Performance of the Week 05-12 January

Dominic Sibley

133*(311)

Dom Sibley's first test century was a rare beast. The slowest test century since the start of 2019, he played in a manner rarely seen in this era. He was still defending practically everything - 265 balls into his innings. To bring up the hundred he played the one of very few aggressive shots, a sweep off the spinner, Maharaj. When he got there off his 270th ball, it was England's slowest test hundred since Ian Bell in 2012, and the second slowest since 2010. Only after reaching that landmark did he start to let loose slightly, breaking the shackles and making 30 runs off his last 41 deliveries. He ended up not out, and became only the second Englishman since the turn of the century to carry their bat, along with Sir Alastair Cook.

Sibley also had a fantastically high control percentage of 90, and scored the majority of his runs with the flick, and made 27 of them behind square on the leg side. Sibley made 62 runs on the off side, and 71 on the leg, so for someone so favoured to the on side, this is a very interesting stat. His knock, in my opinion was perfectly summed up by the single delivery after his reaching the hundred, which he prodded forward to and blocked it with his pad. People could implore him to 'go faster' and 'stop messing about', but to be honest it was brilliant. Back to basics, old fashioned, no nonsense TEST cricket. Not like this game played by Trevor Bayliss' England side. This is a breath of fresh air for England, Chris Silverwood and of course, Dom Sibley.

The Stats

133*(311)

19 fours

1 six

SR of 42.76

Control percentage of 90

2nd slowest test century for England since 2010