India vs Australia: Post Day 3 Comments

Dead Wickets Don’t Count

It’s always a sad sign when I sit watching a test match hoping to hell that certain bowlers don’t get wickets. I did that today with Maxwell and Doherty. Their ineffectiveness was clear as daylight today and it was infuriating to see them start taking cheap wickets when the Indians knew the hard work was behind them.

Doherty should never go near a Baggy Green again and it is ridiculous that Maxwell runs out while a better spinner and nearly as talented batsman sits at home in New South Wales. Maxwell can be pleased with his 4 wickets, I’d take 4 test wickets any day, but he must realise that he has not done his job. We can only hope that he takes some good confidence into the 2nd innings on the off chance that there is one. Doherty on the other hand has no chance.

The dead wickets that these two got can not be considered when choosing the next team. They never even looked dangerous when Vijay and Pujara were piling on the runs. While the Indian spinners always cause concern, even when an Australian has a good innings, it is all smooth sailing when Doherty and Maxwell are running in.

Where Did it go Oh-so Wrong for Warner and Hughes?

These two suffered very ugly dismissals this evening. Fundamental flaws in technique were exposed. It was especially bad for Hughes considering his wicket replicated Warner’s, just moments after the opener lost his stumps.

The two balls that got rid of the Australians were not special deliveries. They didn’t do anything unexpected off the pitch – they were completely regulation, over the wicket, right arm off spinners.

I’m even going to defend the choice of shot, they were on a sweepable length. It was terrible execution that brought about their downfalls, both succumbing to the exact same fault. Look at where David Warner’s front foot is situated when he attempts to play the sweep. It is almost in line with off. The ball is spinning towards him from outside leg, resulting in him reaching desperately for the ball and it disappearing through a wide open gate. It was the same with Hughes, his front foot a little, and just a little, closer to the ball. These deliveries pitched outside of leg stump. If Warner and Hughes had executed the sweep shot correctly by planting their front foot toward the pitch of the ball on leg then:
a) They would have been in a much better position to actually hit the ball
b) If they had still missed, the ball would have thudded harmlessly into their pads, of course being not out due to the ball pitching outside leg

Tough conditions, yes, but we should be a lot better than this.

Watson, it is Time

I’m sick and tired of waiting for Shane Watson to show the potential that I believe he has. I’ve been saying for too long that he has one of the best techniques in world cricket. I earmarked him for a huge summer but he was quiet (injuries didn’t exactly help). He can be so devastating and it is time he dominated the test arena. Australia desperately need someone else to stand up, Clarke is a genius but he can’t do it all on his own.

He used his feet well at the start of his innings, leaving his crease to a few and putting some pressure on Ashwin’s length. Cowan, Warner and Hughes hardly do it. And I don’t mean to attack, even defending can is more effective by using your feet a bit more. Anyway, Watson went back into his shell to end the day but hopefully tomorrow he starts confidently, as he is capable in these conditions. He, and of course Clarke, are the keys to this innings.