Here is a snippet from Law 23, Part 4:
"vi) the striker is distracted by any noise or movement or in any other way while he is preparing to receive, or receiving a delivery. This shall apply whether the source of the distraction is within the game or outside it."
The conditions for a dead ball are quite clear. The batsman has to be distracted. If the batsman is not distracted, then the ball should not be declared dead.
The test is not "does the umpire think that the batsman should have been distracted." The test is "was the batsman distracted."
The timing is also interesting. When is the ball dead? A possible argument is that the ball should be declared dead immediately once an umpire feels that the batsman is likely to be distracted. However that's not the test. The test is if the batsman was distracted. The ball also does not have to be declared dead immediately once an incident has happened. See for example Tom Smith's description of how to rule on an injury:
"Example 4
The ball has been hit into the outfield and the fielder, in attempting to stop it, falls and is in obvious pain through a serious injury.
Before calling Dead ball, the umpire should look to see if the ball is continuing towards the boundary. If it is and it will reach the boundary almost immediately, he would not call Dead ball as once the ball crosses the boundary it is going to be dead anyway. By delaying the call he will neither be depriving the batting side of a boundary nor unnecessarily delaying getting attention to the stricken fielder"
(Smith, 2003, p.167)
It is completely within the consistent ruling of Law 23 to see what happens, and then call the ball as dead if necessary.
Which brings us to the Steven Finn breaking the wickets with his leg. The correct ruling here is that the umpire should see if the batsman was distracted or not before calling the ball dead.
If the batsman hits the ball for 4, or 2, then it should not be a dead ball, as the batsman was clearly not distracted. If the ball goes down the leg side for what would have normally been called a wide, then it should be called wide, not dead ball, as even if the batsman was distracted there was no opportunity for him to play a shot to it.
In the South Africa test where the precedent was set the first three were not called. It was only once Graeme Smith approached the umpire saying that he found it distracting that the umpire started to call it dead.
In the Super 8 match James Franklin did not make any such complaint, as as a result the law was applied incorrectly.
Incorrect interpretation of this rule cost New Zealand significantly in the last game. It would be crazy if it continued to be ruled incorrectly throughout the rest of the tournament. This is not something that the MCC Laws sub-committee needs to look at. The law is clear, and just needs to be applied correctly.
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Saturday, 22 September 2012
World T20 Statistics
Here is a list of tables of some different statistics from the World T20. I have separate tables for the Group stage, the Super 8's and the overall data. Interestingly the batting numbers are reasonable similar, but the bowling numbers are significantly different. This is possibly a reflection on the strengths of the teams that missed out on the next stage, Bangladesh, Ireland and Afghanistan all have strong bowling line-ups and while Zimbabwe's strength is normally more about their batting, it didn't really fire in this tournament.
All of these are statistics that I have worked out previously, although I had to modify my DL partnership formula to reflect the nature of T20 cricket. I decided to use a score of 147 as an expected score as it's 56.6% of 260, and 56.5% is the resources left in an ODI match shortened to 20 overs.
I will try to update these regularly throughout the tournament.
Best innings:
For more info on how this is calculated see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Best Partnerships:
Here I take into account the teams situation at the start and the teams situation at the end. Effectively these are the partnerships that have made the biggest contribution to their team's score. For more information see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Contribution made by bowlers:
Every wicket is worth about 5 runs to a teams total. So I subtract 5 runs per wicket, and then work out the economy rate. For more info see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Activity rates:
This is the runs a batsman scores per delivery that doesn't get hit to the boundary. I explain this in more detail in the glossary:
(minimum 10 balls faced)
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage
Overall Tournament
*I have reached my page limit on this platform, so these pages are in a different format.
All of these are statistics that I have worked out previously, although I had to modify my DL partnership formula to reflect the nature of T20 cricket. I decided to use a score of 147 as an expected score as it's 56.6% of 260, and 56.5% is the resources left in an ODI match shortened to 20 overs.
I will try to update these regularly throughout the tournament.
Best innings:
For more info on how this is calculated see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Best Partnerships:
Here I take into account the teams situation at the start and the teams situation at the end. Effectively these are the partnerships that have made the biggest contribution to their team's score. For more information see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Contribution made by bowlers:
Every wicket is worth about 5 runs to a teams total. So I subtract 5 runs per wicket, and then work out the economy rate. For more info see this post:
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage *
Overall Tournament
Activity rates:
This is the runs a batsman scores per delivery that doesn't get hit to the boundary. I explain this in more detail in the glossary:
(minimum 10 balls faced)
Group stage
Super 8's
Knockout Stage
Overall Tournament
*I have reached my page limit on this platform, so these pages are in a different format.
Friday, 21 September 2012
CricketGeek Player Profile: Elias Sunny
Sunny is a slow left arm bowler, but he bowls with quite an open action, so the ball comes from a slightly different angle than an orthodox left-arm spin bowler. This has given him an ability to get left handed batsmen out with more regularity than most left-arm spinners. He also turns the ball quite sharply, and tends to bowl a slightly different length than most orthodox spinners. These combine to make him a real danger man for teams playing against Bangladesh.
His different angles mean that he's likely to be a particular threat to batsmen who have not faced him before, although he has shown the ability to get out some batsmen repeatedly, notably compatriot Mahmudullah, who he has dismissed a number of times in domestic cricket.
His international T20 record is remarkable, averaging 12.22 with an economy rate of 5.50, but that is somewhat artificial, given that he has only played against Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland. However his overall T20 record is still very good, and includes being the local player of the Bangladesh Premier League. Here is a graph of his career averages.
We can see he is settling in to an average of under 20, and an economy rate close to 6. If he can translate that to international cricket he will be a massive asset to Bangladesh, and could be part of the catalyst that they need to go to the next level.
This tournament is likely to be a good litmus test for him. We may get the chance to see if he has just had a good start, or if he really is as good as his figures would indicate.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
CricketGeek Player Profiles: Glenn Maxwell
His recent form has been very impressive. He had a reasonable BBL for the Renegades, played a couple of games for the Delhi Daredevils, but then really shone for Hampshire in the Friends Life t20 in England.
He had the 8th highest batting index in the competition, with an average of 44.75 and a strike rate of 175.49. To add to that he took 7 wickets at an average of 25.5 and an economy rate of 7.56.
He has proven to be particularly good at hitting boundaries, scoring roughly on boundary every 5 balls. He's also developed a reputation as a great fielder.
Here are a couple of graphs of how his career t20 averages have shaped up recently.
His batting averages are going up, and generally his bowling averages are going down. This is exactly what should be happening for a quality player in his breakthrough season.
But the ultimate proof of his rise is that the Australian selectors have opted for him ahead of Dave Hussey, the highest run scorer in t20 history. How he goes in that role will be interesting. The one thing that his opponents will probably be aware of is that he has tended to get out to off-spin early in his innings. That's not exactly a good weakness to have in Sri Lankan conditions, but it also might be something that the selectors feel is just an anomaly.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
CricketGeek Player Profiles: Jeevan Mendis
At schoolboy level Mendis was a star with both the bat and ball for the prestigious St Thomas' School. He got a call up to play in the Under-19 team, and he continued to shine, having respectable averages of 51 with the bat and 13 with the ball.
It has taken him a while to become a regular player for the national side, but he is starting to establish himself now. In his recent domestic T20 matches he's averaged about 30 with the bat and about 24 with the ball. If he can keep this ratio up in the international level, he could become an indispensable bits-n-pieces players, like Albie Morkel, Scott Styris or Abdul Razzaq.
He relies more on placement than power with the bat, but he has a good reverse sweep, so he has the ability to create headaches for the fielding captain by hitting the ball to unusual places. He bowls leg-spin, but with a slightly unorthodox grip that make it difficult to read him out of the hand. Accordingly he should be the sort of bowler who can get out the tail quickly, which might be a very useful skill in the first game for Sri Lanka. He might not be a bad player to have in your fantasy team for the match against Zimbabwe.
Friday, 31 August 2012
Mini-Session Analysis, Second Test, Ind NZ, Bangalore, 2012
Here is the mini-session analysis for the second test between India and New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, 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.
Latest update here. India win the match, after the mini-session count is tied 11-11
Tea, Day 1: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 2-1
An absorbing day of cricket. Punch and counter punch; featuring one of the best captain's innings you are likely to see. Taylor came out in the media before the match and said that New Zealand's batsmen needed to be more positive, and attack the bowling. He then went out and demonstrated what he meant.
He came in after the umpires again decided that the benefit of the doubt should go to the home side twice. The ball may have just clipped the off stump for McCullum's lbw, and may have flicked the bails for Williamson, but both of them were at best tight decisions, and have continued the trend of close calls going the way of India in this series.
Taylor could have responded to the team being under pressure by shutting up shop. He could have tried to get his eye in. Instead he started to swing the bat. His 18 boundaries have covered almost all the points of the clock, with only 12 o'clock and 5 o'clock missing out so far.
Taylor needs 11 more runs to become the fastest New Zealand batsman to score 3000 runs in terms of matches (one behind Martin Crowe in terms of innings). New Zealand have to a chance to get over 300, and allow their bowlers something to bowl at.
Final drinks, Day 1: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 3-1
The third hour that New Zealand have scored at more than a run a minute. To be over 300 before the end of the day would be something that the New Zealand team could hardly have dreamed of after the debacle at Hyderabad.
The Indian bowing has been exactly what the modern game tends to provide. Defensive bowling to attacking fields or attacking bowling to defensive fields. There had been a bit too much leg-side filth, trying to bore the batsmen out for my liking, but to be fair it seems to have worked against Guptill and Taylor.
The new ball will be interesting. I'd expect the spinners will get a bowl with it, rather than the quicks, but the extra bounce might be quite dangerous.
Stumps, Day 1: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 4-1
It's New Zealand's day here. 3 players in particular really took it to the Indians, first Guptill, then Taylor and finally van Wyk. Ojha was the lone bright light for India. He looks like he is the sort of bowler who is good against quality batsmen, similar to Trent Boult for New Zealand. Often the rule is that you take the ball away from the batsmen, but bring it into the bowlers. Ashwin started to look more dangerous once Taylor was out. While he didn't manage to get Bracewell out, he did manage to make him look troubled a couple of times.
It's a truism that the next morning is going to be vital. However If New Zealand manage to bat through the first 4 or 5 overs without losing a wicket, they could potentially go on to score 400, and really make the Indian team work in the second innings. There is not likely to be a complete reversal of Hyderabad, but it's amazing what scoreboard pressure does to players.
Inning change over, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 4-2
A combination of good bowling, poor shots and some really bad luck saw New Zealand only add 33 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at the start of the day. India are certainly back in this game, but New Zealand still have the runs on the board, as the cliche goes.
The Indian response will be interesting.
Lunch, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5-2
Another session, another tough decision against New Zealand. Sehwag looked to be out off the first ball from the second over. There may have been some doubt on height, but after seven decisions that had more doubt than that being given out in the last three innings, it was surprising to see the umpires finally giving the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.
The bad news for New Zealand is that Sehwag is not one to often squander a start against them. He has 7 centuries against New Zealand in international cricket. Once he is in he is a difficult man to stop. At the other end is Tendulkar. While he is hardly looking in vintage form, (4 off 41, no runs off his last 26 balls) the longer he bats, the closer he is to recovering his touch.
New Zealand need at least two more wickets before the clouds burn off. As the pitch is wearing quickly, they can't afford to give India a first innings lead.
Final drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5-4
On the first day we saw a fantastic counter-attack from Taylor, assisted by Flynn and van Wyk. Today it was Kohli, assisted by Raina and Dhoni. The game is quite even going into the last hour. We really have an absorbing test match on our hands here.
Stumps, Day 2: The mini-session count is tied 5-5
The game is now probably slightly in India's favour. New Zealand can not afford to allow India a lead, as the New Zealand lineup is not as suited to playing on a wearing pitch.
It's been a great partnership from Kohli and Dhoni, but batting will be more difficult in the morning with (probably) some cloud cover and a new ball. Again the first hour will be really important.
Tea, Day 3: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 8-6
This game is still very evenly poised. Both teams are yet to really grab the game by the scruff of the neck. New Zealand are probably still 150 runs from a score that's likely to win, but even chasing 200 will be difficult on this pitch for India.
The star of the day has been Tim Southee. His 7/64 is one of the best ever returns for a New Zealand bowler. He really took the spotlight off Virat Kohli's fantastic hundred. Kohli has scored 450 runs in his last 5 tests, at an average over 50.
Stumps, Day 3: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 9-7
R Ashwin has managed to get India back into the game. The second one side looks like they are winning, the other one strikes back. This is test match cricket at its' most absorbing.
Going into day 4, there is almost certainly going to be a result (unless there is some terrible weather or a phenomenal rear guard effort by Patel and Boult tomorrow.) We may even have the exciting prospect of a day 5 with a very small number of runs needed, and only a couple of wickets in hand.
First drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9-8
A very aggressive start from India, after another horrible decision to end New Zealand's innings.
Sehwag and Gambhir have looked like they are playing an ODI match. If they keep this up, the game will escape New Zealand very quickly.
Lunch, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 10-8
The roller-coaster lurches again. This test is starting to feel like the Hobart one. Tendulkar looks all at sea against Boult, but if anyone can battle through a bad patch, it's him. There is still a lot of work for New Zealand to do, but the momentum is back with them at the moment.
Rain break, post lunch, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 10-9
India have taken hold of this match. It will take either some very poor cricket from India, some very good cricket from New Zealand or a combination of both for India to lose this now.
Brendon McCullum's missed stumping may prove to be very costly.
Final drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 11-10
It looked like India's game at lunch. Then an hour later it was New Zealand's. Now Dhoni and Kohli have taken back control. Is there another twist?
End of match: The mini-session count was tied 11-11
India won the match, mostly due to the batting of Virat Kohli. The rest of the teams cancelled each other out, but he shone above everyone else. When Dravid described him as India's best batsman in all three formats, he was not exaggerating to make a point. Kohli has turned potential into delivery. There is a long time to go, but at the moment he is truly a wonderful batsman.
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 | New Zealand 45/1 off 15 | New Zealand |
| 1-1b | New Zealand 63/2 off 14 | draw |
| 1-2a | New Zealand 88/1 off 13.2 | New Zealand |
| 1-2b | New Zealand 44/1 off 16.4 | India |
| 1-3a | New Zealand 64/1 off 16 | New Zealand |
| 1-3b | New Zealand 24/0 off 6.3 | New Zealand |
| 2-1a | New Zealand 33/4 off 8.4 | India |
| 2-1b | India 63/2 off 21 | New Zealand |
| 2-2a | India 61/2 off 12 | draw |
| 2-2b | India 44/0 off 14 | India |
| 2-3a | India 57/1 off 11 | India |
| 2-3b | India 58/0 off 20 | India |
| 3-1a | India 52/4 off 13 | New Zealand |
| 3-1b | India 18/1 off 5.5 | New Zealand |
| New Zealand 29/0 off 5 | ||
| 3-2a | New Zealand 40/3 off 13 | India |
| 3-2b | New Zealand 67/1 off 17 | New Zealand |
| 3-3a | New Zealand 45/1 off 14 | New Zealand |
| 3-3b | New Zealand 64/4 off 20 | India |
| 4-1a | New Zealand 16/1 off 4.2 | India |
| India 67/0 off 11 | ||
| 4-1b | India 21/2 off 9 | New Zealand |
| 4-2a | India 59/0 off 12.5 | India |
| 4-3a | India 27/3 off 12.1 | New Zealand |
| 4-3b | India 39/0 off 11 | India |
| 4-3c | India 49/0 off 7.2 | India |
Latest update here. India win the match, after the mini-session count is tied 11-11
Tea, Day 1: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 2-1
An absorbing day of cricket. Punch and counter punch; featuring one of the best captain's innings you are likely to see. Taylor came out in the media before the match and said that New Zealand's batsmen needed to be more positive, and attack the bowling. He then went out and demonstrated what he meant.
He came in after the umpires again decided that the benefit of the doubt should go to the home side twice. The ball may have just clipped the off stump for McCullum's lbw, and may have flicked the bails for Williamson, but both of them were at best tight decisions, and have continued the trend of close calls going the way of India in this series.
Taylor could have responded to the team being under pressure by shutting up shop. He could have tried to get his eye in. Instead he started to swing the bat. His 18 boundaries have covered almost all the points of the clock, with only 12 o'clock and 5 o'clock missing out so far.
Taylor needs 11 more runs to become the fastest New Zealand batsman to score 3000 runs in terms of matches (one behind Martin Crowe in terms of innings). New Zealand have to a chance to get over 300, and allow their bowlers something to bowl at.
Final drinks, Day 1: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 3-1
The third hour that New Zealand have scored at more than a run a minute. To be over 300 before the end of the day would be something that the New Zealand team could hardly have dreamed of after the debacle at Hyderabad.
The Indian bowing has been exactly what the modern game tends to provide. Defensive bowling to attacking fields or attacking bowling to defensive fields. There had been a bit too much leg-side filth, trying to bore the batsmen out for my liking, but to be fair it seems to have worked against Guptill and Taylor.
The new ball will be interesting. I'd expect the spinners will get a bowl with it, rather than the quicks, but the extra bounce might be quite dangerous.
Stumps, Day 1: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 4-1
It's New Zealand's day here. 3 players in particular really took it to the Indians, first Guptill, then Taylor and finally van Wyk. Ojha was the lone bright light for India. He looks like he is the sort of bowler who is good against quality batsmen, similar to Trent Boult for New Zealand. Often the rule is that you take the ball away from the batsmen, but bring it into the bowlers. Ashwin started to look more dangerous once Taylor was out. While he didn't manage to get Bracewell out, he did manage to make him look troubled a couple of times.
It's a truism that the next morning is going to be vital. However If New Zealand manage to bat through the first 4 or 5 overs without losing a wicket, they could potentially go on to score 400, and really make the Indian team work in the second innings. There is not likely to be a complete reversal of Hyderabad, but it's amazing what scoreboard pressure does to players.
Inning change over, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 4-2
A combination of good bowling, poor shots and some really bad luck saw New Zealand only add 33 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at the start of the day. India are certainly back in this game, but New Zealand still have the runs on the board, as the cliche goes.
The Indian response will be interesting.
Lunch, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5-2
Another session, another tough decision against New Zealand. Sehwag looked to be out off the first ball from the second over. There may have been some doubt on height, but after seven decisions that had more doubt than that being given out in the last three innings, it was surprising to see the umpires finally giving the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.
The bad news for New Zealand is that Sehwag is not one to often squander a start against them. He has 7 centuries against New Zealand in international cricket. Once he is in he is a difficult man to stop. At the other end is Tendulkar. While he is hardly looking in vintage form, (4 off 41, no runs off his last 26 balls) the longer he bats, the closer he is to recovering his touch.
New Zealand need at least two more wickets before the clouds burn off. As the pitch is wearing quickly, they can't afford to give India a first innings lead.
Final drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5-4
On the first day we saw a fantastic counter-attack from Taylor, assisted by Flynn and van Wyk. Today it was Kohli, assisted by Raina and Dhoni. The game is quite even going into the last hour. We really have an absorbing test match on our hands here.
Stumps, Day 2: The mini-session count is tied 5-5
The game is now probably slightly in India's favour. New Zealand can not afford to allow India a lead, as the New Zealand lineup is not as suited to playing on a wearing pitch.
It's been a great partnership from Kohli and Dhoni, but batting will be more difficult in the morning with (probably) some cloud cover and a new ball. Again the first hour will be really important.
Tea, Day 3: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 8-6
This game is still very evenly poised. Both teams are yet to really grab the game by the scruff of the neck. New Zealand are probably still 150 runs from a score that's likely to win, but even chasing 200 will be difficult on this pitch for India.
The star of the day has been Tim Southee. His 7/64 is one of the best ever returns for a New Zealand bowler. He really took the spotlight off Virat Kohli's fantastic hundred. Kohli has scored 450 runs in his last 5 tests, at an average over 50.
Stumps, Day 3: New Zealand leads the mini-session count 9-7
R Ashwin has managed to get India back into the game. The second one side looks like they are winning, the other one strikes back. This is test match cricket at its' most absorbing.
Going into day 4, there is almost certainly going to be a result (unless there is some terrible weather or a phenomenal rear guard effort by Patel and Boult tomorrow.) We may even have the exciting prospect of a day 5 with a very small number of runs needed, and only a couple of wickets in hand.
First drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9-8
A very aggressive start from India, after another horrible decision to end New Zealand's innings.
Sehwag and Gambhir have looked like they are playing an ODI match. If they keep this up, the game will escape New Zealand very quickly.
Lunch, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 10-8
The roller-coaster lurches again. This test is starting to feel like the Hobart one. Tendulkar looks all at sea against Boult, but if anyone can battle through a bad patch, it's him. There is still a lot of work for New Zealand to do, but the momentum is back with them at the moment.
Rain break, post lunch, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 10-9
India have taken hold of this match. It will take either some very poor cricket from India, some very good cricket from New Zealand or a combination of both for India to lose this now.
Brendon McCullum's missed stumping may prove to be very costly.
Final drinks, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 11-10
It looked like India's game at lunch. Then an hour later it was New Zealand's. Now Dhoni and Kohli have taken back control. Is there another twist?
End of match: The mini-session count was tied 11-11
India won the match, mostly due to the batting of Virat Kohli. The rest of the teams cancelled each other out, but he shone above everyone else. When Dravid described him as India's best batsman in all three formats, he was not exaggerating to make a point. Kohli has turned potential into delivery. There is a long time to go, but at the moment he is truly a wonderful batsman.
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Mini-session Analysis 1st Test Ind NZ Hyderabad 2012
Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between India and New Zealand 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.
MS Dhoni said before the match that their aim was to win the most mini-sessions, because the team that does that normally wins the match. His team certainly executed his plan.
Final update here. India win the match by an innings and 115 runs. The win the mini-session count 13-5
Lunch, Day 1: The mini-session count is level at 1-1
New Zealand really missed a trick in the morning session. They dropped Sehwag twice, and left a gap for him to score at 3rd man, allowing him to score 24 of his 47 runs to that spot.
However despite that, the first session was quite even. Boult again looked dangerous. He is turning into a very handy bowler.
Middle drinks, Day 1: NZ lead the mini-session count 2-1
Trent Bould bowled Tendulkar. In his 5 matches, his victims now include Gayle, Kallis, Gambhir, Tendulkar and Michael Hussey. It seems that the better the batsman, the more they struggle with Boult.
Tea, Day 1: The mini-session count is level at 2-2
Kohli and Pujara have put together a great partnership here. New Zealand will want at least one more wicket before the new ball.
Post tea drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 3-2
Two more dropped catches in that session. The Kohli-Pujara partnership was fantastic. New Zealand will be very frustrated with this match. They have played some good cricket, and yet are behind in the match.
Stumps, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 3-2
It was a day of missed chances for New Zealand, and yet they are still well in this match. Boult bowled very well, as did Jeetan Patel, although with very little luck. The 4 bowlers who took wickets all had at least one catch dropped off their bowling, so all can feel a little unlucky.
The star of the day, however is Cheteshwar Pujara. His 119* so far has been head and shoulders ahead of any of the other Indian batsmen. It wasn't quite chanceless, but the one half chance that he did offer up was still after he'd scored more than anyone else managed.
Tomorrow there is likely to be some good cloud cover, which, when combined with a two paced pitch, should make for tricky batting conditions.
Tea, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 5-4
Due to my TV dying, I've been unable to watch much of this day, but Kruger van Wyk seems to have pulled off one of the stumpings that he made his name with. The partnership between Dhoni and Pujara threatened to take the game away from New Zealand, but in the end 438 is a fair score, but not much more. In the last 6 first class matches at this ground, at least one of the first innings have scored more than 400, so it's about what would be expected.
How the New Zealand batsmen go about building their innings now that Hesson is in charge will be interesting.
Stumps, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 10-4
New Zealand are in a lot of trouble.
While India are dominating the match, I don't think that the difference between the teams has been quite as great as the scorecard would indicate. There have been number of 50-50 decisions by the umpires, and only one of them has gone to New Zealand's favour. India have also had the luxury of having a lot of men round the bat. It's a luxury that their batsmen purchased for them.
Ashwin and Ojha really made the most of the advantage that their batsmen gave them, and looked more dangerous than I've seen either of them before. Ashwin bowled one of the best deliveries I've seen to Chirs Martin. That was really a waste, as he could have probably gotten out Martin without needing such a good delivery. He should really have saved his best for when he's bowling to someone who is good against spin, like Misbah-ul-Haq or Darren Bravo.
First drinks, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 10-5
Good work from McCullum and Williamson. McCullum has really gone into his shell here. He has quite a poor record when he defends. In innings where he has a strike rate of less than 45 he's never scored a 50. In his career he's only batted more than 150 balls 8 times, so to face 92 balls for only 31 runs is certainly not batting according to his normal script. If these two put together a very large partnership it could be the start of a very good period in McCullum's career.
Lunch, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 10-6
McCullum and Williamson are still there, and have batted through the entire session. Realistically they need to bat for another session before New Zealand start to look even marginally likely to draw the match.
Second session drinks, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 11-5
The umpire strikes back. Brendan McCullum was out bat before wicket, then Ross Taylor left one that bowled him. Still, the Indian bowlers put a lot of pressure on the batsmen, and created the situation where the umpire had to make a decision.
Williamson is still looking solid. This is the 7th time he has faced more than 100 deliveries, in only his 27th innings.
Tea, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 12-5.
Ashwin and Ohja have continued to weave a web of mystery over the New Zealand lower order. Dhoni made a fantastic change bringing in Raina for an over to Williamson. The lack of overspin seemed to unsettle him. The next over Ojha came back in and got out Williamson immediately.
End of match: India win the mini-session count 13-5
A complete thrashing. New Zealand went from 98/1 to 164 all out. 9 wickets for 66 runs. The innings was typified by the dismissal of Doug Bracewell. He was beaten by a good ball, edged it. The catch was grounded by Kohli, but Bracewell didn't notice, and walked off in a hurry. If he had stayed around, he might have been given not out, but he had given up. Ashwin and Ojha were too good, and New Zealand were awful, despite good, fighting knocks from Guptill, McCullum and Williamson.
New Zealand will need to make an enormous improvement in order to level up the series in the second match.
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.
MS Dhoni said before the match that their aim was to win the most mini-sessions, because the team that does that normally wins the match. His team certainly executed his plan.
| Mini-Session | Score | Winner |
| 1-1a | India 65/1 off 13 | India |
| 1-1b | India 32/1 off 12 | New Zealand |
| 1-2a | India 39/1 off 15 | New Zealand |
| 1-2b | India 46/0 off 14 | India |
| 1-3a | India 75/1 off 16 | India |
| 1-3b | India 50/1 off 17 | draw |
| 2-1a | India 26/0 off 12 | India |
| 2-1b | India 38/0 off 9 | India |
| 2-2a | India 41/2 off 15 | New Zealand |
| 2-2b | India 26/3 off 11.3 | New Zealand |
| 2-3a | New Zealand 39/3 off 14 | India |
| 2-3b | New Zealand 45/1 off 19 | India |
| 2-3c | New Zealand 22/1 off 9 | India |
| 3-1 | New Zealand 53/5 off 19.3 | India |
| 3-2 | New Zealand 41/1 off 18 | India |
| 4-1a | New Zealand 30/0 off 14 | New Zealand |
| 4-1b | New Zealand 21/0 off 11 | draw |
| 4-2a | New Zealand 30/2 off 14 | India |
| 4-2b | New Zealand 24/3 off 16 | India |
| 4-3a | New Zealand 18/4 off 6.5 | India |
Final update here. India win the match by an innings and 115 runs. The win the mini-session count 13-5
Lunch, Day 1: The mini-session count is level at 1-1
New Zealand really missed a trick in the morning session. They dropped Sehwag twice, and left a gap for him to score at 3rd man, allowing him to score 24 of his 47 runs to that spot.
However despite that, the first session was quite even. Boult again looked dangerous. He is turning into a very handy bowler.
Middle drinks, Day 1: NZ lead the mini-session count 2-1
Trent Bould bowled Tendulkar. In his 5 matches, his victims now include Gayle, Kallis, Gambhir, Tendulkar and Michael Hussey. It seems that the better the batsman, the more they struggle with Boult.
Tea, Day 1: The mini-session count is level at 2-2
Kohli and Pujara have put together a great partnership here. New Zealand will want at least one more wicket before the new ball.
Post tea drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 3-2
Two more dropped catches in that session. The Kohli-Pujara partnership was fantastic. New Zealand will be very frustrated with this match. They have played some good cricket, and yet are behind in the match.
Stumps, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 3-2
It was a day of missed chances for New Zealand, and yet they are still well in this match. Boult bowled very well, as did Jeetan Patel, although with very little luck. The 4 bowlers who took wickets all had at least one catch dropped off their bowling, so all can feel a little unlucky.
The star of the day, however is Cheteshwar Pujara. His 119* so far has been head and shoulders ahead of any of the other Indian batsmen. It wasn't quite chanceless, but the one half chance that he did offer up was still after he'd scored more than anyone else managed.
Tomorrow there is likely to be some good cloud cover, which, when combined with a two paced pitch, should make for tricky batting conditions.
Tea, Day 2: India lead the mini-session count 5-4
Due to my TV dying, I've been unable to watch much of this day, but Kruger van Wyk seems to have pulled off one of the stumpings that he made his name with. The partnership between Dhoni and Pujara threatened to take the game away from New Zealand, but in the end 438 is a fair score, but not much more. In the last 6 first class matches at this ground, at least one of the first innings have scored more than 400, so it's about what would be expected.
How the New Zealand batsmen go about building their innings now that Hesson is in charge will be interesting.
Stumps, Day 3: India lead the mini-session count 10-4
New Zealand are in a lot of trouble.
While India are dominating the match, I don't think that the difference between the teams has been quite as great as the scorecard would indicate. There have been number of 50-50 decisions by the umpires, and only one of them has gone to New Zealand's favour. India have also had the luxury of having a lot of men round the bat. It's a luxury that their batsmen purchased for them.
Ashwin and Ojha really made the most of the advantage that their batsmen gave them, and looked more dangerous than I've seen either of them before. Ashwin bowled one of the best deliveries I've seen to Chirs Martin. That was really a waste, as he could have probably gotten out Martin without needing such a good delivery. He should really have saved his best for when he's bowling to someone who is good against spin, like Misbah-ul-Haq or Darren Bravo.
First drinks, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 10-5
Good work from McCullum and Williamson. McCullum has really gone into his shell here. He has quite a poor record when he defends. In innings where he has a strike rate of less than 45 he's never scored a 50. In his career he's only batted more than 150 balls 8 times, so to face 92 balls for only 31 runs is certainly not batting according to his normal script. If these two put together a very large partnership it could be the start of a very good period in McCullum's career.
Lunch, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 10-6
McCullum and Williamson are still there, and have batted through the entire session. Realistically they need to bat for another session before New Zealand start to look even marginally likely to draw the match.
Second session drinks, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 11-5
The umpire strikes back. Brendan McCullum was out bat before wicket, then Ross Taylor left one that bowled him. Still, the Indian bowlers put a lot of pressure on the batsmen, and created the situation where the umpire had to make a decision.
Williamson is still looking solid. This is the 7th time he has faced more than 100 deliveries, in only his 27th innings.
Tea, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 12-5.
Ashwin and Ohja have continued to weave a web of mystery over the New Zealand lower order. Dhoni made a fantastic change bringing in Raina for an over to Williamson. The lack of overspin seemed to unsettle him. The next over Ojha came back in and got out Williamson immediately.
End of match: India win the mini-session count 13-5
A complete thrashing. New Zealand went from 98/1 to 164 all out. 9 wickets for 66 runs. The innings was typified by the dismissal of Doug Bracewell. He was beaten by a good ball, edged it. The catch was grounded by Kohli, but Bracewell didn't notice, and walked off in a hurry. If he had stayed around, he might have been given not out, but he had given up. Ashwin and Ojha were too good, and New Zealand were awful, despite good, fighting knocks from Guptill, McCullum and Williamson.
New Zealand will need to make an enormous improvement in order to level up the series in the second match.
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