Picking the seam - All things Cricket

[Blackee]

It feels that I promoted the game of cricket more here, than Cricket Australia does to the general public. If you love your Cricket, whether it be local, national or international, post it here!!

It appears that it will be one way traffic in the Australia/West Indies series. Hopefully Pakistan can raise the bar after their tour of New Zealand.

Victoria continues on their merry way in all forms of Cricket, despite starting to lose a number of players to either injury or international commitments.

[Karl Lijnders]

The first Test was disgraceful. Hopefully a better contest Friday into the weekend.

Hodge will be missed in the VIC side when he finishes up in two Sheffield shield matches.

[Blackee]

Yeah Karl, I just heard the news this morning about Hodgey!!
Will be a massive loss to the Vics. Surprised he is finishing mid season.

[Blackee]

A few forced changes for this upcoming second test in Adelaide. Man of the Match, Ben Hilfenhaus is out with a knee strain. Nothing too sinister, he should be fit for the third test. Victorian paceman Clint McKay comes into the 12, with Doug Bollinger odds-on to get a start.

The Windies have sent Jerome Taylor home after scans indicated a stress fracture in his back. Taylor is likely to be replaced by debutant Gavin Tonge, a paceman from Antigua. In better news for the tourists, Sarwan will play, with Brendan Nash most likely to be dropped.

[norfolk]

miss the days when West Indies actually played cricket! LOL

[Blackee]

I must mention the dynamic innings from India' Virender Sehwag. He is currenly 284 not out against Sri Lanka. His innings has only taken 239 balls and includes a staggering 40 fours and 7 sixes. India are currently 1/443 off 79 overs at a run rate of 5.60 per over. This is in response to Sri Lanka' first innings of 393.

Sehwag is only 16 runs away from becoming the first player to make 300 in three occassions. He is also only 117 runs from breaking Brian Lara' test record of 400.

Play resumes at 2.30 this afternoon.

[Karl Lijnders]

WI are playing atrocious cricket. I think this test will be over by Sunday by the looks of things!! They have steadied for the last hour or so at 3/145 but seriously I can sense a crumble.

[Blackee]

Remarkably, The West Indies enter Day 4 with a 35 run lead, with 10 wickets in hand. Weather looks to play a part with afternoon showers expected. The draw should be a red hot favourite as I cant see the tourists setting a getable target for the Aussies. Siddle pulled up with a sore hamstring last night and is very doubtful in returning today.

The first session is vital for the Aussies to take a few wickets while the ball is still new.

[Blackee]

Evenly poised would be best to describe the second test. The Windies batted well to reach 8/284, an overall lead of 296 runs. Captain Chris happy happy joy joy was the man, hitting a masterful 155 not out. It wasn't the explosive happy happy joy joy, but more happy happy joy joy the leader.

I would not expect the Windies to bat more than 5 overs tomorrow. They would want the option of a second new ball if required. Something like 320 off a minimum of 85 would be my target. It gives enough of a carrot for the Aussies to have a crack at it and gives his bowlers enough time to get 10 wickets.

I still think a draw if the Aussies don't start really well, they will put the shutters up. This could play into the hands of Benn, who will be able to use the ever increasing footmarks.

Should be a great 5th day!!!

[Blackee]

West Indies end up being bowled out for 317, a lead of 329 runs. The equation for Australia is simple, 330 to win off 81 overs.

A draw is still the most favoured result.

[droughtbreaker]

Well, that was a very ordinary effort in the end but a draw ensures that we can't lose the series. Not sure who has the Frank Worrel trophy atm, I assume it's us but it's been a while since we've played them I think. If so then we retain the trophy.

[Blackee]

Yeah Andrew, we currently hold and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy after yesterday' draw. Great comeback by the Windies. Questions have to be asked of Hussey (again). Prefer Watson at number 6 and bring Hughes/Rogers/Jacques in for Mr Cricket.

[Blackee]

An amazing ODI currently going at the moment between India & Sri Lanka.
Looks like they are playing on the Hume Hwy as India recorded 7/414 withSehwag pounding 146 off 102 balls with 17 4's and 6 6's.
Sri Lanka in the 40th over are 3/339, with Dilshan unbeaten on 160 off 123 balls with 20 4's and 3 6's. Amazing stuff. Sangakarra chimed in with 90 off 43. Great to watch, not good for the bowlers confidence!!!

[Blackee]

Today was the opening day of the third and final test between Australia and the West Indies. There was a lot of talk about the fitness of Siddle, Hauritz and Watson. Siddle ended up being the only man to miss, replaced by fellow Victorian, Clint McKay, who made his test debut (lpayer number 412 to don the baggy green!). The Windies also had their fair share of injury and form concerns, with Shiv Chanderpaul, Barach and Darren Sammy all out, replaced by Deonarine, Tonge (debut) and Dowlin.

Ricky Ponting won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first on what looked a traditional WACA wicket. Watson and Katich dictated terms, after skipper happy happy joy joy dropping Watson. It was a bit of a dolly!! Watson made the tourists pay, but again missed out on posting his maiden test century, falling for 89, caught behind of "Disco" Roach. Ponting came in and second ball had his feathers ruffled by Roach, striking him near the point of the elbow. Ponting gritted his teeth, received some magic spray and continued til he reached 23 when he retired hurt.

Mr Cricket came in and picked up where the openers and Ponting left off. Katich was playing beautifully but on 99 he was caught at backward square leg. Yet another good start by an Australian batsman yet no centuries as yet in this series!! By this stage Ponting has going to get an x-ray on the elbow, which came back as not being broken. Michael Clarke strode to the crease and attempted to dominate the spinners with his brilliant footwork. On 11 he tried to blast Deaonarine over mid-off but only found happy happy joy joy at a very short mid-on. For a bloke who is likely to be the next Australian captain, it was a very poor dismissal.

Hussey was joined by his fellow sandgroper, Marcus North who started a bit jittery, playing the spinners with hard hands. However they both survived and built an unbeaten 62 run partnership by stumps.

Australia 3/339
Watson 89
Katich 99
Potning 23 retired hurt
Clarke 11
Hussey 81no
North 23no

Despite leaking runs, Roach was the best bowler, bringing back some memories of the 80-'s with a fiesty over that claimed Watson and roughed up Ponting.

Australia in the box seat. 500 must be there minimum target by tea tomorrow. Ponting should be right to bat tomorrow. Pitch will take spin late which will give Hauritz and North something to look forward to. Windies need 3 wickets in the first hour or it will be game over.

[Karl Lijnders]

Nice summary Wes. It has been a fascinating and exciting first day. Tradtional WACCA wicket with plenty of bumps and bounce with minimal swing. Shame about the boys not making tonnes but solid first innings in the offing and should make for an interesting first session!!

[Blackee]

What a second days play we had yesterday!! Almost 400 runs and some sublime batting, firstly by Brad Haddin and then by Chris happy happy joy joy.

The Aussies resumed on 3/339 and Mike Hussey didn't hang around long, adding just one more to his total before nicking one to Ramdin off Rampaul. Haddin joined North and pegged his ears back, belting the Windies bowlers to all points of the WACA. It was a top display of attacking cricket. Marcus North was the next man not able to capitalise on a great start spooning a low full toss back to Deonarine for 68. Haddin and Mitchell Johson continued until Haddin was caught behind off Roach for 88, off 91 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes. There was still no sign of the Australian captain when Hauritz walked out and when Johnson was out soon after, Ponting declared the innings closed at 7/520.

The Windies starting (are pretty much continued) their innings like a wrecking ball. It was one man, Chris happy happy joy joy who single-handedly set out destroying the new ball. They were going at better than 6 an over til tea. Ponting called up Hauritz to change the pace, which was like waving a white flag to happy happy joy joy. He deposited Hauritz' deliveries into the crowd on fairly regular basis, including one that would have travelled a good 130m if the roof on the stand didn't stop it!!! It was batting at it's best!!! Short balls, full balls, on the pads, outside off, happy happy joy joy pasted them to every section of the ground. You could sence the crowd were enjoying the show however still wanted Aussie success. That success was delivered when happy happy joy joy played a soft shot which was caught by Watson off Bollinger. Sarwan strode to the wicket and continued to dispatch the aussies bowlers to the boundary. Opener Travis Dowlin did a great job with happy happy joy joy, but his resistence failed when on 55, caught by Hussey off Mitchell Johnson.

The tourists ended the day at 2/214, only 106 behind the follow-on. Some real concerns with the Aussies attack. Johnson is not bowling well and Hauritz is starting to make Krejza look good. Draw on the cards here!

[Blackee]

A great 1st day of the 2nd test at the SCG. I was quite surprised that Ponting elected to bat on a green-top. For Pakistan, it was a great toss to lose. Their pace attack is well balanced with pace and swing, which undid the top order in no time. Phil Hughes was still in 20/20 mode playing 2 dreadful shots, 1 being dropped, the other being his downfall for 0. Punter then showed he is suspect to the short ball, lobbing a shot down the throat of the seagul (Umar Gul). Watson played pretty well but got a jaffa from Sami, edging a ball behind to Kamran. Batsmen just never looked in with balls swinging and seeming around the place.

I wont bore you with the finer details other than Australia 127 all out, Pakistan 0/14.
By the end of today, we will know the winner. Pakistan could be 200 ahead, or Australia will be batting again. Sure to be an interesting day.

[Blackee]

Well the day panned out pretty much how I expected, with Pakistan 204 in front. The Aussies are lacking penetration with their bowling. Hauritz is not a strike bowler, Mitchell Johnson is but only bowled 20 overs for the day. Siddle is luckless and Doug the Rug is working his guts out. One wicket left for the Aussies to get and then face a massive challenge of a) erasing the deficit and b) building a big enough lead to bowl Pakistan out to win the test.

IMO, I can't see Australia scoring more than 300 in this 2nd innings. Huge test for Hughes as Katich is in doubt for the Hobart test. Another failure will put pressure on selectors to bring in Phil Jacques or Chris Rogers. The other man under the cosh is Marcus North. Numerous failures and dropping catches represents a man low in confidence.

With the late start on Sunday, play again starts @ 10am.

[Blackee]

We head into the 4th and most likely, final day of the 2nd test.
Australia lead by 80 with 2 wickets in hand.
Another superb innings by Watson, cut short again on 97. Phil Hughes showed a little more promise but is still suspect IMO. Ponting looks too aggressive and needs to get back to basics. Hussey must have paid Kamran Akmal a fair bit of coin to drop him 3 times on the way to 73n.o. Michael Clarke is not showing any leadership qualities this summer. Bye bye Marcus North, hands are too hard son! Haddin, Johnson & Hauritz feel meekly leaving Siddle with Mr Cricket to eek enough runs to set Pakistan a tough run chase.

Gut feel is that we will get knocked over between 95 & 115 runs ahead. Not enough strike power in the bowling attack. Only chance is that we reduce them to 2/20 and then panic starts to set in.

I expect a Pakistan victory, a richly deserved one!!!

[Blackee]

Congratulations to Michael Hussey on a fantastic century!!
I haven't been his biggest supporter, however credit where credit is due. A fine innings under extreme pressure!!