If you’re a supporter of the Australian, English or South African Test teams, you’d be more than likely of the opinion that in the past 12 months, no single cricketer has had more say on the outcome of individual matches than Mitchell Johnson.
A simple way to break down his impact is to run the rule over his performances from a traditional football-style ‘best-on-ground’ point of view.
Looking at each game logically, while bearing in mind the contribution all 22 players have made to the contest, allows you to award three votes for the ‘man of the match’, two for the second best player and one for the third.
Incredibly, from nine starts it would be more than reasonable to award Johnson 12 votes – or four best-on-ground efforts.
In the past 12 months, he has been the match winner in almost half of the Tests he has played and with the performances considered winding up at the end of July, he may well secure his second Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year along with the 2014 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.
In investigating all Tests played since March 2013 using the 3-2-1 voting system, several facts become apparent.
Firstly, there have been some stunning efforts throughout the Test cricket world and none more so than Brendon McCullum’s knocks of 224 and 302 in back-to-back Tests during New Zealand’s 1-0 series win at home over India in February.
Secondly, the Test minnows are more than capable of holding their own, with Bangladesh a case in point.
They’re not being beaten up as you’d expect in recent times, having lost just three times from their past eight Tests, despite Sri Lankan freak Kumar Sangakkara thumping five tons, including a 319, and two 50s in four Tests against them.
Bangladesh have drawn a series against the Black Caps, beaten Zimbabwe and unearthed 22-year-old wunderkind (I’ve always wanted to write ‘wunderkind’) Mominul Haque, who has peeled off three tons and as many 50s in his seven Tests, including a superb 181 at Chittagong against NZ.
Thirdly, while individuals within a Test line-up may enjoy a ‘Golden summer’, five-day cricket requires the load to be spread across a team, particularly over an extended period, in order to sustain success.
As the number one ranked Test nation on the planet, I have awarded eight South Africans with votes across their seven matches played.
Considering the Proteas had four of their players selected in the World Test XI – Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander – you could easily surmise they have dropped away considerably in the past 12 months, particularly as only de Villiers and Amla have polled in multiple matches.
Compare their record to a resurgent Australia, a rebuilding India and a rising-fast New Zealand who have 12, nine and eleven vote-getters respectively and the reason those combinations are on the march becomes apparent.
Granted the Aussies and Kiwis have played 16 and 12 Tests each, however their contributions have come from multiple players rather than relying on dominant individuals, as is the case with England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
From their 15 Tests, I have awarded 12 English players votes, with Stuart Broad the standout collecting eight.
Of these dozen chief contributors, only Alastair Cook, Broad, James Anderson, Ian Bell and Ben Stokes were a part of their last Test in Sydney, which signals the crossroads the Old Enemy have found themselves at.
At the other end of the spectrum, Australia have narrowed their outlook post-Micky Arthur and picked a stable Test team with a combination of experience and youth, rather than simply having a selection policy aimed squarely at the future.
Since the four-zip drubbing in India, the Aussies have gone from a side reliant upon the batting feats of Michael Clarke and the long, dry bowling spells of Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon to a combination bristling with contributors.
I have awarded Johnson, Clarke, Steve Smith, Ryan Harris, Lyon, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and David Warner votes in multiple matches, which more than underlines their ‘champion team’ ethos as opposed to a ‘team of champions’.
Anyhoo, let’s get down to brass tacks. As of today, my 2014 ICC World Test Cricketer of the Year voting is as follows with the top 20 listed.
Of the six players nominated for the award in 2013, only Sangakkara holds his place in the top dozen. *Inhaaaaale!*
M Johnson (Aus) – 12 votes from nine Tests.
K Sangakkara (SL) – 8 (7)
R Taylor (NZ) – 8 (11)
S Broad (Eng) – 8 (15)
Y Khan (Pak) – 7 (7)
R Harris (Aus) – 7 (12)
B McCullum (NZ) – 7 (12)
S Smith (Aus) – 7 (15)
D Jayawardene (SL) – 6 (5)
M Haque (Bang) – 6 (7)
C Pujara (Ind) – 6 (9)
D Warner (Aus) – 6 (14)
M Clarke (Aus) – 6 (15)
R Sharma (Ind) – 5 (6)
S Shillingford (WI) – 5 (6)
M Rahim (Bang) – 5 (8)
M Vijay (Ind) – 5 (9)
N Lyon (Aus) – 5 (13)
AB de Villiers (SA) – 4 (7)
T Southee (NZ) – 4 (10)
While I’m at it, here’s my 2014 World Test XI for the past 12 months.
The members of the side have been picked purely on the votes I have allocated for matches played, while trying to give due consideration to selecting a functional Test team and those individuals who have played less Tests in the past year than others.
The only player I have managed to maintain from the 2013 World Test XI is AB de Villiers. God help me!
David Warner (Aus), Murali Vijay (Ind), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Ross Taylor (NZ), Brendon McCullum (NZ), AB de Villiers (SA – Wicketkeeper), Steve Smith (Aus), Mitchell Johnson (Aus), Stuart Broad (Eng), Ryan Harris (Aus), Shane Shillingford (WI), 12th Man – Mominul Haque (Bang).
Apologies to Younis Khan (Pak), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma (Ind), Michael Clarke and Nathan Lyon (Aus), Mushfiqur Rahim (Bang) and Tim Southee (NZ).
I found this whole exercise to be a brilliant way to get my head around the most outstanding cricketers of today, especially those we don’t tend to get a look at.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on my World XI. I’m sure there are many players who could easily slot in however, you must admit, it’s a pretty handy side.
What say you, Roarers?
SteveOL
Roar Pro
You haven't been reading my stuff!?! You haven't lived! Good on you, Chris. I appreciate that. I reckon you're a bit harsh on Sharma. He got big runs at Kolkata when the only other who could was Ashwin. At Mumbai I only gave him a vote as everyone got runs, or at least starts, and Ojha bowled out of his skin. Vijay had two limited Tests in NZ and has retained his opening spot after excellent returns against Australia and South Africa. His back to back Daddy hundreds against Australia were a key reason they Indians thumped us in Hyderabad and Mohali. As I wrote, I have only picked the team on the back of matchwinning performances. Anderson is going to be exciting to watch but I went with de Villiers as the allrounder as I don't reckon there is a genuine allrounder that can outperform him in the world at the moment. I am a fan of Lyon but I'd love to see him do more in second innings.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
*111 not out
Chris Widjaja
Roar Rookie
A great read this is Steve. Haven't read much of your stuff before but its nice to read cricket from someone who crunches the stats too. - I really disagree with you about R.Sharma getting a mention. Yes he made some runs but those were made on a pitch catered for Tendulkar's farewell. That pitch was as flat as a pre teen girl. Would only give him props for his 72. - M.Vijay was dropped from the side. I can't see how you can have him in the side considering he couldn't make the national side. Bit like Agar at the 1st Ashes Test - Agree with you on S.Smith's rise. Its been amazing. Before this year he was our cult figure joke and now he's one of our best bats in the side. What I love more is Jadeja's rise with him with both killing the critics and stripping themselves of the joke status that fans have cruelly given them - My World XI side would be: D.Warner (AUS), C.Rogers (AUS), K.Sangakkara (SL), R.Taylor (NZ), AB De Villiers(SA), S.Smith (AUS), C.Anderson (NZ), M.Johnson (AUS), T.Southee (NZ), R.Harris (AUS), R.Herath (SL) 12th: T.Boult (NZ) - Warner a certainty but Rogers deserves a spot over Smith who was my other candidate. No other opener has been consistently steady as these two (refer to Vijay point) - Middle order picks itself. Monimul Haque and BMac very stiff to miss but I wanted to go for a good blend of attack and defence so Misbah was my next in line for a batting spot (77 with the bat). But any of those 3 could have walked into my side - Corey Anderson is a weird selection and I do get it but I want an all rounder. Gives me the extra quick and batting cover at 7. He averaged over with bat and ball which satisfies my all rounder prerequisite. Considered Ben Stokes for this role but he only played 3 Tests although played them superbly. - Fast bowlers also pick themselves. Rreally wanted to go with Boult - his figures have been ridiculous (48 @ 21 and 47 SR). Shows the brilliance of the rest of the quicks. Stuey Broad also stiff to miss but he might get my team into some media trouble for not walking ;) - Herath as my spinner is debatable but not many options elsewhere. Ajmal has been off this year (by his lofty standards) and Lyon is too limp and doesn't attack enough. Shillingford has good stats but leaks runs and not sure about his action too
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Spot on, Matt. Steve Smith is the one for me. Until a year ago he'd been out of the Test team for two years and has since taken his batting average from 28.77 to 40.02 in 15 matches with 4 great tons. And he's not near 25 yet. Next Australian Test skipper for mine.
Matt
Guest
The turn around from the Australian players is nothing short of remarkable. At the end of the Ashes in England, who would have thought Warner, Smith and Johnson could be selected in the World XI. Incredible.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Thanks for reading, Pete. Shillingford played six Tests in the past 12 months before he was called - granted it was his second time around however it would be hard to argue against saying most doosra bowlers chuck. Saeed Ajmal was reported in 2009 himself. But until he was called, Shillingford was clearly the most productive spinner in world cricket this past year with an average of 22.27 and a strike rate of 43.6. Steyn's best match was his 9 wicket effort against India at Durban. He took his only 5-fer for the past 12 months in that Test. Pretty self-explanatory I'd have thought. I have given Saeed Ajmal 2 votes for his 7-fer against Zimbabwe at Harare. He was pipped in that one by Younis Khan's little 200 not out. His only other 5 wicket haul for the period in question was his 6/151 against the Saffas in Dubai. Hard to go against Graeme Smith's 234, AB de Villiers' 164 or Imran Tahir's 5/32 when he and Steyn bowled out the Pakistanis for 99. Ditto.
Pete
Guest
Shillingford is a banned chucker. Why the lack of votes for Saeed Ajmal & Dale Steyn?
SteveOL
Roar Pro
For your perusal, here are my votes for each team: Overall votes India 9 Tests 9 players C Pujara 321 = 6 M Vijay 221 = 5 R Ashwin 111 = 3 S Dhawan 3 R Jadeja 2 R Sharma 311 = 5 M Shami 2 P Ojha 3 V Kohli 3 NZ 12 Tests 11 players H Rutherford 3 P Fulton 3 T Southee 211 = 4 K Williamson 22 = 4 C Anderson 2 N Wagner 1 R Taylor 323 = 8 B McCullum 133 = 7 T Boult 3 B Watling 2 J Neesham 1 England 15 Tests 12 players A Cook 22 = 4 N Compton 11 = 2 J Trott 3 S Broad 233 = 8 M Prior 2 S Finn 1 J Anderson 13 = 4 G Swann 31 = 4 J Root 13 = 4 I Bell 22 = 4 K Pietersen 21 = 3 B Stokes 2 Sri Lanka 7 Tests 9 players K Sangakarra 323 = 8 H Herath 3 L Chandimal 1 A Mathews 3 D Jayawardene 33 = 6 J Silva 22 = 4 R Lakmal 11 = 2 B Mendis 2 I Kayes 1 WI 7 Tests 5 players M Samuels 3 S Shillingford 23 = 5 S Chanderpaul 22 = 4 C Gayle 11 = 2 D Bravo 2 Zimbabwe 6 Tests K Jarvis 11 = 2 B Taylor 3 T Chatara 2 Australia 16 Tests 12 players P Siddle 1 N Lyon 32 = 5 A Agar 1 M Clarke 321 = 6 S Smith 1231 = 7 R Harris 232 = 7 C Rogers 111 = 3 S Watson 3 M Johnson 3333 = 12 votes from 9 Tests B Haddin 211 = 4 D Warner 123 = 6 S Marsh 2 Bang 8 Tests 6 players R Islam 21 = 3 S Al Hasan 2 M Rahim 32 = 5 M Haque 33 = 6 S Gazi 1 M Ashraful 1 Pak 7 Tests 8 players Y Khan 331 = 7 S Ajmal 2 M ul-Haq 112 = 4 K Manzoor 3 J Khan 2 A Shehzad 3 M Talha 2 A Ali 1 SA 7 Tests 8 players H Amla 11 = 2 G Smith 3 AB de Villiers 22 = 4 I Tahir 1 V Philander 2 D Steyn 3 J Kallis 2 J Duminy 3
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Sad but true, AK. I love the way Kohli goes about it and with two hundreds and four fifties and an average of 55.61 in the past 12 months it is a fantastic return, but as I mentioned, my team is based on having an influence on the outcome of Tests. But I don't see the point in simply going on raw numbers. The only match in this time frame that Kohli has truly influenced the outcome of a Test was his standout performance at the Wanderers against South Africa last December where he piled on 119 in the first dig and 96 in the second to help force a draw. On the other hand, I had Rohit Sharma polling in three fixtures - 3 votes for his matchwinning 177 against the West Indies in Kolkata, 1 vote for his 11 not out in the next Test at Mumbai and another vote for his fighting 72 in Auckland last month when no other teammate got more than 30. Ishant was stiff in that New Zealand test taking 6 for gazillion in the first innings but I went with the batting performances.
ak
Roar Guru
Rohit Sharma gets a mention. And Kohli doesn't. It just cannot be so.