Pirate Galaxy » -- an eight-shot win at the Bridgestone Invitatio

While India and England prepare for the final Test of what has been an unusually gripping and competitive one-sided clobbering, here is your next batch of pre-Christmas stats. This series has certainly been one of the most closely fought clobberings I can remember, involving, last week in Mumbai, a fascinating match that began with three days of classic, momentum-shifting, undulating cricketing tug of war, and ended with rampant, high-skilled Indian dominance, and a baffling display of white-flag English batting. Should anyone ever write an instruction manual entitled How to Lose a Test Match After Scoring 400 Batting First on a Turning Pitch, this match would be Example A. Further examples would not be required.Four years ago at the Wankhede, as India subsided rapidly to defeat against Englands spinners, Virat Kohli had clonked a filthy Graeme Swann full toss straight to mid-off in what will always remain a compelling challenger for Worst Shot of the Third Millennium, a shot of such complete mistiming that it made a noise reminiscent of a catapulted tortoise landing on the roof of a cheap wooden shed. If memory serves. This time, he created a masterpiece of the art of batsmanship, a performance of such near-flawless technical and tactical brilliance that England could have bowled him a hand grenade disguised as a Rubiks Cube and he would have defused it, solved it, signed it, and deposited it effortlessly to the extra-cover boundary. R Ashwins gradual hypnosis of Englands batsmen completed the Tests transformation: from level pegging on the judges scorecards to Rocky Marciano pummelling the daylights out of a stuffed toy penguin.Stats time.15 December It has been another odd year for England in the Test arena, a cocktail of personal and collective successes and failures. In their intensive 31-Test deluge since April 2015, they have (a) won an Ashes, (b) drawn three series in which they had held a lead, (c) triumphed in South Africa, and (d) failed to construct a sequence of more than three matches without defeat. This constitutes Englands longest period without a four-match unbeaten run since 1997-2000.[PS: It was on this day in 2008 that India chased down 380 to beat England in Chennai, despite Andrew Strauss two centuries. I have powerful memories of that day. Not entirely related to that Test match.]16 December As has been widely noted, England were only the third side to lose by an innings after scoring at least 400 batting first. There have only been three more instances of a team scoring 375 or more and losing by an innings. Mumbai illustrated how a first-innings score of around 400 is no longer the platform for success (or at least, the platform for avoiding failure) that it once was.This millennium, teams batting first and scoring between 380 and 420 (inclusive) have won 26, lost 23, and drawn 16. Before the year 2000, such a first-innings score led to 54 victories, only ten defeats, and 59 draws.A 400-ish opening innings has become sub-par in Asia, where since December 2009, teams batting first and scoring between 380 and 430 have won two, lost nine and drawn five; against India in their home conditions, the record is: played six, lost six.17 December Today is Ashwin day. The Chennai Conjurors fifth wicket in Mumbai made him the first player to achieve a 200-run, 20-wicket series double since Andrew Flintoff and Shane Warne in the 2005 Ashes.Ravindra Jadeja needs 27 runs and four wickets in Chennai to join the list, and provide the fourth instance of two players on the same side registering a 200-20 double series (after Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock for South Africa in West Indies, 2001; Ian Botham and Geoff Miller, England in Australia 1978-79; and Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, Australia v West Indies 1951-52). (If you want another impending potential stat to keep an eye out for during the fifth Test, if Jadeja scores those 27 runs, and Jayant Yadav takes one more wicket, India will become only the third team in Test history to have three players score 200 runs and take ten wickets in a series, after Australia in the 1907-08 [Warwick Armstrong, Charlie Macartney, Monty Noble], and Australia again in the West Indies in 1955 [Ron Archer, Richie Benaud, Keith Miller].)Ashwin needs 11 runs to register the eighth 250-run-25-wicket double in a series, and the first since Botham in the 1985 Ashes. (There have been some near-misses. Warne fell short by one run in 2005, and Flintoff by one wicket; Imran Khan was three runs away against India in 1982-83; Malcolm Marshall needed six more runs in India in 1983-84; and Tony Greig took 24 wickets to go with his 430 runs in the West Indies in 1973-74.)Ashwin is also 61 runs and three wickets away from the fourth ever 300-30 series double. He would follow Botham in 1981 against Australia, Benaud for Australia in South Africa in 1957-58, and Benauds baggy-green predecessor George Giffen, in the 1894-95 Ashes.His two six-wicket innings in Mumbai made Ashwin only the fourth player ever, and the second since the First World War, with three 50-plus scores and three five-wicket hauls in a series. Giffens 1894-95 Ashes was the first instance; Englands Frank Foster achieved the feat in the 1911-12 Ashes; and Botham in the 1981 Ashes, when he also crammed in 12 catches, three ducks, a resignation/sacking from the captaincy, and a heroic beard, into his hectic schedule.With his half-century in the third Test, in Mohali, Ashwin had already become only the second player to make five 50-plus scores and take five five-wicket hauls in a year. Daniel Vettori had five of each in 2008. Ashwin has eight five-fors, and needs one more five-for to equal the record for a year of nine (jointly held by Malcolm Marshall in 1984, and Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006). His two six-fors in Mumbai tied Muralis 2006 record of six six-wicket hauls in a year.Enough Ashwin stats. He has had, unquestionably, a good year. A better year than, for example, David Cameron or Hillary Clinton. Albeit in rather different circumstances.18 December In Mumbai, Moeen Ali (2 for 174) and Adil Rashid (4 for 192) provided only the 11th instance of two bowlers conceding 170 or more in the same innings, and the first in which the bowlers have been English. The last six of these 11 have all taken place in Asia. None of the previous ten had featured an attack with six front-line bowlers.It was also:(a) The first time for 23 years that two England bowlers have bowled 50 overs in an innings. Mark Ilott, in his second Test, and Martin Bicknell, on debut, were the victims on the previous occasion, at Headingley in 1993, as Australia piled up 653 for 4 declared, which, at the time, was considered a slightly disappointing score for the baggy greens in an Ashes Test. If I remember correctly. Some measure of vengeance for Ashwin, one of the two Indians to bowl 50 overs in Kolkata four years ago, along with Pragyan Ojha. And…(b) The third time since 1965, and the eighth time ever, that seven England bowlers have bowled ten or more overs in an innings.19 December India, from 307 for 6, added 324 more runs before England could finally leave the field and start thinking about how nice it would have been to take a couple more catches. This was the 13th time a team has added 300 or more for its last four wickets, and the first either by India or in India.20 DecemberCheteshwar Pujara and Kohli, batting behind an unsettled opening partnership, and ahead of a malfunctioning five and six, have combined for 845 first-innings runs at an average of 105 (Pujara has made 341, Kohli 504). This is the most first-innings runs ever scored by Indias three and four in a Test series. The all-time record Most First-Innings Series Runs by a Teams Numbers Three and Four - 1095, by the 1930 Australians in England (Don Bradman 842, Alan Kippax 239, Alan Fairfax 14) - is just about within sight. 21 December Kohli Day. If Kohli makes 40 in either innings in Chennai, he will be the first player to make seven scores of 40 or more in a series since Nasser Hussain in the 1998-99 Ashes, since when there have been 18 other instances of a player scoring 40 six times.In 2016, Kohli currently has 1200 Test runs at an average of 80.0, 739 ODI runs at 92.3, and 641 T20I runs at 106.8. Only one player has ever returned a year tally of 600 or more runs at an average of at least 70 in two formats - Hashim Amla, who in 2010 made 1249 at 78.0 in Tests and 1058 at 75.5 in ODIs, and in 2012, 1064 at 70.9 in Tests and 678 at 84.7 in one-dayers. Even a pair in Chennai will leave Kohli averaging over 70 in all three formats this year.His overall all-format international tally for 2016 is currently 2580 at 88.9. Kohli could deliberately smash his stumps down first ball in both innings in the final Test and still finish the year as the only player to have made more than 2000 international runs in a year at an average of more than 80. Only three others have made even 1250 runs at 80-plus in a year - Garry Sobers (1299 at 144.3 in 1958), Sachin Tendulkar (1766 at 84.0 in 2010) and Viv Richards (1926 at 91.7 in 1976). Illustrious company.22 December This Asian winter, Alastair Cook has faced 580 balls of spin in six Tests, been dismissed 11 times - once every 53 balls - and scored 265 runs, for an average against spin of 24.1. In his previous 21 Tests in Asia, spaced over seven separate winters, Cook had scored 1422 for 21 against spin, averaging 67.7.On his previous three tours of India, he made 592 for 6 against spin, and was dismissed once every 222 balls. Between them, Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the three leading wicket-takers in Tests on the worlds largest continent, with more than 1300 wickets on their home landmass between them, dismissed him once in 112 overs in Asia. The old certainties have been chipped away from his batting, for now at least, by two months of unrelenting high-class tweakery.23 DecemberDiscover your own stat, and write it indelible ink on your screen in the space provided below.24 December Invent your own stat. This is the post-truth world of 2016. Make something up about a player you like whose numbers do not quite stack up, or insert yourself into a list of all-time greats.Happy Cricketstmas. Wholesake Fake Air Jordan 1 . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Fake Sneakers . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. https://www.fakeshoes.net/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Fake Jordan . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cheap Fake Shoes . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness.PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Tiger Woods is leaving nothing to chance in his last chance this year to win a major. Fresh off a seven-shot victory at a World Golf Championship -- his fifth win of the season -- Woods showed up at Oak Hill late Monday afternoon and spent most of his time chipping and putting, trying to learn the nuances of the greens. Remember, his failure to adjust to the greens is what derailed him at the British Open two weeks ago. He also spent time with Steve Stricker talking about putting, which must have been a daunting sight for the other players. The last time Stricker gave him some putting tips was in early March, and Woods went on to win three of his next four tournaments. The stakes are higher than usual for him at the PGA Championship. This isnt the first time Woods has gone into final major trying to make sure his season doesnt end without one. One difference from previous years is that Woods now is piling up wins just about everywhere except the majors. The Bridgestone Invitational was his fifth win of the year. Only twice in the last 30 years has a player had at least that many PGA Tour wins in a season without a major -- Woods in 2009 and Woods in 2003. For someone who has been stuck on 14 majors the last five years, Woods didnt sound like he was in panic mode. "I think winning one major championship automatically means you had a great year," he said Tuesday after playing nine holes and spending even more time in the practice area, fine-tuning a game that already is in great shape. "Even if you miss the cut in every tournament you play, you win one (major), youre part of history. "This year, I think its been a great year so far for me, winning five times," he said. "And you look at the quality of tournaments Ive won -- The Players and two World Golf Championships in there -- thats pretty good." It used to be major or bust for Woods, but when asked if he had adjusted his standards during this five-year drought, Woods offered a simple, "No." Still a great year without a major? "Yeah," Woods said, offering nothing more than a smile. Even so, he conceded that the 15th major has been tougher to get than he would have imagined. So much has transpired since that U.S. Open playoff victory at Torrey Pines in 2008 -- reconstructive surgery on his left knee that wiped out the rest of the 2008 season; revelations of multiple extramarital affairs at the end of 2009 that led to divorce and cost him millions in corporate endorsements; more injuries that forced him to skip two majors in 2011. The very thing that irritates him about his recent record in the majors is what gives him hope -- he keeps giving himself opportunities. "Ive had my opportunities there on the back nine on probably half of those Sundays for the last five years, where Ive had a chance and just havent won it," Woods said. "But the key is to keep giving myself chances, and eventually Ill start getting them." The traditional, tree-lined East Course at Oak Hill can present the appearance of Firestone, where Woods won for the eighth time last week. The difference is the greens on the Donald Ross design, which tend to slope severely to the front. The rough is thicker than usual, not nearly as severe as Merion, but enough to get players attention to hit whatever club his necessary off the tee to keep it in the short grass.dddddddddddd Woods tied for 39th and never broke par when the PGA Championship was last held at Oak Hill in 2003, though thats a pretty small sample to argue if this course suits him. Remember, he was finishing his first full year without a swing coach. And while he won five times that year, Woods won only one tournament over the last six months. He is back to No. 1 in the world by a mile. He is the favourite at every major, even though hes gone 17 majors without winning. He is the centre of attention, and that only ramps up when he arrives fresh off a seven-shot win. "I think Tiger is a factor no matter what -- even coming in not with that kind of form," Masters champion Adam Scott said. "Hes been up there in majors recently and just has not finished it off. But, obviously, he put it all together last week at a venue hes extremely comfortable with, so I dont know that Tigers confidence is ever really down. Its hard to imagine when youve won 80 times or something. Hes obviously going to be feeling good about where his game is at. "But this week is a new challenge, as it is for everyone," Scott said. "And we all start from the same point on Thursday." Its not getting any easier at the majors. For the first time in 25 years, the major champions were three players who were among the top 10 in the world -- Scott at the Masters, Justin Rose at the U.S. Open and Phil Mickelson at the British Open. "I think that having Tiger win last week is great because I cant remember the last time somebody won the week before a major and then went on and won," Mickelson said, waiting for the room to catch up to his wisecrack. That would be Mickelson, who won the Scottish Open the week before his British Open win. Woods had been the last player to do that -- an eight-shot win at the Bridgestone Invitational in 2007, followed by the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. This will be the 20th time that Woods goes into a major having won in his previous tournament. And while he has won four of those majors -- the U.S. Open in 2000, Masters in 2001 and PGA Championship in 2006 and 2007 -- only Mickelson (five) and Ernie Els (four) from his generation have won that many majors in a career. Of greater concern is that Woods is 0-for-7 dating to that PGA title at Southern Hills. "Having him back, having him play well, having him win like hes won this year is great for the game of golf," Mickelson said. "And the work that hes been doing with Sean Foley has been noticeable and been paying off and hes not having the shots that hes had for a few years. Hes playing solid and he played great last week. "I think its also great for the game to see guys the like Adam Scott and Justin Rose to come out and win major championships early on -- guys that have incredible games and now have won golfs biggest events," he added. "That just makes it exciting because we have a number of players that can really create a lot of interest in this final major championship." Once again, TSN.ca will feature live streaming of the PGA Championship, beginning with Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and Keegan Bradley on Thursday at 8:30am et/5:30am pt. TSNs live coverage of the PGA Championship begins with first-round action on Thursday at 1pm et/10am pt. ' ' '