Tim's ATG Test Series Summary

So, a 3-2 series result in favour of the 1st XI justified Tim's selection, but the close margin of their victory was not a surprise bearing in mind the quality of the players on view. The major difference between the teams was undoubtedly Muttiah Muralitharan; his 43 wickets ensured that the 2nd XI exceeded 350 only once in the series, and the inability of the their batsmen to post big scores - no-one in the 2nd XI could average over 40 and they compiled only two individual centuries against seven by the Firsts - was telling in the end. Marshall and Imran ably supported Murali without ever being truly devastating, but Warne was largely disappointing, his performance in Mumbai apart. Ambrose was a nonentity, and such was the domination of Muralitharan that Sobers was given just 11 overs over the course of the entire series.

The 1st XI's batting was dominated by Bradman, Hutton and Hammond, with the Don's 241 at Lord's being one of the great innings of all time, even if it was in a losing cause. Sobers and Imran both made muted contributions with the bat, whilst Sutcliffe had a terrible time, with 172 of his 195 runs coming in just two innings. Gilchrist kept well but didn't really fire with the bat, although his brutal 80 in Barbados proved to be a stunning match-winning effort.

As for the 2nd XI, their lack of consistency cost them dear; there were moments of individual brilliance, especially with the ball, but their batsmen were rarely able to get on top of the 1st XI's bowling. The fact that Lara headed the averages with a return of just 38 runs per innings illustrated the problems encountered by the Seconds, and the failure of both Hobbs and Headley to make any impact on the series was a major disappointment. As much, if not more, of a disappointment was the lacklustre showing of Bill O'Reilly with the ball, especially considering the influence of Muralitharan, and after starting the series in such devastating form, Dennis Lillee faded from view over the course of the last three Tests.

All in all the 1st XI deserved their series victory, but had it not been for Muralitharan one wonders whether the outcome might have been different.

TIM'S 1st XI WON THE SERIES 3-2

Man of the Series: M Muralitharan

1st XI Batting & Fielding

DG Bradman 562 runs @ 70.25, 2 x 100, 3 x 50, HS 241; ct 3

L Hutton 420 runs @ 52.50, 2 x 100, HS 193; ct 2
WR Hammond 414 runs @ 51.75, 2 x 100, 2 x 50, HS 103; ct 5
GStA Sobers 244 runs @ 30.50, 2 x 50, HS 84; ct 6
Imran Khan 173 runs @ 28.83, 1 x 50, HS 79*; ct 3
H Sutcliffe 195 runs @ 24.38, 1 x 100, HS 125; ct 2
AC Gilchrist 195 runs @ 24.38, 1 x 50, HS 80; ct 9, st 3
M Muralitharan 34 runs @ 17.00, HS 14*; ct 3
SK Warne 74 runs @ 10.57, HS 24; ct 3
CEL Ambrose 56 runs @ 9.33, HS 16.00; ct 3
MD Marshall 74 runs @ 9.25, HS 22; ct 7

1st XI Bowling
M Muralitharan 43 wkts @ 14.07, 4 x 5I, 2 x 10M, BB 7-153
MD Marshall 20 wkts @ 18.30, BB 4-25
Imran Khan 12 wkts @ 24.75, BB 4-18
SK Warne 18 wkts @ 35.94, 2 x 5I, BB 7-76
CEL Ambrose 5 wkts @ 63.80, BB 1-25

2nd XI Batting & Fielding
BC Lara 386 runs @ 38.60, 4 x 50, HS 98; ct 2
RG Pollock 343 runs @ 38.11, 1 x 100, 1 x 50, HS 136*; ct 7
SM Gavaskar 326 runs @ 32.60, 1 x 100, 1 x 50, HS 153; ct 5
JB Hobbs 274 runs @ 27.40, 2 x 50, HS 71; ct 1
GA Headley 247 runs @ 24.70, 1 x 50, HS 96; ct 2
LEG Ames 197 runs @ 21.89, 1 x 50, HS 70; ct 11
KR Miller 206 runs @ 20.60, 1 x 50, HS 69; ct 5
AK Davidson 120 runs @ 15.00, HS 35*; ct 5
DK Lillee 65 runs @ 13.00, HS 27*; ct 1
RJ Hadlee 119 runs @ 11.90, HS 38; ct 3
WJ O'Reilly 28 runs @ 4.00, HS 8

2nd XI Bowling
DK Lillee 19 wkts @ 25.42, 2 x 5I, BB 6-27
RJ Hadlee 21 wkts @ 27.43, 1 x 5I, BB 5-87
AK Davidson 14 wkts @ 29.93, 1 x 5I, BB 5-89
WJ O'Reilly 12 wkts @ 40.50, BB 4-180
KR Miller 9 wkts @ 41.22, BB 3-16