Good year for debutants

Cricbuzz takes a look at cricketers who made a memorable debut in 2014.

Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)

The left-arm spinner made his Test debut against West Indies in September and though he ended up on the losing side, he had a memorable game, picking a five-for. The 22-year-old took 5 for 135 in West Indies' first innings, including the wicket of double-centurion Kraigg Brathwaite. Later in the year, he became the first bowler in ODIs to take a hat-trick on debut as he spun Bangladesh to five-wicket win over Zimbabwe, finishing with 4 for 11.

Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand)

Allrounder Neesham made his Test debut against India at Wellington in February and was out for 33 in New Zealand's first innings. However, he scored a brisk 137 in the second dig to help his team to a mammoth total and guide them to safe shores. Neesham followed that with a century in his second Test, the opposition this time being West Indies, becoming only the eighth cricketer to the record of scoring two centuries in his first two Tests.

Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh)

On a lively Mirpur track, 19-year-old fast bowler Ahmed made everyone sit up and take notice as he decimated the Indian line-up with a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. Unable to cope with his pace, the visitors were bundled out for 105 in the second match of three-ODI series in 25.3 overs as Taskin took 5 for 28 in eight overs. It's another fact that Bangladesh fared worse after being shot down for a meagre 58.

Jos Buttler (England)

In July, Buttler nearly became the second wicketkeeper-batsman from England to score a century on debut as he punished a listless Indian bowling attack to score 85 off 83 after coming in to bat at No 7 in the third Test at Southampton. He also took six catches in the match as England won by 266 runs to level the five-Test series 1-1.

Michael Lumb (England)

At 34, Lumb became one of the oldest England cricketers to make an ODI debut in February against West Indies, and he celebrated the occasion with a century, the second Englishman and the ninth overall to do achieve the feat. The left-hander scored 106 off 117 but couldn't prevent his team from a 15-run defeat.

Dane Piedt (South Africa)

A spinner, Piet is something of a rarity in South African cricket. He picked a wicket with the first ball of his Test career to join 18 others to have achieved the feat. He made his debut against Zimbabwe in the one-off Harare Test and collected eight wickets on a spin-friendly track to lead his side to victory. His match figures of 8 for 152 in 49 overs will be seen in a positive light by a side that has failed to produce a world class spinner for a very long time.

Stiaan van Zyl (South Africa)

Watched by his family and close friends from the stands, the 27-year-old van Zyl made a long awaited debut for South Africa against West Indies in December. Coming in to bat at No 6, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands to score a stroke-filled unbeaten 101 in South Africa's first innings of 552 for 5 declared. An innings victory in his maiden Test, in which he made a significant contribution, was the icing on the cake for van Zyl.

Rilee Rossouw (South Africa)

Rossouw had a horrible start to his international career with he four ducks in his first six ODIs including one on debut. However, his maiden Twenty20 international brought him much comfort. Rossouw's 50-ball 78 guided South Africa to a seven-wicket win over Australia at Adelaide Oval in November. He though survived a scare during the start of his innings when another debutant, Nathan Reardon, dropped him when he was batting on seven. However, he capitalised on the chance and made his mark.

John Nyumbu (Zimbabwe)

Nyumbu discovered he could bowl an effective off-break by chance during his teenage years and then polished it to the effect that the Zimbabwe selectors took notice and gave him a chance against a top-ranked South African Test team in Harare. He immediately made impact, taking 5 for 157 to bowl out the opposition for 397. The 29-year-old, who slogged in domestic cricket for a decade, left viewers and critics impressed including the South African batsmen who praised him for his accuracy.

Yasir Shah (Pakistan)

Drafted into the Pakistan Test side in place of the banned Saeed Ajmal, Yasir didn't let his country's leading bowlers absence be felt as he helped fashion a 221-run victory over Australia in Dubai. The leg-spinner, in conjunction with Zulfiqar Babar, left the Australian batsmen befuddled in picking seven wickets in his first Test. He then took five more in the next as Pakistan completed a 2-0 whitewash.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

A former national javelin champion, Hazlewood has been a highly rated pace bowler in Australian domestic cricket. He made his Test debut against India at the Gabba and proved his backers right by picking a five-wicket haul in the first innings. His figures of 5 for 68 included the scalps of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni and R Ashwin. The 23-year-old also picked two wickets in the second innings, ending with match figures of 7 for 174 as Australia won the Test by four wickets.

Alex Doolan (Australia)

Against the likes of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morke, Doolan scored a patient 89 to help Australia survive a testing phase after they had lost an early wicket in the Centurion Test in February. He missed out on a century on debut but his knock helped settle nerves that set Australia on course for a 281-run victory.

Matt Henry (New Zealand)

Henry, a medium-pacer, registered the third-best figures on ODI debut by a New Zealand bowler when he took 4 for 38 against India at Wellington in January to help his side seal a 4-0 series win. The 23-year-old has played six ODIs in 2014 and collected 19 wickets at a brilliant average of 15.26.

Mark Craig (New Zealand)

The off-spinner condemned West Indies to a 186-run defeat in the Kingston Test in June, finishing with match figures 8 for 188. He took 4 for 91 in the first innings and then demolished the hosts middle order to finish with 4 for 97 as the they were bowled out in 47.4 overs for 216, while chasing 403. In six Tests so far, besides taking 25 wickets, the 27-year-old also has two fifties to his name.

Top 10 ODI innings of 2014

From Rohit Sharma's record 264 to Corey Anderson's fastest century, there were quite a few breathtaking innings in the year gone by. Here, gocricket picks the 10 standout ODI innings of 2014.

1. Rohit Sharma (264 off 173 balls vs Sri Lanka, Kolkata):

Rohit Sharma, returning from finger and shoulder injuries that kept him out of international cricket for almost two-and-a half months, smashed the highest individual score in ODI history at the Eden Gardens on November 13. The 27-year-old, who opened the innings, took 72 balls to reach his fifty but after that hit top gear and his next four fifties came off 28, 25, 26 and 15 balls. In all, he hit 33 fours and nine sixes. Not only did he become the first batsman to score two ODI double-hundreds, Rohit also broke Virender Sehwag's record of highest individual score (219) as India posted a mammoth 404 in pursuit of which Sri Lanka could only manage 251 all out.

2. Corey Anderson (131* off 47 balls vs West Indies, Queenstown:

The first international match of the year took place on January 1 and it was a landmark one. Playing his seventh ODI - which was reduced to 21 overs-a-side after rain, New Zealand's Anderson took 36 balls to hit the fastest ODI ton, thus breaking Shahid Afridi's record set in 1996 by one ball. Jesse Ryder also scored 104 off 51 balls but star billing went to Anderson who hit six fours and 14 sixes, as New Zealand (283) beat West Indies by 159 runs.

3. AB de Villiers (136* off 106 balls vs Australia, Harare):

When South Africa, chasing 328 against the hosts during the tri-series in the latter half of 2014, were reduced to 51 for 2 in nine overs, it appeared the match was out of their reach. However, de Villiers played a blinder of an innings, hitting 11 fours and two sixes to help his team convincingly go over the line in 46.4 overs with seven wickets in hand.

4. Faf du Plessis (106 off 98 balls vs Australia):

In the same series, Du Plessis played a big hand. With de Villiers, he added 251 off 174 balls for the third wicket to annihilate the Australian bowling. du Plessis, who went on to score two more hundreds in South Africa's triumph, hit 11 fours and one six during the course of his innings.

5. James Faulkner (69* off 47 vs England, Brisbane):

Chasing 301 to win the second ODI, when Australia found themselves 244/9 in 44 overs, it looked like it was all over bar the shouting. In such a hopeless situation, Faulkner rose to the occasion and in an unbeaten 33-ball 57-run stand with Clint McKay scored 55 to lead his team to a famous win. Australia needed 12 runs from the last over bowled by Tim Bresnan and Faulkner hit three fours off the first three balls to seal victory. Besides those fours, the allrounder also hit five sixes.

6. Suresh Raina (100 off 75 balls vs England, Cardiff):

After a 3-1 thrashing in the preceding Test series and a wash-out in the ODI series opener, India found their saviour on August 27 in Suresh Raina who joined Rohit Sharma at the crease with India at 110 for 3. Raina batted with flair and thanks to his innings - studded with 12 fours and three sixes - India posted 304 for 6 in the chase of which England could only manage 161 all out. The tourists went on to win the five-game series 3-1 and Raina's innings went a long way towards achieving that.

7. Jos Buttler (121* off 74 balls vs Sri Lanka, Lord's):

The wicketkeeper-batsman scored the fastest ODI hundred for England - off just 61 balls. However, despite Buttler's heroic efforts the hosts, chasing 301 to win, fell short by seven runs. They needed 12 runs in the last over bowled by Lasith Malinga and the fast bowler removed Buttler, who hit 11 fours and four sixes, and Chris Jordan to stop England. But Buttler had made an impact, and it was that innings that earned him a Test debut later in the summer.

8. Mitchell Marsh (86* off 51 balls vs South Africa, Harare):

This was the match that brought the big-hitting allrounder to prominence. Marsh joined George Bailey at the fall of the late Phillip Hughes at 152 for 4 in 34.4 overs and after scoring his first 29 runs off 31 balls, cut loose against Dale Steyn with three consecutive sixes. His next 57 runs came off just 20 balls to drive Australia to 282 for 7. South Africa could only manage 220 in reply.

9. Sohaib Maqsood (89* off 73 balls vs Sri Lanka, Hambantota):

Chasing 276 to win in 45 overs, Pakistan were staring at defeat at 106 for 5 in 22.3 overs and needed a special innings to turn things around. Maqsood played that innings and his 147-run stand with Fawad Alam laid the foundations of a four-wicket win with one ball to spare. The 27-year-old hit nine fours but his ability to judge singles and doubles to perfection was what particularly striking.

10. Marlon Samuels (126* off 116 balls vs India, Kochi):

West Indies managed to beat India in the first ODI largely because of Samuels' innings which was laced with 11 fours and four sixes. Samuels displayed his brutal power and led visiting team to 321 after which India were dismissed for 197 in 41 overs. West Indies pulled out of the tour after the fourth ODI on account of a salary dispute with their home board but Samuels' innings was one of the most abiding memories from the controversial tour.

T20I team of the year

The year saw Sri Lanka claim the World T20 in Bangladesh. The man who led them to the triumph - Lasith Malinga is also our pick to lead its team of the year. Check out who else broke into the XI.

1. Alex Hales (12 matches, 397 runs at 36.09, strike-rate 142.80)

The England opener further enhanced his reputation as a T20 player by scoring the most runs in the year. His 116* off 64 balls against Sri Lanka in Chittagong during the World T20 helped England chase down 190 against eventual champions Sri Lanka. He also took 10 catches. The 25-year-old ended the year as the third best T20I batsman in the world.

2. Quinton de Kock (wk) (10 matches, 240 runs at 26.66, strike-rate 124.35)

The 22-year-old South African wicketkeeper-batsman scored four 40-plus scores. Not only was he effective with the bat, he was also up to the mark behind the wickets by taking seven catches to go with two stumpings. On several occasions, de Kock displayed he could shift gears quickly and that brought him plenty of attention.

3. Aaron Finch (13 matches, 390 runs at 32.50, strike-rate 134.02)

Playing his first T20I of the year, Finch smashed a 31-ball 52 to help Australia beat England by 13 runs. He went on to score fifties against Bangladesh (71) and Pakistan (65) in the World T20 and ended the year as the third highest scorer. He also finished as the second best batsman in the world.

4. Virat Kohli (7 matches, 385 runs at 96.25, strike-rate 133.68)

Virat Kohli had a great World T20. With scores of 36* 54, 57, 23, 72* and 77, he held India's flag high up in the batting department. That India made it to the final was largely because of Kohli who scored 319 runs at an average of 106.33. In his last T20I of the year, he scored 66 against England, in a losing cause though. Five fifties in seven matches also pushed him up to the No 1 spot in the rankings for batsmen.

5. JP Duminy (10 matches, 257 runs at 42.83, strike-rate 118.43)

Duminy is one of the few players in the world to be a regular in all three formats. His 86* off 43 balls against New Zealand at the World T20 helped South Africa to a thrilling two-run win. His also rolled his arm over as a part-time offspinner and often did a decent job.

6. Eoin Morgan (12 matches, 249 runs at 20.75, strike-rate 133.87)

Another man who helped England down Sri Lanka in the World T20 was Eoin Morgan who was instrumental in nullifying Ajantha Mendis. In the only T20I against India in September, Morgan smashed a 31-ball 71. The year also saw Morgan rise up to T20I and ODI captaincy roles.

7. Shakib Al Hasan (9 matches, 224 runs at 32, strike-rate 134.13, 11 wickets at 16.18, economy rate 5.71)

The Bangladesh allrounder had a good year with both bat and ball. His 66 off 52 balls was one of the few high points Bangladesh experienced in the World T20. He was also instrumental in Bangladesh bowling Afghanistan out for 72 with figures of 3 for 8. The No.1 T20I allrounder also found himself embroiled in a few controversies but they hardly affected his performance.

8. Lasith Malinga (capt) (9 matches, 12 wickets at 16, economy rate 6.43)

Once again, Malinga makes it to our T20I team of the year. He remains the most potent bowler in the format. Who can forget his death-overs bowling against India in the World T20 final! He didn't get any wickets yet managed to tether the likes of Kohli and MS Dhoni by conceding just nine runs in his last two overs. His bowling kept India quite a few runs short. In the semi-final against West Indies, Malinga took 2 for 5 and was was made captain in the later part of the tournament after Dinesh Chandimal failed to impress. He didn't disappoint one bit.

9. Nuwan Kulasekara (9 matches, 13 wickets at 17, economy rate 7.16)

Kulasekara was another bowler who in that final put the skids on India; it was he was who ended Yuvraj Singh's 21-ball 11. Barring one over in which Kohli took 16 runs off him, Kulasekara tested the India batsmen. In his last over he conceded just three runs to finish with 1 for 29. In the match against England previously, he was, with figures of 4 for 32, the only bowler who managed to escape the wrath of Hales and Morgan.

10. Krishmar Santokie (10 matches, 16 wickets at 14.62, economy rate 6.71)

Among medium-pacers, West Indian Santokie is the highest wicket-taker of the year. In the second T20I at home against England, the 30-year-old, who varies his pace a great deal, took a career-best 4 for 21. He took six wickets in two matches to help West Indies to a 2-1 win. In the World T20, Santokie continued his good form by taking eight wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 6.84.

11. Samuel Badree (12 matches, 19 wickets at 12.36, economy rate 5.00)

The West Indian legspinner is the highest wicket-taker this year. He took 11 wickets in the World T20 with a career-best 4 for 11 against Bangladesh. The fact that he managed to outshine fellow West Indian spinner Sunil Narine in most matches speaks volumes. The 33-year-old finished the year as the No.1 bowler in the world.

ICC Cricket World Cup, 2015 Countdown #44 - WC Cricket's first major upset

Grouped alongside West Indies, Australia and Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup, Sri Lanka had a disastrous campaign as they failed to register a single win in the maiden edition of the multi-team tournament. In the second edition too, it looked like the team from the Island Nation would return home empty handed when they were humbled by New Zealand in their opening game. Their match against West Indies was washed out without a single ball being bowled and they were already out of the competition before their final group match against India. As a further setback for the team, which was considered a minnow then, skipper, Anura Tennekoon, who scored a battling half-century against the Black Caps, was ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka managed to get off to a good start as Sunil Wettimuny and Roy Dias, with fine fifties, provided the ideal platform. Duleep Mendis, with a quick-fire half-century, provided a blitzy finish to help his side to 238/5. While it was a good total, it was not one that completely gave them the advantage as they bowlers had a job to do, considering the power-packed Indian batting order.

Due to a late start to the game on Saturday, India had to wait until Monday to go about their chase. Sunil Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad got their side off to a good start and although both fell in quick succession after a half-century stand, India were still in the hunt as Dilip Vengsarkar and GR Vishwanath combined well to take the score to 117/2 at lunch, with 122 more to get off 25 overs.

After the break though, Sri Lanka managed to gain the upper hand. It all started with the wicket of Gundappa Viswanath, who was run-out on 22 before Sri Lanka had the match completely in their grasp, all thanks to the guile of leg-spinner, Somchandra de Silva. The 36-year-old's experience came in handy as he came up with a lot of variations, bamboozling the likes of Vengsarkar, Brijesh Patel and Mohindrer Amarnath, to pick up three wickets in quick succession.

There were two main contributors to Sri Lanka's maiden World Cup win. First it was Mendis, whose quick-fire 64 helped Sri Lanka finish with a strong total. Then, it was the leggie, de Silva, who picked up a career-best 3/29 to bowl India out for 191 and help his side pull off a major upset to register their maiden World Cup win. Mendis, for his fine efforts with the bat, went on to become the first Sri Lankan to win the Player of the Match award in the World Cup.

2014 review: The top Test innings

From Brendon McCullums historic achievement to a record breaking captaincy feat by Virat Kohli, here is a look at the top 10 Test innings of the year.

The year has witnessed some sterling knocks in the Test arena. From the gritty to the outstanding, from aggression to redemption, Test cricket has thrown up these knocks in 2014. Here is gocricket's list of the top 10 Test innings of the year.

1. Azhar Ali 103 vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, January 2014

The new year witnessed a sterling performance from Pakistan and Azhar Ali. Chasing 302 in 60 overs in the third and final Test in Sharjah, Azhar started off cautiously, batted aggressively when a loose ball was bowled but all the time, he batted with a monk-like calmness. Azhar's style of play rubbed off on the others and Pakistan ended up chasing the target in 57.2 overs. His knock of 103 off 137 balls, with six fours, was his fifth century and it helped Pakistan draw the series 1-1. In fading light and amidst negative tactics from Sri Lanka, Azhar's knock had provided the Test world a bright spark.

2. Brendon McCullum 302 vs India, Wellington, February 2014

New Zealand were staring down the barrel in the second Test against India and looked on their way to squandering their 1-0 lead. Trailing by 246 runs and already 94 for 5 in the second innings, India were closing in on victory. However, Brendon McCullum produced an innings that changed the landscape of New Zealand cricket.

He shared a 346-run stand with BJ Watling for the sixth wicket and a 179-run stand with debutant Jimmy Neesham. Along the way, McCullum battled injuries to his knee, shoulder and back and demonstrated admirable ability in his concentration. Every run was getting cheered and every record was cheered. In the 200th over of the innings, McCullum steered a ball from Zaheer Khan and created history to become New Zealand's first triple centurion. His 302 included 32 fours and four sixes as New Zealand drew the match to notch up their first series win against India in 12 years.

3. Michael Clarke 161 vs South Africa, Cape Town, March 2014

Clarke was under tremendous pressure heading into the final Test of the series. His form had slumped and there were questions about his captaincy after a heavy defeat in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth. When Clarke walked out to bat, he was greeted by a ferocious spell from Morne Morkel but withstood the bouncer barrage, took blows on his body and was beaten a lot of times. He slowly got going and unfurled his range of strokes as the innings progressed. After getting stranded for 25 balls on 99, Clarke managed to score his 27th Test century and he helped Australia build a solid base for victory. Afterwards, it was revealed that he was batting with a broken shoulder.

4. David Warner 135 and 145 vs South Africa, Cape Town, March 2014

While Clarke was getting battered and bruised, Warner was systematically tearing the South African attack to shreds. He cut, pulled and drove with confidence to notch up his seventh hundred off only 104 balls. In the next innings, Warner continued his brutal approach. The aggression was sustained and no South African bowler was spared. He became the first overseas batsman to score twin centuries in Cape Town and his 145 included 13 fours and four sixes to give Australia a famous win.

5. Joe Root 200* vs Sri Lanka, Lords, June 2014

Root continued his love affair with Lords. He had scored 180 against Australia at Lords in 2013 and he started off the 2014 summer with a bang. Right from the start, Root looked solid and hardly played a false stroke while rotating the strike consistently. He maintained a decent scoring rate right through the innings to notch up a wonderful hundred. It was a knock that helped Root emerge out of a lean patch following the 5-0 thrashing in Australia. Root continued to make smooth progress and he became the fourth-youngest England batsman to score a double-century.

6. Angelo Mathews 160 vs England, Leeds, June 2014

It was a knock that defined the term leading from the front. Sri Lanka in trouble during the second Test against England in Leeds, having conceded a 108-run lead and sitting at 277 for 7 in their second innings. But Mathews exploited the gaps in the outfield and turned the tables on England. He batted aggressively, cautiously and farmed the strike admirably. His aggression went up one level after going past his century. His 149-run stand with Rangana Herath for the eighth wicket put Sri Lanka in the driver's seat and they ended up on 457. Mathews' knock was a real boost for his team and it allowed Sri Lanka to register their first Test series win against England since 1998.

7. Ajinkya Rahane 103 vs England, Lords, July 2014

England dished out a green pitch at Lords, which meant plenty of swing and bounce. India were confronted with the demons that had haunted them on overseas tours. At 145 for 7, a familiar script was been played out but Rahane changed the course of the match with a knock that symbolised his coming of age.
He showed admirable judgment around the offstump and watched the ball carefully. He managed to handle the swinging conditions better and used the drive admirably. When England dished out the short-pitched stuff, Rahane used the cut and pull well. His timing was a treat to watch and he scored his second Test century. His 110-run stand for the eighth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India break their jinx at Lords and they registered a win at the venue after 28 years.

8. Younus Khan 106 and 103* vs Australia, Dubai, October 2014

Younus has been Pakistan's unsung match-winner since his debut in 2000. Pakistan had won only one Test against Australia in the last 15 years and they started off on a poor note when they were reduced to 7 for 2 in the first innings. But Younus weathered the storm and dropped anchor.
He had scored just one run in his first 34 balls but was ensuring that Pakistan got through the tough period unscathed. He got going when spin was introduced and he used the sweep effectively. He got to his 25th Test century with a six off Nathan Lyon to become the first Pakistan batsman to score centuries against all Test playing nations. In the second innings, Ahmed Shehzad carted the Australian bowling to all parts of the ground but Younus quietly and clinically ground Australia down to score back-to-back centuries. He became the first Pakistan batsman to score twin centuries against Australia and Pakistan registered their first Test win against Australia in the UAE.

9. Kane Williamson 192 vs Pakistan, Sharjah, November 2014

The Test was played amidst the tragic death of Phillip Hughes. However, Kane Williamson, along with McCullum, produced knocks that quickly dispelled the gloom. Williamson oozed class, confidence and style. His use of the feet to the spinners and his supreme timing were a sight to behold. He used his feet wonderfully to smother the spin and played the pacers comfortably off the back foot.
He brought up his eighth Test century and he punished every loose ball that came his way. Williamson fell for 192 but his 297-run stand with McCullum helped New Zealand achieve their first Test victory over Pakistan since 2009. It continued a match-winning year for Williamson. In the previous series against the West Indies, his century in Kingston and Barbados ensured New Zealand won a series in the West Indies after 12 years.

10. Virat Kohli 115 and 141 vs Australia, Adelaide, December 2014

On India's previous trip to Australia in 2011, Kohli's 116 in Adelaide was the lone bright spot in a 4-0 drubbing. In the first Test of the series in Adelaide in 2014-15, Kohli stood tall and almost gave India a famous win. In the first innings, he was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Johnson but he recovered from that blow to start positively.
He played both spin and pace with confidence to bring up his seventh Test century. In the second innings, chasing 364 on the final day, Kohli once again stepped up to the plate and his 185-run partnership with Murali Vijay got India close. On a wearing pitch, he tackled Lyon well by playing him off the back foot and using the sweep well. In the process, Kohli became the first batsman to score twin tons on debut as captain overseas but with his dismissal on 141, India lost the initiative and gave Australia victory by 48 runs. Once again, amidst the gloom, Kohli had given India a bright spark.

Ravi Shastri: India will be a bullet side in 12 months

"Mark my words, give this team 12 months and they will be back in the top two," said Ravi Shastri. © KAREEM

With Australia holding on to their 2-0 lead after the drawn game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), India have lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but team director, Ravi Shastri, feels the tourists have run the hosts hard so far in the series and there are a lot of positives to take from their performance.

Failing to come out on top in crucial moments is something that the team should address, added Shastri, who mentioned that he was pleased with the team's aggressive mindset and predicted that the Indian team will be amongst the top-ranked Test nations within a year.

"This Indian team has pushed Australia hard. There are certain areas we have to address. Twenty minutes of madness has cost both our games. Little bit of luck and things could have been different. But, I am happy with the mindset. Mark my words, give this team 12 months and they will be back in the top two," Shastri said, in an interaction with Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar.

"Here they have taken the attack to the opposition. They will be a bullet side in 12 months. They will learn how to cope with pressure. This is the first draw at the MCG in 17 years. The batting that I saw on Day 3 was something I have not seen in a long time. The whole of Australia stood up. India have not come out to compete, they are here to win. The scoreline does not matter," he added.

While speaking of India's bowling performance, which has been lacklustre, Shastri said the team lacks a quality all-rounder, who can ease the workload of the front-line bowlers. "What we miss overseas is a batsman in the top six who could bowl, somebody like Sourav (Ganguly) - a medium paced all-rounder, who could bowl overseas. I believe with four bowlers at times, the workload becomes hard."

"Discipline-wise, they bowled well this morning. They will learn from that. We will go to Sydney without a care in the world. To hell with the scoreline. You will have to take a chance with a certain player. At the end of this tour, we can do all the evaluation. It is important to have a sustained level of performance," Shastri added.

The former India skipper wanted the pace bowlers to bowl with consistency and challenged them to retain the same intensity throughout the game. "You may bowl well in the first two sessions. But my challenge to (Mohammed) Shami, Umesh (Yadav) and (Varun) Aaron is show me what you have in the final session. If you don't do it, somebody else will do it," he said.

2014 REVIEW..........

ODI XI of the year

A bearded wonder, a pocket-sized epitome of consistency, a suspended offspinner and the hottest property in Indian cricket feature in our selection of the most handy cricketers in ODIs this year.

1. Hashim Amla (18 matches, 892 runs, Avg 52.27)

Another excellent year for the bearded wonder in ODIs, his second best since 2011 (1058 runs in 15 innings). He played a major role in South Africa winning four out of the five ODI series played in 2014, scoring centuries in each of them. He began the year with back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka (109, 101) in a three-ODI series and continued his glorious form in the tri-series in Zimbabwe, where another century and two half-centuries followed. Amla's only century in a losing cause came in the fourth ODI at Canberra and although South Africa couldn't end the year on a winning note, he was one of the most prolific openers of the year.

2. Aaron Finch (18 matches, 790 runs, Avg 43.88)

The opening combination of David Warner and Aaron Finch raked up 540 runs at a little over 49. While Warner excelled in the Test arena, Finch made his outings in ODIs count. He began the year with two centuries against England during the five-match ODI series at home. In Melbourne he hit a match-winning 122 and followed it with another hundred in Perth.

His 102 against South Africa went in vain as AB de Villiers dished out some brutal hitting on the Australian bowlers but Finch's contribution were more than handy in Australia making the final of the tri-series. He missed out against Pakistan in the three-match ODI series in the UAE against Pakistan but made amends with an innings of 109 against South Africa in Canberra - a series that Australia comfortably won 4-1.

3. Kane Williamson (12 matches, 770 runs, Avg 70)

Kane Williamson is one batsman who has dominated all three formats in 2014. His last 10 ODI innings resemble a rookie cricketer's list of highest scores: 71, 70, 65, 60, 88, 10, 70, 46, 123 and 97. He has been the bedrock of New Zealand's success in 2014, winning two of the three ODIs the team took this year.

In the series against India in Januray, Williamson scored half-centuries in all five ODIs and carried the momentum forward in the five-match series against Pakistan, where he notched up 346 runs with two fifties and a century. Even though Ross Taylor gave him stiff competition in terms of runs, Williamson ended as New Zealand's highest run-scorer in 2014.

4. Virat Kohli (21 matches, 1054 runs, Avg 58.55)

India's batting sensation had a good beginning to the year with a century in Napier against New Zealand, a series which India lost comprehensively 4-1. He had an equally impressive Asia Cup but a horror series in England, where all Kohli managed was 54 runs from four innings, dented his in confidence. However, he roared back to form in the fourth ODI against West Indies and since then has been in top-notch form. Kohli captained India to a 5-0 series win against Sri Lanka in November, where he managed 329 runs at 82.25, including a match-winning century in the final ODI in Ranchi.

5. AB de Villiers (wk) (16 matches, 879 runs, Avg 73.25)

Although de Villiers featured in just 13 matches, he played a pivotal role in South Africa's dominant run this year. His figures were freakishly strong: 212 in three games against Sri Lanka, 215 in four during the Zimbabwe tri-series, 159 in three against New Zealand and 271 in four ODIs against Australia. His 136 against Australia in the opening game of the tri-series was a brutal exhibition of his big-hitting prowess. His 106-ball innings (11x4, 2x6) made a mockery of Australia's total of 327 as South Africa chased it down with almost four overs to spare.

6. Angelo Mathews (capt) (32 matches, 1244 runs, Avg 62.20, 18 wickets)

Undoubtedly, the player of the year. The Sri Lankan captain led from the front in more matches than one can count. The fact that Mathews scored over 1200 runs speaks volumes about the improvement he has brought in his batting. With one century and nine fifties, he was crucial to Sri Lanka's success - winning the Asia Cup, beating Pakistan in the UAE and prevailing comprehensively over New Zealand at home. Against India, where Sri Lanka were hammered 5-0, Mathews scored 339 runs. His bowling, however, wasn't at par with 18 wickets.

7. Chris Jordan (18 matches, 29 wickets, economy rate 5.75)

Chris Jordan experienced a fruitful 2014. His 5 for 29 bundled Sri Lanka out for 96 back in May at Old Trafford and he ended the series with 12 wickets from five matches. Later, in six matches in Sri Lanka, Jordan was consistent in picking up two wickets in each of the ODIs. His only sub-par performance came against Australia in January, where he conceded runs at over five and bagged six wickets.

8. Morne Morkel (14 matches, 24 wickets, economy rate 5.79)

While Dale Steyn spearheaded the South African attack, Morkel acted as the perfect partner. The tall fast bowler had a decent start against Sri Lanka with five wickets in three matches. Despite being a bit expensive, Morkel scalped six wickets from four matches in the Zimbabwe tri-series. However, the rain-hit ODI series in New Zealand is where Morkel troubled batsmen the most with his pace and bounce and got among the wickets (six in two games). His best outing came during the Australia series, where his 5 for 21 gave South Africa their only win of the series.

9. Sachithra Senanayake (18 matches, 27 wickets, economy rate 4.38)

Before he was banned from bowling due to a suspect action, Senanayake's tally read 22 wickets from 16 games. After serving a five-month ban, the Sri Lanka offspinner was cleared to bowl and he marked his return to international cricket with five wickets from two matches against England at home. Much like he did against them in May - nine wickets from five matches - Senanayake continued to expose England's vulnerability to spin on sub-continent pitches.

10. Mohammed Shami (16 matches, 38 wickets, economy rate 6.16)

The joint-highest wicket-taker of the year, Shami leaked runs regularly in New Zealand despite picking up 13 wickets in five matches. During the Asia Cup, he bagged a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh and made full use of the conditions in England - eight wickets from four matches. Despite Shami's alarming economy rate, he made life difficult for West Indies with two four-wicket hauls in October.

11. Ajantha Mendis (17 matches, 38 wickets, economy rate 5.76)

Mendis continued to bamboozle opponents with his variations and emerged as the other highest wicket-taker of 2014. Twice he got a four-wicket haul and five times managed three in an innings. His best of 4 for 60 came in the Asia Cup, where he restricted India to a total of 264. Mends bagged nine wickets in the tournament and after not getting enough chances in England, Mendis pocketed 20 wickets in his last three series - South Africa (three matches), India (two matches) and England (five matches).

TC to TC: From Ticket Collector to Test Captain

Like Bruce Wayne from the Dark Knight series, he chose to live long enough to see himself become the villain... 

About a month back, a biopic on MS Dhoni's life was announced by a major production house in India. Sushant Singh Rajput, a new-gen Bollywood actor, reportedly grew long locks to play MS. There was to be no biography/autobiography of any sort. Dhoni's story would move straight from the cricket field to the silver screen. It has been that kind of a story. MS Dhoni, broke the metropolitan monopoly, and carved out a small, yet significant, part in Indian Test history. They say, the journey is more important than the end or the start, and MS Dhoni's journey took him from being a Ticket Collector with Indian Railways to India Test Captain.

The beginnings were small and humble, as it often is, for Indian cricketers from middle-class backgrounds. Dhoni, having excelled in school and club cricket, moved to Kharagpur, as a 20-year-old, in search of employment. The then-divisional railway manager of South Eastern Railway was in need of a wicket-keeper batsman. 60 balls later, Dhoni was handed a job via Sports Quota. While it was well known in local circles that Dhoni was cut-out for bigger things, he almost, quite literally, missed the flight to a career in international cricket. Having not been informed of his selection in the East Zone side, Dhoni, who was offered a ride to the Kolkata airport, suffered another heartbreak when the car broke down midway thereby allowing Deep Dasgupta to play the Duleep Trophy game the next morning. But success can never be contained, only delayed. He fought his way through the rigors of domestic cricket and won his first Test Cap in 2005 against Sri Lanka in Chennai, a city that would embrace him as their own in later years.

Dhoni was not your archetypal Test cricketer. In front or behind the stumps, unorthodoxy ruled large in his game. Cricket to him, was as much between the ears, as it was with hands and legs. He didn't try to paper over his inadequacies and instead, took over an Indian Test side in its twilight and handed it back, just before dawn. In the process, he became India's most successful captain (in terms of Tests won - 27) and led India during its 18-month reign at the top of the Test rankings, between 2009-2011. 

In only his fifth Test, he took on Shoaib Akhtar in Faisalabad with India still 107-shy of Pakistan's first innings score and composed a typically brutal 148. During his penultimate series at home, his 224 in Chennai against the visiting Australian side helped India push for a win. And, earlier this year, even as India's top-order repeatedly crumbled against the swing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, his counter-attacking half-centuries gave the Indian scorecard some semblance of respectability.

Despite his core competence lying in the limited overs format, Dhoni didn't choose to skip the long format much earlier. Instead, like Bruce Wayne from the Dark Knight series, he chose to live long enough to see himself become the villain. At 33, his greying beard was reflective of the toil of leading an Indian side bereft of experience. Overseas failures were constantly scrutinized. He was accused of 'letting the game drift' and 'employing defensive strategies' far too often. Maybe, rightly so. But, in his defense, he was merely playing with the resources at his disposal. Virender Sehwag didn't set up Test matches anymore. There was no Anil Kumble to run through the opposition tail. Zaheer Khan was nowhere near the bowler he once was and the famed Indian middle-order of the early 2000s had run its course. Yet, he duly faced media sharks after every defeat, and maintained his composure and his sense of humour. An Indian journalist in New Zealand, in 2014, questioned his reluctance to using four seamers in overseas to which he quipped in his inimitable style: "Two things happen whenever we play with four fast bowlers. One, the captain gets banned. Two, we lose."

Dhoni had a strange relationship with numbers. He once told former India coach, Greg Chappell that he if he saw off his first 13 deliveries, he could win the match for India! Having seen India through a very difficult phase in 2013-14 that included only overseas Tests, in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, he could have easily chosen the home series to right the wrongs and sign off, especially with a confident new team beginning to take shape. He played 90 Test matches, 60 as captain in a nine-year Test career. Maybe, round figures are not his thing. Maybe, it's a wicket-keeper thing after all (Adam Gilchrist played 96 Tests). Yet, in his own understated way, he surpassed the legendary Sunil Gavaskar for scoring the most Test runs as India captain and effected 9 dismissals (also a record) in his final Test.

There was to be no farewell Test. No outpouring of emotions. Dhoni left Test cricket, the way he entered. Quiet, understated and without any fuss. The last time Australia and India played out a draw in Delhi in 2008, it was Anil Kumble's last Test and Dhoni took over as Test captain. And now, after a drawn Test in Melbourne, Dhoni called it quits. Over to you, Virat! 

ICC Cricket World Cup, 2015 Countdown #45 - Duncan Fletcher masterminds memorable triumph

Fletcher, and his band of amateur cricketers, stunned the world with an upset win over Australia. © kareem

When an unfancied team breaks new territories by putting up an inspired composition to script a sensational turnaround and defeat heavyweights, there is bound to be a surge of excitement and anticipation surrounding the team. June 9, 1983 turned out to be the milepost in the history of Zimbabwe's cricket as with unflinching courage, 11 men left their imprints on the Trent Bridge ground by upsetting a fine Australian unit in a World Cup encounter. 

The Key Moments
* With Grant Paterson, Omarshah, Dave Houghton and Andy Pycroft all back in the hut, it looked like rest of the Zimbabwe batsmen would fall like a pack of cards and leave mighty Australia with a small target to chase down. Enter, Duncan Fletcher the only professional playing for Zimbabwe at that time. In the company of Curran, he frustrated the Aussies by stealing singles from under their very noses. Curran, gave him able support with a well-constructed innings of 27. Curran and Iain Butchart provided some much-needed support, but it was Fletcher who held the innings together by playing with steadfastness to compose 69 crucial runs off just 84 balls. Zimbabwe ended up with 239 for 6 in 60 overs - A highly competitive score.

* With a batting line-up that included the likes of Kepler Wessels, Allan Border, David Hookes, Hughes, Graham Yallop and Rod Marsh, Australia were still expected to chase down the target of 240 in 60 overs. But it was yet again Fletcher, who turned out to be a thorn in their flesh.

Graeme Wood and Wessels, two left-handers, known for playing stoically, had taken Australia to 61 for no loss. Fletcher then, introduced himself into the attack. On a deck, where the ball wasn't coming onto the bat, he twinned out-swingers and the odd off-cutter to telling effect. First, he dismissed Wood and followed it up by sending Hughes back to the pavilion for a duck. He snaffled two more wickets to end up with fine figures of 4 for 42, and take Zimbabwe to within touching distance of a historic win.

* It certainly turned out to be a one-man show as Fletcher also showcased his tactical nous. Earlier in the day, Border, the part-timer, had bowled a beast of a delivery that turned from leg-stump to take out Pycroft's off-stump. Fletcher, renowned for his photographic memory, employed his spin option, John Traicos, to full effect.

With Wessels not exactly known as a fine player of spin and his tendency to eat up deliveries meant that Fletcher used his trump card, the off-spinner, Traicos, to bowl at him. Traicos, who hated to give away runs, bowled 12 overs of unremitting accuracy and went for only 27 runs. The astute Fletcher also knew that Yallop, who was in fine form those days, had a tendency to flick the ball in the air. Fletcher, bowled one on his pads and not surprisingly, Yallop took the bait, and was out caught by Traicos.

Towards the end, Rod Marsh biffed his way to 50 off a mere 42 balls, but that wasn't enough for Australia to flag down a spirited Zimbabwean unit as they eventually lost by 13 runs. The Zimbabwean unit basked in their moment of triumph. It certainly turned out to be the crowning glory for the mastermind behind this victory, Fletcher. The memorable Zimbabwe win went down in the history books as one of the greatest upsets the game has ever seen.

Highlights of MS Dhoni's Test career

MS Dhoni pulled down the curtains on his Test career. © kareem

Soon after the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India in Melbourne, Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement from the five-day format with immediate effect, citing he was strained playing all formats of cricket.

Dhoni, who took over as captain of the Indian Test team in 2008, has ended his five-day career, having played 90 Test matches. He finished with 4876 runs, 6 hundreds, 33 fifties and 294 dismissals. Below are some of the statistical highlights of India's most successful skipper.

Most successful Indian skipperDhoni's captaincy record: 60 matches, 27 wins, 18 losses, 15 draws, win% 45. Second comes Sourav Ganguly with 21 wins in 49 matches, win% 42.85.

Most successful Indian skipper at homeDhoni's captaincy record: 30 matches, 21 wins, 3 losses, 6 draws, win % 70. Second comes Mohammad Azharuddin with 13 wins in 20 matches, win % 65.

Most runs as India captainDhoni's numbers: 3454 runs, 5 hundreds, 24 fifties, avg 40.63. Second comes Sunil Gavaskar with 3449 runs with 11 hundreds and 14 fifties at an avg of 50.72.

Highest individual score by an Indian captainDhoni's numbers: 224 off 265 against Australia in 2013. Second comes Sachin Tendulkar with 217 off 344 against New Zealand in 1999.

Highest individual score by a wicket-keeper captainDhoni's numbers: 224 off 265 against Australia in 2013. Second comes Mushfiqur Rahim with 200 off 321 against Sri Lanka in 2013.

Highest individual score by an Indian wicket-keeperDhoni's numbers: 224 off 265 against Australia in 2013. Second comes BK Kunderan with 192 against England in 1964.

Most dismissals and most catches by an Indian wicket-keeperDhoni's stats: 294 dismissals - 256 catches and 38 stumpings. Second comes Syed Kirmani with 198 dismissals - 160 catches and 38 stumpings.

Most dismissals in a match by an Indian wicket-keeperDhoni's numbers: 9 dismissals - 8 catches and 1 stumping against Australia in 2014. Nayan Mongia (twice) and Dhoni himself (thrice) occupy the second spot with 8 dismissals.

MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Born on July 07, 1981 at Ranchi Right Handed Batsman  and  Right-arm medium bowler Teams played for Chennai, Asia XI, India, Indians Mahendra Singh Dhoni's arrival in Indian cricket and his subsequent rise has been a story of unprecedented success punctuated by only the occasional blip. Of all the players of the present generation,...Full profile

Batting stats   M Inn Runs HS Avg SR NO 100 50 4s 6s Tests 90 144 4876 224 38.09 59.12 16 6 33 544 78 ODI 250 219 8192 183 52.85 89.29 64 9 56 637 177 T20I 50 45 849 48 33.96 116.3 20 0 0 57 24 IPL 112 99 2616 70 40.88 142.25 35 0 14 191 109 CL 24 23 449 63 29.93 141.19 8 0 1 28 26 Bowling stats   M Inn B Runs Wkts BBI BBM Econ Avg SR 5W 10W Tests 90 7 96 67 0 1 / 0 1 / 0 4.19 0 0 0 0 ODI 250 2 36 31 1 14 / 1 14 / 1 5.17 31 36 0 0 T20I 50 0 0 0 0 - / - - / - 0 0 0 0 0 IPL 112 0 0 0 0 - / - - / - 0 0 0 0 0 CL 24 1 12 25 0 25 / 0 25 / 0 12.5 0 0 0 0

ICC Rankings

Batting Current Rank Career Best TEST 35  (5 down) 19 ODI 10  (1 down) 1	Bowling Current Rank Career Best TEST --           - ODI --           -
-- indicates player not in top 100Rank changes shown are of the last 30 days

Career

TEST	v Sri Lanka, Dec 02, 2005, MA Chidambaram Stadium    Scorecard
Last	v Australia, 2014-12-26, Melbourne Cricket Ground    Scorecard
ODI	v Bangladesh, Dec 23, 2004, MA Aziz Stadium    Scorecard
Last	v West Indies, 2014-10-17, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium    Scorecard
T20I	v South Africa, Dec 01, 2006, The Wanderers Stadium    Scorecard
Last	v England, 2014-09-07, Edgbaston    Scorecard
IPL	v Punjab, Apr 19, 2008, Punjab Cricket Association Stadium    Scorecard
Last	v Punjab, 2014-05-30, Wankhede Stadium    Scorecard
CL	v Central Stags, Sep 11, 2010, Kingsmead    Scorecard
Last	v Kolkata, 2014-10-04, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium    Scorecard

Profile

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's arrival in Indian cricket and his subsequent rise has been a story of unprecedented success punctuated by only the occasional blip. Of all the players of the present generation, it is Dhoni who symbolizes the new India best. Aggressive without being brash, successful without being arrogant, and seemingly possessing a Midas touch where all he touches turn to cricketing gold-dust, Dhoni is the perfect blend of a role-model and pin-up star. 

Dhoni announced himself on the international stage with an array of almost agricultural shots and a bat that he wielded like an axe. In his fifth match, he smashed 148 off a Pakistan attack that didn't know what hit them. Six months later he went one better, to score a brutal 183 not out against Sri Lanka in an innings that made Sehwag look snail-like. That innings also saw him break Adam Gilchrist's record for the highest score by a wicket-keeper in a One Day International. 

Dhoni's arrival ended India's long search for a wicket-keeper who could also bat, and he now has the most number of dismissals in ODIs and Tests by an Indian keeper. 

His growing stature and cool head led to his appointment as India's captain for the inaugural T20 WC, where Dhoni's calm leadership steered India to victory. He then became the ODI captain after Rahul Dravid relinquished the post, and eventually ascended to the full-time Test captaincy once Anil Kumble retired. 

Leadership saw him change his batting style, as he made a shift from being explosive to being more reliable. With an ODI average that has crossed 50, and a strike rate that remains in the high 80s, the shift has worked for Dhoni. 

As a leader, his hallmarks have been his ability to not duck behind excuses and his ability to maintain his cool under situations of extreme pressure. Dhoni's biggest triumph was the World cup win of 2011, which India won after 28 years owing to his exemplary batting display in the final and calm and methodical leadership. Post World Cup, when the Indian team struggled to perform to the levels they did in the previous two years, Dhoni became a lone-warrior for the ODI team on many an occasion. In that period, he became the first captain in ODI history to score a century batting at No.7 in 2012, against Pakistan at Chennai when he scored a stunning 113 walking in to the crease when India were 29 for 5. 

Although his fierce captaincy helped India achieve success and grab the top spot in Test cricket, his 7 back to back Test losses against England and Australia overseas put his image as a Test batsman and captain in question. To add fuel to fire, the 1-2 drubbing India received at home from England in the Test series of 2012 earned him criticism from many former players. 

In the Border-Gavaskar series of 2013, Dhoni became the first Indian wicket-keeper to hit a double hundred in Tests when he smashed 224 in the first Test at Chennai - the best knock of his career so far. His fluent innings gave India a much needed victory in the first Test of the series earning him the respect he had lost during his lean Test period the previous year. He also became the first Indian wicket-keeper to complete 4000 runs in Test cricket. After a convincing win in the second Test match, he crossed Sourav Ganguly's record of 21 Test wins and became the most successful Test captain for India. Under his captaincy, India became the first team in more than 40 years to whitewash Australia in a Test series. 

As a captain Dhoni is having a dream run in 2013. In June 2013, Dhoni led India to win their second Champions Trophy title. He also became the first captain in the history to win all three ICC global events. He has led India to 2007 T20 WC Championship win, 2011 ICC World Cup title and ICC Champions Trophy honours. 

India then won the ODI series against Australia and whitewashed West Indies in Tests in November 2013. In the 3rd ODI against Australia in October 2013, Dhoni became the fastest Indian captain to complete 5000 runs in ODIs after Mohammad Azharuddin (5239) and Sourav Ganguly (5082). The following month, in the second ODI against West Indies at Vizag, Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper-batsman in history to captain his country in 150 One Day Internationals. He is also the second Indian after Mohammad Azharuddin to captain India in 150 matches. Azharuddin holds the Indian record with 174 games as the leader of the side. 

He also led the side to the finals of the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, in which India lost to Sri Lanka. 

Dhoni also leads Chennai, one of the most successful teams in the history of Indian Premier league, which won back to back IPLs in the years 2010 and 2011 and also the Champions League T20 in the year 2010. 

While Dhoni's keeping was outstanding, his captaincy came under severe criticism, especially after India's continuous losses overseas. One of India's modern legends, he announced a surprise retirement from Test cricket at the end of the Melbourne Test in 2014, moments after leading India to a draw. He cited excess workload as the reason for quitting the longest format of the game. Dhoni also said he would continue to feature in the 50-over and T20 format of the game.