Blood on the Pitch

Today, Day 3, on the pivotal day of the 3rd Ashes Test, Adam Gilchrist scored the second fastest Test hundred in history. Gillie, you are still be my hero. Shallow and cheap tramp that I am, I must confess that in recent months, my affections have been seduced by Mr Cricket: Michael Hussey. Today, however, Gilchrist reminded us all that he is the best wicket keeper batsmen the game has known and one of the best strikers of the ball that has ever been seen. Please forgive me Gillie.

Now, I’m not about to suggest that Gillie made his stunning assault coming in at 5-99 on a turning and seaming track with uneven bounce (that would have been the scene in Mumbai in 2001 – another Gillie masterpiece). The score was actually 5 for 365, the track was true and bouncy and England had been in the field for more than two sessions of truly heat wave conditions. However, that should not detract from Gillie’s innings. Think of it from Gillie’s perspective – swinging so vigorously, so often, in that heat is hard work. And consider the breeze his slashing blade was offering the Englishmen. Regardless of the circumstance, to launch yourself at the ball, every ball and to find and clear the boundary, no matter on the type of delivery, the way Gilchrist did today, is truly amazing. Indeed, he could easily have been caught when on naught – a typical scythed cut shot went through the gully region and found its way to the boundary, rather than to hand. Gilchrist raised 50 in just 40 balls. That was during “that Panesar” over. As the third maximum for the over was tonked a very long way over the fence, the wry smile on Monty’s face seemed to indicate he knew he had been collared by one of the best there is. A very special mauling.

Gilchrist reached one hundred from his 57th ball, just one slower than Viv Richards in 1985. And those two are a long way ahead of the rest. Australian all rounder, Jack Gregory, is next on 67 balls, way back in 1922. I heard Gillie interviewed after the match and he said he had no idea that he was on track for any sort of record. He also said he was glad Viv was still at the top because that is where he belongs. I would suggest that the two greatest master blasters are out on their own. For those of you saw it, it was a once in a lifetime innings. It’s easy maths but I should point out that the second 50 was from 17 balls.

Looking at the bigger picture, Hayden blew his chance at 100, Hussey managed to look the most unconvincing he has looked all series but still made 103 and the Pup looked fantastic for his 135 not out. Clarke’s play could easily be overlooked compared to Gilchrist but he displayed a stunning array of shots as Gilchrist and he scored 162 from just 20 overs. That’s correct – 20 overs. One of my favourites was the tag team effort from a Hoggart over. Hoggart came on for Panesar after the 24 run over. Clarke was on strike with a packed off side field – he whipped the first two balls from way outside off stump, through mid-wicket for four, and then scored a single. Gillie swung the next ball high, wide and handsome over midwicket.

England has now to bat for two days to keep the series alive. Of course, due to Ponting’s sporting declaration, if they can manage to do that, they will win. They have to make just 557 runs from about 186 overs which is exactly three runs per over. They are a head of schedule after six overs, so you can see that Ponting has been very generous.

Before closing, I want to point out that the cricket planets have aligned at present and it is possible, with access to the right media, to watch Test cricket for 20 hours straight. And the east coast of Australia is just the place to do it from. The Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Wellington starts at 8:30 a.m. AEDST. There is still a session to go when Australia starts against England in Perth. By the time that match runs the obligatory half hour over, it merges nicely into the match between India and South Africa, in Johannesburg, starting at 9:00 p.m.AEDST. That will take you through until 4:30 a.m. the next morning – just 4 hours to wait until you can do it all over again. Of course, this is a very rare window of opportunity and by the time most of you read this, the window will be closed. And if you get bored, you can switch to the One Day match between Pakistan and the West Indies. And if you are an Englishman, please don’t jump out the window.

Progress scores are:

SL 268 & 5/225 v NZ 130
Aus 244 & 5/527 v Eng 215 & 1/19
Ind 249 v SAf 7/45 (new record coming here?)
WI 7/238 (50) v Pak 0/85 (15)

Aside from today’s massacre, it’s nice to see the ball on top for a change, I’d say.

Wacky times at the WACA

For those of you lucky enough to have tickets to the 3rd Test in Perth, don’t bother turning up for a 10:30 a.m. start, as your ticket indicates. The match now starts at 11:30 a.m. local time. Before all of you others get confused, don’t. There is no change to the time we were all expecting – the match will start at 1:30 p.m. AEDST.

What has happened is that Western Australia recently voted to give daylight saving a try so that is what they are doing. So as not to upset any apple carts (especially the big Channel 9, for the first time in this sunny land, a Test will start at the overly civilised hour of 11:30.

On to the match. The big news on the eve of the Test is that Andrew Symonds has his second recall to Test cricket. Will Roy the Boy become a man or will he be singin Swanee in five days time. I’m a little bored of going on about the selectors mind numbing pursuit of the non existent all rounder. Possibly you are bored too. I will quote Henry Lawson, who said it so well today:

“While the manner and timing of Martyn’s departure will provoke speculation and searches for underlying motives for months or maybe years to come, the vacancy should have given selectors an easy path forward. They confused all in bypassing more prominent candidates for ‘young’ Adam Voges, a burgeoning talent no doubt, but better performed Phil Jacques, Brad Hodge, Chris Rogers, Marcus North et al may be feeling a tad miffed. Of course the aforementioned batsmen are not genuine all rounders. But who is?

Shane Watson is treated like a 50 Test veteran who must be rushed immediately back into the team on full fitness, and outstanding limited overs player Andrew Symonds is considered the ‘next best’ Test all rounder even though in 10 Tests he averages 17 [sic it's actually 19] with the bat and 45 with the ball.
Is this obsession with an all rounder something to do with covering for aging bowlers, and if it is, why don’t they just pick younger ones?”

Bravo. I have just this to add: Have the selectors considered the impact of this selection on the World Cup campaign? Andrew Symonds is a key player in just three months time, as Australia tries for an unprecedented third straight World Cup. Why risk spoiling our best One Day all rounder by trying to turn him into a Test player?

Some of you have wondered why Phil Jaques wasn’t selected. Word is that a message was sent out that “left handers need not apply” for Marto’s position. That would mean five lefties in the top seven. My opinion is that any semi decent batsman (and Roy is at least that) should do well on the batsman friendly wicket, facing an attack that is well short of imposing. Personally, I’d stick with a specialist batsman or pick a fifth bowler. If the pitch is so good, and we need another bowling option, why not have real one. Bite the bullet and present Mitchell Johnson with his baggy green. But then I’m forgetting he’s left handed.

I’m sure England will announce as many as three changes today. They might help but I can’t see them having a big impact. Ho hum.