Brett lee’s days in whites are over—Australian pace ace Brett lee has finally called it a day and has officially retired from test match cricket. Lee made this official in his statement to the media on the 23rd of February. Lee took 310 wickets in 76 test matches at 30. All of this with 5 ankle operations. A true testament to his character. One of the fastest bowlers in the world, Brett lee will be remembered for a long time to come.

Although he won’t be hurling in right between the members stand with white clothing on, lee still has a lot of cricket left him—lot of T20 and ODI action. Lee is 33 and would be a walk into any club team. The Australian selectors have shown faith in lee by picking him in the top 30 probable’s that would be going to the Caribbean to play the 3rd edition of the T20 world cup. His defining moment still remains when he was unleashed on the Indians in the December of 1999 and picked up a memorable 5 wicket hall on debut including picking up Rahul Dravid twice in the test. Brett lee always played with a smile and was one of those few Australians who won fans all over the world. One of the most defining moments of 2005 saw lee being consoled by Andrew Flintoff in the 3rd ashes test at Edgbaston after England won the contest by 2 runs.

One year on— Over a year now since the tragedy broke out on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore on their way to the gaddaffi stadium. Thilan samarweera who had scores two double centuries in the previous two matches was one of those who was gravely injured. Paravitharana and Mendis were amongst the others who were injured gravely. The memory still seems to haunt all those who were witness to it. Chris broad still speaks about waking up in the middle of the night getting nightmares about that particular day.

The IPL— The IPL is a week away and this time its back in India. The excitement seems to be mounting by the second. With the advertisements and sponsors already started their marketing, this season promises to be nothing short of amazing. As far as the players are concerned the Australian and new Zealand test players won’t be there right until the end or might even consider giving it a miss as their test series would be followed with the world twenty 20 in the Caribbean and the players would want some much needed rest. The first match of the season kicks off on the 12th of march in Mumbai’s DY Patil stadium where the Kolkata Knight riders will face the defending champions of 2009, the Deccan chargers. This season promises to be an enthralling one. So, sit back and enjoy…

Mitchell Johnson and Scott Styris—Mitchell Johnson and Scott Styris had more than a verbal exchange when the duo clashed in the 46th over of the innings of the 1st ODI at napier. The incident occurred when Johnson was hammered for two consecutive fours. Johnson was seen head butting Scott Styris. The duo were both found guilty, in fact both pleaded guilty in order to skip the entire hearing. Scott Styris was charged 15% of his match fee while Johnson was charged 60%. Perhaps Johnson must go and thank his mate Brad Haddin who saved him from losing some more of his money.

ICC Presidency— Former Australian prime minister, John Howard has been nominated for the ICC presidency post by both Australia and New Zealand. He has been extremely passionate about cricket since his childhood. What remains to be seen is that whether he will be able to win the votes of the sub-continent. Howard said he would be privileged to serve the ICC and would do it well if given an opportunity of doing so.

Muttiah Muralitharan— Veteran Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has decided that he will quit all forms of the game after the end of the 2011 world cup. He has been a tremendous servant to not just Sri Lankan cricket but also world cricket. He is the leading wicket taker in both test and one day internationals. Murali has faced a lot of controversies and has come out of it strongly. Often castigated by a lot of former players murali has fought the odds and come out on top. Whatever said whatever done, he will be the leading wicket taker for some time to come—it’s in the record books!

A look at the lower middle order of the Top 3 teams in the world
A strong team is one that is versatile whether that means batting deep or adaptation or simply more options for the captain is subjective. In the past we have seen the tailenders or in today’s day the lower middle order who often change the coarse of matches. Today, I will be comparing the lower middle order of the top 3 ranked teams in the world namely:

Australia, South Africa and India.
Staring off by looking at the test arena,
Australian number 6——-Marcus North
South African number 6— JP Duminy
Indian Number 6———– Yuvraj Singh

Marcus North, One of Australia’s new found heroes along with Philip Hughes is one to certainly look forward to in the future. Marcus North announced himself at the international arena after having scored a century on debut against South Africa. North had to wait for long in domestic cricket before having got a chance.

North played a wonderful hand in the ashes and along with Clarke and Katich he was one of Australia’s best summers. However, after having a pretty average home summer north’s place in the team is now under jeopardy. If picked it would be vital for north to prove his critics wrong with some runs come New Zealand.

JP Duminy- Duminy struck a phenomenal hundred at 2008’s boxing day test match after combing with the tail which eventually won South Africa the match. Duminy after 1 innings of his shot to fame and after that has underperformed a bit.

With the Melbourne century being his one and only one and having scored just 1 century in 54 ODI’s clearly one match doesn’t make a career son. Duminy will have to refine his technique and be more productive with the shorter ones.

Yuvraj Singh: Purely the best out of the above mentioned. Yuvraj had a stuttering start to his test match career. He finally made amends for his chances after the retirement of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and has now made the number six position his own.

Australia number 7———- Brad Haddin
South African number 7—- Mark Boucher
Indian number 7————- MS Dhoni

Brad Haddin: Australia couldn’t have asked for a better replacement for Adam gilchrist. The same attacking, flamboyant flair—however, the saint part of him seems missing. Haddin was always the man after gilchrist.

Having served as Gilchrist’s understudy for over 5 years Haddin seems to have done the transition quite well. He did play for Australia in several ODI fixtures all be it not as keeper.

His batting talent and his footwork against spin was always one to match. Haddin provides a good hitting option for Australia down the order and thus provides the innings with some much needed impetus considering they need to declare.

Mark Boucher: One of the game’s best finishers in the modern era probably second only to Michael hussey. Boucher’s stats don’t reveal his contribution for South Africa with just an average in the mid 30’s. Boucher has played over 100 tests and almost about 300 ODI’s for South Africa.

His contribution to the South African unit is priceless. A hallmark of great players—Boucher always stands up to the occasion. This was recently seen in the england’s tour of South Africa where Boucher scored a fighting 50 in the 1st innings of the 4th test on a seamng Johannesburg wicket and thus won the proteas the match.

MS Dhoni: India’s skipper made a point with his first test 100 when he tore the Pakistan bowling apart with a brilliant 148 at Faisalabad. MS Dhoni doesn’t seem to have a very correct technique but it’s his hand eye co-ordination that enables him to be such a ferocious hitter. Off late Dhoni has matured and has shown to faces to his game—the role of the nurdler and the hitter.

He’s become competent enough to tackle the seaming wickets in Australia and South Africa. Keeping aside what he bring to the team as a batsman, Dhoni has lifted his team from just the ‘there and there abouts’ to finishing the match and even lifting titles. India have a wonderful record with Dhoni as captain. He’s been captaining India since mid 2008 and India haven’t lost a single test match under him as captain.

Australia number 8– Mitchell Johnson
South African number 8—Morne Morkel
Indian number 8- Harbhajan Singh

Mitchell Johnson: What a player to have at number 8. Australia do have the best number 8 in the world which clearly means that there’s a place up the order for mitch. But, unfortunately for mitch he hasn’t been needed there because all the Australian batsmen are doing their job. Johnson has got a test century to his name and against South Africa. Johnson is a ferocious hitter but unlike other number 8’s; Johnson’s policy isn’t hit out or get out.

There is some method and some brain in his hitting. He is one of the most feared bowling all rounder’s in the world not just in the test but in the one-day and T20 game as well. As far as Australia are concerned he along with Haddin are near perfect when it comes to providing the impetus to the innings.

If Johnson continues in the array that he has been going there’s certainly a lot more centuries from Johnson to come. The only bowling all rounder you’d say is better than Johnson is probably Vettori. But, when it comes to clean strikers Johnson is second to none.

Morne Morkel: Morne Morkel doesn’t seem to have much talent with the bat. He has no definite role either as a hitter or as a nerdler; morkel hasn’t yet proved himself at the international level as far as the batting is concerned. South Africa are more dependent on their top order to perform as they seem to be lacking the same fire power that other teams have low down the order.

Harbhajan Singh: ‘Bhajji’ as he is known can handle the willow fairly well and has shown it in recent times. He has done so and done so in crunch situations when the team needed it the most. Earlier Bhajji was just a slogger but with age and experience there seems to have come a method to all this and he has become a very useful lower order option for India. Bhajji has just one way of playing; but that way has been effective and does hurt and demoralize the bowlers.

Unlike Johnson harbhajan doesn’t have the same clean swing of the bat or the technique to go to it. But, the Indians say “Who cares! As long as he scores” and that’s what happens. Harbhajan seems to bring out the best in him against Australia. Some of his notable performances has been the one at Sydney against Australia in 2008 and the recent 50 which he managed against Australia at vadodara when the Aussies toured India.

Australian number 9—Nathan Hauritz
South African number 9—Paul Harris
Indian number 9—Zaheer Khan

Nathan Hauritz: Nathan Hauritz is slowly showing his batting talent. He is definitely capable of being an all rounder. The recent tour of Pakistan to Australia showed his batting talent. He scored a test match high score of 75 against them and also a quick fire 39 ball 53. With Hauritz at 9 Australia’s batting line up seems never ending.

This is the reason why Australia do have the best batting line up. This might be a controversial statement but if the Aussie top order doesn’t do the job there’s always a chance that the lower order may bail them out. This is the strength that the Aussies secretly possess.

Paul Harris: similar to Morkel he doesn’t seem to be a batman of any sorts. His inability to ever come on the front foot gives him absolutely no chance of coming on the front foot and playing attacking shots. All he can do is wait wait and wait and tire the bowlers.

This is that part of their game that South Africa have to seriously work on if they want to be the number one ranked team for long. Top order batting may fail and if/when that happens if you have a long lower order it always helps. In South Africa’s case the tail seems never ending.

Zaheer Khan: India’s only pace man who is sure of a spot in the starting 11. He has a high score of 75 but his batting skills wouldn’t raise an eyebrow or too. He can play both roles of either hanging around or throwing caution to the winds and going hell for leather.

He has a paltry average of 13 which tells you that either he doesn’t have the skills or the Indian top order is extremely consistent which has been the case to an extent.

Teams with a good lower order do have a certain edge over the opponent which most opposition teams seem to underestimate. In the modern era most teams are pushing for bowlers who can handle the willow. Another team that I didn’t mention but has this talent is England.

With broad, Rashid and Graeme Swann England have a very potent and capable lower order which holds them in very good stead for the future. For West Indies they have Jerome Taylor and a bit of Suliemann Benn. Barring that no one is to be seen.

As far as New Zealand are concerned; they seem to have only a lower order with Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori comprising 2 of their lower order spots. The Lankans don’t seem to have anyone after veteran Chaminda Vaas was left out. Angelo Matthews looks a very bright prospect at 6.

Pinch hitters in the lower order have been of immense help. Harbhajan Singh and Mitchell Johnson’s contribution to India and Australia respectively have been priceless as far as the two nations are concerned. For Australia it’s a huge bonus as the guy can hit 150+ kmph, he is a brilliant fielder and a wonderful number 8 to have.

Recently Johnson showed his interest in opening the batting as well. However, there’s time for that and Australia surely wouldn’t want to risk that considering he might lose it all like fellow Indian all rounder irfan pathan.

Harbhajan and Mitchell Johnson are certainly men at number 8 to look forward to in the future