What a year! 2011 may have had it all, but mostly it was for England, South Africa and India. Unfortunately, there were only a few highlights for Australia.
Not to say there were no individual highlights. We saw the six-spree of Shane Watson against Bangladesh, Mike Hussey’s string of successes in Sri Lanka in both Test and ODIs, stunning debuts of fast bowlers Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, Dave Warner carrying his bat in only his second Test when all around him fell in a heap, centuries from skipper Michael Clarke, and an opening stand of 174 between Shane Watson and Phil Hughes to set up the win in the Johannesburg Test.
But Johannesburg aside, when we talk of match results, the cupboard was pretty bare this calendar year.
Firstly to the lows of the Australian cricket team in 2011. The worst, no doubt, was the second half of the series in losing the Ashes 1-3. All three defeats were by an innings.
Losing to low-ranked New Zealand in the thrilling Hobart Test this month was another low that few expected to see.Of the eight Tests played in 2011 (in Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa), Australia won three, lost three, and drew two.
Losing the World Cup in India was not as unexpected. But still, as the holders of the Cup in 1999, 2003 and 2007, it was sad that Australia could not even make it to the semi-final in 2011.
Then there was the Kat and Pup scuffle between Simon Katich and captain Clarke – now all smoothed over, it would seem.
As for the highs, it has been a year of debutant Australian bowlers, starting with spinner Nathan Lyon taking a wicket off his first ball in a Test. He was only the 14th man to do so in the 134 years of Test cricket. This was against Sri Lanka at Galle in September, where he grabbed a first-up 5-34.
Teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins also had a five-wicket innings (in fact 6-79) on his Test debut, against South Africa in Johannesburg last month, and was adjudged Man of the Match.
Replacing an injured Cummins, James Pattinson followed suit, taking 5-27 in his debut for Australia against New Zealand in the Brisbane Test. That was followed by 5-51 in Hobart to finish with 14 wickets in the two-Test series. He scored a Man of the Match award at the Gabba, and Man of the Series at Bellerive.
Mike Hussey created two records in 2011. One, he is the only batsman to average 50 in Tests, one-day internationals, and first-class cricket (qualification 4000 runs in each format). Two, he was adjudged Man of the Match in all three Tests in a series, and obviously also took home Man of the Series.
This was against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in September, when his batting average was 92.60, complemented by a handy bowling average of only 3.50. Since then, though, his batting form has dipped alarmingly.
Shane Watson hit a spectacular unbeaten 185 off 96 balls against Bangladesh in an ODI in Mirpur this April, at an astounding strike rate of 192.70.
It featured 15 fours and 15 sixes, the latter being a record in an innings in all internationals. The injuries to Watson, Shaun Marsh, Cummins and Ryan Harris have been shattering blows for Australia, though Marsh has ostensibly recovered.
And finally to the sensation of 2011. On day two of the Cape Town Test on 10 November, 23 wickets tumbled for 262 runs. This involved South Africa being dismissed for 96, then hitting back by routing Australia for 47 (a good total after they had been 9-21). Australia’s Peter Siddle batted and bowled in all four innings on the one day, a rare feat indeed.
That was the countback for 2011. Of course, there is one more episode to come, with the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG. Make sure to check on The Roar over those five days for live commentary, scores, and opinion. Merry Christmas.
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