Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2011 & Wisden on the Ashes

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2011 Edited by Scyld Berry (Published by John Wisden)
Wisden on the Ashes Edited by Steven Lynch (Published by John Wisden)

By definition, any Wisden can only be as good as the previous cricketing year it describes in such painstaking detail. It’s why the 1982 and 2006 editions command higher prices than those of similar vintage. I’m speaking relatively, of course, for no Wisden, heralding a new season whilst celebrating, or at least chewing over the bones of, the old, can ever be a poor read.

The 148th Almanack, and last under Berry’s editorship, has the fortune to be banqueting, for 42 of its 1648 pages, on this past winter’s Ashes. The series also crops up in the Media section, with the deliciously ironic Melbourne Age headline of December 8th reproduced; “There are two teams out there. Only one is playing cricket… Unfortunately this time it’s England.” (And it was only 0-1 at that stage!)

2010 wasn’t just about the Ashes, but to be brutally frank it wasn’t a classic vintage; there were the Pakistan no balls, a thrilling (for Notts) and heartbreaking (for Somerset) climax to the County Championship and England’s World Twenty20 victory (does anyone remember that?).

The Wisden Review, including the Media section, Cricketana and Obituaries, has been shifted for some reason from its traditional home near the back of the book, to nearer the front, following on from the opening Comment and editorials.

Another change, or rather introduction, has been the launch of the Wisden-MCC Cricket Photo of the Year. The inaugural prize going to Scott Barbour.

The first section I always turn to is the Index of Unusual Occurrences, my two favourite this year being the two-ball hat-trick (think about it – it’s not only possible, it’s been done) and the cricket ground where not a moment’s play has been lost to rain since 1859. No, it’s not in Lancashire, but alas, in Peru.

By the way, who do you think was 14th in England’s one day batting averages for the calendar year? The answer is on p.269, but I’ll give you a clue – his initials are KP. (Not 14th in the World, but 14th for England – fourteenth!).

Wisden’s appeal and gravitas comes with that near-century-and-half’s experience of reporting every game of note and chiselling its runs and wickets into the tombstone of history. I wonder if future generations will grasp the intended meaning of Mark Nicholas’ ‘Strauss had been in wicked form’?

I love the fact that Wisden, like the true cricket lover it is, cherishes the game’s heritage and gives thanks, consciously or not, to those who have played the game and given enjoyment.

This is perfectly illustrated by three separate mentions in the 1911 book for a Kent and England bowler who lost his life at Passchendaele 94 years ago. I learnt from Patrick Collins’ nice little essay on Canterbury Week that Colin Blythe has a wreath laid in his memory on the opening day of every Canterbury Festival. Turn a couple of pages and Prashant Kidambi’s account of a 1911 Indian touring side is illustrated by a group of players from the Kent v All-India fixture. Third from left in the back row is a young man in Kent cap and blazer, looking like a clean-shaven Andrew Strauss (sans wedding ring on a bit of string round the neck). It’s Colin Blythe, a man who no-one now alive saw play, but who is remembered. Turn another 400 pages and check the Kent records; ‘Best bowling for, 10-30, C. Blythe v Northamptonshire, 1907’.

Wisden on the Ashes is pretty much the ultimate every-day-is-Christmas-Day book. At £45, it’s not a bargain, but we’re talking both quality and quantity here. Its bulk makes it impractical for both the suitcase and the beach, but it warrants a place on the bedside table of any cricket enthusiast.

Included within are eye-witness contemporary reports of every Ashes Test. From the first, which began on March 15th 1877 with an England team who had left these shores on September 21st the previous year, to the most recent, the five-match series seemingly over in the time it would have taken that first touring side to steam from Tilbury to Sheerness.

Everything and everyone are here; Grace, Trumper, Bodyline, Hutton, Bradman, Laker, Benaud, Underwood, Snow, Massie, Lillie, Thompson, Steele, ‘George Davis is Innocent’, Randall, Boycs’ 100th ton, the miracle of Headingley, Botham, Gower, Border, the Waughs, Merv, Shane, Freddie, Gilly, Punter and KP, right through to the wondrous feats of Alastair ‘766’ Cook, who graces the yellow jacket of this year’s Almanack.

It’s a historical document, never to go out of date; contemporary accounts, without the re-evaulation of hindsight. Sure, by 2013 there will be fresh chapters to add, but the past is always there. And without a past there can be no future. Wisden knows this; only the future will tell us if the game’s ruling bodies, committees and decision-makers know it too.

Retiring Paul Collingwood was given the honour of leading England out on the final day of his test career and was given a day to remember by his team mates as they made short work of the remaining Australian batsmen in a rain interrupted session.

However it is captain Andrew Strauss who must be given credit for his leadership qualities at test level and it is his name that will be added to those of Sir Len Hutton and Mike Brearley as only the third England captain to win Ashes series both home and away.

Alistair Cook picked up both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards for his contribution in amassing 766 runs over the five matches.

It is difficult however to single out one player from the England camp as everyone concerned with the team has given their all in a spectacular performance over the series in which team work and excellent leadership qualities have been key to the team comfortably retaining the Ashes.

A lot has been said about the poor quality of the Australian selection, but it is a team in transition and one that needs to build a rapport within the group of players in the squad, which they will surely manage if they hope to regain their place at the top of international cricket.

England however have been in stupendous form for sometime now at all levels and are performing more as a team than at anytime I can remember, they have deserved the win in Australia and will represent tough opposition during their heavy schedule heading into the World Cup.

Fifth Ashes Test, Sydney (day five):
England 644 beat Australia 280 & 281 by an innings and 83 runs

paul collingwood

Having struggled to make his presence felt with the bat in the current Ashes series, it is no real surprise that Paul Collingwood has mad the announcement that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the final days play in Australia.

The 34 year old Durham player will continue to represent England in limited overs cricket where he captained the team to their first limited overs tournament success at last years World T20 in the West Indies.

As one of the finest fielders of his generation Collingwood still has plenty to offer at international level and will be a key player in England’s World Cup campaign which gets under way next month.

His recent form with the bat has been disappointing by his own standards and Collingwood will retire from Test cricket having helped England to their first Ashes win on Australian soil in 24 years.

Having already secured the Ashes series England have put themselves in a perfect position to end the series in style, at close of play on day four the visitors led by an innings and 151 runs – well on course for a crushing 3-1 victory in Sydney.

Matt Prior had earlier surpassed Ian Bell’s score of 115, taking 118 runs from just 130 balls to become the third England player in that innings to make a century. England ended the innings on 644 all out, giving the Australians a mountain to climb, a job that became progressively harder as the day went on with England’s bowlers decimating Australia and closing on victory.

Fifth Ashes Test: (day four)

Australia 280 & 213-7 v England 644

Cook who started the day on 61, enjoyed a stand of 154 with Bell as he surpassed some of the England greats of the past, making 189 runs to take his aggregate to 766 and in doing passing the likes of Boycott, Edrich, Gooch and Compton in the Ashes record books.

Bell hit his first Ashes century, making 115 before falling to Johnson in the penultimate over, after surviving a couple of close calls on the way.

He was first given out when caught behind on 67 but the decision was reversed on review and then on 84 he was dropped by Smith. To his credit Bell was quick to regain his composure and himself enjoyed a stand of 107 with Matt Prior who ended the day 54 not out.

There appeared to be little fight from the Australian’s who endured another of those days where nothing seemed to go in their favour, much to the disgust of the home fans in the packed Sydney Cricket Ground.

At stumps England led the game by 208 runs and are in a perfect position to win the Ashes outright in Australia for the first time for 24 years.

Fifth Ashes Test:

Australia 280 v England 488-7 (stumps, day three)

Having put on 78 without loss, the England batting order was demolished by a devastating display of swing bowling from the returning bowler Mitchell Johnson, keen to make amends after being dropped for the second test.

His bowling figures of 6 for 38 say it all really as England collapsed for an all out figure of a measly 187 runs. Only captain Andrew Strauss (52)and Ian Bell (53) making anything over 50, while Johnson was responsible for the wickets of Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Collingwood in the space of about twenty runs. Pietersen’s heroics with the bat in the second test now long forgotten as he went for nought in Perth.

At the end of play on day two of the third test Australia had put themselves into the driving seat on 119 for 3, Finn having taken the wickets of Hughes and Ponting, while Tremlett claimed that of Clarke.

England will need some sharp bowling to contain the remaining Australian batting order, with Watson (61) and Hussey (24) set to resume at the crease.

An early show of bowling superiority tomorrow morning could change the complexion of the game and the way the wicket is I don’t think we should expect any big run scoring innings for either side. Overall this third Ashes test is teetering in favour of the Aussies, but there is still a lot of cricket to get through yet.

Third Ashes Test, Perth (day two, close):
Australia 268 & 119-3 v England 187

Despite some desperate measures from the Australian selectors over the last week in trying to strengthen the batting order, their efforts appeared to be in vain in the opening session when recalled opener Phil Hughes fell for two and Ponting, Clarke, Watson and Smith joined him soon after as the hosts limped to 69 for 5.

It was down to Hussey, Haddin and Johnson to dig in again for Australia and they showed enough resilience and fight between them to put a more respectable number of runs on the board. Peter Siddle held his nerve in the final session scoring himself  35 runs and remaining unbeaten by the England attack.

England survived an early scare when Strauss edged a ball that fell just short of Ponting at second slip, but other than that the England captain and his partner Cook got the visitors off to a safe start, putting on 29 runs by the end of the first day.

It will be interesting to see how the Australian bowlers respond in day two, to get a clearer picture of how their changes are likely to affect the Ashes series if at all, but for now England have done everything asked of them and must remain focused on the job in hand.

Third Ashes Test, Perth (day one):
Australia 268 v England 29-0

Having fought back from a horrid start to draw the first Test, England appeared to be in the driving seat throughout the second Test, beating Australia on their own turf by a significant margin of an innings and 71 runs.

It has been a joy to watch so far from an England perspective, they have ridden their luck on occasions, but generally they have remained focused on the job in hand and delivered by the bucket load.

A lot has been said about the lack of quality in the Australian team, but it is fair to say that they have some world beaters amongst their number and moreover it is a time of re-building for the Aussies in much the same way as England have rebuilt in recent times.

Having said that, it is reassuring from England’s perspective that the Aussie’s do not have the likes of Shane Warne, Brett Lee and co to intimidate and un-nerve them and this series appears much quieter on the field than we have become used to between these deadly rivals simply because of that.

England have not appeared flustered even when the odds have been stacked against them and if that can continue they will be half way to retaining the Ashes, they only need one more win to ensure that the little trophy stays in England for another year and on the evidence so far I would not bet against them.

Overall the is the best England team I have seen for a long time, they have strength in all departments, quality bowlers and outstanding batsmen who in this series have shown that as a group they are able to focus on their fielding, an area that as caused them problems in the past.

Something I never thought I would hear from the Australian’s is that their only hope of salvaging something from the series is to pray for rain.

It has also been reported that a staggering 71% of Aussies would like to see 41 year old Shane Warne return to the field. I find it surprising that a country whose sportsmen never know when they are beaten and are generally able to find something extra, against England in particular, are being written off after drawing the first Test and a fair chance of a similar result, given the weather, in Adelaide.

None the less it is England who have every right to pleased with their performance so far in the Ashes Test and how good it was to see Kevin Pietersen back doing what he does best against the old foe.

It has been a tougher year for Pietersen than for most and with his brand of cavalier batting there is always the fear of things not quite turning out how you might have hoped, but in the last couple of days he has been in complete charge of the game.

A splendid Test best for Pietersen of 227 runs was topped off  by taking the wicket of Michael Clarke with the last ball of the day on the fourth day of the second test.

Not that it has been a one man show from the England team, every player has performed heroically with bat and ball to put England in the driving seat in this match, but none the less there is no finer sight in cricket than watching Pietersen it such dominant and majestic mood with the bat.

It would be a real shame for the England team to lose their grasp on this match but there is a real chance that the Adelaide weather may have the last laugh and save the game for the Australians.

It would of course be a travesty of justice given the position England have put themselves in, but it could also be Australia’s only chance of avoiding defeat although it has to be said that the likes of North,  Haddin and Hussey could easily change all that at the crease with some good old fashioned Australian spunk.

Second Ashes Test, Adelaide: Day Four
Australia 245 & 238-4 v England 620-5dec

The wickets of Katich and Ponting had gone before a run had been scored and Clarke followed soon after with a paltry 2 runs on the scoreboard.

Watson (51) managed to stay around long enough to stage a fightback alongside Hussey (93), but the first day was all about the England bowling attack , who demolished Australia for 245 all out in a perfect start to the second test.

As always there was some good fortune in the game and the first break fell to England when Watson attempted a single that partner Katich responded late to, resulting in Trott running him out with a perfect shot at the wicket from square leg.

Ponting went off the next ball from Anderson, edging a catch to Swann at slip and if Australia thought things could not get any worse the Anderson Swann partnership taught them differently as they collected the wicket of Clarke with 2 runs scored.

Hussey in particular got stuck in for Australia and Haddin also had a good go, but today was all about a dominant England attack who took their chances and kept the bowling tight.

Anderson was the star of the day with figures of 4 for 51, but Swann spent ten overs more in the bowling attack returning a respectable 2 for 70, with Broad on 1 for 39 and Finn 1 for 71.

In reply England managed to put a solitary one run on the board to take into the second day, neither Strauss or Cook chancing much against the 90mph bowling from Harris and collecting the one run off the one over before close.

Second Ashes Test, Adelaide:
Australia 245 all out v England 1-0 (day one, stumps)

A match that looked to be lost as England were bowled out on the first day for 260 and the Australian batsmen showed their mettle in putting on 461 runs, was suddenly turned on its head when England ’s batsmen smashed an array of records to put on a staggering 517 for 1.

Finding themselves in the driving seat England captain Andrew Strauss declared with Australia needing 297 from 41 overs to win the game.

In the final period England got off to a fine start taking the wicket of Katich, but the determination of Ponting and Watson not to throw the match away was rewarded with a draw as both captain’s settled for an early bath with 15 overs to play.

England are in a bullish mood ahead of the second Test in Adelaide and will have time to reflect on the record breaking 235 not out from Alistair Cook, who surpassed the great Sir Don Bradman for the highest Test score at the Gabba.

Along with Jonathan Trott, Cook put on a stand of 329 runs, the ninth highest England stand in history. And while that pair deserve full credit for their play lets not forget another captain’s performance from Stewart, who fell for 110.

First Ashes Test, Brisbane:
England 260 & 517-1 drew with Australia 481 & 107-1