Mahela Jayawardene has won matches off his bat, and thrilled crowds from around the world, but he has never been about the tidy, round numbers

Andrew Fidel Fernando at SSC16-Aug-2014When Mahela Jayawardene walked out for his final innings in Test cricket, Pakistan began to form their second guard of honour of the match. The first half of their gesture went off without a hitch. Two columns of roughly equal length were formed about two metres apart, in line with the corridor that leads out of the dressing rooms.But as soon as Jayawardene walked past the two players, on either side, Pakistan began to close in around him. Saeed Ajmal made a lighthearted comment. Younis Khan quipped back and flung his arm around the batsman while both chuckled. Long before Jayawardene could pass through, the guard straight lines had collapsed into a group huddle, just like it had on day one.Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been professional teams for years, but from the top eight sides, the amateur spirit still runs strongest in these two. It is just like Sri Lanka and Pakistan to give the same player two guards of honour in one match. It is just like Sri Lanka and Pakistan to do it wrong both times. Not that their fans would want it any other way.This Test had been moved to the SSC to give Jayawardene a perfect farewell, but so far the celebrations have not been without their blemishes. The crowd filled out a little, while Jayawardene’s stand with Kumar Sangakkara swelled, but there were vast empty spaces, in the stands and on the banks. It was a Saturday afternoon.Those that had gathered to send Jayawardene off had their chants routinely drowned out by the music blaring from the stadium speakers. Hoardings, some transplanted from their previous haunts in Galle, had been installed around the ground’s periphery, but some of those were not perfect either. “Couldn’t have been streater,” read one, showing Jayawardene driving in one-day kit. “Should go alone the ground,” went another, with a picture of Jayawardene sweeping in Tests.

‘One hell of an achievement’

Acting head coach Marvan Atapattu lauded Rangana Herath’s skill on day three, as he completed figures of 9 for 127 in the first innings at the SSC. Those returns are the best for a left-arm bowler of any kind in Tests, and also saw Herath move his tally against Pakistan to 83 – three more than Muttiah Muralitharan.
“Herath’s greatest strength is being accurate,” Atapattu said. “We always try to compare a spinner with a Muralitharan. I don’t think that is fair by anybody. Murali is a freak and a genius. This guy has different strengths and he has proven over the years that he is capable of getting wickets using his strengths. To get fifty wickets in a year, five-fors in an innings 20 times, 16 of them coming after Murali’s retirement is one hell of an achievement.
“I don’t think Rangana knows that he has got the best figures ever by a left-arm bowler. He is humble. He concentrates on his job and thinks about what he has to do.”

On Facebook, a Sri Lankan politician had criticised whoever had allowed the misspelled boards to be displayed, but maybe the man it had all been for would not have minded so much. Jayawardene delivered staggering highs in his career, but for all his hard runs, he has not been one to tango with perfection. He is loved at home for his efforts at Galle and Colombo. But he polarises opinion overseas, largely because of his lopsided home and away record.No bowler has dismissed Jayawardene more than six times other than Saeed Ajmal, who has claimed his scalp on nine occasions, so when he took guard against the offspinner, he seemed tense. Jayawardene prodded outside off stump, failing to account for Ajmal’s turn several times and misreading a doosra that narrowly passed the outside edge.Some days every ball hits the middle of his blade, and all his strokes – however outrageous – all come off. But on Saturday, Jayawardene was forced to scrap for every run. Two balls that struck him on the pad raised big appeals. When he played an attacking stroke, there was often a fielder in his way.Still, Jayawardene fought to improve his team’s position in the match, and deliver at least some of what the crowd that had gathered for him had come for. The cover drive off Wahab Riaz that brought his first boundary was as gorgeous as any he has played. Tired of defending to Ajmal soon after, he got inside the line of a delivery pitching on middle, and swept it hard, just inches above an outstretched hand of short fine leg. The late cut that brought his next four, off Abdur Rehman, was again just out of reach of the fielder, at second slip this time. Far from his best touch, an attack he has not always prospered against, Jayawardene found a way to play his vintage strokes, all with that signature element of danger.Eventually he grew bolder and produced the awesome moments that no good Jayawardene innings is without. The square drive off a Wahab away-swinger drew a gasp and applause from the crowd. The upper cut over the slips next ball brought a roar of appreciation. The best boundary was the last one he struck before stumps. Slinking down the pitch to Rehman, Jayawardene made room and lofted the ball over cover, with the turn.Jayawardene stood one away from half-century at stumps. If he is dismissed in this innings, he needs at least 41 more, or he will become the first batsman who has scored 10,000 runs to retire with an average below 50. The partnership is on 98, and one final century stand with Kumar Sangakkara would also be fitting, given there is a small chance this is Sangakkara’s last innings at home as well. Sri Lanka do not play Tests in Sri Lanka for almost a year after this one.The milestones would be nice on day four, for Jayawardene. But not everything has to be so neat. He has won matches off his bat, and thrilled crowds from around the world, but he has never been about the tidy, round numbers. He has been among cricket’s greatest artists with the bat, and art is never a perfect science.

His ageing body might not be the most reliable, but there is no denying that Ryan Harris remains one of the most important cogs in this Australian team

Brydon Coverdale31-Dec-20144:38

‘World-class Harris quicker than he looks’

Ryan Harris has gone under the knife more often than a loaf of bread, had his use-by date examined as often as one too. But in the year that he turned 35, Harris topped Australia’s bowling averages. He started with a Man-of-the-Match performance in Sydney in January and finished with another in Melbourne. Australia didn’t quite manage to win at the MCG in spite of Harris, not because of him.He took six wickets for the match, and scored 95 runs across both innings. He entertained the crowd in the first innings with his highest Test score of 74, and disappointed them only by not going on to a maiden century. As Australia sought 10 wickets in India’s chase, Harris began with a wicket in his first over of the innings, and then claimed another in the first over after tea. He makes things happen when a game threatens to stagnate.It is why Harris is the winningest player in Australia’s team. Australia have won 61% of the 26 Tests Harris has played. By comparison, they have won 55% of Michael Clarke’s Tests, 54% of David Warner’s, 53% of Mitchell Johnson’s, 52% of Nathan Lyon’s, 51% of Brad Haddin’s, 49% of Shane Watson’s, 47% of Chris Rogers’, 46% of Peter Siddle’s and only 44% of Steven Smith’s.At the MCG on Tuesday night, Harris was asked how his body had held up – he had missed the Brisbane Test due to a slight quadriceps strain and returned in Melbourne. “I’m okay,” Harris said, “I’m playing in Sydney if I … well, I’m playing in Sydney.”Typically, Australian players don’t pre-empt the selectors, and Harris’ assertion brought loud and genuine laughs from his captain Steven Smith, sitting next to him at the press conference. “If I get picked,” Harris then said, remembering the protocol. He need not have bothered. When fit, his name must be close to the first written on Australia’s team sheet.He is a no-nonsense cricketer who rushes in to bowl, then bustles quickly back to his mark like he’s late for an appointment. Don’t blame Harris for slow over rates. He delivers the ball with just the right mixture of speed and movement, nipping it around just enough to catch an edge, reverse-swinging it if the conditions suit.The MCG drop-in pitch was offering little on the fifth day against India, but when Harris had the ball in his hand it always seemed like Australia had a chance. He had bowled them to victory in similar circumstances in the dying stages of the Cape Town Test in March. He knew that he was heading home for knee surgery, and observers wondered about his Test future.Observers should have known better. This was a man who had two knee operations in the winter of 2009, yet made his Test debut less than a year later at the age of 30. His knee was already hanging by a thread, his dynamic bowling action putting stress through all parts of his body. He is a series-by-series prospect and has missed more Tests than he has played, but nearly five years after his debut is a hugely important player when fit.His knack for taking wickets is extraordinary. Thirty-six men have taken at least 100 Test wickets for Australia, but none has struck with such regularity as Harris. His strike-rate of a wicket every 49.2 balls is the best of any of those players. Better than Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, better than the 19th-century champion Charlie Turner, who had the assistance of uncovered pitches.But Harris’ value is not just in his own wicket-taking. Mitchell Johnson is at his best when the pressure is not all on him, when there is a dependable bowler at the other end, both drying up the runs and claiming wickets. In Tests involving Harris, Johnson has taken 96 wickets at 20.72. In Tests that Harris has missed since his 2010 debut, Johnson has taken 44 wickets at 41.36. It is a staggering difference. Harris makes Johnson a better bowler, Australia a better team.As Australia close 2014 with another Man-of-the-Match effort from Harris, minds will wander to the coming year, and how much of a role Harris will play. The Ashes in England is the major goal, and last year he was Australia’s Player of the Series in their lost Ashes campaign there. But there is also a World Cup approaching, and though Harris has not played an ODI for nearly three years he would be a valuable addition to the squad.At 35, some fast bowlers are just going, but Harris is still going hard every time he plays. He never knows when the journey will end, but even now it has gone on longer than anyone anticipated. Chris Rogers will probably retire after the Ashes, and Brad Haddin too. Ryan Harris? Maybe, maybe not. He has confounded so many expectations already, why not another?

An all-new city paves the way for unique forays into the countryside

Marc Swain-Rogatski14-Nov-2014Whether you have a whole weekend, or just a day free between World Cup games, take in as many of these unique destinations as you can.Christchurch city
Exploring the city is a must, as it has changed drastically over the last few years. Since the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, the ground has finally settled and the city has built a number of funky new bars, restaurants and cool places to hang out.Though I’m from Christchurch myself, every time I head to the city, it seems there is a new place for me to try. There is a fresh buzz unique to the city, the people have a resolve to collectively move forward, and take pride in starting anew. It is an exciting time to be in the city.Starting in Cashel Mall, a new set-up featuring pop-up shops crafted out of coloured shipping containers has a fresh and vibrant feel. The area is aptly named “Re-Start” mall. The containers feature great retail and cafés for coffee. There is a homage to the turbulent past few years in a museum called Shaky City.New restaurants are already putting Christchurch back on the cuisine map. King of Snake in Victoria Street serves Euro-Thai fusion to a very funky clientele. Try the cocktail by the same name if you are feeling adventurous. In Latimer Square, a couple of blocks away, there is a beautiful memorial for the victims of the CTV building, which collapsed in the earthquake.Across the road is world-famous Japanese designer Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral. More amazing artwork is opposite this in Latimer Square, with famous New Zealand artist Neil Dawson’s “Spires” sculpture suspended over the grassy square. Walk through the streets and you’ll see numerous displays of original art work on walls, and incredible pop-up sculptures, and pieces that you may only get the chance to see once.The port in Lyttleton•Getty ImagesThe suburbs
While new places are opening in the city all the time, Christchurch’s suburbs are keeping up the pace, offering some excellent new bars and eateries. In Woolston, The Tannery is an excellent upmarket shopping precinct. Next door is The Brewery, a relaxed bar with excellent homebrews. The Bodhi Tree in Ilam has mouth-watering Burmese food; their spin on an authentic chicken salad is to die for. The New York Deli and Addington Coffee Co-op represent the new Addington area. This area is fast becoming a place to be. Go for a walk down the beach in the relaxing Sumner suburb, and gaze upwards at the new hills that were formed by the quakes.Lyttleton
The port of Lyttelton, approximately 20 minutes from the central city, is accessible through a linked tunnel. The first European settlers of New Zealand arrived here. The area has a laidback, bohemian vibe. In the funky cafés and little shops you will find some unique treasures to fill your suitcase. Head to the Wunderbar on Friday night to hear an eclectic range of new live music. Wake up fresh on Saturday morning and head to Lyttelton’s famous farmers market, where there is plenty of fresh food and treats to try. Short ferry trips run to Diamond Harbour, and from there onto Quail Island, which is a great half-day trip with the family. Rare birds and penguins native to New Zealand can be seen here.A surf shop in Kaikoura•Getty ImagesKaikoura
A 140-minute drive will lead you to beautiful Kaikoura. Best known for its amazing wildlife, a must-do is taking a whale-watching trip. Truly an experience, you can see sperm whales all year round; during March you may catch a glimpse of an orca whale. Dusky dolphins can be seen swimming in the pristine water; fur seals make themselves at home on the shores. The Coastal Pacific train, which departs from Christchurch, is an excellent way to take in the views. The area is friendly, with tours and accommodation easily accessible.Akaroa
Feel the French connection as you wander through this beautiful Banks Peninsula town. Approximately 75km from the city, Akaroa is a historic French and British settlement in a sheltered bay with an ancient volcano overlooking the town. Akaroa has its own unique feel, and on a sunny day is a beautiful place to be. Having amazingly fresh fish and chips while sitting at the water’s edge, gazing out at the bay, is a beautiful way to spend the afternoon. Grab a gelato and have a look around some of the cool knick-knack shops. Eat at one of the many great restaurants, and remember to take some of the mouth-watering fudge from Pot Pourri back to the city with you. Take a ride on the Black Cat for a nature and wildlife cruise, and for a unique experience, you can even swim with dolphins.People enjoy natural hot pools in a resort in Hanmer Springs•UniversalImagesGroupHanmer Springs
One of your first ports of call out of town has to be stunning Hanmer Springs. An hour and 45 minutes away from the city by car, it is a relaxed, scenic escape. Taking a nature walk through the forest while listening to birdsong is a most relaxing past time. Feel your body wind down from the city stress as you make your way back to your accommodation, grab your swimming gear and go for a soak in the famous thermal hot pools. Treat yourself to more quiet time with a private hot-pool room. The quaint town area offers excellent gourmet pizzas, and places to get a cold beer.Lake Tekapo
A three-and-half-hour drive from the city through picture-postcard country lies Lake Tekapo. Rent one of the well-equipped cottages dotted around the lake, and wake up to the beauty of the still lake. Its glimmery shine is gorgeous at all times of the day. At night, Tekapo offers one of the clearest night skies in the world. Hot pools, outdoor ice-skating and excellent walks are part of the fun. For more extensive activity, ski fields are close by.

The death of Phillip Hughes casts a terrible shadow over fast bowling. But without that duel between quick bowler and attacking batsman the game will lose much of its visceral appeal

Daniel Brigham07-Jan-2015Nine Englishmen stand by the boundary.Dazed and wearied by the Antiguan heat, they face an even greater foe than the Caribbean sun: Viv Richards, in his very own playground at the Recreation Ground, has swaggered his way to fifty off 35 balls.Then comes carnage.His great mate Ian Botham, two short of Dennis Lillee’s record of 355 Test wickets, reacts by meeting ego with ego. He crosshairs Viv’s unhelmeted, maroon-capped head with a series of bouncers. What a mistake.Richards, brought up on angry, cracked pitches in which playing defensively got you nowhere – “the batsman might as well try to hit the ball into the surrounding undergrowth” – responds the same way he always has. He stands tall and hooks his way out of danger.Like a drilling machine hitting oil each time it hammers into the ground, every Botham bouncer triggers a controlled, hostile hook. “Botham,” said John Emburey, playing in the match, “came off second-best each time: one six off him shattered a bottle of rum in the stands and the ball came back with a piece of glass embedded in it!”Nine men on the boundary. England’s most successful bowler. No one can constrain the force of Richards’ hooking as he powers his way to the fastest Test century of all time. “The crowd was jumping and the car horns were blowing all round the island,” said Richards.Five years earlier, in 1981, Botham, sans helmet, had dished out a Vivving to Lillee, fearsome Dennis Lillee, at Old Trafford. Three blind and brave hooks sent the ball arcing into the stand at fine leg on his way to 118 from 102 balls.Botham’s and Richards’ very special brand of thunder always came with the loudest claps of all: the sound of a sweetly violent hook.Following the traumatic events at the SCG on November 25, that sound may be lost forever. The death of Phillip Hughes was a horrific reminder of the dangers of facing a fast bowler who, at any given time, will try and hit you. Hughes was one of the few remaining happy hookers, one of the few batsmen with an instinct to swipe rather than sway. To watch him bat was to conjure the days of Ted Dexter dismantling Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, Stan McCabe unshackling during the Bodyline series by meeting Bill Voce’s and Harold Larwood’s fire with petrol, Everton Weekes’ elegant fury, Ian Chappell equating the bouncer to a free scoring option.

Hughes’ death may usher in an era when bowling bouncers is seen as socially unacceptable – as it was for a decade after Bodyline – and making the hook redundant

Judging by the Australia-India series, Hughes’ death hasn’t ushered in an era when bowling bouncers is seen as socially unacceptable – as it was for a decade after Bodyline – but batsmen may now be even more inclined to duck rather than hook. It would be an ill-fitting legacy for Hughes, who played the game as Richards did, choosing to punch instead of weave.
Yet the hook was already becoming a rare beast at international level. If you fast-forward a couple of decades on from Richards’ mauling, when Adam Gilchrist, in 2006-07, came within one ball of equalling Richards’ record against England and when Misbah-ul-Haq equalled it in November against Australia, the hook was almost absent.Of the 32 boundaries hit across those two innings, only one was hooked. Then take a look at the last five Test triple-centuries. Of the 1,594 runs that Chris Gayle, Michael Clarke, Hashim Amla, Kumar Sangakkara and Brendon McCullum scored between them, only six of them came from the hook: McCullum bringing up his 250. Instead of trying to hit boundaries into the surrounding undergrowth, like Richards, these batsmen instead chose to duck or sway.The hook, it seems, was on the way out. Now it may be at tipping point. So where has the hook shot gone?It’s a mental thing
It’s logical to think that since the helmet was introduced, batsmen would be more inclined to hook. Perhaps the truth is counter-intuitive though. Before helmets, batsmen knew that to face Tyson, or to face Lillee, or to face Larwood was to face the very real risk of serious injury each time they padded up.Hooking became a statement in the pre-helmeted era, a marker laid down to warn bowlers off from bouncing them before they could inflict some real damage. If you bounce me, you’re getting hit for six. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t – in the innings before Richards’ record century, he was caught for 26 after miscuing an attempted hook off Botham. The introduction of helmets meant there was simply less need to warn the bowler off. Without needing to negate the risk of being hit in the head, there was no need to risk getting out playing the hook.Viv Richards: fast bowlers didn’t bounce him unless they liked being dispatched to the boundary•Getty ImagesDespite the protection of a helmet, the shot remains as much in the mind as in the hands and eyes. “You can’t tell nobody to hook. It’s about confidence,” Roy Fredericks said after his 169 from 145 balls, against Lillee and Thomson at Perth in 1975-76.Paul Collingwood, who was fond of the pull but tended to avoid the hook in a favour of a duck, says hooking is about more than just confidence. “It’s probably a case of madness more than bravery I think,” he says. “I remember facing spells from Fidel Edwards, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar and you think ‘right, if this is pitched short I’m just getting under it.’ The amount of times my knees were killing when I came off the pitch because I’ve ducked that many times!”Sometimes ducking bouncers isn’t a batsman’s best defensive option. Sometimes the only way to survive is to subscribe to the theory that it’s better to be caught on the boundary than at short leg. Collingwood was witness to one of the great counter-attacks of modern times – Kevin Pietersen’s assault on Lee at The Oval in 2005. Collingwood believes Pietersen’s savage attack was his only means of defence.”KP tried to defend Brett Lee’s short balls before lunch and he was getting hit in the gloves. It was real serious pace and causing problems,” Collingwood says. “After lunch he really went out and fought fire with fire and really took it on. It was ridiculous. I was facing Lee thinking ‘these are the quickest bombs I’ve ever faced in my life’ and I was happy to sway out of the way of them, not even entertaining the idea of playing an aggressive shot against them. And you had this bloke at the other end who was pounding the short balls into the crowd and I was thinking ‘what is going on here, this is just ridiculous’.”Pietersen agrees. Like Richards before him, it was either hit out or get out. “I saw the hook shot as a fantastic scoring option,” Pietersen says. “Occasionally there was risk with it but the key to the hook shot is what it does to the opposition bowlers. It’s an intimidating shot and if you play it well it sort of takes the fear factor out of batting and it also conveys a message to the opposition that you can’t intimidate me with short bowling because I’ll score off it. It’s about removing the fear of batting, and if as a batsman you can play those sort of shots then it really helps your mental game.” Everything’s slowed down
If hooking is, in essence, a protective stroke – initially to safeguard your head, then to shield your wicket – shouldn’t it have got easier to play as pitches have become slower and flatter?

“I saw the hook shot as a fantastic scoring option. Occasionally there was risk with it but the key to the hook shot is what it does to the opposition bowlers”Pietersen

Again, the truth may be counter-intuitive. For Pietersen, slower pitches mean that young players aren’t tested enough by the short ball to form a good technique against it. John Snow, one of England’s most lethal bumper-bowlers, once said, “The bouncer is a short and emphatic examination paper that you put to the batsman.” It was the ultimate test of technique. Now, though, there are two ways to pass the exam, and the easiest way is to duck rather than hook. After all, slow pitches mean there’s more time to take evasive action. Or, if a batsman does prefer to attack, rather than get onto the back foot to give themselves as much time as possible to see the ball as they would have done on quick wickets, now, emboldened by the safety their helmet provides, they instead rock onto the front foot and play the pull shot to the short ball. Ricky Ponting made a career out of doing so.Collingwood doesn’t agree, however. Like a cricketing Pythagoras, Colly wants to bust some prevailing myths about pitches being flat. “The pitches have always been flat,” he says. “I don’t know why people are making massive issues. Test pitches have always been flat and slow. I go back to county cricket and think, jeez, these pitches are doing all sorts. The easiest pitches to bat on are Test pitches because they’ve always been bloody flat. I don’t think they’re less quick now – batsmen are making bowlers look less quick. If you look at footage from 20 years ago, I just think batsmen have better techniques now because they can get used to that pace against bowling machines. Apart from [against] Mitchell Johnson, batsmen are playing fast bowling better now, and that’s by getting out of the way.”Ah yes. Johnson. The pace saviour. The fast bowler who, alongside Dale Steyn, is carrying the weight of Ambrose, Wasim, Donald, Waqar and Shoaib on his shoulders. A ’90s pace attack rolled into one slick, violent machine. Pietersen calls him “unhookable”. It’s the left-arm angle, as well as the ability to bounce you, then swing one away from you and then, crucially, bring one back in to your pads. You can count on one hand the number of bowlers who have successfully utilised those four assets at international level in Test cricket’s 130-year history.Peter Siddle, part of Australia’s resurgently fearsome pace attack with Johnson, believes that his bowling partner may be leading a pace revival which in turn might bring about the return of the hook. “I think the wickets being a little flatter and a little less lively does play a part so if you do have that extra pace I think it gives you a real weapon,” he says. “Teams are trying to go for the fast attack now. We went to South Africa and we had Morne Morkel trying to do the Mitchell Johnson role of bowling fast around the wicket, and Liam Plunkett did that for England. So I think most sides will want a bowler trying to fill that role. And if fast bowlers are going to come around the wicket more then I think there’s going to be more young batsmen coming in who’ll be wanting to take them on more with the hook shot.” The right way to get out
There is another factor standing in the way of the hook: pressure. While most fans love to see attacking cricket, the paradox is that batsmen are often admonished when caught in the deep. It’s a thin boundary rope between hero and villain and with TV cameras, column inches and social media all ready to pounce on any perceived indiscretion, batsmen are perhaps more inclined to play it safe.”It’s a dangerous shot in terms of how much you can control it,” says Collingwood, “and in today’s high-pressure international matches it’s probably not a shot that batsmen want to have to play. Other shots may be considered more productive. I always looked to play a pull shot, but a hook shot was always a little bit more dangerous.”Today batsmen believe there are more productive shots than the hook•PA PhotosAnd just look at the size of bats. Nudges and pushes can fly for four now. Why take so much risk to find the boundary when there are far safer means? Collingwood and Siddle also believe that the advent of T20 has made players think differently about their scoring options. With fielders often posted at fine leg or deep backward square-leg, batsmen are more inclined to step out to leg and ramp bouncers over the wicketkeeper or use flat-bat shots to the off-side. The hook shot just isn’t as necessary, or practical, as it once was. The comeback
There is much standing in the way of a hooking comeback. Technique. Pitches. Pressure. Hughes’ death casts an awful shadow over fast bowling but, from the moment Johnson struck Virat Kohli on the helmet in the first Test at Adelaide, it was clear the players understood that the game must retain an element of fear between quick bowler and attacking batsman. Without it, cricket would lose much of its visceral, gladiatorial appeal.Collingwood tells a story of being wowed by a moment early in his county career when Nasser Hussain had come to the crease for Essex against Durham. Steve Harmison was bowling rapidly and bounced him first ball. Hussain stood tall and clattered a hook into the stands. Harmison, ego dented, followed up with another bouncer. Bang. Straight into the stands again.”I remember watching that and just thinking wow,” says Collingwood. “There’s no better feeling than having a fast bowler running in from 40 yards, pumping away and sweating, all grizzly and sledging you and he bangs one in short and you stay tall and manage to play the hook shot and it goes for a boundary.”There’s not a better feeling in cricket.”

The past year has seen Thisara Perera vacillate between extremes of performance. The challenge to him, as for his team, is to rediscover the powers that saw them burn so brightly in parts of 2014

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Feb-2015Outside the island, no city is home to more Sri Lankans than Melbourne. All through the city, Sinhala is heard in trams and greengrocers. Jaffna Tamil is spoken in restaurants and doctor’s offices. It is Melbourne too, that has become a favourite overseas residence for former players, as well as the city that produced the first Australia cricketer of Sri Lankan heritage, in Ashton Agar.Melbourne Sri Lankans, who have often flocked in numbers to see Sri Lanka play in the city, have witnessed landmark moments in Sri Lanka’s cricket history. On Boxing Day 1995, Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing at the MCG, as the largest Test-match crowd Sri Lanka had played for watched on. Seventeen years later, Sri Lanka slumped to a Test defeat so severe, it spawned the still-ongoing intensive quest for regeneration.In between those two Test ignominies, there has been one bright limited-overs memory for Melbourne’s Sri Lanka fans. What most Sri Lanka fans cherish of the match now dubbed the ‘Melbourne Miracle’ is this: Sri Lanka were 108 for 8 chasing 240 before Lasith Malinga joined Angelo Mathews and the pair put on a record 132-run ninth-wicket stand to tie the match. The winning runs would soon come from Muttiah Muralitharan’s blade.Less remembered is what came before that partnership, or Sri Lanka’s collapse. On a track expected to be full of runs, Thisara Perera first moved one off the seam to have Micheal Clarke caught behind, then next over, removed Brad Haddin and Cameron White off consecutive deliveries. In later spells, he would have Steven Smith edging behind as well, before taking another wicket in the final over. That 5 for 46 remain his best away figures, and he would return to the MCG to have fine outings for Brisbane Heat, at the Big Bash League.”The pitches in Australia have a lot in them for quicks,” Perera said. “And the MCG is a ground that I really like. I’ve got good memories of that five-wicket haul, and in a few T20 matches I’ve played here, I’ve been the man of the match. I think it’s a lucky ground for me.”Sri Lanka’s selectors had long marked out Perera as a key player for the World Cup, largely because of his bowling successes in the country, over three Australian seasons. In 15 ODIs in Australia, Perera has used his height, seam movement and bustling pace to take 21 wickets at an average of 25.66. However, as the World Cup approached, his bowling form subsided. Series against India and New Zealand often saw Perera bowl too waywardly to complete his 10-over quota. That slump was accompanied by meagre returns with the bat.”Any player has periods when their rhythm could go missing, and I think that’s what happened to me” Perera said. “In the India tour and New Zealand tour, I wasn’t able to deliver what I was supposed to. I’m here as a bowling allrounder, so my main objective is to bowl 10 overs without giving away too many runs. When I bowl my 10 overs, it’s easy for the captain to work with the rest of the attack. We can use our part-timers more effectively as well. It’s much better that way than if Angelo and I are bowling five each.”Perera’s dip eventually forced Sri Lanka to drop him from the XI for the World Cup curtain-raiser, but he returned against Afghanistan to deliver 10 overs, conceding 54 and taking a wicket. Those figures were unremarkable on their own, but Perera’s inclusion did allow for greater batting depth, which would later prove crucial to the winning of that game. Perera arrived at the crease with 55 left to get, and four wickets and 52 balls remaining. He’d bludgeon 47 of those runs, off 26 balls.”I actually really like to bat in pressure situations like that as well, and I’ve done that in the past,” Perera said. “I was happy with being able to finish the game, and I’m hoping that that confidence affects my bowling as well. Usually when I’m doing well in one discipline, the other automatically falls into place. I’ve made a few small changes to my bowling as well, and I think I’ve got more pace now, so hopefully that comes good.”Last week, Mahela Jayawardene had singled out Perera as a vital element of Sri Lanka’s campaign. The past year has seen Perera vacillate between extremes of performance: he hit the winning runs in the World T20, and was player of the series against Pakistan, but was dropped either side of those performances. The challenge to him, as for his team, is to rediscover the powers that saw them burn so brightly in parts of 2014.

Our correspondent shuttles between Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in the wake of Dhoni and Co

Sidharth Monga01-Feb-2015January 13
Back to Melbourne. Rated world’s most liveable city fourth time running. Mostly friendly to tourists too, except that it won’t share its public-transport timetables with Google. Almost all other major cities in world make it easy for tourists (and residents) with Google Maps telling them which bus/tram/train to take from which station/stop/platform at what time to get from one point to another. Not Melbourne. Not Victoria. During the last elections, the Labour party even promised it would get public transport on Google Maps should it win. Breath is still being held.January 14
Back to MCG. Go on an unguided basement tour. Looking for near-legendary holding cell where police used to detain those who got too drunk before sending them out. No longer exists. Still find basement fascinating. A walk around it is about 600 metres long. Told that because of the pipes running overhead with water in them, this is the most moderate place in Melbourne to be. Helps guards who work here in a city with four seasons in one day. On a bitterly cold day temperatures in the MCG basement: 22 degrees. On a stinker: 25.January 15
MCC library at the G. Can spend hours here. Most interesting section is the archives. Come across a 1988 issue of Pakistan’s magazine where Adil Najam has floated an idea of a World Cup for Tests. What prompts the thought is that “public and player interest” in Test cricket is dying. A World Cup of Test cricket could be the shot in the arm Test cricket needed, according to Najam.Was Najam before his time or does every generation think Test cricket the way they loved it is dying? Feel a little older after reading this, because have been worried about the future of Tests for a while.January 16
Listen to Australia beating England in Sydney when on the road in Victoria. Reminded of Bill Bryson’s experience when travelling in the Australian outback:

“As if to emphasise the isolation, all the area radio stations began to abandon me. One by one their signals faltered, and all those smoky voices so integral to Australian airwaves – Vic Damone, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra at the mindless height of his doo-bee-doo phase – faded away, as if being drawn by some heavy gravity back into the hole from which they had escaped. Eventually the radio dial presented only an uninterrupted cat’s hiss of static, but for one clear spot near the end of the dial. At first I thought that’s all it was – just an empty clear spot – but then I realised I could hear the faint shiftings and stirrings of seated people, and after quite a pause a voice, calm and reflective, said […]”I had stumbled into the surreal and rewarding world of cricket on radio.”

January 17
India at the MCG nets. MS Dhoni gets into a contest with a perky local offspinning net bowler. Offspinner keeps firing into the pads. Every time Dhoni fails to hit him for a big shot, he sounds self-congratulatory. Mostly, though, Dhoni keeps connecting. When he bowls one too many down leg and then argues against it being called wide, Dhoni says, “This even I wouldn’t have been able to collect if I was keeping.” Everybody has to agree. Dhoni doesn’t miss many when standing up to the stumps.January 18
Man by the supper table in MCG press box: “Is this bloke some big shot? Acts like one.”Me: “Yeah, best one-day bowler of all time. One of the best Test bowlers of all time.”Man: “What’s his name?Me: “Wasim Akram.”Man: “Hmm. I don’t follow cricket much, you see.”Shows.India lose to Australia again with their death bowlers keeping India quiet. India missing Ravindra Jadeja, hence circumspect towards the end, says Dhoni.January 19
Past midnight on the 18th. Say goodbye to MCG, and the lovely old security guard at the gates, Jill. Waits for every last journalist before she leaves for home, which is half an hour away. Never hurries anyone along. Was here during the 2011-12 tour too. Is at every MCG match. MCG stewards notorious for being officious. Jill complete opposite. Loves her cricket. After she cheered him on to a hundred in the first innings of the Test last month, Virat Kohli’s loose shot to get out in the second innings drew this response: “What a d**k.” Doesn’t seem to take kindly to disappointment. Will be at the World Cup. Be nice to her and you could get a great home-cooked meal.January 20
India rolled over by England in Brisbane. Stuart Binny top-scores with 44. His father, Roger, a national selector, is here too. He wanders over to the media lunchroom to say hello to known faces. Dean Jones tells him his boy has done well. Roger doesn’t say much, but Jones goes on to remind Sunil Gavaskar of his son Rohan’s debut right here at the Gabba. Sunil remembers it clearly. VVS Laxman was 99 when Rohan got strike with three balls to go in the 50th over. He played out a dot. That’s when Sunil got nervous. “Whatever you do, just hand the strike over. Take a single. If you have to get out, hit a high ball and cross over before the catch is taken. Whatever you do, don’t get bowled or miss the ball.”Rohan got the single, Laxman hit the last ball for four, Sunil was relieved, Rohan went on to take a sensational return catch in the second innings, and India won. On this tour, though, they are winless, and time is running out fast.January 21
More radio on the road from Brisbane to Sydney. Informed by a Byron Bay station that January 21 is the day, in 1965, when the Rolling Stones first set foot in Australia. Find later an amusing report in the of January 21, 1965 that talks of police, Commonwealth officers and security guards gearing up for the arrival “of five young men–the Rolling Stones” and “what might prove to be the most frenzied scenes since the arrival of the Beatles last year”.Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen: one of the many things that set WACA apart•Getty ImagesJanuary 22
Still driving from Brisbane to Sydney after having stopped over in Macksville, Phillip Hughes’ home town. Australian radio has entered its weird hour. Impassioned debate around a woman who has created a scene at a McDonalds. Apparently wasn’t given free tap water. A trucker, also on the road from Macksville to Sydney, weighs in. While driving. “Just another night’s work, mate,” he describes the drive. A lawyer from Melbourne quotes the law, saying it is illegal in Australia to refuse water to anyone who comes a-knocking. Illegal for anyone – a business, a home. Must try this some day in the middle of a hot afternoon by cold-calling at a house.Another caller later in the night is a cousin of the infamous bank robber Brenden Abbott. Better known as the Postcard Bandit. Also known for his prison escapes. Cousin not very complimentary about Abbott. Not sure I would talk like that if my cousin was a notorious robber who escapes prison for fun. There might be radios in jail, you know?January 23
Len Pascoe. Ferocious fast bowler from the ’70s and’80s. His parents were immigrants. Mother was a Volsci, one of the oldest tribes in Europe. Father was Macedonian. Came to Australia and became a brick carter. Always been curious about how foreigners take up cricket. Pascoe’s story: “We would find a round rock, and my mother would bring rags and roll them around and roll them around and roll them around. And stitch them up and she would make a ball. And we would play cricket on the farm. I was only six. I didn’t know what I was doing. My cousins later would play with Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee. As it turned out, Dennis’s father used to cut the timber that my father used to cart in the truck in the same place – around the River Busselton regions.”January 24
Holsworthy Station in suburban Sydney at 8pm. Not much life nearby. Not many buses operating. Need to get to Wattle Grove, which is 2km away. No cab company can get a taxi around because drivers are refusing such a short trip. Surely drivers from back home in India have infiltrated the system. ” [Will not get any passengers for the return trip],” is the usual refrain in Bangalore.January 25
Simon Katich. Now on his way to becoming operations manager with Great Western Sydney Giants. Spent one season as message runner for head coaches. Listen to him talk about pressures of playing footy – short careers, physicality, ruthless demands, sacked coaches every year – and think out loud that cricket might be a wimpy sport. Katich shows the other side: “Guys suffer in cricket because it’s a ruthless game. You have one mistake and that’s it. You make one mistake as a batsman and you’re sitting there for two days watching your team-mates score the runs. That can affect many guys mentally. I don’t think it’s a matter of being wimpy.”January 26
Nearly sent back from the SCG. Forgot their press box is in the members area and the members’ draconian dress code. Ask stewards to get into the spirit of Australia Day. Surely thongs (flip-flops to the rest of the world) are the national footwear? Allowed in only under one condition: should not leave press box until match is over, otherwise members won’t like it. Boo.No point coming in apart from the free supper. Persistent rain ensures only 16 overs are bowled.January 27
Raining and cold in Sydney. Seems like it has been raining non-stop since last night. Sit in an airplane and come out three hours behind, in hot, hot Perth. As always with the heat, a red sky at night welcomes you to Perth. Everything has slowed down a little. Taxis are older, seats lower. Wait for shuttle from airport. Told WA stands for “Wait Awhile”.January 28
From an Avengers comic from 2013.

Men in brightly coloured clothing: “Come with us. We will show you the wonders of the universe and have great adventures. And once you have tasted glory and the thrill of the victory, then we will make you back to Australia.”Response: “Pretty sure we’ll survive it.”A man in brightly coloured clothing: “You say that, but where I come from, you cannot imagine what a beer costs.”

A$17.5 a pint if it is a Belgian beer you are after. Australian ones at 12.50. Everything is expensive in Perth. “They think we are all making mining money,” say locals.January 28
WACA Ground. Most storied ground in the world. A living two-fingered salute to homogeneity and corporatisation. Lovely old floodlight towers. Portable toilets. Flies. Grass banks. Free sunscreen. Marquees as bars. No officious stewards. Most importantly, rock-hard pitch with cracks. No place for pretenders here. Only good bowlers and good batsmen survive. Wait for the Fremantle Doctor when it gets too hot. Good to see it hasn’t changed, except that Perth has been soft this time, with thunderstorms and temperatures of under 40.January 29
Surprised with reminder that the “day-night” matches in Perth will begin at 11.20am. Why? Because the east coast of Australia must get its 2.20pm start. Even Brisbane has to bow to this television demand and start at 1.20pm. What of the convenience of cricket watchers in Perth, who might want to watch the second innings from the ground, after office? It’s TV money that counts.Small mercy that they don’t force Test matches to start at 7.30am. Then again, a 10.30am start in Perth makes it almost a day-night Test for the east coast. And TV loves it.January 30
Oh WACA, you bloody little beauty, you. Rolls out a pitch with a bit of a gutter running vertically down it. Just outside a right-hand batsman’s off stump, just short of a length. From that general spot, in one over, Dhoni is hit in the head and in the shin. Second one gets him lbw. India score 200, and lose to end the tour winless.On the way to press conference, come across Mark Nicholas asking Dhoni where the team will be between now and World Cup.”I can’t tell you now, this media guy is here.””It’s okay, MS, I am going home after this.””Oh, you will do this small series, and somebody else will cover the World Cup?””Yes, I can’t handle high-pressure matches like you do.”

By his own reckoning his best performances came last year. Now, as Bangladesh head to the World Cup, he’s looking to keep it going

Mohammad Isam11-Jan-2015A year since the ICC position paper was leaked and the tumult that followed, Mushfiqur Rahim remains the only reasonably high-profile current cricketer to openly question the proposal for the two-tier Test system. He knew very well what he was talking about and who he was taking on. A look at the man’s career path will tell you that he is no stranger to swimming against the tide and coming out on top.He made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2005 as a schoolboy. Two years later he was the chief selector’s successful punt to replace Khaled Mashud, Bangladesh’s trusted wicketkeeper of 12 years, in a World Cup. After the next World Cup, Mushfiqur ran into poor form and was going to be dropped when an unbeaten 81 against Australia bought him some time.He was made captain a few months later and became the team’s batting leader within a year. He led the team to an Asia Cup final, ODI series wins over West Indies and New Zealand, a commendable draw in Galle against Sri Lanka, and a drawn ODI series there as well. Amid all this, he found time to earn a Masters in history.At the start of last year, Mushfiqur was preparing for the Test series at home against Sri Lanka, amid concern over the country’s security situation, but with the faith that his and his team’s confidence was at an all-time high after crushing New Zealand yet again, just a few months prior. On January 17, news broke that the BCCI, ECB and CA had put together a draft proposal to refurbish world cricket like never before.In the following days it was revealed that, among the other major proposals, it was being recommended that the teams ranked Nos. 9 and 10 play in the Intercontinental Cup from 2015. Bangladesh were ranked No. 10 at the time, and suddenly a future without Test cricket stared Mushfiqur in the eye.A week or so later, he was walking out of a Bangladesh training session when he was asked by a group of journalists whether he felt uncertain about his future. “If the two-tier system does happen, then what is the use of all this?” he said. “We work very hard to play cricket, so it will be very disappointing if it does indeed happen.

Mushfiqur has made the best of the resources he has been given, both in the country and in terms of his own talent. He has raised his skill level and is now a different batsman than the one who debuted in 2005

“I don’t think it is working as a motivation. We have played some consistent cricket in the last two years. We just have to continue. We have nothing to show to anyone. I think we can fight them with the team we have and the consistency we have shown. I hope everything gets better, and I hope such a thing doesn’t happen and we get to play.”When Bangladesh lost the ensuing Test series, some questioned whether the players and their captain were thinking too much about the draft proposal. The matter died down when the proposal was changed to the Intercontinental Cup champion being asked to take part in a playoff with the No. 10 Test team in a few years’ time.Around the same time, Bangladesh started to lose close games, Shakib Al Hasan was banned for making an obscene gesture during a game, Mushfiqur slammed the selectors, and Afghanistan surprised them in the Asia Cup. The focus shifted to Bangladesh under Mushfiqur, and his often one-dimensional captaincy. A defeat by Hong Kong, Shane Jurgensen’s resignation, the Stuart Binny match and another ban for Shakib followed.Mushfiqur’s captaincy looked weary, defensive and lacking ideas. For instance, he would only employ left-arm spinners against right-hand batsmen and offspin against left-handers, regardless of the confidence and form of the bowler and the batsman’s strengths. Thisara Perera’s late-order mayhem in the first ODI, in February, was an innings that capitalised on Mushfiqur’s rigidity in his use of his bowlers. He also went on to bowl Al-Amin Hossain against Shahid Afridi, and Farhad Reza at the death against Hong Kong. He picked the wrong combination in the Tests against West Indies, perhaps reading the pitch and conditions wrong. It was only a matter of time before the BCB sacked him, and they removed him from the ODI job in September.His batting form hardly wavered, though. Every time he strode out to the middle, bat horizontal in his hands, neck rotating slightly, taking in the light of the day, runs were always expected. Only in the World T20 did Mushfiqur slow down, but otherwise he remained in form. He has the most runs by a Bangladesh captain across all formats and the most in matches lost. Shakib is the captain who has scored best when Bangladesh are winning, but Mushfiqur has showed that a captain doesn’t necessarily have to suffer when the team is losing.Even when he wasn’t scoring runs, back in 2011, Mushfiqur remained the hardest-working batsman in Bangladesh. He would bat before and after scheduled training – which has now become a norm for the younger members of the team, though no one does it as regularly as Mushfiqur.He had wretchedly poor form in the 2011 World Cup. It is hard to remember him clearing the 30-yard circle during the home tournament, and that was among the reasons Bangladesh fared so poorly. His elevation as captain inspired skepticism, particularly considering he was taking over from Shakib. Mushfiqur had only just confirmed his place in the team, but having won his first match as captain with a six, he went from strength to strength as a batsman.Mushfiqur says that he wants to look forward now, with the captaincy gone and him now having to playing only as batsman-wicketkeeper. “The last two or three years have gone well for me, but that is in the past,” he said. “The new year will start with the World Cup. If we can do well, it will send a message to the others that Bangladesh can play well in such conditions. We are all looking forward to playing well at the World Cup.Even when he wasn’t scoring runs, Mushfiqur remained the hardest-working batsman in Bangladesh•AFP”It feels good to contribute when there is extra pressure in the middle. I hope to continue this next year, and it is not just me. If all the players contribute, we can have a positive result,” he said.Despite all his runs in losing causes, Mushfiqur is a team player. He regards his contributions during Bangladesh’s 8-0 drubbing of Zimbabwe in Tests and ODIs as his best performances.Mushfiqur is closely following developments over the antipodean summer, since he hasn’t played in Australia since 2006. Among Bangladesh’s senior players, he is the only one who hasn’t played Test or ODI cricket in the 2015 World Cup host countries.”I have some idea how the wicket will play there, though I haven’t played there for a long time. I think the last time I played there was some Under-19 matches in 2006.”People are saying that conditions will help fast bowlers there but I personally feel that it won’t present a lot of swing or seam in such a big tournament. It may be bouncy, which is quite normal.”If we can play the side shots well, scoring runs may become easier. The batsmen have to do the bulk of the work. We are having nets, using the bowling machine. We may not get similar conditions but we are trying our best with the present resources,” he said.Mushfiqur has made the best of the resources he has been given, both in the country and in terms of his own talent. He has raised his skill level, and is now a different batsman than the one who debuted in 2005, who would sometimes move away from the line of the ball. He doesn’t only rely on playing straight against spin, as he did in 2007; he can bring out the slog-sweep any time and mostly succeeds with it.He has had one decent World Cup, one poor one, and is now bracing for his third. He won’t be captaining the side, but he has set the team up for the tournament. He doesn’t back off from a challenge and is not easily jolted by what happens around him. Bigger and longer challenges await, but Mushfiqur has always lived and died by the sword.

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2015Watson smashed five fours and two sixes in a 95-run opening stand with Rahane•BCCIKings XI dismissed Steven Smith and then…•BCCI…Glenn Maxwell took a stunning catch to dismiss James Faulkner and leave Royals 166 for 5 in the 19th over•BCCIKarun Nair’s quick-fire 25 took Royals to 191 for 6•BCCIVirender Sehwag and M Vijay were both run out inside seven overs of the chase, leaving Kings XI 42 for 2•BCCIThings didn’t get any better for Kings XI as Glenn Maxwell skied a Rahul Tewatia delivery to Smith at deep midwicket when he was on 1•BCCIShaun Marsh became the first Kings XI player to score 2000 IPL runs as he smashed five fours and three sixes during a 40-ball 65 that revived the chase•BCCIDavid Miller struck five sixes while racing to a 30-ball 54 before falling to Deepak Hooda, leaving Kings XI 166 for 6 in the 18th over•BCCIKings XI needed 14 off the final over, and Axar Patel sliced James Faulkner for a four off the final ball to send the game into a Super Over•BCCIBatting first, Kings XI managed 15 and dismissed Royals for 6 to end their unbeaten run•BCCI

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2015Captain’s impact: It was then the turn of their captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, to make the game safe by reducing Afghanistan to 3 for 3•Getty ImagesChasing big: In the game against Scotland, the fourth member of their senior quartet, Tamim Iqbal, delivered as they hunted down 319 to keep Bangladesh on course for qualification•Getty ImagesThree figures: Next up was England, and at 99 for 4, things were looking bleak for Bangladesh. Yet again, they showed the resilience that marked this campaign, with Mahmudullah becoming the first Bangladeshi batsman to make a century, and putting on 141 for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim•BCBA Big Three scalp: The runs were on the board, but Bangladesh still had plenty to do as England moved to 121 for 2. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain first had England thinking of an early exit by removing the well-set Ian Bell and the captain Eoin Morgan in the space of four balls, before confirming that early exit with two more wickets in the penultimate over•ICCOh so close: Bangladesh had already qualified and were buoyant heading into their final league game, against the form team of the group, New Zealand. Mahmudullah’s second successive century gave Bangladesh a solid score but they were outdone by Martin Guptill and a gritty lower-order in a tense game•Getty ImagesBreaking new ground: In their first-ever knockout World Cup game, Bangladesh shook India’s formidable batting in the first half of the innings. They also produced one of the tournament’s most endearing moments when Mashrafe and teenager Taskin Ahmed tumbled to the floor after chest-bumping in celebration. The wheels came off when the batting Powerplay started though, and India powered to 302, which proved too tall a target.•Associated PressA launch pad: After the quarter-final defeat, Mashrafe said, “Most of our players are just starting their careers and they should be very happy with their efforts and the fans should be happy as well.” Bangladesh’s passionate fans added plenty of colour and noise to the tournament, and will hope their team’s spirited campaign will be the start of more big results•Getty Images

There was a heck of a wind at Headingley, but New Zealand refused to be blown off course and despite the setback of losing at Lord’s steadfastly stood by their instincts

David Hopps at Headingley02-Jun-2015We will never be as big as the All Blacks, smiled Brendon McCullum. There is a limit even to his courageous ambition. But if the enterprising approach that brought New Zealand a share of the Test spoils against England inspires just one or two more talented sportsmen to give themselves to a life in cricket…wise words indeed from a Test captain whose brazen attacking approach has dared to challenge a century of tradition.Asking McCullum about the All Blacks has more relevance than first appears. He was such a good schoolboy fly half that he once kept Dan Carter out of a South Island schools side. That is in case you were not concentrating. For those not versed in rugby union, as far as New Zealand is concerned that would be a bigger deal than edging a football selection on the wing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.McCullum does not like to go there. He respects talent. In the game he eventually chose ahead of rugby, he has proved that he draws adventure from talent. In addition, he also plays matches in a wonderful spirit believing that any other approach is counter-productive in New Zealand culture. The odd burst of exasperation from a fast bowler excepted perhaps.Forgive the personal story but after an ill-timed walking holiday in France, which coincided with the much-celebrated Lord’s Test, my 86-year-old father offered this: “I’ve not seen anything like it for years,” he said. “Not just the attacking cricket – but the good spirit. That McCullum….” On the strength of it, he has decided to keep on his subscription for the Ashes when he is wise enough to expect a slightly different mood.”We will never get close to rugby,” said McCullum. “Rugby is in our blood. That’s just the way we are. But cricket: we were able to captivate our nation in the World Cup and performances like this have got to help. If the way we play allows one or two extra talents in our country coming through then that is good. “An appearance in the World Cup final and now seven unbeaten Test series: these are considerable gains. England have observed them, looked deep into their soul and been perplexed by how much they wish to emulate them. Nobody wants the series to end – and that is even though the Ashes lie ahead. The Aussies, naturally, will say that is because only pain lies in wait.This was New Zealand’s first win in England since 1999 when successive victories at Lord’s and The Oval (London being about the only place they could attract a crowd) meant they took the series. It was achieved in what McCullum called “an Invercargill wind”. Invercargill is actually New Zealand’s second windiest city after Wellington, but it cuts through more layers of clothing and, anyway, Kiwis like to contend that Wellington is arty first, windy second.”I’m not sure anyone can cope with those conditions; it asked different questions of you,” McCullum said. “Sometimes the wind can assist you – the spinners can get a bit of drift – but we just got on with it. We said when we arrived here that it was not going to be the most pleasing of conditions we were going to be confronted with and we had a task to achieve.”It was a wind which blew cheap umbrellas inside out, made the floodlights sway – one pylon on the rugby ground was doing a passable impression of the Dance of the Seven Veils which was somewhat disturbing – and, it more importantly dried out the pitch. New Zealand’s offspin pair, Mark Craig and Kane Williamson, shared figures of 6 for 88.Talk of adventurous cricket, while relevant in consideration of the series, disguises the truth of what actually occurred on the final day. Against two offspinners, England, replete with left-handers, blocked feebly, the feeling from their bones telling them they would not succeed. On this evidence, even Nathan Lyon cold be a matchwinner for Australia in the Ashes. England, meanwhile, doubt Moeen Ali and have no proven replacement.Craig is unsung; Williamson rarely bowls these days, his effectiveness hampered perhaps by scrutiny of his action. By the time England tried to put Craig under any pressure – a tactic that had succeeded at Lord’s, it was too late. As for Williamson, McCullum summoned him three times and three times he quickly took a wicket.Fifteen of his 27 Test wickets have come against England at an average of 16. When it happened the first time just before lunch – Ben Stokes cutting a quicker, wide one – it could be presented as McCullum’s tactical acumen. By the third time, it looked so easy that tactics did not come into it.If you want to beat the enemy, first confuse them. The kind assessment when Joe Root, England’s sharpest tactical mind, reflected on a target of 454 to win, with still 411 needed on the final day, and vacuously pronounced that England still believed they could win it was that he was merely voicing the mindless marketing-driven optimism that was expected in a media conference.The critical assessment is that glibness is a not a good look, that everybody knows when they are being played, and that it was patently obvious that England’s only choice was to bat out time. England’s cricket public wants enterprise, but it wants honesty more. Root, more capable than most of delivering it, should take note.By the time that Root came out to bat, dancing to the crease as if he had downed 100 espressos, England had managed 18 from 15 overs. A Yorkshireman in Row Z was rumoured to be checking the Trades Description Act. Then Root fell second ball for nought: at least he drilled his shot fiercely to short leg where it stuck in Tom Latham’s chest; Ian Bell, the one-time Ashes hero who has become the mouse of England’s batting order, obligingly popped his in the same direction. At 62 for 4, and the day barely an hour old, the outcome was pretty inevitable.This has been a successful Test for Yorkshire – attendances up around 20% on New Zealand’s visit two years ago, credit shared equally perhaps between a county reconnecting with its public and the pull of McCullum’s tourists. But less than 4,000 trooped out on the final day and precious few of those would have anticipated a world-record run chase.The force, as long as the rain held off, lay with McCullum’s New Zealand. “We have maintained the belief that this is how we give ourselves the greatest chance in Test cricket,” he said. “You have to remain true to your beliefs when you are under pressure.”One-nil down in a two-Test series, we knew we had to get a result, the guys bought into it and we played a really attacking brand of cricket. The guys bought into it. We are really proud of the record we have built up and the fact that everyone is buying into what we are trying to achieve.”His life philosophy was reminiscent of Ian Botham. “You only get one crack.”McCullum is in charge of the crack.England? Cracks a plenty and no clear idea – as yet – who is in charge of any of them.