< 1 minute readTechnically, Shane Watson won this particular duel by surviving, going on to hit the winning runs. But if it really was a victory, it was one characterised by looking like a complete div for a prolonged period. Wahab Riaz’s mistake was that he left himself reliant on the woeful catching
Continue readingCategory: Australia
Kane Williamson demonstrates how to hit a six
2 minute readWhen New Zealand played Australia, the bowlers won and cricket was all the better for it. Runs are not a sensible unit of measurement when gauging the value of the ‘product’. AB de Villiers is a genius and deserves every plaudit that comes his way, but Kane Williamson’s 45 off
Continue readingEngland hit the ground, not running, but with exceptional conservation of energy
< 1 minute readThis World Cup’s a marathon not a sprint. The last thing you want to do is hit the ground running. You want to hit the ground with a wet splat; look up; slowly get your bearings; and then start crawling in about a fortnight’s time. You want to reach a
Continue readingBatting aggression does not require actual aggression
2 minute readThat’s a straightforward message for Ricky Ponting and all who would make a similar defence of David Warner’s behaviour. Read it, accept that it is a fact and then go away and think through the issues again, Ricky. Ponting’s latest column for Cricinfo features the following assumption, stated as fact.
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Being an arsehole gives David Warner special powers
< 1 minute readThat is the subtext of any comment from captain or coach after David Warner has behaved like a bit of a prick. “He’s an aggressive player and we don’t want him to lose that edge,” they say. They say this because they know the truth: picking fights with people as
Continue readingDeclarations unforeseen on paper
2 minute readAustralia will get to declare again. Maybe this is presumptuous on our part. Maybe they were batting for a declaration but have now got a taste for scoring at ten an over and will carry on tomorrow. It seems unlikely though. If there’s one thing Australia like more than scoring
Continue readingA double-Marsh five and six does not impress
< 1 minute readIt wasn’t so long ago that Australia’s batting was pretty fragile. Since then, David Warner and Steve Smith have joined Michael Clarke as regular run-scorers, providing more than mere gaffer tape solidity. However, while India’s 408 doesn’t look too imposing, nor does Australia’s new-look line-up. Some players seem underrated by
Continue readingAustralia protect some bowlers so that some different ones can get injured
< 1 minute readIf the Gabbattoir is seeing anyone slaughtered, it’s not the Indians but the home team’s bowlers. Ryan Harris was rested because he’s slightly injured and while Peter Siddle was flat-out dropped, he might be back for the next Test because the Aussie bowlers who actually are playing have been attempting
Continue readingMichael Clarke not quite finished and Steve Smith barely started
< 1 minute readIt’s possible that we jumped the gun in saying that we might not see much more of Michael Clarke. We’ve reached this conclusion on the basis that he made a hundred as recently as today. Watching Clarke teeter and gallumph about, it’s clear that the spirit is willing but the
Continue readingDavid Warner flays several through the off side
2 minute readDavid Warner paid his own tribute to Phil Hughes by flaying a whole series of fours in the air through the off side. Chris Rogers then provided the context by demonstrating just how hard it is to middle the wide ball angling across a left-hander. Edged to slip? Where was
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