Australia back with a bang !!!!!!!

Australia entered the 4th test with 0-1 in the series, it was a must win game for them if they want to win the Ashes this year. On the other hand England were 5 days away from regaining the Ashes, ie if they win this they win the Ashes. Australia brought Stuart Clark in place of Nathan Hauritz on a fresh seamer friendly Headingley wicket, England on the other hand had to make a change forcefully with Flintoff being ruled out, Steve Harmison gets a game. England won the toss and elected to bat.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 1

England were in trouble straight a way, Strauss was dismissed by Siddle, North took a brilliant catch, Hilfenhaus got Bopara trap in front, Johnson got Bell fending at a rising delivery, and then Clark got in to the act taking the wickets of Collingwood, Cook and Broad before lunch. England were in deep trouble with 72 for 6 at Lunch, easily not the sort of start they would have wanted after winning the toss.

After lunch Prior played a few attacking shots (frankly he had to play). But things got worse when a fired up Siddle satrted banging the ball, and soon England innings folded after lunch at 102 in just 33.5 overs, Siddle picked up all the 4 wickets after lunch, and finished the innings with dream figures of 5 for 21 of 9.5 overs.
In reply, Australia lost Katich early for a duck, but then it was an uphill task for English bowlers as Watson & Ponting started a virtual assault on English bowlers scoring at well over 6 runs an over. Ponting in particular looked in sublime form and was particularly severe on any thing short. Both batsmen reached their half centuries soon after tea and raised a 100 run stand. Watson completed is 3rd successive fifty before getting out to Onions then Broad dissmed Ponting and Hussey in quick succession. England looked like getting into the game with Australia at 151 for 4. But Clark and North had other ideas, they droped anchor and provided no more hiccups. Australia ended the day at 196 for 4 and are obviously in commanding position. If England batting was disappointing their bowling was no better, particularly Onions and Anderson who kept bowling short rather then pitching it up.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 2

Australia started day 2 all guns blazing, even the circumspect North got into the groove and started playing shots, Clarke continued in his own merry way. The duo added 152 runs their 3rd 100 partnership, before Clarke departed for a well compiled 93, he was unlucky to have missed his 3rd 100 of the series though. Then Haddin departed early off Harmison for 14, Johnson joined North at 323 for 6 and added 70 for the 7th wicket, Johnson yet again proved his worth with the bat scoring 27 runs.
North added further 46 runs with Clark for the 9th wicket and completed his 100. Stuart Clark played a cameo of 32 of just 22 balls with 3 sixes. Australian innings finally ended at 445, with virtually unassailable lead of 343 runs. Broad was the pick of the English bowlers, recording his best figures of 25.1-6-91-6. Rest of the bowlers were ordinary to say the least.
England started well second time around, with big task ahead both the openers were cautious early on, then the flury of wickets before the end of days play, ruled any chance of English revival. Johnson and Hilfenhaus not letting England of the hook taking all the wickets between them. England ended day 2 at 82 for 5 with Prior at the crease and only bowlers to follow, we are in for an early finish tomorrow.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 3

The ridding was very much on the wall as far as England are concerned as they lost both the overnight batsmen inside the first 40 minutes of play. Both were taken by Hilfenhaus. Then the 8th wicket partnership between Broad and Swann gave English supporters something to cherish. The duo cmpiled the 2nd fastest 100 runs partnership ever in Test history both added 108 runs of just 75 balls. Both completed their half centuries before getting out and played some scorching shots all around the wicket. Broad in particular was very aggressive scoring 61 of just 49 balls. Swann was the highest scorer though with 62 of 61 balls. England finally bowled out for 263 runs , Johnson getting five-for. ENgland didn't even play out 100 overs in 2 innings, with Johnson getting his form back, Clark's inclusion this all pace attack is looking much more potent. Players will get a much needed break and England will have to do all the thinking before the next game at The Oval, if they are to regain the Ashes, whereas a draw would do it for the Aussies, but they might want to stamp their authority in Tests again with a win at Oval. What ever happens we are in for a treat for sure, don't forget Flintoff is expected to be fit and would be looking for one last Hurrah in Tests.

All Stars 11 (Part 2)

1. Virender Sehwag
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
69 119 4 5757 319 50.06 15 18


Born 20 October 1978, in Delhi, India is one of the leading batsmen in the Indian cricket team. He played his first One Day International in 1999 and joined the Indian Test cricket team in 2001. Sehwag made his Test debut in late 2001 in the First Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein as a middle-order batsman and scored 105 on debut despite that South African went on to win. In April 2009, Sehwag became the only Indian to be honored as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008.
Sehwag holds many records including the highest score made by an Indian in Test cricket (319), the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket (off only 278 balls). Sehwag also holds the distinction of being one of three batsmen in the world to have ever surpassed 300 twice in Test cricket, and the only one to score two triple centuries and take a five-wicket innings haul. Also his last 11 centuries have all been in excess of 150.

2. Gautam Gambhir
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
25 45 3 2271 206 54.07 6 10

Born 14 October 1981, in Delhi, he made his Test debut against Australia in the fourth Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy but did himself no favours by getting out for 3 and 1. He made amends in his second Test, however, scoring 96 against the South Africans. His maiden Test century came against Bangladesh in December 2004. Gambhir's second coming at the international level has been a brilliant blessing for India. In his earlier avatar Gambhir was classified as a batsman who made the cut in the limited-overs format due to his ability to improvise, but one who lacked the technique to succeed in Test cricket. He scored 858 runs at over 61 in seven matches as of December including a double century against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is the only Indian batsman to score more than 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. On 15 July 2009, he replaced Mohammad Yousuf as the number one ranked batsman in ICC Test rankings.

3. Rahul Sharad Dravid
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
134 233 27 10823 270 52.53 26 57

Born 11 January 1973 , made his Test debut 20 June 1996 v England scored a fine 95, and showed he belongs to this stage. He is one of the most experienced cricketers in the Indian national team. He is the best No. 3 batsman to play for India - and might even be considered one of the best ever by the time his career is done. He averages around 60 at that position, more than any regular No. 3 batsman in the game's history, barring Don Bradman, he also averages more overseas - around 60, again - than at home. Dravid was honored as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000. He was also awarded the ICC Player of the Year and the Test Player of the Year at the inaugural awards ceremony held in 2004.
Known as the Wall due to his ability to bat for long durations, he is the third Indian batsman, after Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, to have scored more than 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He is the first and the only batsman to score a century in all ten Test playing nations. With more than 182 catches, Dravid currently holds the world record of the highest number of catches in Test cricket. Dravid has also been involved in more than 75 century partnerships with 18 different partners — a world record. At one point during this run, he carved up four centuries in successive innings, and hit four double-centuries in the space of 15 Tests, including in historic away-wins at Adelaide and Rawalpindi.

4. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
159 261 27 12773 248* 54.58 42 53

Born April 24, 1973 in Mumbai known as the master blaster, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, next to Donald Bradman. In September 2007, the Australian leg spinner Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as the greatest player he has played with or against. Tendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in Bradman's Eleven. Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman with the most centuries in either form of the game. The first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he now has more than eighty international centuries. the second ever player to score 10 Test centuries against Australia, after only Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years back. He was involved in an unbroken 664-run partnership in a Lord Harris Shield inter-school game in 1988 with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli, who would also go on to represent India. The destructive pair reduced one bowler to tears and made the rest of the opposition unwilling to continue the game. Tendulkar scored 326* in this innings and scored over a thousand runs in the tournament.

5. Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
113 188 17 7212 239 42.17 16 35

Born 8 July 1972 he was India's most successful Test captain to date, winning 21 tests out of 49 tests he captained. made his Test debut at Lord's alongside Rahul Dravid. Some felt he couldn't play the bouncer, others swore that he was God on the off-side; some laughed at his lack of athleticism, others took immense pride in his ability to galvanise a side. Sourav Ganguly's ability to polarise opinion led to one of the most fascinating dramas in Indian cricket. According to Rahul Dravid in the off side there’s first God then Ganguly. He scored a century, becoming only the third cricketer to score a century on debut at Lord's, after Harry Graham and John Hampshire. In the next Test match at Trent Bridge he made 136, thus becoming only the 3rd batsman to make a century in each of his first two innings (after Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran). Ganguly announced that the Test series against Australia would be his last, he scored 324 runs at an average of 54.00.

6. Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
105 174 25 6741 281 45.24 14 39

Born November 1, 1974, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. At his sublime best, VVS Laxman is a sight for the gods. Wristy, willowy and sinuous, he can match - sometimes even better - Tendulkar for strokeplay. His on-side game is comparable to his idol Azharuddin's, yet he is decidedly more assured on the off side and has the rare gift of being able to hit the same ball to either side. Laxman made his Test debut in 1996, scoring a fifty against South Africa at Ahmedabad. However, he was unable to cement his place in a star-studded Indian middle order. Instead, he was asked to open the innings, starting in South Africa in 1997. Laxman intermittently continued in this role for nearly three years, but without any consistent success. The Australians, who have suffered more than most, paid the highest compliment after India's 2003-04 tour Down Under by admitting they did not know where to bowl to him. He became the second Indian batsman after Tendulkar to score more than 2000 runs against the Australians. He has scored 6 out of his 13 test hundreds, and 4 out of his 6 ODI hundreds against Australia. He has two double-hundreds in tests, both of them against Australia, including his personal best of 281 at Kolkata. He has also scored 10 fifties in tests and 2 in ODIs against Australia. He is one of the few players who have played 100 Tests but have never played in the Cricket World Cup.


7.Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50 Ct St
37 59 7 1962 148 37.73 1 16 92 18


Born 7 July 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar. Initially recognized as an extravagantly flamboyant and destructive batsman, Dhoni has come to be regarded as one of the coolest heads to captain the Indian ODI side. Dhoni is an aggressive right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Following his good one-day form against Sri Lanka, Dhoni made his debut in December 2005. Dhoni scored his maiden century in the second Test at Faisalabad,against Pakistan in 2006 off just 93 balls.

8. Anil Kumble
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
132 2506 106* 17.77 6 619 29.65 10/74 35 8

Born 17 October 1970 in Bangalore, Karnataka . He is currently the leading wicket-taker for India in both Test and One Day International matches. At present he is the third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and one of only three bowlers to have taken more than 600 Test wickets. He is one of only two bowlers in the history of cricket to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings, the other being Jim Laker of England. His last match was against Australia at his favourite venue, the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi. Kumble was a right-arm leg spinner with an unorthodox style, most famous for his flipper. He started his career as a medium pacer, which has given him a useful faster delivery. He took his first 50 Test wickets in just 10 Test matches, the fastest an Indian bowler had achieved the milestone. He went on to become the second fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets (in 21 Test matches), after Erapalli Prasanna. On 6 October 2004, Kumble became only the third spinner in the history of Test cricket (after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan) and the second Indian bowler (after Kapil Dev) to capture 400 Test wickets. Reaching the mark took him 30 fewer Test matches than it took Kapil Dev, and 7 fewer than Warne. Kumble was the second player in the history of the game (after Warne) to score 2000 runs and take over 600 Test wickets. Anil Kumble also holds the world record for most wickets leg before wicket. On 10 August 2007, Kumble scored his maiden century, with an innings of 110 not out against England to.He took 118 Test matches to reach his maiden Test hundred, which is a record, beating Chaminda Vaas who had held this record previously with 96 Tests. He is one of the 4 bowlers, alongside Richard Hadlee, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, and the only Indian bowler ever, to have taken 5 wickets in a Test innings more than 30 times. He also holds the world record for the largest number of caught-and-bowled dismissals in tests, 35 - which forms 5.65% of his total wickets. He is also one of 4 Indian bowlers to have conceded over 250 runs in a Test match, although he took 12 wickets in that match. He is known for bowling tirelessly, having bowled 72 overs in a Test innings once. He is also remembered for his tenacity in bowling even when injured, especially after an incident in a match against West Indies where, despite having his broken jaw being heavily taped, he came back to prise out the wicket of Brian Lara. He has taken 104 Australian scalps in 17 matches at an average of 27.5. No bowler in history won India more Test matches than Anil Kumble.

9. Harbhajan Singh
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
77 1497 66 17.01 7 330 30.42 8/84 23 5

Born on 3 July 1980 in Jalandhar, Punjab. A specialist off spinner, he has the second-highest number of Test wickets by an off spinner behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan. Made his test debut against Australia in 1998, but made his mark in the historic 2001 series angainst Australia where he took 32 wickets in three Tests, including the first Test hat-trick by an Indian, while none of his team-mates managed more than three. The Wisden 100 study conducted by Wisden in 2002 rated all four of Harbhajan's efforts in the Second and Third Tests of that series in the top 100 bowling performances of all time, the most for any bowlerHe has never quite managed to reach those heights again, but he remains an irresistible force on home pitches where he can be unplayable once he manages an opening.

10. Zaheer Khan
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 4w
65 883 75 13.79 3 210 33.84 5/29 7 11

Born 7 October 1978, Shrirampur, Ahmednagar. A left arm pace bowler, Zaheer is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and can swing the old ball at some pace., as a batsman also holds the record for the highest Test score by a No. 11. He might just as easily have come from the Pakistani pace stable: well-built, quick and unfazed by a batsman's reputation. After initially struggling to establish himself as a new-ball bowler, he came of age on the 2002 tour of the West Indies, when he led the line with great heart. His subsequent displays in England and New Zealand established him at the forefront of India's new pace generation, but a hamstring injury ruled him out for most of 2003-04. Later some lackluster performance forced him out of the team for over an year. He played a season of county cricket in England which proved fruitful, as he came back with vigour and consistency. He led India’s attack to England in 2006-07 as India won the series their after 20 years.

11. Javagal Srinath
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
67 1009 76 14.21 4 236 30.49 8/86 10 1

Born August 31, 1969 in Mysore, Karnataka. Arguably the nation's fastest-ever bowler, Javagal Srinath heralded a period of awakening for Indian pace bowling, after Kapil Dev's swing had fired popular imagination. And when he retired from international cricket of 11 years in 2003, Srinath was second only to Kapil in number of Test wickets by an Indian paceman. On his day, Srinath was outstanding. With a strong shoulder action, he hit the pitch with force, and bowled mainly incutters and inswingers, though in the right conditions he could move it the other way. He learned to harness the power of the old ball off the seam rather than in the air, the finest demonstration of which was his 6 for 21 at Ahmedabad in 1996-97 to bowl out South Africa in the fourth innings. He often gave the impression that he could have done more.