Australia
Struggled, clawed and begged for runs as the ball swung around them. Then they gave up the fight a little and made the swinging ball look like a magic dancing orb. Not their best day.
Pakistan
Hung in there even when the luck was against them, and when the luck came back they pounced on it. Should be pleased with how they bowled, but you know, batting is important too.
Who’s in front
Pakistan should be, but if their bowling line up were on one half of a sea saw, and the batting unit were on the other, the batting unit would be high in the air. If the ball moves for the Australian bowlers the Pakistan batting line up of inexperience and mediocrity will struggle.
Play of the day
Ricky Ponting and the elbow of cricket. It doesn’t seem to matter who Ponting plays at Lord’s he fails. But this time he failed after a great catch and then stood in the crease due to shock. Then young Aamer/Amir – who is partial to ending up within physical contact of batsmen he has got out – got just a bit too close. The grumpy old bastard then put his elbow up to make sure the young buck knew he was in the wrong place. He then did a typical Ponting thing and told everyone who came between him and the fence about how rude it was someone was anywhere near him when he went out.
Actually I forgot Watson. He left a ball, was given out LBW and was bowled. When the cricket gods don’t want you around, they aint subtle.
Testicular moment of the day
Asif, baby. I mean come on. He bowls at the Nursery end without every really looking like the super smooth medium fast bowler he is. Then he moved to the other end, and it all changed. Then Asif took over. McGrathesque was used so often in the press box I was hoping he’d start bowling long hops just to shut people up. Instead he bowled like he was some sort of serial killer who had been trained in medicine and was very good at taking out vital organs.
Working class moment of the day
S Katich. Bit of luck, lots of graft, no hundred.
Weird factoid of the day
Marcus North has made more scores in single figures and triple figures than he has in double figures.
For my crikey wrap up go here.
North has built his entire first class career around his most obvious trait: inconsistency. Still can’t believe he was selected in the first place really. The selectors must have known about his past bad habits, but one decent Sheffield Shield season and the possibility of adding yet another hack-part-time spin bowler to the line-up seemed to erase all that from their minds.
Asif! So great to see him back! About time! Agreement on Katich and people need to stop sledging him, he is good the way he is. Aamer wins another battle in the war with Watto. Was hoping for more from Legsmith
If I was Afridi, I would order my bowlers to not try to take wicket for first half an hour, and try to avoid Hussey scoring runs, its a gamble but it won’t be easy batting in very early first hour.
I meant not to take wicket or try not to take wicket … aahhh I am tired.
Ponting’s a whining baby
Great bowling and fielding by the Pakistani side, but I think the Aussies have a hundred too many already
I fear for this Australian side in the 2010/11 Ashes.