BAZBALL AT HEART OF ENGLAND’S RISE
DID it really happen?
Did the broken, dispirited England team thrashed 4-0 by Australia last summer really go from a team that had won one of its previous 10 Tests to winning eight out of nine under the new daredevil regime of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum? It really is one of the most surprising and sudden turnarounds in the history of cricket.
While we will reserve the final say on the new “Bazball” game plan until after next year’s Ashes in the Old Dart it’s time to pay due credit to the miracle by selecting three England players in our Test team of the year.
A thunderous drum roll please for
USMAN KHAWAJA (Aus): The stats tell us it was a rugged year for opening batsmen, but not for Khawaja whose late-career peace of mind and contentment as a father of two has helped rejuvenate his cricket. His twin centuries in the SCG Test against England will forever be the gold stud of his career. Has 1079 runs at 71.9 from 10 Tests in 2022 with one match to play.
IMAM-UL-HAQ (Pak): Was the luckiest choice, and the last man chosen, but won respect as a gusty opener who made 157 and 111 not out against Australia in Rawalpindi in his first Test of the year and later 121 against England on the same ground.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE (Aus):
Averaging above 58 for the fourth successive year with his recent 204, 104 not out and 163 in successive innings the highlights. Had to work harder for his runs in Pakistan where he made a 90 followed by a 104 in Sri Lanka.
DARYL MITCHELL (NZ): Has only played 12 Tests, including six in 2022, but anyone who did well against England in England this year deserves high praise and he scored 108, 190, 62
not out, 109 and 56 – they simply couldn’t get him out.
JONNY BAIRSTOW (Eng): Devastating performance and Khawaja is his only rival as batsman of the year. He was the flagbearer for the new revolution with six centuries, often at bullat-a-gate pace like his 136 off 92 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge or two stirring centuries in the Test against India at Edgbaston. Could have improved on his 1061 runs at 66.3 had he not been out since August with a broken leg sustained in a golf accident.
BEN STOKES (Eng): Our captain and player of the year. Has 26 wickets, two centuries, four 50s and more sixes (26) than any other player from a highly productive year, but all of it recedes into the small print behind his stunning success as England captain. Notched nine wins in 10 matches with a brand of cavalier cricket never seen before, not the least by a team who couldn’t beat an egg for much of the previous two years. Amazing.
RISHABH PANT (Ind): Not the flashest gloveman in the world and at times his keeping is an untidy as his notoriously messy hotel room. But Pant remains one of the world’s most watchable cricketers and dangerous batsmen. Scored a century off 139 balls against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium then a blistering 146 off 111 against England at Edgbaston.
MARCO JANSEN (RSA): Outstanding prospect. Giant left-arm quicks who can swing the ball will normally clean up around the globe and he shone in four countries this year – South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia. Has only played eight Tests including seven in 2022 which reaped him 35 wickets at 17.0 with one match to play.
KAGISO RABADA (RSA):
His career bowling average of 20.4 run per wicket is the domain of the absolute kings of his craft. Threatens wherever he goes with pace, bounce and occasional movement. Took 8-89 for the match against Australia in Brisbane last week – including a hellraising 4-13 in the second innings – despite leaving the impression his best work is still to come.
JIMMY ANDERSON (Eng): How could you leave out a 40-year-old bowler good enough to take 36 wickets at 19.8 in his 20th year as a Test bowler? He tormented India at Edgbaston and played a typically tidy role in England’s 3-0 win in Pakistan with a decisive four-wicket haul in the first Test. Astonishing performer.
NATHAN LYON (Aus): Australia’s most irreplaceable player was very solid again. Proved himself strong of mind and body by bowling Australia to a series victory in the last of three heavy duty Tests in Pakistan and his 9-121 underpinned another triumph in Sri Lanka. Has 43 wickets at 29.2 this year.
12TH MAN PAT CUMMINS
(Aus): Predictably good with 35 wickets at 21 and did well in his first full year as Australian captain to win a series in Pakistan that required every ounce of his calm, relentless mantra.