Australia
Except for one hour, Australia had this day by the scruff of the neck. What an annoying hour though.
West Indies
Finally got their batting right, but their bowling was not good. Their two best bowlers are out injured, Sammy was not fit, and when the ball stopped moving they looked like a club attack. Not a great one either.
Who is in front
Knowing the two sides you would rather be Australia, but all the Windies need is one bowler to “pull a broad” and they can win this game. Roach is the only one who can, but I just don’t see it.
Play of the day
I’ve always been a fan of DJ Sammy, and not just because he has a magnificently shaped head. The problem with him is that he is not a good enough batsman to play as a batsman, and is not a good enough bowler to justify being one of the top four on most surfaces. Yesterday should have been a great chance for him, instead his action seemed to resemble that of an American man bowling for the first time. He has never been graceful, but this was hideous, with his leg injury on his mind probably the best thing would have been to put him down. Instead he bowled 9 hobbly overs.
Testicular moment of the day
Shane Watson’s position as opener does not make sense. Even Ricky Ponting agrees. And with a failure in the first test the selectors could have already been looking for a change. They might not have dropped him, but Watson would have been concerned. So when he came out and Roach was swinging the ball it could have ended badly, instead he smashed this average attack hard. Now he is 4 runs from his maiden hundred, and knowing his history of going out straight after a break in play, I suggest he runs down the pitch first ball and tries to hit it for six.
Working class moment
They keep saying that Ravi Rampaul was a batsman once upon a time. Now he bats at 11. Yesterday batted so well that he almost got Nash to his hundred, although I think Rampaul should be pissed off as he was on his way to an easy 50 before Nash went out. Then Rampaul went out to bowl. That wasn’t as good.
Question of the day
Will Australia lose a wicket before they pass the Windies score?
Check out my book, ashes 09: when freddie became jesus.
They lost 10 wickets.
Neilson and Punter are going to feel the wrath of the Aussie media wolf pack if they lose.
Huss has an unerring ability to make batting look very easy at one dayers and yet like being tortured in test cricket.