridi playing. People bring that up as a sign Haddin is past it.  However everyone is allowed a rush of blood to the head sometimes.

Ultimately Brad Haddin is down as a Keeper, not a batsman.  Keeping-wise he has receded, though improvement was shown in the last 2 tests against India it was not odd to see Haddin spill a good-length delivery.  This is where he will be ultimately judged. Brad Haddin has served the Australian team with aplomb over his career and his effort can't be faulted and indeed he does deserve to be sticked with especially considering how many chances Johnson, Hussey, Hughes and Ponting got.  But is he the best keeper-batsman in Australia now?  Is he gonna be there for the Ashes series in England?  On those 2 accounts Matthew Wade should be in the side, so for Haddin sadly the selectors might say his time is up.