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Explained – How New Zealand’s thrilling Test win over Pakistan impacts India

Explained – How New Zealand’s thrilling Test win over Pakistan impacts India

The WTC league standings are being determined by the percentage of points earned instead of absolute points, with top two teams qualifying for the final. The current WTC cycle ends on March 31, 2021 followed by the final in June. Written by Shamik Chakrabarty , in Explained – Indian Express online portal

New Zealand’s win in the first Test against Pakistan have made them serious contenders to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played in June 2021 at Lord’s. With a percentage point (PCT) of 0.667, the Kiwis are now snapping at the heels of Australia and India.

What is New Zealand’s current standing in the WTC table?

New Zealand are now placed third with 360 absolute points and 0.667 percentage points (66.7%).

Absolute points are the total points earned from a Test series. Each series is allotted 120 points. So for a two-Test series, which is the minimum requirement, points earned per Test for a win is 60. New Zealand and Pakistan are playing a two-Test series.

What is PCT then?

PCT is the percentage of points won out of total number of points contested. For example, India are playing a four-Test series in Australia and the two teams are contesting for 120 points. For a four-Test series, points allotted per Test are 30, 15 and 10 for a win, tie and draw respectively. The series is tied at 1-1 at the moment which means that both Australia and India have secured 25 per cent each of the total points on offer.

Why is PCT so important?

Last month, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble decided to make the Covid-forced cancelled matches null and void and determine the WTC league standings only from the matches played. Under the changed system, the WTC league standings are being determined by the percentage of points earned instead of absolute points, with top two teams qualifying for the final. The current WTC cycle ends on March 31, 2021 followed by the final in June.

How are India placed at the moment?

India still have the highest absolute points, 390, followed by New Zealand, 360, and Australia, 322. And yet, India are placed second because their PCT, 0.722 (72.2%), is lower than that of Australia’s, 0.766 (76.6%).

Simply put, India will play six more Tests in this WTC cycle — two in Australia and four at home against England. Four wins, or three wins and three draws will secure their qualification for the final.

Why is that?

Because, if New Zealand win the second Test against Pakistan and finish the series with 120 points, they will finish their WTC assignments with 420 absolute points from five series played, or a total of 600 points contested. Their series in Bangladesh was cancelled due to the pandemic. So a clean sweep against Pakistan will take New Zealand’s PCT to 0.700 (70%).

As for India, they didn’t have any series cancelled. They will have six series under their belt and 720 points contested. India need to take their absolute points to 504 to have a PCT of 0.700 (70%). As they can have just 30 points from each win (four-Test series), four more victories will take them 510 absolute points, and beyond New Zealand’s PCT.

What about Australia?

They can afford a 2-2 draw, for example, in the ongoing series to retain their PCT-based lead. Their PCT in that case will be 0.741. But if they lose the series to India, they will drop down the order. The Aussies, however, are scheduled to play a three-Test series in South Africa and they will finish the cycle with five series.

Does the PCT-based system offer confusion?

If Virat Kohli finds the changed qualification structure “confusing”, then fans probably are struggling even more. Kohli was asked about the changed structure ahead of India’s first ODI against Australia. He wasn’t impressed at all.

“It is definitely surprising because we were told that points are a matter of contention for the top two teams qualifying in World Test championships and now suddenly it has become percentage out of nowhere, so it is confusing and difficult to understand why,” he had said.

Captain and wicket keeper batsman’s twin fifties in a test in losing cause

Captain and wicket keeper batsman’s twin fifties in a test in losing cause

Mohd Rizwan of Pakistan scored 71 and 60 against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui which was in a losing cause to provide the 50th occasion of a captain’s twin fifties going in vain the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamOppGroundStart Date
1G Giffen5751AusEngMelbourneMar 1895
2MA Noble6164AusEngMelbourneJan 08
3JWHT Douglas5060EngAusMelbourneFeb 21
4HW Taylor59*56SAFEngLeedsJul 24
5J Ryder6387AusEngAdelaideFeb 29
6GC Grant53*71*WinAusAdelaideDec 30
7AD Nourse65114SAFAusCape TownDec 49
8VS Hazare8956IndEngLeedsJun 52
9GO Rabone10768NZlSAFDurbanDec 53
10L Hutton7277EngWinBridgetownFeb 54
11PBH May6353EngAusLord’sJun 56
12ER Dexter5762EngIndKolkataDec 61
13JR Reid60142NZlSAFJohannesburgFeb 62
14JR Reid74100NZlEngChristchurchMar 63
15JR Reid12876NZlPakKarachiApr 65
16MAK Pataudi64148IndEngLeedsJun 67
17MAK Pataudi7585IndAusMelbourneDec 67
18IM Chappell6550AusEngMelbourneFeb 75
19AW Greig11676*EngWinLeedsJul 76
20DI Gower57106EngAusLord’sJun 89
21KC Wessels5974SAFWinBridgetownApr 92
22GA Gooch65133EngAusManchesterJun 93
23WJ Cronje12667SAFEngNottinghamJul 98
24BC Lara5179WinSAFDurbanDec 98
25A Flower74129ZimSrlHarareNov 99
26BC Lara6775WinNZlWellingtonDec 99
27SR Tendulkar11652IndAusMelbourneDec 99
28SP Fleming5799NZlSAFBloemfonteinNov 00
29CL Hooper5354*WinSAFPort of SpainMar 01
30BC Lara91122WinAusPort of SpainApr 03
31T Taibu71*52ZimIndBulawayoSep 05
32MS Atapattu8867SrlIndDelhiDec 05
33Habibul Bashar6973BanSrlBograMar 06
34A Flintoff7051EngIndMohaliMar 06
35BC Lara61122WinPakLahoreNov 06
36RT Ponting10199AusSAFMelbourneDec 08
37Shakib Al Hasan87100BanNZlHamiltonFeb 10
38RT Ponting7772AusIndBengaluruOct 10
39MS Dhoni7774*IndEngBirminghamAug 11
40BRM Taylor50117ZimNZlBulawayoNov 11
41M Jayawardene10564SrlEngCol-PSSApr 12
42M Jayawardene7260SrlAusSydneyJan 13
43V Kohli115141IndAusAdelaideDec 14
44AD Mathews5066SrlNZlChristchurchDec 14
45AN Cook7556EngNZlLeedsMay 15
46JE Root5972EngWinLeedsAug 17
47LD Chandimal5761SrlIndNagpurNov 17
48JE Root8358*EngAusSydneyJan 18
49V Kohli14951IndEngBirminghamAug 18
50Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20

Mohd Rizwan of Pakistan scored 71 and 60 against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui which was in a losing cause to provide the 23rd occasion of a wicket keeper batsman’s twin fifties in a test going in vain in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamOppGroundMon/Yr
1JHB Waite5856*SAFEngBirminghamJun 60
2APE Knott9263EngAusThe OvalAug 72
3DL Murray6655WinAusBrisbaneNov 75
4APE Knott5057EngWinThe OvalAug 76
5A Flower11562*ZimIndDelhiMar 93
6IA Healy7451*AusEngAdelaideJan 95
h7A Flower6583ZimNZlAucklandFeb 98
8A Flower74129ZimSrlHarareNov 99
9A Flower183*70ZimIndDelhiNov 00
10A Flower5183ZimIndBulawayoJun 01
11A Flower142199*ZimSAFHarareSep 01
12T Taibu71*52ZimIndBulawayoSep 05
13Mushfiqur Rahim7995BanEngChattogramMar 10
14MS Dhoni7774*IndEngBirminghamAug 11
15BJ Watling6363NZlSAFPort ElizabethJan 13
16Sarfaraz Ahmed5552*PakSrlGalleAug 14
17Sarfaraz Ahmed10355PakSrlColombo (SSC)Aug 14
18BJ Watling61*59NZlEngLord’sMay 15
19MDKJ Perera5570SrlIndColombo (SSC)Aug 15
20LD Chandimal8358SrlNZlDunedinDec 15
21JM Bairstow5581EngPakThe OvalAug 16
22Q de Kock8055SAFSrlDurbanFeb 19
23Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20
Captain wicket keeper batsmen scoring twin fifties in a test.

Captain wicket keeper batsmen scoring twin fifties in a test.

Mohd Rizwan of Pakistan score 71 and 60 against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui to provide the tenth occasion of a captain wicket keeper batsman scoring fifties in both innings of a test in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamOppnGround`Mon/Yr
1A Flower74129ZimSrlHarareNov 99
2T Taibu85*153ZimBanDhakaJan 05
3T Taibu71*52ZinIndBulawayoSep 05
4MS Dhoni9268*IndAusMohaliOct 08
5MS Dhoni5655IndAusNagpurNov 08
6MS Dhoni5256*IndNZlWellingtonApr 09
7MS Dhoni7774*IndEngBirminghamAug 11
8Mushfiqur Rahim6093BanZimHarareApr 13
9Sarfaraz Ahmed9481PakAusAbu DhabiOct 18
10Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20

It also provides the eighth occasion of Pakistan captain wicket keeper batsman scoring twin fifties in a test. Both such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamOppnGround`Mon/Yr
1Sarfaraz Ahmed9481PakAusAbu DhabiOct 18
2Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20

It also provides the second occasion of a captain wicket keeper batsman scoring twin fifties in a test against New Zealand. Both such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamOppnGround`Mon/Yr
1MS Dhoni5256*IndNZlWellingtonApr 09
2Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20
Wicket keeper batsmen scoring twin fifties in a test – Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan joins the list

Wicket keeper batsmen scoring twin fifties in a test – Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan joins the list

Mohd Rizwan of Pakistan score 71 and 60 against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui to provide the 56th occasion of a wicket keeper batsman scoring fifties in both innings of a test in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below‘

NoPlayerFISITeamOppGroundStart Date
1JM Blackham5758*AusEngSydneyFeb 1883
2Dilawar Hussain5957IndEngKolkataJan 34
3CL Walcott54108WinIndKolkataDec 48
4RT Spooner7192EngIndKolkataDec 51
5JHB Waite11559SAFAusJohannesburgDec 57
6JHB Waite5856*SAFEngBirminghamJun 60
7FCM Alexander63*87*WinAusAdelaideJan 61
8DT Lindsay69182SAFAusJohannesburgDec 66
9APE Knott10196EngNZlAucklandMar 71
10APE Knott9263EngAusThe OvalAug 72
11FM Engineer12166IndEngMumbai (BS)Feb 73
12APE Knott7163*EngPakHyd-PakMar 73
13APE Knott8767EngWinBridgetownMar 74
14DL Murray6655WinAusBrisbaneNov 75
15APE Knott5057EngWinThe OvalAug 76
16GN Edwards5554NZlEngAucklandMar 78
17PJL Dujon5352WinEngLord’sJun 88
18Saleem Yousuf6266*PakAusFaisalabadSep 88
19A Flower11562*ZimIndDelhiMar 93
20IA Healy7451*AusEngAdelaideJan 95
21A Flower6583ZimNZlAucklandFeb 98
22A Flower74129ZimSrlHarareNov 99
23AC Gilchrist7855AusIndMelbourneDec 99
24A Flower183*70ZimIndDelhiNov 00
25A Flower55232*ZimIndNagpurNov 00
26A Flower5183ZimIndBulawayoJun 01
27A Flower1429*ZimSAFHarareSep 01
28T Taibu5958ZimBanHarareFeb 04
29T Taibu85*153ZimBanDhakaJan 05
30T Taibu71*52ZimIndBulawayoSep 05
31Kamran Akmal5271PakSAFLahoreOct 07
32MS Dhoni9268*IndAusMohaliOct 08
33MS Dhoni5655IndAusNagpurNov 08
34MJ Prior131*61EngWinPort of SpainMar 09
35MS Dhoni5256*IndNZlWellingtonApr 09
36Mushfiqur Rahim7995BanEngChattogramMar 10
37MJ Prior71103*EngIndLord’sJul 11
38MS Dhoni7774*IndEngBirminghamAug 11
39LD Chandimal5854SrlSAFDurbanDec 11
40BJ Watling6363NZlSAFPort ElizabethJan 13
41MJ Prior73110*EngNZlAucklandMar 13
42Mushfiqur Rahim6093BanZimHarareApr 13
43BJ Haddin9453AusEngBrisbaneNov 13
44Sarfaraz Ahmed5552*PakSrlGalleAug 14
45Sarfaraz Ahmed10355PakSrlColombo (SSC)Aug 14
46BJ Watling61*59NZlEngLord’sMay 15
67LD Chandimal59162*SrlIndGalleAug 15
68MDKJ Perera5570SrlIndColombo (SSC)Aug 15
69LD Chandimal8358SrlNZlDunedinDec 15
50JM Bairstow5581EngPakThe OvalAug 16
51Q de Kock8250SAFNZlCenturionAug 16
52WP Saha54*58*IndNZlKolkataSep 16
53Q de Kock8464SAFAusPerthNov 16
54Sarfaraz Ahmed9481PakAusAbu DhabiOct 18
55Q de Kock8055SAFSrlDurbanFeb 20
56Mohd Rizwan7160PakNZlMt MaunganuiDec 20

It also provides the sixth occasion of Pakistan wicket keeper batsman scoring twin fifties in a test. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISIOppGroundStart Date
1Saleem Yousuf6266*AusFaisalabad23 Sep 1988
2Kamran Akmal5271SAFLahore08 Oct 2007
3Sarfaraz Ahmed5552*SrlGalle06 Aug 2014
4Sarfaraz Ahmed10355SrlColombo (SSC)14 Aug 2014
5Sarfaraz Ahmed9481AusAbu Dhabi16 Oct 2018
6Mohd Rizwan7160NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020

It also provides the eighth occasion of wicket keeper batsman scoring twin fifties in a test against New Zealand. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamGroundStart Date
1APE Knott10196EngAuckland05 Mar 1971
2A Flower6583ZimAuckland26 Feb 1998
3MS Dhoni5256*IndWellington03 Apr 2009
4MJ Prior73110*EngAuckland22 Mar 2013
5LD Chandimal8358SrlDunedin10 Dec 2015
6Q de Kock8250SAFCenturion27 Aug 2016
7WP Saha54*58*IndKolkata30 Sep 2016
8Mohd Rizwan7160PakMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020
Captains scoring twin fifties in test – Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan joins the list

Captains scoring twin fifties in test – Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan joins the list

Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan score 71 and 60 against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui to provide the 200th occasion of a captain scoring fifties in both innings of a test in the annals of test cricket. It also provides the 18th occasion of Pakistan captain scoring twin fifties in a test. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISIOppoGroundStart Date
1Hanif Mohammad10493AusMelbourne4 Dec 1964
2Mushtaq Mohammad10767*NZlKarachi30 Oct 1976
3Mushtaq Mohammad12156WinTrinidad1 Apr 1977
4Imran Khan8372*AusMelbourne26 Dec 1983
5Saleem Malik75143AusLahore1 Nov 1994
6Inzamam-ul-Haq5786IndMohali8 Mar 2005
7Inzamam-ul-Haq50117*WinKingston3 Jun 2005
8Inzamam-ul-Haq5372EngMultan12 Nov 2005
9Inzamam-ul-Haq109100*EngFaisalabad20 Nov 2005
10Inzamam-ul-Haq6956*EngLord’s13 Jul 2006
11Misbah-ul-Haq7758*SAFAbu Dhabi20 Nov 2010
12Misbah-ul-Haq9970*NZlWellington15 Jan 2011
13Misbah-ul-Haq5352ZimHarare3 Sep 2013
14Misbah-ul-Haq6368*SrlSharjah16 Jan 2014
15Misbah-ul-Haq101101*AusAbu Dhabi30 Oct 2014
16Misbah-ul-Haq10287EngDub-DSC22 Oct 2015
17Sarfaraz Ahmed9481AusAbu Dhabi16 Oct 2018
18Mohammad Rizwan7160NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020

It also provides the 20th occasion of a captain scoring twin fifties in a test against New Zealand.  All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamGroundStart Date
1MJK Smith5487EngChristchurch25 Feb 1966
2IM Chappell145121AusWellington01 Mar 1974
3Mushtaq Mohd10767*PakKarachi30 Oct 1976
4IVA Richards5778WinPort of Spain29 Mar 1985
5AR Border140114*AusChristchurch28 Feb 1986
6MA Atherton94*118EngChristchurch14 Feb 1997
7BC Lara6775WinWellington26 Dec 1999
8RT Ponting10586*AusAuckland26 Mar 2005
9GC Smith6368SAFJohannesburg05 May 2006
0MS Dhoni5256*IndWellington03 Apr 2009
11KC Sangakkara50109SrlColombo (SSC)26 Aug 2009
12Shakib Al Hasan87100BanHamilton15 Feb 2010
13Misbah-ul-Haq9970*PakWellington15 Jan 2011
14BRM Taylor50117ZimBulawayo01 Nov 2011
15GC Smith53115SAFDunedin07 Mar 2012
16AD Mathews5066SrlChristchurch26 Dec 2014
17AN Cook7556EngLeeds29 May 2015
18SPD Smith13853*AusChristchurch20 Feb 2016
19F du Plessis5256*SAFDunedin08 Mar 2017
20Mohd Rizwan7160PakMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020

It also provides the third occasion of a Pakistan captain scoring twin fifties in a test against New Zealand.  All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerFISITeamGroundStart Date
1Mushtaq Mohd10767*PakKarachi30 Oct 1976
2Misbah-ul-Haq9970*PakWellington15 Jan 2011
3Mohd Rizwan7160PakMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020
Pakistan batsman’s fourth innings test centuries in vain

Pakistan batsman’s fourth innings test centuries in vain

Fawad Alam’s 102 for Pakistan  against New Zealand in the just concluded test at Mount Maunganui was in a losing cause to provide the 87th occasion of a batsman’s century in the fourth innings of a test going in vain. It also provides the seventh occasion of a batsman’s century in the fourth innings of a test going in vain against New Zealand. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsITeamGroundStart Date
1RA McLean1134SAFCape Town01 Jan 1962
2Mohd Wasim109*4PakLahore21 Nov 1996
3Shakib Al Hasan1004BanHamilton15 Feb 2010
4BRM Taylor1174ZimBulawayo01 Nov 2011
5DA Warner123*4AusHobart09 Dec 2011
6S Dhawan1154IndAuckland06 Feb 2014
7Fawad Alam1024PakMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020

It also provides the ninth occasion of a Pakistan batsman’s century in the fourth innings of a test going in vain. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsIOppGroundStart Date
1Asif Iqbal1354WinKingston15 Apr 1977
2Ijaz Ahmed1214AusMelbourne12 Jan 1990
3Moin Khan117*4SrlSialkot22 Sep 1995
4Mohd Wasim109*4NZlLahore21 Nov 1996
5Shahid Afridi1224WinBridgetown26 May 2005
6Younis Khan1264SAFKarachi01 Oct 2007
7Asad Shafiq1374AusBrisbane15 Dec 2016
8Asad Shafiq1124SrlDub-DSC06 Oct 2017
9Fawad Alam1024NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020

It also provides the second occasion of a Pakistan batsman’s century in the fourth innings of a test going in vain against New Zealand. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsIOppGroundStart Date
1Mohd Wasim109*4NZlLahore21 Nov 1996
2Fawad Alam1024NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020
Both Pakistan opening batsmen scoring ducks in a test innings

Both Pakistan opening batsmen scoring ducks in a test innings

Shan Masood and Abid Ali scored ducks in Pakistan’s second innings in the just concluded test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui to provide the  55th occasion of both the opening batsmen scoring ducks in a test innings in the annals of test cricket. It also provides the fifth such occasion by both the opening batsmen against New Zealand in tests.

It also provides the ninth occasion of both Pakistan opening batsmen scoring ducks in a test innings and the first such occasion by Pakistan opening batsmen against New Zealand. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoNoPlayerRIOppGroundStart Date
11Shafiq Ahmed01WinKarachi22 Dec 1980
 2Sadiq Mohammad01WinKarachi22 Dec 1980
        
21Mudassar Nazar02AusPerth13 Nov 1981
 2Rizwan-uz-Zaman02AusPerth13 Nov 1981
        
31Mohsin Khan03EngLeeds26 Aug 1982
 2Mudassar Nazar03EngLeeds26 Aug 1982
        
41Shakeel Ahmed jnr02WinSt John’s1 May 1993
 2Ramiz Raja02WinSt John’s1 May 1993
        
51Imran Nazir02AusCol-PSS3 Oct 2002
 2Taufeeq Umar02AusCol-PSS3 Oct 2002
        
61Imran Nazir01AusSharjah11 Oct 2002
 2Taufeeq Umar01AusSharjah11 Oct 2002
        
71Mohammad Hafeez03SAFCape Town14 Feb 2013
 2Nasir Jamshed03SAFCape Town14 Feb 2013
        
81Shan Masood03SAFDub-DSC23 Oct 2013
 2Khurram Manzoor03SAFDub-DSC23 Oct 2013
        
91Shan Masood04NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020
 2Abid Ali04NZlMt Maunganui26 Dec 2020
Some pun like this on India’s win at Melbourne

Some pun like this on India’s win at Melbourne

As the Indians *Wade* towards victory, I am sure this match would have caused a lot of *Burns* amongst the Aussies. Indian batting was *Head* and shoulders above the Aussies, making them turn *Green* with envy. The *Cummins* of form of the Indian team was in *Starc* contrast to the performance of the Aussies, which I am sure would have left the Aussie fans in *Paine* in their *Lyon*.

This is a forwarded message on whatsapp by my classmate in Engineering – Balachandra affetionately known as Balu

Ravi Shastri : India’s MCG triumph is one of the great comebacks in Test history

Ravi Shastri : India’s MCG triumph is one of the great comebacks in Test history

India level the series in style. Bowled out for 36. Missing three, arguably four, first-choice players. Losing another mid-Test. Spending months on the road and in mentally challenging bubbles. Losing the toss. Becoming only the third team to come back from a 0-1 deficit in the last 50 years in Australia. You might have accused India coach Ravi Shastri of hyperbole in the past, but you probably wouldn’t argue against his assessment that India’s win in Melbourne after all that is one of the great comebacks in Test history, not just Indian cricket.

“I think this will go down in the annals of Indian cricket – no, world cricket – as one of the great comebacks in the history of the game,” Shastri said. “You know to be rolled over for 36 and then three days later to get up and be ready to punch was outstanding. The boys deserve all the credit for the character they have shown. Real character.”

The key to this comeback, Shastri said, was to accept the result in Adelaide and move on. He was asked what the chat was in the dressing room in Adelaide and then in Melbourne when they rocked up.

“No chat,” he said of Adelaide. “And when we arrived in Melbourne, it was the things we have got to do to get up and fight.

“We had a lot of positives in Adelaide but at the end of the day it is the result that counts. We were blown away in the second innings in one hour. So when you are blown away, you are blown away. There is nothing you can do about it than to get up and fight, which we did in this Test match. To beat a team like Australia, especially in Australia, there is no point having one good day or two good days, you have got to have five good days if you have to beat them. As simple as that.”

India began the final day of the Test still needing four wickets with scores level, and were held up by a stubborn tail helped by a missing seamer and by now a lifeless track. “We were focusing on accuracy and discipline,” Shastri said. “And be patient. Be prepared to be patient even if they batted a session or a session and a half. Be prepared to chase even 100 or 150 if needed. Think in that fashion. Think as if you have to take 10 wickets not just four wickets.”

Shastri was glowing in the praise of the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, especially his batting. “The discipline,” said Shastri of Rahane’s century. “On such a big stage, in a massive arena, to come as captain of the team, bat at No. 4. When he went out to bat, we were two down for 60 and then to bat six hours on probably the toughest day to bat. It was overcast; all day the sun never came out. He batted for six hours. Unbelievable concentration. I thought his innings was the turning point.”

Shastri acknowledged the calmness of Rahane played a part on the field. “He is a very shrewd leader, he has a good understanding for the game. A good reader of the game. And I thought his calm composure out there in the middle helped the debutants as well, helped the bowlers as well. There was a calming influence out there. In spite of losing Umesh [Yadav], he did a great job out there.”

One of the big positives for India will be that the debutants Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill looked ready for the occasion, for Test cricket, playing in a big match. “That’s the brand of cricket we have been playing for the last three or four years,” Shastri said. “When you saw these two debutants show that kind of maturity and discipline there, it was great to see. Today Siraj’s effort was outstanding actually. He might not have the numbers to show for it but the discipline and the ability to bowl long spells, the maturity he showed for someone playing his first Test, doing the job he had to do once we lost Umesh, was outstanding.

“Then Shubman going and playing with that kind of flair later on was great to see. Great character. More than anything else, great character. He looked very very mature for someone playing his first Test match. He looked very calm and composed. Wasn’t afraid to play his shots, which was great to see. Even in the second innings, it was very easy to get into a shell but he went out there and played his natural game, which was great from the team point of view.”

Shastri credited the IPL for giving India international-cricket-ready debutants. “A lot has to do with the IPL,” he said. “The fact that they share the dressing room with international players, they rub shoulders with the best, it is that complex factor disappears very quickly. And you see what you see now.”

While Shastri gave all the credit to the players, the team management made a bold move of playing a fifth bowler, Ravindra Jadeja, who proved his worth in all three disciplines. “He is a genuine allrounder,” Shastri said of Jadeja. “That is why he bats where he is. He can bat at 6, he can bat at 5 if need be on a given occasion. But he is a genuine genuine allrounder. That’s why he lends a lot of balance to the side. Also when you play overseas there is a chance of one of the bowlers getting injured, like you saw with Umesh. With Jadeja there, it gives better balance and it also gives fast bowlers some respite with Jaddu and Ashwin doing the bowling.”

They also replaced Wriddhiman Saha, the more accomplished pure wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant, the keeper-batsman. “I thought he was very very good,” Shastri said of Pant. “Anyone can make a mistake. Any batsman can make a mistake. I thought the discipline he showed, the runs he made, his ability to counterattack, and play some shots and move the game forward. It is a huge plus for the team. He showed it in this game. He might have got only 29 but there was a lot more than 29 there.”

Shastri confirmed they will continue with five bowlers for the next Test, but will wait to see how fit Rohit Sharma is before deciding on any change in the batting for the third Test. “We will stick to five bowlers,” Shastri said. “Rohit joins the team tomorrow. We will have a chat with him tomorrow to see where he is placed physically because he has been in quarantine for the last couple of weeks. Also got to see how he feels before we take the call.”

Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo : Article courtesy – espncricinfo.com

Batsmen who have scored 199 runs in a test innings. F de Plessis of South Africa joins the list

Batsmen who have scored 199 runs in a test innings. F de Plessis of South Africa joins the list

F du Plessis of South Africa scored 199 against Sri Lanka in the ongoing test at Centurion to provide the 13th occasion of a batsman scoring 199 in an innings in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsTeamOppGroundMatch Date
1Mudassar Nazar199PakIndFaisalabad24 Oct 1984
2M Azharuddin199IndSrlKanpur17 Dec 1986
3MTG Elliott199AusEngLeeds24 Jul 1997
4ST Jayasuriya199SrlIndCol-SSC09 Aug 1997
5SR Waugh199AusWinBridgetown26 Mar 1999
6A Flower199*ZimSAFHarare07 Sep 2001
7Younis Khan199PakIndLahore13 Jan 2006
8IR Bell199EngSAFLord’s10 Jul 2008
9KC Sangakkara199*SrlPakGalle22 Jun 2012
10SPD Smith199AusWinKingston11 Jun 2015
11KL Rahul199IndEngChennai16 Dec 2016
12D Elgar199SAFBanPot’stroom28 Sep 2017
13F du Plessis199SAFSrlCenturion26 Dec 2020

F du Plessis of South Africa was dismissed for 199 against Sri Lanka in the ongoing test at Centurion to provide the eleventh occasion of a batsman dismissed for 199 in an innings in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsTeamOppGroundMatch Date
1Mudassar Nazar199PakIndFaisalabad24 Oct 1984
2M Azharuddin199IndSrlKanpur17 Dec 1986
3MTG Elliott199AusEngLeeds24 Jul 1997
4ST Jayasuriya199SrlIndCol-SSC09 Aug 1997
5SR Waugh199AusWinBridgetown26 Mar 1999
6Younis Khan199PakIndLahore13 Jan 2006
7IR Bell199EngSAFLord’s10 Jul 2008
8SPD Smith199AusWinKingston11 Jun 2015
9KL Rahul199IndEngChennai16 Dec 2016
10D Elgar199SAFBanPot’stroom28 Sep 2017
11F du Plessis199SAFSrlCenturion26 Dec 2020

Apart from the above eleven batsmen, A Flower of Zimbabwe and KC Sangakkara of Sri Lanka have scored 199 not in a test innings. Both such occasions are tabulated below

NoPlayerRunsTeamOppGroundMatch Date
6A Flower199*ZimSAFHarare07 Sep 2001
9KC Sangakkara199*SrlPakGalle22 Jun 2012

F du Plessis became the second South African batsmen to score 199 in a test innings after D Elgar. D Elgar had scored 199 against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in Sep 2017.  The following table lists the performance of these two South African cricketers.

NoPlayerRunsTeamOppGroundMatch Date
1D Elgar199SAFBanPot’stroom28 Sep 2017
2F du Plessis199SAFSrlCenturion26 Dec 2020

F du Plessis became the second batsmen to score 199 in a test innings against Sri Lanka after M Azharuddin. M Azharuddin had scored 199 against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in Dec 1996.  The following table lists the performance of these two cricketers.

NoPlayerRunsTeamOppGroundMatch Date
1M Azharuddin199IndSrlKanpur17 Dec 1986
2F du Plessis199SAFSrlCenturion26 Dec 2020