Spark
Global Moderator
We did this for the Ashes, always an interesting exercise.
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England
Cook 2 - not his best match, but he was due
Strauss 3.5 - Did all the hard work in two innings only to play two silly shots. Shelled two catches off India's top order. Bowling changes were spot on, field placings not so much.
Trott 7 - a fine first innings 70 in very tough conditions.
KP 9 - superb double, although he loses a point with a stupid shot to really spark the collapse
Bell 4 - first innings contribution was useful without being particularly significant, whilst his second innings was one to forget. The mode of dismissal in both will be a concern.
Morgan 3 - may or may not have been out first dig but that's moot. Bad shot to get out in the second after grafting hard
Prior 9 - Outstanding all round match. Superb with the bat, superb with the gloves.
Broad 9.5 - more or less flawless bowling performance. Ended up with 7, could and probably should have had 12+ were it not for incompetence. Fine aggressive knock in a tricky situation in the second innings. Loses only half a point for the golden duck fairly late on in the first innings. Match will vindicate those who have rooted for him as a rare talent.
Swann 7 - bowled really quite well, and it's only that he's bowling to Indian batsmen that hasn't seen him end up with more than 2. Useful little cameo first dig.
Tremlett 7 - not really his best match, seemed short of rhythm and hence slightly short of length. Still gave the Indian batsmen headaches at times though.
Anderson 8 - First innings was probably the worst he bowled with the red ball in the year. After being donated a few wickets in the second dig, finally settled down and looked very much like the leader of the pack, with zip off the pitch, control and movement in the air and off the seam, and got 5 for his troubles.
India
Mukund 5 - looked good first innings and deserved 50 for his troubles, but he looked suspect whenever the bowler - mostly Broad - moved the ball back into him. Playing on twice in a match is a worry.
Gambhir 3 - not a match he'd want to remember. Elbow will probably still be smarting.
Dravid 8.5 - magnificent lone hand in the first dig but he will be absolutely furious with his second innings dismissal.
Tendulkar 3 - he just doesn't like Lord's does he? Had problems with all England bowlers at various times but especially (and given the ground, unsurprisingly) the two tall ones.
Laxman 5 - 4th innings master looked set for another fine knock in that situation but for the second time in the match, having given his all to see off Broad, played a daft shot to the bowler who replaced him.
Raina 7 - technical issues aside, his temperament is superb. A knock to be proud of in the last innings.
Dhoni 2 - a match to forget for the captain. Not great batting, but some horrendous keeping and his decision not to ball Sharma first up after lunch raised some eyebrows.
Harbhajan 3 - also a match to forget. Listless first dig, improved somewhat second dig but still well outbowled by Swann. Best not speak about the batting.
Khan 4 - predictably India's best bowler before he got injured... but then he got injured.
Kumar 7 - India's only bowler first innings, really. Looked considerably less threatening second time round when it stopped swinging though.
Sharma 5 - First innings was rank. Inspired spell in the second innings however gave India their only sniff of victory in the whole match.
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England
Cook 2 - not his best match, but he was due
Strauss 3.5 - Did all the hard work in two innings only to play two silly shots. Shelled two catches off India's top order. Bowling changes were spot on, field placings not so much.
Trott 7 - a fine first innings 70 in very tough conditions.
KP 9 - superb double, although he loses a point with a stupid shot to really spark the collapse
Bell 4 - first innings contribution was useful without being particularly significant, whilst his second innings was one to forget. The mode of dismissal in both will be a concern.
Morgan 3 - may or may not have been out first dig but that's moot. Bad shot to get out in the second after grafting hard
Prior 9 - Outstanding all round match. Superb with the bat, superb with the gloves.
Broad 9.5 - more or less flawless bowling performance. Ended up with 7, could and probably should have had 12+ were it not for incompetence. Fine aggressive knock in a tricky situation in the second innings. Loses only half a point for the golden duck fairly late on in the first innings. Match will vindicate those who have rooted for him as a rare talent.
Swann 7 - bowled really quite well, and it's only that he's bowling to Indian batsmen that hasn't seen him end up with more than 2. Useful little cameo first dig.
Tremlett 7 - not really his best match, seemed short of rhythm and hence slightly short of length. Still gave the Indian batsmen headaches at times though.
Anderson 8 - First innings was probably the worst he bowled with the red ball in the year. After being donated a few wickets in the second dig, finally settled down and looked very much like the leader of the pack, with zip off the pitch, control and movement in the air and off the seam, and got 5 for his troubles.
India
Mukund 5 - looked good first innings and deserved 50 for his troubles, but he looked suspect whenever the bowler - mostly Broad - moved the ball back into him. Playing on twice in a match is a worry.
Gambhir 3 - not a match he'd want to remember. Elbow will probably still be smarting.
Dravid 8.5 - magnificent lone hand in the first dig but he will be absolutely furious with his second innings dismissal.
Tendulkar 3 - he just doesn't like Lord's does he? Had problems with all England bowlers at various times but especially (and given the ground, unsurprisingly) the two tall ones.
Laxman 5 - 4th innings master looked set for another fine knock in that situation but for the second time in the match, having given his all to see off Broad, played a daft shot to the bowler who replaced him.
Raina 7 - technical issues aside, his temperament is superb. A knock to be proud of in the last innings.
Dhoni 2 - a match to forget for the captain. Not great batting, but some horrendous keeping and his decision not to ball Sharma first up after lunch raised some eyebrows.
Harbhajan 3 - also a match to forget. Listless first dig, improved somewhat second dig but still well outbowled by Swann. Best not speak about the batting.
Khan 4 - predictably India's best bowler before he got injured... but then he got injured.
Kumar 7 - India's only bowler first innings, really. Looked considerably less threatening second time round when it stopped swinging though.
Sharma 5 - First innings was rank. Inspired spell in the second innings however gave India their only sniff of victory in the whole match.
