Friday 17 December 2010

Apropos Whoa

Great 1st day of the Perth Test... for Pom spectators!
10 Aussie wickets and the Aussie bowlers wearing themselves out doing the work the upper order should have done; perfect!

I love the Perth Test, because it starts 1/2 hour before i gt home from work and goes into the evening, TOPS! But on the down side, i tend to watch more of it than listen on the radio so i am subjected to the "commentary" of the ex-caps and uber brats more than the excellent Grandstand call of the game.

So what did i see?
I saw the best "Perth" track I've seen in years. Lively but consist ant, who'd have thought that waving your bat at lifting balls outside of off was going to get you caught by those blokes standing way back there!
Maybe it is because of the mundane nature of our production line pitches that had batsman confused as to how to face up on a pitch that was wished for by our team, but in reality proved too much and just what the 6 foot 20 Poms wanted too!

I'll let you guys comment on Hughes, hmmmmffff!
Watson, good ball.
Ponting- more about you later, great catch- but you take them when you believe in yourself.
Clarke...
Hussey, thank you so much...again.
Smith- what did i say about outside off?
Haddin, as per Hussey.
Johnson, well done! i hope the self beliefs continues with your bowling- the 2 overs looked good, keep it up.
Harris, 3x better than your last 2 knocks!
Siddle, it's not your responsibility, but thank funk you did that.
Hilf, same goes to you.

A bit has been said about the need to get a wicket before the close of play, and about Australia's lack of penetration for not getting one, but over all i think that was a good display of tight and thoughtful bowling, apart from Harris going a bit dearly.

part 2

I've made no effort to watch Warnie, but due to it being straight after the days play i left the box on to see what it was all about and to see if the local lad had to say to Ponting.
Warne was adequate in the roll of interviewer; his 6 spinning questions was quite contrived, and it was obvious that Clarkson knew his craft better than Warne, but the real interest was the dynamic between Warne and Ponting.
For mine it was clear Warne was determined to come across as not just out and out ripping into Ponting, but someone that was prepared to ask the hard question, respectfully. Except it was clear that Punter was uncomfortable, and that Warne was toying with him as he did that hapless South African batsman.

To be fair, i liked several of Ponting answers, namely about nurturing people and being a mate to all- but i liked them only on humanitarian grounds. As a captain, he showed why he is going to lose this 3rd Ashes. You are not there to be a "friend of the people" Punter, you are there to be sporting but ruthless, and WIN!

While Warn stated at th start of the show that he was honoured to be considered viable to play in this series, but that he was bowling double bouncers and that he was not going to play, after his interview with Ponting, i wonder if he could be lured back if he was give the number one cap? It was easy to see who was the boss!

stoph verismo

down the wicket

12 comments:

  1. I don't often express a wishful thought but something deep down in my protector makes me think Johnson is going to go off with the ball today. Perhaps its just lack of disinfectant and a careless generosity in sharing my gear but I just have the most annoying scratchless itch. Trouble is, if I'm wrong I'm right but if I'm right ...

    My dear departed mother used to have a saying, "I can feel it in my water" ... perhaps I have a urinary tract infection?

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  2. Roebuck said on air that Warne wouldn't last the first session. I agree. The more I think about the 'bring back Warne' campaign the more ludicrous I find it. Let alone how much it reflects an unwillingness to let go of the past. The guy was a genius but like all top level sportsmen he trained a lot; perhaps in between ciggies but he still bowled a lot of balls. He hasn't done this for 4 years. If Tendulkar had 4 years out of the game and then tried to bat at 4 against South Africa he'd look ridiculous.

    Clearly Aus need to limit England's lead to under 75 and bat well in the 2nd dig. While all is not lost we've seen through the series that the English batsmen are prepared to bat time and leave anything they don't want/need to play. Unlike Aus' top order who seem to think this is tippy go. Or snicky go as it pans out.

    1st innings runs are so vital and our top order seems to be too impatient to battle it out against good bowling. And I mean 'good' bowling. England are not bowling hand grenades on a seamer's paradise here. The pitch is not a mine field. If you're number 8 can top score then Ponting and Clarke should be apologising to the whole team.

    About Hughes; very good ball, poor shot selection. He started his baggy green career with a donut followed by tons. I don't care what people say about 'playing your own game' when an openers' job is clear. Even Hayden knew to leave balls (not that Hugehs should have left his!) and if Hughes wants to play 10 years for Aus he will need to learn that you don't need to score every ball. Sometimes jamming the bat down is the best option.

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  3. Three words....

    CATCHES WIN MATCHES!!!

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  4. Unforgivable for a keeper not to go for it

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  5. Thank you Lango!!

    Johnson delivers!!

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  6. Bloody hell! Just put on the telly to see Collingwood get done by a Johnson beauty - straight out of the South Africa chronicles. England 5 for 98! Unbelievable! Johnson is moving it miles.
    On ABC last night they were talking about a shield game from years ago at the WACA where there were all low scores and WA got up by 10 or 15 runs. Lillee pumped up the guys after they'd been rolled for bugger all and got 4/20 himself. 268 all of a sudden looks huge. No Broad to hit out so once Aus is through Prior/Bell it's just a long tail.

    I still can't believe it. God I love cricket.

    Lango, you are a visionary!

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  7. i just got home too Lefty.what a cracking spell and beautiful swing- great turn around for Jono!

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  8. even with an aggregate of 13, what can CA say or do about Ponting? SHAME!

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  9. Another great day of cricket....2 days down and you just fell that the wicket is settling aand getting better and better, we need to make 400 or at least set 400 to win for me to feel safe, my god it is only day two!

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  10. What a day for Johnson. His first spell yesterday was near on unplayable.
    I don't think the pitch has been all that brutal. Johnson's swing was what undid England. The bounce helps but that's not going to settle down. If not for poor shot selection in the first innings our lead might already be 400. England's batsmen were beaten by good balls.

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