The Ghost of Gilchrist Wades into the Fray

Adam Gilchrist is a sacred name in Australian cricket.  It is to me.  He left huge shoes to fill and in my opinion, Brad Haddin never came close, despite his apparent potential.  He did have some good days but not enough.  I would say that Matthew Wade has ensured that Brad Haddin will never wear Australia colours, of any flavour again.  In case there was any doubt.

Wade hit is first Test century, in his third Test match and when it was really needed.  In a match, and indeed a series where batsmen have struggled to convert starts into scores, Australia once again found themselves seven wickets down with not enough runs on the board.

With Mitchell Starc, Wade ground out the makings of a recovery in the late stages of day one.  Wade’s first Test half century came from a responsible 110 balls.  When Starc ran himself out early on the second morning in “Comedies Capers” style, Wade was just 24 (from 83 balls) and Australia was 8/226.  Australia scored another 102 runs, of which Wade scored 82 (in 64 balls).

Any comparisons with Gilchrist are premature and unfair in raising expectations but Wade’s innings post Starc,  is why I dared to mention him in the same breath as Gilly.  His second fifty came from just 33 balls and included 3 fours and 3 sixes and in a short space of time, Australia took the ascendancy.  Now if that does not give you cause to reflect on the deeds of AC Gilchrist, you are probably not Australian.  Or are very young.

Australia proceeded to run through the West Indies until at 8/120 Shiv finally found a friend in Rampaul.  That man, Shiv.  Always Shiv.  The West Indies are still just over 150 behind but at least they are fighting.

Whacky Times in the Windy Isles

I observed earlier in the week that the Caribbean seems to be predisposed to cricketing crazy capers more than anywhere else.  That observation has been vindicated during the 2nd Test and to guild the lily, day three saw 20 minutes lost because of a power failure.

This match has had a few unusual turns.  Michael Beer opening the bowling for Australia.  Michael Clarke throwing the ball to Michael Hussey before calling on Watson.  For starters, that’s a lot of Michaels.  Also, the captain with the Midas touch continues to show us that these plays may be creative but they are successful and in time, will probably seem normal.

The West Indies, after a very good day, lost 5 for 19 in the dying moments as Nathan Lyon ran through them.  But a case of Calypso Collapso can’t really be considered that unusual.

The icing on the cake for me was the 20 minute delay during a power failure.  Not a brain failure but a power failure.  In a match that has lost significant time already due to rain and bad light, there was no play on a dry field, under sunny skies because the said power failure meant that the match could not be televised.  The umpires decided to leave the field to check with officials that no commercial contracts would be breached!  Now I admit that the West Indies is probably the last place you want to have a contractual dispute but where is Darrell Hair when you need him.

Some were saying that the captains wanted to go off because DRS would not be available but that is untrue and nonsense.  The good news is that the 20 minutes was well spent.  It has been established that for the rest of the series, the show will go on, power or no power.  But not rain, hail or shine, which is probably more of a consideration.

See Cricinfo article for reference
http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/current/story/561625.html