Mini-session Analysis 1st Test, WI Zim, Bridgetown Barbados 2013

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between West Indies and Zimbabwe at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
1-1a	Zimbabwe 30/1 off 14	West Indies
1-1b	Zimbabwe 61/1 off 13	Zimbabwe
1-2a	Zimbabwe 38/2 off 15	West Indies
1-2b	Zimbabwe 33/2 off 15	West Indies
1-3a	Zimbabwe 34/1 off 15.5	draw
1-3b	Zimbabwe 15/3 off 3.5	Zimbabwe
	West Indies 18/2 off 11
2-1a	West Indies 63/1 off 9.3	West Indies
2-1b	West Indies 63/2 off 20.1	Zimbabwe
2-2a	West Indies 73/1 off 15.2	West Indies
2-2b	West Indies 48/1 off 15	West Indies
2-3a	West Indies 42/3 off 13.2	Zimbabwe
2-3b	Zimbabwe 41/3 off 14	West Indies
3-1a	Zimbabwe 36/3 off 16	West Indies
3-1b	Zimbabwe 30/4 off 10.2	West Indies
	West Indies 9/1 off 3

Final update, click here
West Indies win the match by 9 wickets and the mini-session count 9 - 4


Lunch, Day 1: The mini-session count is tied up, 1-1

A reasonable start from Mawoyo, it's good to see him hitting some form again. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 1: West Indies lead the mini-session count 3-2

When Kyle Jarvis was playing for Central Districts he produced a couple of magic spells. This is certainly a good start from him.

Lunch, Day 2: West Indies lead the mini-session count 4-3

Zimbabwe have an opening here. If they can wrap up the tail cheaply they could be back in this match.

Final drinks, Day 2: West Indies lead the mini-session count 6-4

Darren Sammy is an interesting cricketer. Not quite a batsman, not quite a bowler, and yet he's capable of turning a match with either. That was a sensational innings in the context of this match.

Stumps, Day 2: West Indies lead the mini-session count 7-4

Things are suddenly looking very grim for Zimbabwe. They desperately need a big partnership.

End of match, Day 3: West Indies lead the mini-session count 9-4

The big partnership never came. Shane Shillingford has done this to a couple of teams now, he's starting to look a little like West Indies version of Abdul Rehman, generally doesn't look particularly special, but has days where he is almost unplayable. Despite generally being good at playing spin, the Zimbabwe batsmen were all at sea against him here.

Reserve days for tests

A 4-day test match finished today, in a quite unsatisfying draw.  It was originally scheduled as a 5 day, but the entire first day was ruled out through rain, and so, according to law 13.3, the test was designated as a 4 day match, and the follow on target was reduced to 150 accordingly. 

The reason it was unsatisfying was that another days play and this could have been an epic finish, rather than a tame one.  It might have still been a draw.  But it might have been a famous win for England, after their terrible first innings, or it might have been a morale boosting win for New Zealand.

Given that there is already a precedent of the match conditions being able to be changed in a result of a days play being abandoned due to weather, I think it would be sensible for there to be a reserve day tacked on at the end of a test, and if (and only if) an entire day's play is lost, that day is designated as a rest day, and the test is extended onto the reserve day.

There have been very few 5 day draws in tests in the last 3 years.  Almost every draw has had 2 or 3 sessions lost to rain. Making an allowance for that might mean that we get a result in some of those matches.

Mini-session Analysis 1st test SL Ban Galle 2013

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
1-1a	Sri Lanka 60/0 off 11	Sri Lanka
1-1b	Sri Lanka 72/1 off 15	Sri Lanka
1-2a	Sri Lanka 55/1 off 15	Sri Lanka
1-2b	Sri Lanka 60/0 off 18	Sri Lanka
1-3a	Sri Lanka 64/1 off 17	Sri Lanka
1-3b	Sri Lanka 50/0 off 9.3	Sri Lanka
2-1a	Sri Lanka 32/1 off 17.3	Bangladesh
2-1b	Sri Lanka 68/0 off 15	Sri Lanka
2-2a	Sri Lanka 97/0 off 14	Sri Lanka
2-2b	Sri Lanka 12/0 off 3	Sri Lanka
	Bangladesh 23/1 off 9
2-3a	Bangladesh 42/1 off 15	draw
2-3b	Bangladesh 70/0 off 19	Bangladesh
3-1a	Bangladesh 49/2 off 14	Sri Lanka
3-1b	Bangladesh 40/0 off 16	Bangladesh
3-2a	Bangladesh 61/0 off 17	Bangladesh
3-2b	Bangladesh 45/0 off 16	Bangladesh
3-3a	Bangladesh 56/0 off 18	Bangladesh
3-3b	Bangladesh 52/0 off 12	Bangladesh
4-1a	Bangladesh 45/1 off 15	draw
4-1b	Bangladesh 63/0 off 15	Bangladesh
4-2a	Bangladesh 43/2 off 14	Sri Lanka
4-2b	Bangladesh 49/3 off 16	Sri Lanka
4-3a	Sri Lanka 44/1 off 12	Sri Lanka
4-3b	Sri Lanka 72/0 off 18	Sri Lanka
5-1a	Sri Lanka 51/0 off 14	Sri Lanka
5-1b	Sri Lanka 63/0 off 16	Sri Lanka
5-2a	Sri Lanka 53/2 off 16	Bangladesh
5-2b	Sri Lanka 52/1 off 7	draw
5-3a	Bangladesh 51/1 off 15	Bangladesh

Final update, click here
Sri Lanka take the mini-session count 16 - 10

First drinks, Day 1: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 1-0

Sri Lanka have started off with a hiss and a roar. Dilshan is treating it almost like a T20 match. This could get messy. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 1: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 2-0

A wicket fell, 72 runs were scored, but for me the highlight was when Karunaratne came back out at the fall of the first wicket. I really enjoy watching him bat, and wasn't very happy with the idea of him not being able to play. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 1: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 3-0

I have watched an entire ODI series where there was not a single innings that went at this run rate. Sri Lanka going at slightly more than a run a minute, despite Bangladesh bowling less than 14 overs per hour. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 1: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 6-0

Sri Lanka roll on. They have scored at over 4 an over, and more than a run a minute. Sangakkara was immense, as usual. When he's in Sri Lanka he is just outstanding. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 6-1

A good hour for Bangladesh, but it could have been a very good hour as Chandimal was dropped twice. How costly could that be. He's not a batsman that you really want to give extra chances to as he is really capable of punishing teams. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 7-1

Normal service resumes. Bangladesh spend another hour chasing leather. It might be a reflection of the quality of the bowling and batting, but this pitch doesn't seem to have offered a fair enough contest between bat and ball. With Sri Lanka having Eranga in their team and Bangladesh's batting being dominated by right handers, it might have been more sensible for the groundsman to have left some more grass on the wicket. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 8-1

It seemed like a bad idea at the time to drop Chandimal. It now seems like a very, very bad idea. Sri Lanka are giving the Bangladeshi bowlers what some people pay a dominatrix a lot of money for. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 9-1

The declaration was probably slightly earlier than normal, but 570 runs is probably going to be enough. Bangladesh are going to have to bat very well here. They are already one down, and it was Eranga that struck. He seems to have added something to his bowling in this innings, bowling a little quicker, and getting some to move in, rather than out. He may well be turning into a genuinely classy test opening bowler. Hopefully the Sri Lankan groundsmen don't work him into the ground by giving him too many mud pitches to bowl on. - Mykuhl

Final drinks, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 9-1

It would have been Bangladesh's hour if it wasn't for the last ball where Anamul Haque was deceived by a Mendis googly. As a bowler who never quite had enough control to rely on a stock delivery, and so bowled a number of variations, I do like it when Mendis gets a wicket, especially when it's with a googly. The batsman sets up for the off break, notices that the ball's actually been delivered with a leg-break action, so adjusts, only for it to come in anyway. It's a brilliant double cross by the bowler. However, it only works if the batsman is watching closely, but not quite closely enough. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 2: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 9-2

An interesting hour there. Ashraful was going for it in order to get through to his fifty. He had 54 off 68 balls, but then went into his shell, and actually started playing like a test batsman who wanted to see out the day. He scored only 11 runs off the last 40 balls. If he continues to bat like a batsman, and has some success it might actually (finally) be the making of him. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 3: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 10-2

When Mahmadullah played as a bowler, the thing that really impressed me was how serious he was about his batting. He approached it like a real batsman, waiting for the right ball to hit, knowing his areas. It was something that most of the Bangladeshi batsmen couldn't really be accused of. Now that he's primarily playing as a batsman he comes down the track and has a wild heave fifth ball. I guess if he was going to bat like a batsman when he was a bowler, he probably felt he could bat like a bowler now that he is a batsman. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 3: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 10-3

Mohammad Ashraful is playing the sort of innings that we've been waiting to see. Not a swashbuckling run-a-minute flight of fancy, but a proper innings where he punishes the bad balls, and accumulates when the ball is in his area. It's all rather exciting, even if it has 45 test after he should have. I guess it's better late than never. Hopefully this innings informs how he plays from now on. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 3: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 10-4

This is good cricket from Bangladesh. They are fighting hard. Mushfiqur Rahim is a real fighter with the bat. In his last 10 innings this is the 7th time he's made it past 35. He's not prepared to throw his wicket away. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 3: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 10-5

Sri Lanka are not bowling particularly badly. They have had some bad luck, with a number of balls going past the edge. While this partnership is fantastic, it still feels like a devastating collapse is possible any second now. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 3: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 10-7

This is now Bangladesh's highest partnership, Ashraful has the highest score by any Bangladeshi batsman, and Mushfiqur Rahim is only 6 runs off second spot. Bangladesh are now in a position where they might even be able to consider declaring behind, to make Sri Lanka give them a target. They wouldn't want to do that until they have some more runs on the board, and have used up some time, but an attacking option like that may be a very good one for their future. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 4: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 14-8

Bangladesh managed to bat themselves into what looks like a no-lose position. Unfortunately it's also probably a no win position also. Perhaps the decision of the board to offer draw bonuses was a good one. Suddenly there is an incentive for their players to play for time, and, in putting a value on their wicket, they started to look like a proper test team. They still have a lot to thank the groundsman for, but they have folded on good batting tracks in the past, so it's good to see them actually applying themselves. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 5: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 15-8

Another hour of bowlers getting dealt to. It's not like the Sri Lankan batsmen are slogging, or going particularly crazily. It's just that they are scoring 30% faster than normal test batsmen would, and doing it without many risks. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 5: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 16-8

Another relentless hour of Sri Lanka batting. They have now scored 800 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. To put that in context, Bangladesh just had their best ever innings, and scored 638 runs for 10 wickets. If Sri Lanka keep batitng at this rate for another 14 overs then declare, Bangladesh would need to get 222 runs off 44 overs. Bangldesh have a history of crumbling in run chases, so that might be an option that Mathews might consider. Sometimes you need to use some bait if you want to catch a fish. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 5: Sri Lanka lead the mini-session count 16-9

Sri Lanka batted well in this match, but they have batted the result out of contention. Baring a miracle new ball spell from Kulasekera and Eranga, Bangladesh will hold on for a draw, but they are not going to chase this target. - Mykuhl

End of the match, Day 5: Sri Lanka take the mini-session count 16-10, but the match is drawn.

Bangladesh get a creditable draw. Sri Lanka could have made a game of it by declaring at drinks. However if they wanted to do that they should have come out and really attacked the bowling during that hour between lunch and drinks.

There's no dishonour in the draw for either team, but there are questions over both teams heading into the next match. Can Sri Lanka improve their execution, take their missed chances and find a way through the Bangladesh line-up? For Bangladesh: can they back up one good performance with another?

Whatever happens, I hope the groundsman is going to prepare a pitch with some life in it at Premadasa. - Mykuhl

Mini-session Analysis, 1st test, NZ Eng, University Oval, Dunedin 2012/3

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between New Zealand and England at University Oval, Dunedin, New Zealand

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
2-1a	England 35/3 off 17	New Zealand
2-1b	England 46/2 off 14	New Zealand
2-2a	England 54/3 off 17	New Zealand
2-2b	England 32/2 off 7	Draw
2-3a	New Zealand 45/0 off 14	New Zealand
2-3b	New Zealand 45/0 off 13	New Zealand
2-3c	New Zealand 41/0 off 15	New Zealand
3-1a	New Zealand 49/1 off 17	Draw
3-1b	New Zealand 75/1 off 18	New Zealand
3-2a	New Zealand 64/2 off 15	England
3-2b	New Zealand 83/3 off 16	Draw
4-1a	New Zealand 58/2 off 8.4	New Zealand
4-1b	England 29/0 off 11	England
4-1c	England 29/0 off 11	England
4-2a	England 50/0 off 17	England
4-2b	England 31/0 off 15	England
4-3a	England 49/0 off 16	England
4-3b	England 46/1 off 17	New Zealand
5-1a	England 41/1 off 18	Draw
5-1b	England 54/0 off 18	England
5-2a	England 32/1 off 13	New Zealand
5-2b	England 21/1 off 15	New Zealand
5-3a	England 39/2 off 19	New Zealand

Final update, click here
New Zealand win the mini-session count 12 - 7, but the match is a draw

First drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 1-0

A commanding start by New Zealand. Cook was dropped on 9 off Boult, but it only cost 1 run, as Wagner did to England's batsmen what he's been doing to NZ domestic batsmen at this ground for 4 years now. Trott and Bell are going to have to bat well to get the initiative back. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 2-0

England started off the hour well, but a couple of breakthroughs and it was advantage New Zealand again. Boult has now bowled 9 overs for 14 runs, and had a wicket and a catch dropped. And he's probably been the least impressive of the bowlers. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 3-0

Bruce Martin didn't have a great start to his international career dropping the English Captain, but he's made up for it by dismissing Trott, Prior and Broad. It was a typical spell from Martin: some fantastic deliveries and some awful ones, but the result of it was that he's put England in more trouble. If he's causing this much trouble on a pitch like this, he might be a real handful if it starts to break up. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 3-0

The English tail scored their runs quickly, but New Zealand wrapped it up before they did too much damage. - Mykuhl

Drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 4-0

New Zealand continue their good start. Rutherford hasn't really been worked over like I was expecting, but Fulton has looked a little suspect to the ball coming back at him. However he's countered that by hitting a lot of balls on to the leg side, to encourage the bowlers to bowl outside off. It will be interesting to see when he decides to start unleashing his cover drive. At the moment he hasn't played one. - Mykuhl

Final Drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5-0

More runs from New Zealand. They looked like they were taking it easier, but they scored faster. Rutherford brought up 50 on debut. His father got his 5oth run in his 9th innings. Quite different starts to their careers really. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 6-0

That brings to the end one of the best days in recent memory for New Zealand. England were poor all day. The wickets were often to loose shots, the bowlers struggled to hit the right lengths and they put down Rutherford twice.

Tomorrow will be interesting, as England will look to strike back. The big question will be how New Zealand respond to the increased intensity. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 6-0

A steady start to the day's play. New Zealand started off scoring quite freely, but once Fulton's wicket fell, Williamson made sure he didn't throw his away. The highlight was Hamish Rutherford bringing up his hundred with a drive through extra cover. There are not many better ways to do it really. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 7-0

It felt almost like there were two different games being played this hour. At one end the English bowlers had Williamson and then Taylor under some pressure. At the other end Rutherford was plundering the bowling. Rutherford scored 52 of New Zealand's 75 runs in that hour. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 7-1

England finally had the better of New Zealand in an hour. The new ball did it's job, and removed Rutherford first ball, and then Taylor departed a couple of overs before drinks. New Zealand have a lead of 152. They will want to extend that lead to be at least 250 by the end of the day. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 7-1

I combined the 5 overs after tea with this mini-session to make it long enough to be meaningful. New Zealand have pushed the lead up to 235 England took quite a few wickets, but Southee and McCullum hit their runs quite quickly and as a result tied up the hour. It feels like the race is on for this match between New Zealand and the rain. If England manage to score 400 in their second innings, New Zealand are still only going to have to chase 150. - Mykuhl

Change of innings, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8-1

An absolute whirlwind start by New Zealand. McCullum and Martin left no doubt as to what their intentions were. McCullum hit three of his first ten deliveries for six. Once he got out, Martin carried on swinging at almost everything. - Mykuhl

Drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8-2

A solid start for England. Boult in particular has bowled some challenging deliveries, but so far no chances have been created. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8-3

More good progress from the English openers. Their first objective would have been to make it to lunch. They can tick that off the list. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8-5

Slow going this hour from England, but they still haven't lost a wicket. It's hardly T20 style cricket, but it's a test of character for both teams. - Mykuhl

Final drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8-6

49 runs in the hour, it's good cricket from England. Martin has asked a couple of questions, particularly of Compton, and Boult has keep the batsmen under some pressure, but these two have been very solid. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9-6

Boult got a well deserved reward for his bowling. He's taken 1/34 off 19, and 9 of those runs have been off edges. It's been England's day without a doubt. However they are still slightly behind overall. New Zealand will need to take 4 or 5 wickets before lunch tomorrow to have a realistic chance to win the game. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 5: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9-6

The formula gave that hour to New Zealand, but I honestly think that the draw was a lot more likely after that hour than before. New Zealand's bowlers managed to ask a couple of questions, but they didn't bowl enough deliveries on the stumps really. On a pitch that keeps low, you need to make the batsmen pay if they miss. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 5: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9-7

A great hour for England. They have almost worked themselves into a position where they have a sniff at winning this match. If they were to score 150 in this session, and then declare, New Zealand would be chasing 180 at 6 an over. They would certainly try it on, which might mean the England could have a chance to win the match. However that's a remote possibility, just like the chance of New Zealand winning has become almost non-existent. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 5: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 10-7

The slight glimmer of hope for England that had appeared has now dried up. New Zealand also has almost no hope of a win anymore either. The only chance for a New Zealand victory now is for 3 wickets to fall before the new ball, and then Boult and Southee to clean up the tail with the new ball. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 5: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 11-7

Steven Finn's epic resistance has finally ended, but he has well and truly done his job. He batted for longer in this test than in the rest of his career combined. It was a fantastic effort. Without him there frustrating the New Zealand bowlers, his team may have fallen over, but that's something that we'll never know. - Mykuhl

End of match, Day 5: New Zealand take the mini-session count 12-7

The English batsmen did sufficient to hold on for the draw. Prior and Bell survived the new ball, and in the process denied the New Zealand bowlers the wickets they needed to have a chance to win the game. Trent Boult had the scarcely believable figures of 1/49 off 35 overs. He doesn't really have a reputation as a particularly difficult bowler to score off, but the English batsmen were not in a mood to take risks. - Mykuhl

Quick preview of NZ Eng match in Dunedin

I thought I'd missed the boat to do a preview of this match, but the rain has come to my rescue.

Here are a few thoughts about a couple of the match-ups I'll be looking forward to.

1. James Anderson vs Peter Fulton.

	Early in Fulton's career he got out a lot to the ball leaving the bat. He had a tendency to chase it, and as a result often ended up getting out. Since he was dropped from the NZ team he has made a real effort to focus on this, and in looking through his innings over the last couple of years, I could only find 2 where he had been dismissed to this type of delivery.
	However whenever a batsman makes a change to their technique there is always a question as to what new weakness it will open up. If he is looking for the one going away, then Anderson's ability to move the ball back in might be something that causes him some problems.

2. Steven Finn & Stuart Broad vs Hamish Rutherford.

There was an obvious plan in Queenstown to try and bounce Rutherford out. Finn and Broad both seem to have a tendency to try the short ball anyway, so if they sense blood they may be prone to giving Rutherford a real working over. If Rutherford is up to it, however this could give him something to attack, especially if they stray outside off, as he is very quick on the cut shot.

3. Kane Williamson vs Kane Williamson.

Can the boy wonder keep his game simple enough to play one of the innings that he's shown us previously he is capable of? Or will he get over-complicated in his approach and find another new way to get out.

4. Joe Root vs Ross Taylor.

There seems to be a theory that Ross Taylor is weak outside the off stump to off spinners. As a result Jayawardene had offies bowling outside off to him, and left a big gap for him to cut. Taylor left or defended the ball about 40 times. It will be interesting to see if Cook replicates this tactic. The extra bounce on the NZ wickets would normally mean that this wouldn't be such a good tactic, but given the instructions that the groundsman seems to have been given by the NZ camp this might be quite effective.

5. Brendon McCullum vs the media.

	McCullum is walking a very tight line in terms of public perception. He's played some outstanding cricket on this tour, and yet people still somehow blame him for Ross Taylor no longer being captain. (They tend to ignore the fact that Taylor wasn't dropped as test captain, but instead chose to step down).
	Even before that he was constantly under pressure. If he played his natural game (where he was generally much more successful) he was described as arrogant and irresponsible. If he played more conservatively (where he often was less successful) he was described as flaky, and not having the right temperament for test cricket. When he scores a hundred it's described as lucky, if he gets a fifty he gets criticized for not going on, and if he gets out for less than that there are calls for his head. The only way for him to win over the public is for him to play a series of outstanding innings that lead the team to victory. Perhaps if he gets his series average over 150 people might start to appreciate his contribution.

6. Monty Panesar vs Brendon McCullum.

Monty has dismissed McCullum a lot of times. In the last double-header series Panesar got McCullum 6 times. In fact, most left-armers who have bowled to McCullum have dismissed him a lot of times. Almost a quarter of his dismissals have been to left-arm spin, and they have often got him out when he was well set. Panesar will be relishing the opportunity to resume this particular battle.

7. BJ Watling vs James Anderson.

	Watling dominated the 2nd string bowlers in the NZ XI match in Queenstown. He scored 66* and 89* and hardly looked troubled. Since he's put the gloves on his record is remarkable. He's scored more runs in his 5 test innings with the gloves than in the 14 previous without them. While 5 innings is hardly statistically significant, I was privileged enough to watch most of them live, and he was batting very, very well.
	However in the ODI matches he came up against James Anderson, and looked significantly less assured. He faced 24 balls, scored 8 runs and was dismissed twice. The winner of that battle may well be decisive in the outcome of the match.

8. Trent Boult vs Alistair Cook.

Throughout Cook's career he has had a tendency to get out early to left arm swing bowlers. So far in Trent Boult's career he has often dismissed the most important batsman in the opposition team (in 10 tests his victims include Hussey, Amla, Kallis, Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Jayawardene and Gayle). Particularly if the ball is swinging, the Cook/Boult battle could be intriguing.

9. Tim Southee vs Nick Compton.

Compton seems to have an issue against the short pitched ball, and while Tim Southee is not express, he does have the ability to bowl a surprisingly quick bouncer. He managed to dismiss a few English batsmen with it in the Eden Park ODI match, and Compton might find himself on the end of a little chin music from Southee in this test.

10. Bruce Martin vs Kevin Pietersen.

Just like the battle between McCullum and Panesar, Pietersen has a history of getting out to left arm spin, and Bruce Martin will know that. However KP likes to dominate, and Martin has a tendency to be quite expensive, so there may be some fireworks if they get to face each other.

11. Joe Root vs Joe Root.

Root has only been dismissed once in the internationals in this tour. However he is likely to want to hold himself back a bit in the test matches. He took the foot off the accelerator in the Eden Park ODI, and immediately started to look a little more vulnerable. Good attacking players often do worse when they try to play a defensive game. How Root finds the balance between attack and defense could be vital to his success at this form of the game.

12. Neil Wagner vs Matt Prior.

	Prior has a good record against left-arm pace bowlers, but he has shown a tendency to get out to bowlers who mix their pace up well. Wagner has dropped his pace a little in search of more swing, and since doing that has started to rediscover his form. He is still capable, however, of the odd ball that screams through as well as having a reasonable slower ball.
	The thing that will work in Prior's favour is that his new technique is designed for pitches with less bounce, and the Dunedin wicket is likely to keep a bit low. If it starts to go up and down a bit, then Wagner might be the one with the weapons to dismiss Prior.

There are bound to be other battles arising during the match, but these 12 will be some I'm watching for.

Here's a good preview (from before the toss) with a couple of the cricket writers from the NZ Herald. I got to spend a bit of time with David Leggat while in South Africa, and was quite impressed with his ability to read the game.

CricketGeek Book Review: Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew - Shehan Karunatilaka

As a former mystery wrist-spinner, I was eager to read the story about a Sri Lankan mystery spinner, even if he did bowl with his left arm. I was expecting a good cricket book, but instead got a very good book, that happened to feature cricket.

The book came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. I believe that the best novels are ones that take the reader into a different time/place. I loved Crime and Punishment because when I read it I became Raskolnikov. When I read Live Bodies, I became Josef Mandl. Jane Eyre and The Bronze Horseman had a similar effect. While reading Chinaman, I was so transfixed that I could almost smell the Sri Lankan streets.

The characters have a richness that is hard to find in other novels. The three main characters all have twists and reveal new sides to themselves regularly. The lead character, WG Karunasena, undertakes a moral journey that would feel at home in a Dostoyevsky novel.

Often books with exceptionally deep characters sacrifice the plot. While there was moments where the book dragged, it generally moved quite quickly, and some of the twists in the plot were both unexpected and interesting.

Overall this is one of the best books I've ever read. The three books that it feels the most like are three of my favourites, A Painted House by John Grisham, Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones and Live Bodies by Maurice Gee. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Mini-session Analysis, 2nd test, Ind Aus, Hyderabad 2013

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the second test between India and Australia at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, India

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
1-1a	Australia 49/2 off 13	India
1-1b	Australia 34/2 off 15	India
1-2a	Australia 46/0 off 14	Australia
1-2b	Australia 58/0 off 18	Australia
1-3a	Australia 30/2 off 13.5	India
1-3b	Australia 20/3 off 11.1	India
	India 5/0 off 3
2-1a	India 26/1 off 13	Australia
2-1b	India 23/0 off 14	draw
2-2a	India 52/0 off 14	India
2-2b	India 54/0 off 19	India
2-3a	India 94/0 off 16	India
2-3b	India 57/0 off 14	India
3-1a	India 45/0 off 16	India
3-1b	India 44/2 off 14	Australia
3-2a	India 56/1 off 15	India
3-2b	India 47/6 off 16.1	Australia
3-3a	Australia 53/0 off 16	Australia
3-3b	Australia 21/2 off 16	India
4-1a	Australia 37/3 off 15.2	India
4-1b	Australia 20/5 off 19.4	India

Final update, click here
India take the mini-session count 13 - 6

First drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 1-0

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the star, having gone wicket-less in his debut test. He uprooted Warner’s leg stump in his second over and then trapped Cowan lbw not long after, although replays showed the ball had pitched just outside leg.

Watson and Hughes survived till drinks – Watson playing with considerable assurance, Hughes less so. - PaulADennett

Lunch, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 2-0

India are well on top now. Outstanding bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin to set the game up well for India. Australia will be glad that they picked an extra batsman in this test. The hope for Australia will be in the ease with which Michael Clarke came down the wicket to hit Ashwin back over his head for 6. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 2-1

Another Michael Clarke rescue job. Someone on cricinfo suggested that Australia should try to bat him at 3, 4 and 5. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 1: The mini-session count is tied up, 2-2

Fantastic innings from Wade here. He's been under some pressure, and is responding to it well. - Mykuhl

Final drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 3-2

It was going to be interesting to see how Henriques backed up. Unfortunately for him, he got a good one early and as a result is heading back to the shed. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 4-2

Stephen Fleming was a fan of the declaration 9 down, although he had Chris Martin in his side regularly, so there wasn't a significant difference between being 9 down and all out. Clarke here has taken a small gamble, and while it hasn't paid off, it's still admirable captaincy. The opportunity to bowl 3 overs at the end of the day, and give his bowlers two bites of the cherry was worth the cost. Traditionally the final wicket has provided 4% of a team runs, so realistically Clarke cost his team about 8 runs for a better chance to dismiss an opener. That's a gamble worth taking. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 4-3

An early breakthrough and some very disciplined bowling from Australia gives them this first hour. They are fighting back into this test. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 4-3

While the Indian batsmen scored very little, they both survived. India are going at less than 2 an over, which is a product of both a conservative approach from the Indian batsmen, but also some tight bowling by Australia. Henriques in particular has been very demanding. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 5-3

The two Indian batsmen have started to open up now. They waited until the bowlers started to tire, and then punished any bad ball. It's good test batting, almost from a different age. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 6-3

Pujara and Vijay are doing exactly the right thing here. They are in a match position where they can afford to play each ball on it's merits. This batting has, to a degree, been made possible by the good work with the ball, meaning that they are not under any scoreboard pressure. - Mykuhl

Final drinks, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 7-3

These two are relentless at the moment. Australia are in significant trouble. I am still struggling to understand why they went for Maxwell over Lyon. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 8-3

This is an exhibition of batting. These two are closing in on some big milestones. They are 51 runs away from being the highest 2nd wicket partnership for India, and from there another 32 runs away from the largest partnership for any wicket for India vs Australia. 89 more runs and they are the highest partnership against Australia by anyone. That's still a long way away and they have to survive the first hour that is likely to be testing, but these two have batted India into a dominant position. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 9-3

The big moment in this hour was the lbw shout against Che Pujara from a ball that pitched on middle and beat the bat by Doherty. Other than that it has been plain sailing for the batsmen.

I wanted to look at the Hawkeye replay of that ball, but unsurprisingly BCCI TV haven't played it as yet. Generally that implies that the ball was going to hit the stumps. - Mykuhl

Lunch, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 9-4

Finally Australia have something go their way. And it was a double breakthrough. People often say things like "When one falls, the other often falls soon after." While that's been statistically proven to be not true, occasions like this make it feel true. Australia are hardly "back in the game" but they did win that hour. - Mykuhl

Middle drinks, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 10-4

It looks like Dhoni wants another double century, but also wants to declare tonight. He's raced through to 43. The key moment was the dismissal of Tendulkar. It is unclear what happened in between the umpires, but somehow Tendulkar was given, and probably correctly too. - Mykuhl

Tea, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 10-5

The final 9 wickets fell for 116 runs. The first one fell for 17. It was the 370 runs that happened between the first and second wicket that made this an awesome innings. - Mykuhl

Final drinks, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 10-6

A very good start for Australia. In order to have a famous come-from-behind victory you first need a terrible start. They certainly have the first part sorted out. - Mykuhl

Stumps, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 11-6

It's very easy to criticize a batsman for getting out bowled round his legs to a finger spinner. It's much harder to defend them for it. There is nothing wrong with sweeping a ball outside leg stump, provided you cover your stumps. If a batsman can play the shot properly, it is a fantastic shot. But if a batsman gets bowled round his legs, it's clear that he can't play the shot properly and therefore he shouldn't be experimenting with it when his team is 200 runs behind. One big partnership could open this match up, but that won't happen if batsmen try stupid shots that they haven't practiced in the nets. - Mykuhl

First drinks, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 12-6

India dominated this session, and it could have been even more dramatic. There was a catch down the leg side that was hardly even appealed for, and a lbw that looked pretty good, but wasn't given. Australia are looking square in the eyes of an innings defeat. - Mykuhl

End of match, Day 4: India win the match by an innings and 135 runs, and the mini-session count 13-6

A convincing win by India, but back to the drawing board for Australia. They've become only the 11th team to lose a match after declaring the first innings closed, and the first to ever lose by an innings after declaring. This match was completely dominated by one partnership, with Pujara and Vijay putting on more runs than either their team mates combined or both of Australia's innings combined. If it wasn't for those two, this might have been a close match. But that's a bit like saying that if it wasn't for their three great sprinters, Jamaica might not have won the mens 100m Olympic gold medal. India won this match because they played much better cricket. The conditions here were less suited to India than the conditions at Chennai were, and yet India were more dominant in this match than in the last one. - Mykuhl