The end of play on day 3 and Yorkshire had kept hopes of winning their third consecutive county championship title alive. Having played only 4 specialist batsmen and collapsing to 4-53 with three ducks, the visitors still needed 297 runs to stay in the race.

Middlesex had set a target of 270 thanks to Nick Gubbins’ 125. However he had very little support as the next highest score of the innings was a 48 from captain James Franklin. They scored very slowly and on the second morning, Jack Brooks cleaned up to take six-for after Tim Bresnan broke Middlesex’s main partnership.

It was a hard-earned century from Bresnan and half-century contributions from Andy Hodd and Azeem Rafiq that got Yorkshire close to the line. Middlesex dropped too many chances and allowed the game to be taken away from them.

Rafiq fell when Yorkshire were on 318 (32 runs short of their bonus points). Steven Patterson made a handy 11 to bring them up to 333 but five balls later Yorkshire were 9 down.

Then came in 11^th man Ryan Sidebottom in the 95^th over to bat with Bresnan as they were 16 runs short of their batting bonus point. The man who had grittily batted out top stop Somerset winning the title once before and he was about to dampen their dreams once again.

Sidebottom got off the mark on his second ball only to find he would be facing Steven Finn at the other end. He blocked out ball after ball after ball to keep Yorkshire in the race. He kept out Yorkers from Tim Murtagh and survived LBW appeals from Roland-Jones. Single by single the final pair fought their way to 349 with Sidebottom 2 from 38.

It was then the umpires took out their light meter as Yorkshire were just one run short of their bonus point and took the players off the pitch. As if the last 10 overs had not been dramatic enough, the crowd were kept waiting for over an hour before play resumed.

As fate would have it, it was Sidebottom who clipped a 4 off his legs from Roland-Jones to get them over the line. His reaction as he ran between the wickets was that of a man who had just won his team the championship. As he punched the air a loud roar emanated from the crowd. He had given them a chance.

While the 2016 was a breakthrough season for women’s cricket, in many ways it was a missed opportunity.

The first ever women’s cricket week began on Saturday 2^nd July as Sky partnered up with the ECB to encourage females of all ages and from all walks of life to get involved in cricket.

The initiative was created to boost coverage and participation in the sport. It was centered around the England v Pakistan Ladies T20 series that was broadcasted live on Sky Sports. Ladies clubs from all around London were covered including Harrow Town Ladies in an attempt to promote club cricket. The initiative was a big success as more people got the opportunity to watch women play on the international stage, but one week is not about to change the face of women’s cricket.

Women still do not receive the same coverage as men. International men’s series’ both home and away are given full exposure. Not only that but men’s domestic cricket is given more exposure than women’s international cricket. It’s no secret that men’s sports are, on the whole, more popular than women’s but how is that supposed to change if games are not covered and priority is given based on current viewership? How are young girls supposed to develop a deep interest in sports without role models to aspire to on TV.

The last time the England women played a fixture at the Lord’s cricket ground was in 2013. Should their games not take priority over T20 Blast games or other county games? During the Kia Super League only one of the Surrey Stars home games was played at the Kia Oval whilst the other was played in Guildford. More than 2,000 people attended the Surrey Stars v Yorkshire Diamonds game at The Oval and it was a great opportunity for young players to play on the big stage. The final was held at the Essex County cricket ground and attracted a much smaller crowd than that at The Oval. There was no fixture set to be played at Lord’s within five days of the final either side and it would have been a great opportunity to showcase women’s cricket at ‘the home of cricket’..

The Kia Super League (coming straight after Women’s Cricket Week) was the perfect platform to build from but the ladies received no live coverage from Sky throughout the tournament neither was there anywhere else to stream live games. Much more could have been done for the ladies to increase support and awareness of the league online and via social media. The KSL final came the day after the T20 Blast final; it was the perfect time to promote the women’s game but very little was done.

And now? There may be a little more awareness of the England ladies whereabouts but as they begin their tours in the West Indies and Sri Lanka, without any real coverage or highlights for the home crowd all the momentum built up over the summer will surely die down. We can only hope that as support for the KSL grows, the ladies will be given a lot more attention and support and women’s cricket week will no longer be needed.

Pakistan rose to the No.1 ranked Test team after drawing the series with England 2-2. They had a little bit of help from mother nature as the rain set in at the Queen’s Park Oval to stop India’s 3-0 sweep and from Australia’s inability to play spin but their performance in England showed they were worthy of the spot. But is a team’s worth based solely on their ability to play Test cricket?

Test cricket may be the most grueling format, the hardest format and the most respected but are we now ignoring Pakistan’s rank #9 in ODIs and #7 in T20’s? Two forms of cricket they once dominated with the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi being leading one day wicket takers. Does their No. 1 Test rank – the spot that every team strives for – mean they’re now classed as the best in the word?

Pakistan have done a wonderful thing over the past five years. Or rather, Misbah Ul Haq has done a wonderful thing. From the depths of despair when Pakistan were facing their darkest hour he took over and pulled them up towards the light. He marshaled his troops, rallied the country and brought Pakistan to the No.1 spot in Test rankings. A team without a home. A team that has not been able to play on their own soil for the past seven years. Yet still they somehow managed to create talented and unique players that brought them up to the no.1 ranked team. Players like Mohammed Amir who was reborn to cricket this series, like Wahab Riaz who can bowl bolts of lightning as if Zeus himself was playing cricket, like Misbah who fixed and lead a shattered nation. Pakistan’s rise to the #1 rank is a real disney fairytale ending. I believe very few other teams could accomplish what Pakistan have given the challenges they have faced.

Life would be that simple if Test cricket were the only format of cricket (and I wouldn’t mind that at all) but it’s not. Pakistan have had an extremely tough time in one day cricket. Once one of the best T20 sides, they have slipped down the rankings. Can we truly judge a team based solely on their Test performance? Pakistan’s overall ranking over the three formats is 5.67. Yet India’s combined average is 2.33, South Africa’s is 4.33 and England’s is 4.67. Can we truly even accept a Test no. 1 rank when Pakistan haven’t played the no.2 ranked team, India? nor have they played Zimbabwe or the West Indies in five years. A potential word championships in Test cricket could do wonders. Just as there are reforms set to create a more inclusive ODI structure, the ICC must consider changes to Test cricket.

England’s complete dominance over the first three ODIs has semi stolen the spotlight from Pakistan’s triumph. A world record of 444-3 was scored at Trent Bridge against a similar bowling attack to the one that had earned Pakistan that no.1 rank. A bowling attack that had almost taken England apart in one format was  being smashed to all parts of Nottingham in another. Pakistan may be missing some key experience in their line-up but they do not lack the ability. There has been an abundance of misfields, and bowling errors, especially in the latest ODI. Both Hales and Morgan were dropped, Riaz took wickets off no-balls and ended on the second most expensive ODI figures. Balls found gaps in long barriers, found the floor when they should’ve found hands and found bat over and over and over again.

Pakistan have a lot of work to do in their one day department. They are currently risking their automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England and with the Champions Trophy only a year away they will have to pull their boots up.

Six long years of life outside of international cricket  and on the 14th of July 2016, it was finally time for Mohammed Amir to make his long- awaited return to the stage.  It was a momentous Test at Lords, Amir was coming back to the place where his career was brought to an abrupt halt. The place where he broke the hearts of millions and brought Pakistan into their darkest hours. Except this time he was returning as a new man, a man who had been through the gates of hell and emerged the other side purged of his sins, a man who was playing his first Test match for the second time and this time he finished it in true cricketing spirit.

It was a momentous Test not only for Amir but for Pakistan. The scandal was Pakistani cricket’s 9/11. It was their darkest moment in sport and it crushed the hopes and dreams of fans everywhere. Pakistan and Amir had repented and this Test was the time to regain some of that lost belief and support from the 2010 scandal. It was the time to wipe the slate clean and start afresh. A time to rebuild from the depths of hell and by close of play on day 4, Pakistan had not only built a ladder back up, but had constructed their one world trade centre and shown the world that nothing would keep them down.

Pakistan, led by their captain Misbah Ul Haq, won the toss and elected to bat first. They never looked settled and wickets fell at regular intervals with Chris Woakes removing both the openers. Pakistan had beaten England in the UAE only last year but this was different. They were facing England, in England. Pakistan hadn’t played a bi-lateral series outside of Asia in three years, and they hadn’t played in England since 2010. At 3-77, the Pakistani captain, aged 42, strolled in to bat. Batting was never Pakistan’s strongsuit. Misbah had been the pillar that held them up for the past six years. He sweat and toiled and slowly kept the board ticking playing ball after ball after ball. He steadied the ship for a while before England’s veteran bowler Stuart Broad struck. Younis Khan fell and Pakistan were 134-4 but Misbah was still at the crease.

Asad Shafiq was the next man in at 6. He and the captain steered the visitors and put on a partnership of 148 runs. It was in this partnership that the Pakistani captain, who had never batted in a Test in England before, jogged through for a single to join the Lords honours board. Misbah had just become the sixth oldest man to score a century and the oldest captain to. He gestured to his team before saluting the Pakistani Army whom with the team had trained, by dropping down to do push-ups. It was a momentous occasion for the captain and he had gone and stolen Amir’s limelight for the day.

It was the Misbah show.

On day two however, wickets continued to tumble, Amir and Yasir Shah added a few but Pakistan were restricted to 339. Chris Woakes bowled superbly ending with a six wicket haul but it was time for England to bat and for Amir to make his real return. He was given the new ball. A second chance sat in his hand and he embraced it. This new man showed intent, he asked questions and he was floating on air. He bowled with the same zest and zeal as if the last six years hadn’t happened. Mohammed Amir was reborn. It wasn’t all a fairytale however. That first wicket refused to come. It eluded him as Mohammed Hafeez dropped a sitter, Cook was given a second reprieve off Amir’s bowling and it wasn’t until Yasir Shah had stolen the show that Amir finally got his man.

England struggled against the leg spinner. Alastair Cook and Joe Root were cruising until he was brought on and then England imploded. They had faced swing, bounce, pace and had survived but against Yasir they played rash shots. Apart from Cook and Root, it was only the bowler Chris Woakes who scored 30+. England who bat so deep could just not dig in against the leggie. Just like Pakistan, England were done the next morning before lunch only trailing by 67 runs.

Pakistan came back to bat with a small lead a hell of a lot of belief. England’s highest successful chase in the last decade at Lords was 282 against New Zealand in 2004 so they just needed get there. It seemed no one wanted to take the reins though. Hafeez decided to give the fielders some catching practice, and Woakes continued his good form. Not even the captain could stick around. Misbah went for his signature shot against Moeen Ali. For once in his career the ball did not stay hit and Alex Hales took a superb running catch in the deep. It was only a fifth wicket partnership of 69 between Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan and a personal best of 30 from Yasir that kept Pakistan in the game.

Stuart Broad picked off the final two wickets on the morning of day 4 within 15 minutes.

Pakistan had 283 to defend and England had two days to bat.

Amir started the fourth innings poorly with a short and wide ball that Cook smashed for four. The Pakistani bowlers struggled to keep their line and force errors. It only took one good ball though. One great ball. A beauty from Rahat Ali removed Cook and let the visitors breathe. Rahat continued to bowl superbly and England continued to bat poorly. Joe Root’s decision to go for a ball that there was no need to go for epitomised their whole innings. This was England’s middle order’s first real test. James Vince and Gary Ballance stuck around and played a few shots. The Pakistani bowling was becoming loose, the fielding was resembling the shambles of day one and England were slowly inching closer to their target.

Yasir Shah then switched ends. England were at 135-4 when he picked off the fifth wicket of Gary Ballance (much to the relief of Younis Khan who had dropped him already) and he was once again looking dangerous. In his next over, an irresponsible Moeen Ali having faced four balls swung for the ball as if he was opening the batting with England leading by 200 runs. Yasir clean bowled him and within 10 minutes Ali was walking back to the dressing room potentially for the last time.

It was Johnny Bairstow the in-form man and the bowling hero Woakes sitting at the crease with England six down. The runs dried up, England were no longer cruising. Yasir was bowling wicket to wicket and the seamers were bowling wide of off-stump. Misbah was forcing England to make the next move. Just as he had tried in the third innings to take on Ali, he was dangling the carrot for Bairstow and Woakes. Neither went for it, they continued to take the singles and the scoreboard kept ticking over. England still had a day to bat, they did not need to play the rash shots that the top order had played.

Then Wahab Riaz came back to bowl. It was one of those spells that cannot be written down on paper. A few runs came from it, no wickets came but it was magical. The energy at Lords changed completely. The tension could have been cut with a knife. Wahab almost had Woakes twice, he was getting reverse swing and hurling missiles at these two men. He almost had Woakes twice, he was almost banned from bowling in the rest of the match. Wahab Riaz had one of his magical spells that most bowlers could only dream of delivering. He shook England and the mistake finally came.

With less than 100 runs to get, Johnny Bairstow cracked. He steps back and Yasir bowls him. You could see the anguish on his face. It wasn’t one of Wahab’s magical balls but after 147 balls, he cracked.Two balls later, Amir smashes through Stuart Broad’s defences. There was no warning, no bouncer to throw him off. Pakistan meant business. They were there to finish it off. Yasir Shah took his 4th wicket of the innings and 10th in the game as he removed Woakes and in the end it was a fairy tale finish for Pakistan with Amir clean bowling Ball to win them the first Test by 75 runs and celebrates as he did six years ago with his arms spread wide running across the pitch.

Pakistan ended the Test together. Misbah had lead them out from their darkest hours and with a salute to the army and they drop down to do push ups. As a team.

Last week signified England’s first ever Women’s Cricket Week. It was a partnership between the ECB and Sky Sports to help develop and promote Women’s Cricket by dedicating a week of airtime and exposure to the women’s game. The week ran in conjunction with the England v. Pakistan Women’s bilateral series which consisted of three ODIs and three T20s. It was a week for the England Ladies to capitalise on the publicity and show their worth, and they did not squander the opportunity.

The series was coming at a critical time for the England Ladies, their veteran captain of 10 years along with two other senior players were gone from the team and with the spotlight on them for the week, there was nowhere for the newer and younger players to hide. The new team lead by Heather Knight started their campaign off superbly with a seven wicket win against the visitors. Captain Knight led from the front with a 5-for and a solid 50. The Pakistan ladies were bowled out for 165. Pakistani opener Sidra Ameen scored a stabilising 52 but there was no one else to back her up as only one other scored above 20. England’s opener Tammy Beaumont responded with a solid 70 off 75 balls and along with Heather Knight they sealed the first game of the series.

The ladies went on to win the next two ODIs very convincingly with each margin bigger than the previous. A 235 run partnership between openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont and a quickfire 80 from Natalie Sciver saw the ladies reach an impressive 378 runs. Pakistan seemed to crumble under the mountainous score and only Bismah Maroof appeared to believe they could chase down the score. The visitors were once again bowled out for 166 – one run more than their previous innings. The third and final ODI saw Beaumont achieve back to back centuries with a match winning 168. An innings that alone beat the entire Pakistani team’s score of 164. The England ladies were off to a fantastic start with a 3-0 ODI series win heading into the T20s.

The Pakistani men are known for their impromptu t20 ‘turn-ups’ so this was no time for the England ladies to take their foot off the pedal. Once again the openers Winfield and Beaumont set up the innings with 74 and 82 respectively leading the hosts to 187, their highest ever total in T20 format. Pakistan were unable to respond and the second two T20s following suit. England continued to play as if the series was in the balance even through the final T20. England once again white-washed the visitors and showed the world they didn’t need anyone to hide behind. All the players stepped up their game and set the bar very high for the men’s series.

The ICC have developed a new ODI structure which may add some relevance to what is now considered by many (bar the World Cup) to be an irrelevant format. It doesn’t have the entertainment factor of a T20, yet it is not as highly regarded as a Test match.

The new structure is to take a league format (almost resembling club and county cricket) where each country would play a three match ODI series against each other over a three year period. The new structure would include all ten Test playing nations plus Afghanistan, Ireland and one other associate member nation. This would amount to 36 ODIs with the fourth year reserved for World Cup preparations. The idea is to give bilateral series’ some context and something for fans to follow. However one of the problems teams may face with the series’ being played either at home or away is the big teams using their power to enforce a home series to gain advantage. Teams like Afghanistan are likely to struggle through the new tournament style structure. On the other hand they may benefit from the chance to play in other conditions especially for their World Cup campaign.

The new system would still allow other nations to progress as the team finishing last would be relegated into the tier two of international cricket, The World Cricket League Championship, after play-offs against the winner of the second league. Just as it would allow teams associate members to be promoted, it would also allow full member nations to be relegated. This may affect teams like Zimbabwe who only last week really struggled against a second-rate Indian team. Their 3-0 loss at home was one of the most comprehensive defeats in recent time.

The reforms are intended as a minimum schedule for each country and they are free to decide when the league matches are to be played. This should give teams enough freedom in their schedules whilst also maintaining inclusivity of some non-Test playing nations allowing them to develop. This would be extremely beneficial for associate nations regarding sponsorship and overall development, it would also mean the World Cup qualifier rounds could become a hell of a lot more interesting.

One other problem the new format could face is the constant conflict between the India and Pakistan. The problems between these two countries have meant series’ have been few and far between without a bilateral series being played since 2008. It could however give the Ashes ODI series more relevance with the Test series usually taking the limelight.

Decisions on the structure will be discussed further at the ICC annual conference at the end of the month. Hopefully, we will soon see associate members playing more top-class competitive cricket.

The third and final Test of the England v Sri Lanka series came to an end in classic English fashion with rain stopping play. The Test was perfectly poised for an exciting day five at the home of cricket. Sri Lanka’s openers had lasted through the night. With 10 wickets in hand and one of the best pitches on offer, the game was still (sort of) in the balance.

The lead up to the series had not been favourable for the visitors. They faced a second rate attack in Essex in their first warm-up game (where they were still bested by an 18 year old on day one). On day two, fast bowler Dhammika Prasad (who had knocked over England in 2014 to win them the series) injured himself just a day after former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya had regaled their bowling attack calling it the best in the world. It was clear that Sri Lanka were missing him in their bowling attack as Leicestershire cruised past their total of 367 in the second warm-up. Things were not looking good.

The first Test of the series started tamely and as expected, England cruised to 49 without loss. A fantastic debut from Dasun Shanaka saw the hosts wobble as he took down England’s captain and wonder boy Alastair Cook and Joe Root. At 5-83 it was looking as though there was some truth to Jayasuriya’s claims. That was however the extent to which Sri Lanka showed up through the rest of the game. The 6th-wicket partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales was worth more than Sri Lanka made in either innings.Only two batsmen scored 30+ runs. The visitors were wiped out by England’s dynamic duo, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad with Anderson taking two five-wicket hauls. Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 88 runs.

The second Test of the series began in worse fashion than the first for Sri Lanka. Not only were they were missing their new star Shanaka but they were missing another seasoned quick in Dushmantha Chameera who also fell to injury. Angelo Mathews’ men picked off wickets here and there but England were cruising. It seemed Sri Lanka were waiting for wickets rather than taking them. They fielded poorly on the second day dropping more than a few catches and leaking runs. Seven of the English batsmen played with strike rates above 50 and Moeen Ali scored 155* to guide the hosts to 498/9 where they declared.

Sri Lanka barely responded. It seemed the usual fighting spirited Sri Lanka were still on the plane to England and hadn’t yet arrived. Again only one batsman scored above 30 and they were all out for 101. Sri Lanka were once again forced to follow-on for the second time in a row. However it appeared their plane arrived just in time for the second innings. Kaushal Silva, Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath all scored 50s and a spirited century from Dinesh Chandimal forced England to bat again. The hosts only needed 80 to win but Sri Lanka’s second innings score of 475 gave England something to thing about.

The third and final Test was Sri Lanka’s chance to save face. Save themselves from a 3-0 whitewash. Once again it was a wobbly start from England with the out of form Nick Compton failing to get runs again and possibly playing his last international Test. It was Jonny Bairstow who saved the day for England and made up for some of his fumbles behind the stumps (but not before Sri Lanka dropped him and gave him the chance to). Bairstow went on to make 167* and pulled England to another daunting total of 416.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne finally turned up to the series and along with Silva they put on an opening partnership of 108. They ended day two on a very respectable 162/1. The game was still in the balance. However there wasn’t much more fight from the other batsmen on day three as England steamed ahead and bowled Sri Lanka out for 288. Day three brought some interesting debates back to the table about DRS as Alex Hales was given a reprieve by a mistaken no-ball. It was a poor decision against the visitors. They had already dropped Hales twice and once again his wicket eluded them. England declared on 233/7 and left Sri Lanka with 12 overs to face before close of play on day four. Sri Lanka’s openers once again saw out the overs and left the team with 10 wickets in hand and a target of 362.

It could have been a marvelous day five at Lords had the sun come out. Only 12.2 overs were bowled and both sides appeared to know the Test was going nowhere during them. Rain continued to pour through the day and the grey clouds did not budge for a result.

Sri Lanka will feel they had a lot of misfortune through the series with the injuries and the bad reviews but they have a lot of work to do before their next international series.

I apologise for the lack of posts recently.. I’m sure you’ve all missed my ranting and raving about this and that. I haven’t been in cricket watching countries recently but have somehow managed, in a small rural village in Nepal, to find a family with star sports, make friends with them and watch the ICC T20 World Cup final!! It was magical.

What a game! It had everything! I was completely backing an India v England final and was heart broken when India were knocked out, but this match did not disappoint. I should have expected that though! When is a game involving the West Indies and the likes of Chris Gayle dull? Or in this case, Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite! 

Both teams were coming into the final strong and I was still unsure about who I was backing to win! My head was saying Enland but my heart kept saying West Indies! It stayed that way until the last second, it was that good a game!

England got off to a poor start, they lost 3 wickets for only 23 runs. Jason Roy who had done so well against New Zealand was removed in the first over, he was shortly followed by Alex Hales and England’s captain, Eoin Morgan. It was once again England’s wonder boy Joe Root who saved the day. Along with Jos buttler, he helped England build back up until the West Indies struck again! Another two wickets fell in two balls and you could see the frustration on Root’s face, before he too was removed a ball later. England were 111-7 from 14 overs. 150 barely looked like a possibility. It was only some well needed power hits from David Willey and some tail end runs that saw England reach a defendable total of 155.

West Indies were in a good position. They had taken wickets at crucial times and already had a win against England under their belt. They also had a lot of pressure on them! Both the West Indies ladies and the under 19s had won their titles. It was only the men left to complete the trio!

Unfortunately it started as badly for the West Indies. Joe Root was brought on for the second over and he picked off the openers with Ben Stokes taking down both catches – the cricketing world now have to watch out for Root the bowler aswell as the batsman! It didn’t end there either, David Willey must have felt left out as the next over he got in on the action. He took out Lendl Simmons who had been instrumental against India in the semi final. The innings was mimicking England’s to the T as Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo got the West Indies up to 86. Then just as England had, three wickets fell in quick succession to bring in Carlos Brathwaite.

Samuels was still at the crease but with the lack of help at the other end, a win was looking much less likely. With six balls to go, they needed 19 runs. It was the bowler Brathwaite on strike, as they had taken a single on the last ball in the previous over, and in true West Indian fashion he smashed off four consecutive sixes to seal the deal off Ben Stokes. 

It was both incredible and painful to watch at the same time. The West Indians finished it off the only way they know how, in true style. It was almost like watching the end of a Disney film where at the very last second the hero saves the day. West Indian supporter or not, you couldn’t have asked for a more entertaining final.

South Africa were forced into a corner again facing the possibility of a 3-0 loss to India. A fourth innings target of 481 and five sessions to bat through meant that South Africa’s choices were limited. Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers lead the way in South Africa’s latest blockathon with 25 from 244 balls  and 43 from 297 respectively. The visitors made it through to the fifth session at 0.99 rpo but the South African tail could not hold on. The margin by which South Africa lost does not do the game any justice.

There have been several occasions on which South Africa have attempted (and for the most part succeeded) to do what very few others are willing to. For a team that has scored 400+ ODI totals on several occasions and includes some of the most dangerous players the cricketing world has seen, they have an incredible ability to score next to nothing. It may sound silly to some, but it’s an incredible gift in Test cricket. There are extremely few (if any) other teams that have the same ability. The ability to sit at the crease. To block not only the good balls but the bad balls too.

The first of South Africa’s block-capades was in 2012. It involved Australia and a Test debut for Faf du Plessis. du  Plessis played through 376 balls at the Adelaide oval to save the Test and score his maiden Test century all in one go.

India were on the receiving end of another blockathon in 2013 but were less successful on this occasion. Facing a similar target of 458, South Africa toiled through the overs to pull off another draw in the first of two tests. du Plessis was once again at the centre of it all as he played out another 309 balls. He gave de Villiers the chance to free up and play some strokes. In the end, India were lucky to escape with a draw as South Africa ended eight runs short of a win.

Before their loss to India, South Africa had failed only once to block their way through a game. It was once again against Australia. Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn were doing their bit for the team having faced 105 and 44 balls respectively. Had it not been for an incredible final over from the injured Ryan Harris who removed Steyn and Morne Morkel in three balls, South Africa would have drawn the Test.

Finally, South Africa were back in ‘action’ against Sri Lanka in Colombo and everyone was chipping in to play out the 111 overs. Only one strike rate was above 30 and this time Philander was able to guide South Africa to a draw.

It takes some skill to save a Test match like this. Even with the continued rise of T20 cricket and the decline of Test match cricket, South Africa have still somehow maintained the art of a draw.

I stand by the argument that it is not home advantage that is killing the game but the rise of T20 cricket and players being unable to apply themselves and build an innings. I’m not suggesting all games should be like this, nor am I suggesting it was a perfect pitch. It was an entirely one sided game but not in the usual sense.

The pitch cannot be blamed if a home team is scoring 300+ totals and the visiting team can barely reach 150. Cricket is possibly the most diverse and  adaptable game around. From the bowlers and their variations, to the batsmen and their game plans. It is ridiculous to suggest that just because a player is from another continent they cannot flourish in adverse conditions. Alastair Cook led England to an impressive win in India in 2012/13 and before this game, South Africa were on a nine series away win streak.

It is just as ridiculous to see how many people are complaining about a pitch that was prepared for spin when every country plays to their advantages. No one made a peep about the 500+ totals that Australia and New Zealand continue to rack up on flat pitches. What kind of cricket is that? It’s called cricket just because it lasts five days? People calling Nagpur out for being ‘rubbish pitch’ have no quarrels when a team scores 300 in a day without a wicket falling. This Test got results. This Test had an end game. It was a new challenge for everyone. India included.

It’s impossible to call it ‘home advantage’ when neither team can play. India overplayed their hand this time. There was no need for a pitch with such character. It overshadowed the bowlers own personalities. Ravi Ashwin still shone bright as he completely outplayed the current best and most adaptive batsman in the world, AB de Villiers. His performance however will still be muddled by suggestions that it was all the pitch. India did not need such a pitch to win the game. They have some of the most skilled batsmen in the world and their spinners could run circles around the best even abroad. If it was the case that India had suggested they wanted turning pitches because they believed they couldn’t win without it, I would be disappointed.

Spinners were the leading wicket takers on both sides. It was not so much an excessive ‘home’ advantage as it was an excessive ‘ball’ advantage. The fact that neither team could negotiate the spin says nothing about home advantage. Cricket is a diverse and adaptable game and suggesting that a sport has to follow an exact play every game is also unreasonable.