Test team of 2005

The end of yet another year is upon us and the usual year-end summaries have started flowing in. Here, Peter Roebuck puts together what he believes is the best Test team based on performances this year.

I think Inzamam and Flintoff would be unarguable choices. Both of them have put in stellar performances repeatedly this year. What irks me most about the team though is the choice of Matthew Hayden as opener. He was pathetic all through the Ashes and just because he hammered a few centuries against the worthless Windies bowling lineup doesn't make 2005 a great year for him. I think Langer had a much better year than Hayden. He always looked solid and never looked out of sorts like Hayden did through the Ashes.

The other controversial pick is Ponting. Roebuck picks him based on his match-saving innings at Trent Bridge. But, he conveniently forgets that Pietersen scored a much more important knock in the final Test. If Ponting hadn't scored that century at Trent Bridge, Australia would have lost the match but it wouldn't have affected the outcome of the Ashes. Whereas, if Pietersen had failed at The Oval, the Ashes would most probably still be with the Aussies. I'm not saying Pietersen should have been picked but I certainly don't think Ponting had a great year. A better pick at one-drop would have been Younis Khan. He had two superlative series in India and West Indies and put to rest all doubts over his abilities.

I'm not sure why Pathan is the twelfth man btw. He didn't do anything extra-ordinary in Tests. I would have picked Danish Kaneria instead. He proved beyond doubt that he can win matches for Pakistan on his own. Until last year, when asked to name which bowler in the Pakistan team could run through the opposition, the only one who would come to mind is Akhtar. Kaneria's performances against Australia, India and England this year have added him to that list. The only reason I wouldn't include him in the XI though is Warne is still miles ahead of him!

As is clear from my arguments, I believe Pakistan has all the makings for dominating 2006. Though England stole the limelight this year with victory in the Ashes, I believe Pakistan will be the team of year 2006. Let's hope India will be the team of the year 2007 in the ODIs atleast :P

Cricket and Cryptic Crosswords

My first memories of getting madly hooked onto cricket are from during the 1992 World Cup. I remember that all that I could talk about during that period was about what transpired in yesterday's match and what prospects tomorrow's match held. Unable to bear my incessant commentary on cricket, some of my classmates even starting avoiding me!

7 years on from then I entered IITM and within a month, I was totally hooked onto cryptic crosswords. Picking up the nuances of cryptic crosswords sort of became the mission of my life during the first semester then. Almost throughout my four years there, I used to do the Hindu crossword daily during the break we had after having finished lunch at 12:30 before heading to the next class at 1pm.

And even now, these remain two of my favorite pastimes. Whenever I get a chance, I do the crossie from The UK Times over lunch. And, we (the desi students out here at UW) manage to sneak in a couple of games of cricket on weekends when we are spared the usual Seattle showers.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, all these memories of mine were evoked because I was just enlightened about the similarities between cryptic crosswords and cricket by this great post. After reading this, the reason why I enjoy Test cricket more than ODIs makes complete sense!

What a terrific fightback!

Inspite of all the hype, I have always believed that Australia would just streamroll South Africa in this series. However, the fight and gumption that the Springboks have displayed in this first Test now gives me hope that we can maybe look forward to some great tussles like what we saw in the Ashes during the summer. With Kallis returning in the Boxing Day Test, the South African batting order looks solid. They only need to do something about their bowling attack. The only spinner they had in this Test was Justin Kemp! I have no idea why Nicky Boje isn't in the team. They need atleast one quality spinner to take advantage of the rough in the second innings. And, I believe Boje is better than all the pathetic spinning options that England has (seeing Udal bowl makes me cry! :(()

Am disappointed that I missed out on watching this great knock from Rudolph because I was seeing the drab Ind-SL match instead :(