The Rockstars of 2012

Another year is coming to an end. Within a few hours we all will welcome the new year delightfully. Each year from it’s gift box gifts us with moments of sadness and charms. The saddest parts leave us with a gloomy mood but it’s not worthy to brood on and over the unhappy portion, but it’s even better to uplift the spirit with those memories which has gifted us the moments to relish.

2012 has been the year of retirements of the greatest of the game. A certain void has been created by the retirements of those living legends and very recently the announcement of Tendulkar’s exit from colour clothings have vanished the aura from ODI cricket. The Sunday morning was numb, time seemed to have stopped – year 2012 has certainly created an emptiness which will be tough to fulfilled.

But, I would like to relish the joyous moments of 2012. With due respect to the retired legends, I would like to recall those heroes and teams who have been outstanding throughout the year to keep 2012 shining despite the dullness created by the retirements. They have been the Rockstars of 2012 who hinted that brighter days for cricket are ahead.

Fantastic Cook

Alastair Cook’s resolved and leading-by-an-example captaincy in India which lifted a less confident English side has been an inspiration for all. Before the Indian tour, the English unit was at sixes and sevens with controversies emerging from off the field, and the mission to India was expected to be an absolute humiliation as they were to face rank-turners which have always proved fatal for England. But in the end, Cook’s men had the last laugh. The architect of this success had been Alastair Cook whose bat transformed into a fort to defy the Indian turning tracks and transferred a certain resolve within the gloomy English unit to make them play like Lions.

Egoistic Pietersen, Champion Pietersen

One of the much talked issue of 2012 has been the controversy surrounding Kevin Pietersen. His relationship with his teammates and ECB deteriorated and as a result KP lost his place in the national side with his cricketing future being in total jeopardy. There was severe criticism regarding KP’s ultra-egoistic nature. But egos don’t destroy but create legends. Before the Indian tour, the ECB and KP came to a negotiation and included him in the squad. On rank-turners, KP’s egoistic batting was a gem. His 186 in Mumbai will remain one of the master classes in the history of English cricket. Along with Cook, KP had been one of the major factors behind ending the 28-year old waiting.

Monty and Swann – Those two English pals of mine

Look, who engulfed the best players against spin bowling! It’s none from Sri Lanka or Pakistan but from a land where production of spin twins are not many. After a heavy defeat in the first Test against India, the English authorities decided to play left-arm spinner Monty Panesar with the ace offie Graeme Swann.And it bore fruit. Monty not only provided the perfect foil to Swann’s accurate, teasing off-spin, but fetched wickets on a regular basis with flight, turn and extra pace.  The Swann-Monty duet perished India on their own rank-turners.

Cocktail of power and artistic exhibition

Boucher’s tragic exit and Punter’s lack-of-grace retirement were made to forget by two willow artists’ powerfully adventurous and artistic batsmanship. With the bat, Hashim Amla and Michael Clarke provided a majestic display of art and power to enlighten the cricketing universe. Clarke thrashed four double tons so far in this year and his average with the bat this year is greater than Bradman’s overall career batting average. One of Clarke’s speciality this year has been the development of a self-discipline which has helped him to hit the ball as cleanly as ever.

While, Clarke has been the model of power in Test cricket, Hashim Amla has been the model of wristy artistry to refresh the eyes with smooth stroke play. Put a fielder at cover and short-cover to stop a boundary from Amla’s bat. But, it will prove invain as the timing and wrist work with astute footwork, Amla will dish out such stroke play that the fielders placed in the targeted positions will only end up collecting the ball from the boundary line. It seems that his wrists are being wrapped with velvet. In 2012, from a batting point of view in Test cricket, Amla, Clarke and Cook have been stupendous.

Greenwash

England landed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the overwhelming favourites against Pakistan. Before playing the 3-match Test series, England had handed Pakistan’s neighbor India a 4-0 whitewash. But in the end the English were left reeling with 3-0 Greenwash! None of the English batsmen had any clue against Saeed Ajmal while the left-arm spin of Abdur Rehman proved fatal for the Poms. A unique Greenwash was observed.

No choking this time around

After beating England on their own soil, the Proteas were on a high against Australia. They responded strongly at Gabba but no matter how stronger their responds were, the Aussies kept on thrashing them with mighty batting replies through Michael Clarke, Hussey and Co. Had rain not interfered, the Proteas would’ve digested a shocking defeat. At Adelaide, an Australian victory was surely on the cards and another ‘Chokers’ tag was waiting for the Proteas to be tagged on their shirts. But, from nowhere, Faf du Plessis emerged to deny the Australians a surest victory. In the deciding Test match in Perth, despite being bundled out cheaply, the Proteas gave the strongest of responses – Steyn was fast and furious while Emile and AB de Villiers exhibited marriage of entertainment and power to script an absolute carnage to create a scar in the Australian psychology from which they never recovered. No chocking this time around.

Impressive Herath

The post Murali era has created a big gap in the Sri Lankan bowling attack. But through Herath the Lankan bowling has showed enough teeth. His left-arm teasing offspinners have kept the opposition batsmen checked and made them reel with turn and flight. Time and again, Herath came up with inspiring spells to gift the Lankans victories. Herath has been the most successful bowler for the Lankans this year.

Calypso music which made us dance in Gangnam style

Even if you aren’t a West Indian cricket fan still you rejoiced when the Caribbean boys lifted the World Twenty title this year. Since the Caribbean sun had set in 1995, there were hardly any collective team effort from the Caribbean unit on the bigger stages. But after a long time the world had been privileged to witness a Caribbean team playing the kind of cricket which the world yarn for. There were no polluted air of chaos but a healthy unity prevailed throughout the tournament. The injection of Gayle had brought energy while the man management qualities of captain Darren Sammy brought out the best from his men to rock in Sri Lanka leaving the cricket fans dancing with the Calypso music in a Gangnam mood.

Brilliant Marlon Samuels

There was Gayle’s power and brutality but in terms of consistency, Marlon Samuels remained the most consistent performer with the willow for the West Indies this year. His majestic but composed knock in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka ensured a fighting total. Not only in the limited-over versions but in Test cricket, Marlon Samuels have been equally effective. Samuels’ will-power deserves full marks as at one point his career was at risk due to controversy.

Emphatic Bangla boys

Sadly, Bangladesh played only two Test matches. They had been more confined towards limited-over versions. In the 50-over format they showed high quality fighting spirit. In this year’s Asia Cup they ended up being the runner-ups after a closely fought contest against Pakistan. Before reaching the finals, the Tigers nailed India and Sri Lanka in a grand style. The bat of Tamim and Shakib boomed while the composure of captain Mushfiq, Riyad and rookie Nasir Hossain ensured security. One could witness an energized Tiger unit on the field. In came the T20 Champions West Indies with the determination of a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series after a 2-0 win the Test series. But they ended up losing the series 3-2 by some spirited display by the Tigers. The emergence of future prospects like Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque and Sohag Gazi are hinting the brighter days for the Bangla boys.

A new year is knocking at the door. As a cricket fan I wish something even more sizzling and epics to make an eventful year for cricket.

Happy New Year everyone!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar