Thursday, August 11, 2005
OTT at OT
Third test, first day, usual fireworks!
McGrath played, as did Lee, both passing fitness tests; England not surprisingly unchanged.
Strauss got a fast one on the helmet, then missed a Lee slower ball. Tres played well, carrying on from Egbaston, unluckily caught off the back of the bat.
Vaughan was back in the runs, and played some superb shots. Once past a hundred, he really opened up, but it was all a little too loose for my liking. For the previous ten minutes or so, he'd been trying to hit every ball for four, and eventually whacked a full toss down McGrath's throat in the deep. McGrath also ended Vaughan's first ton against Australia at Adelaide in 2002-3, a game I was at. The catch then, right in front of me, was much more spectacular, with McGrath diving full length by the boundary rope and clinging on to the ball. 166 today, 177 then. Every time the skipper gets past fifty versus the Aussies he's gone on to make big tons! Keep it going!!!
Bell was OK in defence, and it was nice to see him play Warne with some confidence.
Pieterson is funny; he really winds everyone up, being warned (sic) by Warne for backing up too far, trying to slog everyone, then deciding to play for stumps. That was, until the new ball and Lee's bouncer did him hooking. What a waste of a wicket. He must rememnber that this is a test match and play accordingly - both in time and responsibility. He does most things right, I just wish he'd dampen down the rushes of blood...
341-5 is OK on the first day; the pitch looks full of runs, and unless England get 500 plus, they could be trying to bat on the last day to save the game.
Oh, and the fat thatched one got his 600th wicket. I'm not a fan of Shane but it is a remarkable achievement for any cricketer to get that many. I suppose someone will get close in time, (remembering that until the 1970's anything over 250 wickets was regarded as a huge haul) but he's the first, and he's still going. Will he have any hair left when he gets to 700? None of his own anyway!
McGrath played, as did Lee, both passing fitness tests; England not surprisingly unchanged.
Strauss got a fast one on the helmet, then missed a Lee slower ball. Tres played well, carrying on from Egbaston, unluckily caught off the back of the bat.
Vaughan was back in the runs, and played some superb shots. Once past a hundred, he really opened up, but it was all a little too loose for my liking. For the previous ten minutes or so, he'd been trying to hit every ball for four, and eventually whacked a full toss down McGrath's throat in the deep. McGrath also ended Vaughan's first ton against Australia at Adelaide in 2002-3, a game I was at. The catch then, right in front of me, was much more spectacular, with McGrath diving full length by the boundary rope and clinging on to the ball. 166 today, 177 then. Every time the skipper gets past fifty versus the Aussies he's gone on to make big tons! Keep it going!!!
Bell was OK in defence, and it was nice to see him play Warne with some confidence.
Pieterson is funny; he really winds everyone up, being warned (sic) by Warne for backing up too far, trying to slog everyone, then deciding to play for stumps. That was, until the new ball and Lee's bouncer did him hooking. What a waste of a wicket. He must rememnber that this is a test match and play accordingly - both in time and responsibility. He does most things right, I just wish he'd dampen down the rushes of blood...
341-5 is OK on the first day; the pitch looks full of runs, and unless England get 500 plus, they could be trying to bat on the last day to save the game.
Oh, and the fat thatched one got his 600th wicket. I'm not a fan of Shane but it is a remarkable achievement for any cricketer to get that many. I suppose someone will get close in time, (remembering that until the 1970's anything over 250 wickets was regarded as a huge haul) but he's the first, and he's still going. Will he have any hair left when he gets to 700? None of his own anyway!
