BBL08 Match 6: Christian Soldier Leads Renegades to Big Victory

Some cricketers were ready made for T20 cricket long before it became popularised around the world. Players whose batting was probably not quite enough to make it as a Test number 6, and whose bowling wasn’t quite penetrative enough to be a Test bowler. But work hard on those aspects and add in superb fielding as well and in the modern age you can become a T20 mercenary and a successful one at that. Step forward Dan Christian, who took centre stage tonight to almost single-handedly rip the game away from the Adelaide Strikers and hand the Melbourne Renegades a terrific victory.

Nothing is really ever done by one person (although Sophie Devine could arguably have done so herself in the opening match for the Strikers in their WBBL clash when she scored 95 and then took 5 wickets!) and sometimes it is the one who finished the game who receives the plaudits. Christian had taken three wickets in the Renegades first match but was restricted to just one over tonight due to being in hospital on a drip for food poisoning 12 hours beforehand. Despite this he spent his time running around the boundary rope on the field before playing his concluding innings.

The Strikers had set up an imposing chase, led in the main by Matt Short (65) and Jono Wells (42) with a great partnership of 104 that helped the Strikers to 5/174, and an tough chase despite the good pitch. Harper and White had taken the Renegades reply to 1/71 off 8 overs before they lost 4/11 in three overs, thanks in the main to Rashid Khan who beat both set batsmen with wrong ‘uns they did not pick to have them plumb LBW. Rashid was superb again, completing his four over spell with 2/13 which was his most economical return in his short BBL career. Given his influence throughout, the Strikers looked favourites from this point.

Instead, the partnership between Christian and Afghanistani Mohammed Nabi blossomed, and in fact began to dominate. From a position that looked a tough ask at the best of times, requiring around 11 runs an over for the extent of their partnership, they seemed to be able to keep pace with it at ease. In their first five overs together they took 7, 15, 11, 12 and 13 runs, keeping up with the required rate. The final over from Rashid conceded only two runs which made the task a bit more difficult, but by this time their partnership was established and it looked as though if they stayed together they would win the game. They needed 33 from three overs.

Nabi batted well, no doubt. He showed a lot of composure and regard for the situation. It is fascinating to see so many Afghanistan cricketers doing well around the world in this form of the game. Unlike almost four years ago at the 2015 World Cup where they were everyone’s favourite underdog team hoping they could find a way to win a game, they will go into next year’s World Cup with plenty of established and experienced campaigners thanks to the world T20 circuit. Yes the 50 over game is a different format, but Afghanistan will be a fascinating team to watch at that tournament in six months time.

The really amazing innings was that of Christian. He struck the ball so cleanly that it was hard to believe at times. Off Stanlake in the penultimate over, he played an incredible strike over mid wicket for six that flew over the short boundary. He followed that with an even more incredible shot, sitting on the back foot and playing what amounted to a punch shot over the long boundary at extra cover for another six. Thirty years ago the only player in the world who could do that was Viv Richards. Christian is a powerful man as these shots showed but it also proved just how good the bats are these days. If Vivi had had such equipment he would have destroyed grounds. Christian finished the over with another boundary, completely dominating Stanlake’s pace and leaving only three required from the final over, which Nabi duly completed with a boundary off the first ball. Nabi finished on 48 not out off 30 deliveries, while Christian was 49 not out off 27 deliveries, with two fours and five sixes in an electrifying innings. 

Not for the first time in this tournament it showed that if a team could establish a partnership through the middle overs then it proved difficult to stop the runs from flowing while they were together. It’s an interesting time in the tournament, as the attempted fireworks at the top of the order that most of the teams are trying to produce are falling flat, while good partnerships in the middle of the order are proving the mainstay. The opportunity for a change in tactics from some teams is open for them to take advantage of.

BBL08 Match 5: Heat Engine Room Stalls Again

It must be extremely frustrating to be a Brisbane Heat fan given their wonderful firepower with the bat at the top of their order, and yet seeing it peter out so tamely on so many occasions. It is spectacular when it comes off but as in their first round match when it fails it places so much pressure on the middle order to recover the situation. Having given up the opportunity to bat first, the Heat was then dismantled by a well drilled and persistent Hurricanes team that want to improve on last season’s semi-final finish.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was terrific again for the Heat early, deceiving both Wade and Doolan to snare their wickets. His unpicked wrong ‘un to Doolan that crashed into middle stump was a pearler and is a continued delight to watch. Even when you watch his hand close up in slow motion on the TV you can see how difficult he would be to pick, and this format is perfect for him as batsmen have no time to settle in and get a good look at him. He also varies his pace so well that it would be hard to get sown the wicket at him. He is a joy to watch going at his art.

D’Arcy Short again showed his prowess at this level of cricket and saw off the spin threats of Mujeeb and Swepson, the art form that seems to trouble him most. He played the anchor for most of the innings with his 67 off 52 balls with some good hitting along the way. Ben McDermott also looked composed again, until he was run out for the 6th time in his last 13 innings. I’d be having a think about that if I was you Ben. Bailey and Milenko provided good contributions at the end, and the final score of 6/159 off 19 overs raised the Hurricanes above the Defendable Score Equatorial and put the pressure back on the Heat.

The unforgivable run out of Brendan McCullum in the second over of the chase was exactly what the Hurricanes wanted in reply, and though Max Bryant then went on the attack in admirable fashion it took one of the bow out of the Heat quiver. Bryant’s 30 off 15 deliveries was impressive but his dismissal unfortunate in its timing. It gave the momentum back to the Hurricanes, and the quick dismissals of Burns and Heazlett felt like the death knell. It stifled the ability of Lynn to attack without prejudice and eventually led to his downfall when the target blew out beyond the ordinary.

Two young veterans stole the final overs. Ben Cutting has retired from all forms of cricket apart from this, and these days it is usually his clean striking that is more dangerous than his bowling. He five sixes and two fours in his defiant 58 from 32 balls as he tried to run down the unobtainable total. James Faulkner’s return to the Hurricanes didn’t produce many runs but his bowling showed he can still do the job that won him the Man of the Match award ion the 2015 World Cup final. He took 3/25 to stop the tail from contributing to the cause at the end and showed a pleasing return from injury. He is a great pick up this season and will no doubt serve the Hurricanes well.

The Heat was bowled out for 144, and again had little come from their bats at the top that are electrifying when they come off, but that seems to be happening less and less often. Having lost both of their opening matches, and both at home, they are now behind the eight ball in this BBL season. They need to find a way to get totals of 160-180 rather than looking to belt their way to 200 and beyond and failing. Perhaps their batting pedigree doesn’t allow them that sort of humility in their batting. If they can’t find it then they are doomed to wander around the lower half of this tournament for the rest of the season which given their talent would be a waste and a shame for the viewing public.

BBL08 Match 4: Unfashionable Sixers Stun Scorchers for First Up Victory

Much like the New South Wales team this season, the Sydney Sixers have gone through a massive shake up of personnel, injecting a good deal of youth into their squad along with some senior changes. All in all it was difficult to see the Sixers upsetting the perennially successful Perth Scorchers team, even though they had lost their first encounter and were also a long way from home. The end result came down to some unfashionable long-term Sixers who stood up once again when they were needed in order to snatch an unlikely victory.

Having lost 3/30 in the first five overs the Sixers looked to be heading to a low total to rival other matches so far in BBL08. But Daniel Hughes and Jordan Silk came to the fore once again and produced a match winning partnership. Hughes has been prolific in most forms over the past three years but has often struggled to feature for the Sixers, while Silk has been a crowd favourite for years for his superb fielding and catching but also his big hitting when it's needed, and today he again proved his worth to the franchise. Their record 4th wicket partnership of 124 off 81 deliveries rescued the team and the game from oblivion. Hughes was dismissed in the final over for 62 off 44 balls, while Silk finished with a six to remain 67 not out off 49 deliveries. In the process they saw off arguably the best bowling attack in T20 cricket and manipulated the Sixers over the Defendable Score Equatorial (DSE – my own invention so feel free to use it) to a score of 4/164.

The Scorchers batting is their big problem this season, and with both Marsh brothers and Bancroft unavailable it left a lot on the shoulders of those that remain in the squad. They found themselves in the same boat as the Sixers when another unfashionable element rose to take control of the match. Steve O’Keefe has been maligned at different stages of his career but he continues to do his job every time he is asked. On this occasion he swept away the top order, having Whiteman stumped first ball charging down the wicket, Willey caught at long on by a great running catch from Joe Denly, and Klinger LBW to a slightly fortunate decision in his favour. It was barnstorming stuff from the left arm spinning veteran, and at 3/9 off three overs the Scorchers looked cooked.
A similar partnership to the Sixers from Ashton Turner (49) and Hilton Cartwright (53), both from 39 deliveries, mirrored the Sixers fightback, but they were left with too much to do in chasing down the total. Turner was caught at point off the longest of long hops, and when Cartwright was run out with 15 deliveries to go the match was lost.

The rousing victory will do amazing things for the Sixers, whose inclusion of 18 year olds Jack Edwards (13) and Lloyd Pope (0/32 off 3) and 21 year old Western Australian Josh Phillipe (3 not out) showed their willingness to inject the talented youth into their squad despite their relative inexperience. That they won without big contributions from these three in this match bodes well as they go forward as all three will likely be involved more heavily as the season wears on. For the Scorchers, losing two from two away from home probably isn’t as desperate a situation s the Heat now face, but they need to find some contributions from their top order soon if they are going to get their season back on track.

BBL08 Match 3: Thunder Beat the Rain and Dull Stars

Much as with yesterday’s match, there is another way that T20 cricket can come to an unsatisfying conclusion, and that is when rain intervenes and causes the match to be reduced even further to cobble together a result. Generally it becomes a disappointment for the crowd that has shown up, not the least because they’ve seen even less cricket than they thought they would. The result can feel contrived under these circumstances as they strive to ensure a victory is achieved for one team, and what could have been a terrific chase on this occasion was cut short as the Thunder managed to hold out the Stars in their eight over bash.

There was a lot to like about the junior ranks of Australian – and world – cricket on the evening. While the experienced Buttler, Watson and Root all made starts then fell for the Thunder, it was the inexperienced duo of Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams who turned what could have been an average score into a good score.

Sangha was a little scrappy for his first ten runs, but after that played some sublime strokes. Since his excellent innings for the PMXI against South Africa Sangha has found a true belief in his ability and he has made the most of it. He played shots all around the ground, hard pulls and wristy drives, and guided his team through the middle overs. He appears much more mature than 19 years of age and continues to impress with every innings he plays. He finished on 63 not out off 36 deliveries with four boundaries and four sixes. It was a terrific innings.

Sams is a promising allrounder who likes to hit the ball hard and had a great JLT Cup for NSW. He was dropped twice and landed one just short of the fielder in his first five deliveries but connected cleanly after that. He was missed three times in his innings and the luck fell his way but he went out there with a job in mind and increased the momentum when it was needed. Coupled with this was his bowling as the Stars chased 90 runs off 8 overs to win. He bowled two overs of his left arm medium fast bowling and took 3/5 with the wickets of Dean, Gulbis and Maxwell with good full straight deliveries. He will be one to follow this summer in this form of the game.

For the Stars, the two legspinners were terrific to watch as they carved their way through the batting with their guile and spin. Adam Zampa again showed why he is so good in this format, changing his pace and spin to keep the batsmen guessing as to what was coming next. He deceived both English Test stars Buttler and Root to take their wickets, a handy evening. 

The most exciting bowling of the night came from young Nepalese sensation Sandeep Lamichhane. He had Watson caught at long on with his second delivery, and then had Callum Ferguson taking a leading edge for the simplest of return catches with his sixth delivery, before a big shout for LBW against Sangha could have seen him have three wickets in his first seven deliveries. He lost his length a little in his final couple of overs but it was a terrific spell from the young man who will be great to watch this summer. 

The Stars eventually fell 15 runs short of the difficult target and they will feel as though they probably let a chance slip with catches in the field before the rain made it even more difficult for them. The Thunder didn’t even use their star strike bowler Fawad Ahmed because of the wet ball, and they will be confident moving forward of a good season with both bat and ball. Once again though, as fun and exciting as T20 cricket can be, it is matches like this that leave you with an empty feeling of disappointment in the format.

BBL08 Match 2: Renegades Douse Scorchers to Break Hoodoo

T20 cricket is a fickle beast, one that seems to drive the public’s imagination because of its fast pace and constant boundary hitting with high scores, and then those scores being chased down in dramatic style. What often gets forgotten is that there are just as many games that are as hard fought and contested, but are low scoring affairs where few boundaries are hit and the games are won in boring style by easy singles as the required run rate drops well below a run a ball. For those at the game they are mind numbingly hollow matches. On TV at least you can appreciate the cricket that is being played if you can negotiate your way through the sometimes inane commentary, but it’s not what the casual fan is looking for. Such was this evening’s match between the Renegades and the Scorchers.

There’s only so many times you can be reminded in a lead up to a match or during the actual match that one team has never beaten the other team before you know the tide is going to turn. When it’s rammed down your throat by the commentary team it becomes even more probable. The Renegades had never beaten the Scorchers before last night, and yet the Scorchers had also lost their first match of the BBL season in six of the eight years it has been played, so one of those records was going to improve slightly on the night. Both teams were skinny in batting, with the Scorchers missing Shaun Marsh and Cam Bancroft, while the Renegades were without Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris. In retrospect, did the low scoring match come from this loss of personnel?

The Renegades pace bowling of Usman Shinwari and Kane Richardson was excellent, both picking up early wickets to put their opponents under pressure. I don’t see what is so special about David Willey, he appears completely overrated. Tonight he contributed 12 runs at number three and 0/10 from one over. Mitch Marsh again underwhelmed as well with just three runs and then not even bowling himself. If this is the Scorchers numbers three and four this season they are in for a world of hurt. Once Michael Klinger was dismissed there was little direction left in the batting. It was Dan Christian who changed the match, picking up Klinger with his first delivery, and then disposing of Turner and Agar in his second over to break the back of the Scorchers middle order. As with the previous night’s match, early wickets flailing at the ball cost the team any chance of getting a defendable score. It’s easy to say in hindsight but a more composed start to build to a crescendo at the end may have been worth a try. But everyone wants explosions and sixes and a total of 200 rather than solid stroke play to a total of 160.

Still, at 4/17 in the chase of 104 for victory the Renegades looked to have the wobbles as Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile took two wickets apiece. However they couldn’t bowl forever, and from the first overs from Andrew Tye and David Willey the pair of Sam Harper and Mohammed Nabi took 25 runs, restoring the balance of the match and never really looking back from that point, winning with almost five overs to spare and four wickets in hand.

What Fox Cricket viewers will have learned from the night is that it is going to be a long season when Shane Warne is on the microphone. When he talks about the game he can be respected, but his incessant need to talk just drowns out what is happening on the field and negates any input from anyone else on the panel. If Fox can organise a transfer of Warne for Ricky Ponting from the Channel 7 team, we would have a much less annoyed summer ahead.

BBL08 Match 1: Strikers Team Effort Culls Individualistic Heat in BBL Opener

The Heat went into the first match of the new BBL season as warm favourites (no pun intended) with their exciting batting and improved bowling stocks from last season. Their disappointing finish to last season when they looked a likely finalist would have been highly on their minds in the off season. Even though they were taking on the reigning champions, playing at home gave the Heat an advantage. But the destructive batting line self destructed instead, and handed the Strikers an impressive win.

As wonderful as it is to watch Brendan McCullum, Chris Lynn and Joe Burns smashing the ball out of the stadium, the fact that they go so hard without fear of failure generally brings about their downfall too easily and thus puts so much pressure on the other bats to do a job. Both McCullum and Lynn were gone before six overs had been bowled, and that leaves too much for the rest of the team to make up for. It’s spectacular when it comes off, but when it doesn’t like tonight it costs the Heat dearly. McCullum showed with the first ball that he can play perfectly crafted shots to the boundary. He showed second ball that he really doesn’t need to charge, especially against 150kph thunderbolts. Some thought needs to go into this if they want to avoid the disappointments of last season, and perhaps a more measured approach will produce better results. 

The final wicket partnership between the hard nosed Jimmy Peirson (24 not out) and the 17 year old Mujeeb Ur Rahman (27) showed what can be done with some sensible stroke play with a record stand of 45 off 29 deliveries, and this at least gave the Heat a defendable target of 146. Rashid Khan once again was superb taking 3/20, but if my 11 year old son watching at home noticed that just about every ball he bowled was a wrong ‘un then surely professional cricketers should be working that out as well. No doubt the pace he bowls is a factor as well as not having time to settle in against him, but I’m sure other teams will play him better with this in mind. 

What on earth was the third umpire thinking in regards to the run out call on James Pattinson? Though it was tight it looked to everyone that on the frame where the bails were taken that Pattinson’s bat was over the crease. Then when the out decision came on the scoreboard no one could believe it. It was obvious that no one on the field thought it was out, and the game stopped for a couple of minutes as confusion reigned. Eventually it was Strikers skipper Colin Ingram after an enquiry from Ben Laughlin who withdrew the appeal and allowed the game to proceed. But that’s a howler that was caused by the TV umpire and not solved by him. The excuse that the communications link between the 3rd umpire and the standing umpires went down is a little hard to swallow. 

Jake Weatherald was dropped in the second over which may have changed the game a little, but Alex Carey was superb, striking the ball cleanly throughout his innings of 70 off 46 deliveries. James Pattinson (2/23) was excellent on his return, fast and straight, and Mitch Swepson (1/27) extremely unfortunate with his spell of leg spin bowling. In the end the total was proven to be 20-30 runs short as Jonathan Wells and Jake Lehmann cruised to victory with five deliveries remaining. It was a great night for the champions, while the home team has some things to think about.

2nd Test Day 5. Aussies Level at 1-1 as Paine Shows He Is the Captain Australia Needed

Nathan Lyon may well have won the Man of the Match today in the 2nd Test between Australia and India, after Australia was clinical in finished off the tail to complete a 146 run victory, and no one can deny that he deserved it. On a wicket where India chose to go in with four fast bowlers, Lyon turned out to be the key bowler of the match. Kohli’s first innings batting was superb, as was Marcus Harris. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were unplayable at times. All were very good. But for me the officials missed a trick, because the man who had the most influence on this result was the one who refused to take a backward step, either with the bat or behind the stumps or on the field of play. And it is a game that will be remembered as the match that Tim Paine was finally recognised as the leader Australia has needed. 

India was always up against it on the final morning on a pitch that had allowed very few easy runs. Both Vihari and Pant had to make an early statement if they were to challenge the 177 runs they needed for victory, and instead the Australians went hard at throat and did the job effectively. Mitchell Starc, having been under prepared in Adelaide, showed he was back on song in this fourth innings, bowling swiftly last evening and especially this morning, regularly bowling over 150kph and giving the batsmen nothing. He soon found a way to have Vihari popping up to mid wicket for the first wicket of the day. Pant tried to break out but was stuck between modes of flight. The end came quickly with the final four wickets falling in 15 deliveries, the wickets again being shared around amongst all four Australian bowlers. It was Australia’s first Test victory from their past seven Tests stretching back to March and South Africa, and this victory felt a lot more convivial and earned than that one. 

It should not be under estimated just how influential Tim Paine was during this match, nor how much he has influenced Australia’s Test fortunes since South Africa. It is easy to forget he was about to retire form cricket eighteen months ago to take up a position with a cricket firm, and only an out-of-the-blue call up the Australia’s T20 team halted that progression. His return to the Test team has been met with a clean pair of gloves behind the stumps with an elegance reminiscent of Ian Healy. He was exceptional on the spinning tracks in the UAE and has continued that back in Australia, once again excellent up to the stumps and leaping all over the place against his pace trio at the back. His batting has been terrific, especially so in helping to save the 1st Test against Pakistan, while his leadership and captaincy has improved every game. 

The 2nd Test was his in the making. His keeping led the way, with four catches in the first innings including an absolute ripper to dismiss Rahane in the first innings off Lyon, and two more in the second innings for six for the match. With the bat he scored 38 runs in the first innings and 37 runs in the second innings. On raw figures it doesn’t look special. But look harder. Everyone is looking for the next Adam Gilchrist, but that is like searching for the next Shane Warne or Glenn McGrath. In the history of Test cricket, only two Australian wicket-keepers have averaged over 30 with the bat – Adam Gilchrist (47.60) and Brad Haddin (33.00). That’s two. So even in this modern age, a wicket-keeper who does the best work behind the stumps and can contribute with the bat is a gold mine. As of today, Tim Paine averages 36.91 in Test cricket with five half-centuries. That is a record that more than supports his selection and credentials. Paine is proving to be the perfect keeper-batsman and has proven his toughness and tenacity twice in this match batting with the tail to maximise the runs totalled by the team. They are two innings that, taken in the context of the match, are match winning innings. Tick both boxes there. 

Having taken over the captaincy in South Africa, Paine has been under the pressure of an entire nation to lead our team out of the darkness and not only reestablish its credentials as one of the leading cricket nations in the world, but to do so without the negativity that surrounded the team in recent years. It was a tough ask, especially having lost half of his top order to subsequent suspensions. The team has wavered between good fight and lack of experience when it came to decisions at the crease and in the field, but improvement has come slowly but surely. Now they just needed to find a way to be positive in their approach in the one area that Australia is always seen negatively. This is what the skipper achieved in this match. 

Paine’s talk through the match showed a level of leadership that shows that he and his team are now confident to go in a hard but positive direction. His battle with Kohli in particular was fascinating, and this verbal battle that carried throughout the match was what lifted his leadership to the next level. He didn’t use bad language, he didn’t get frustrated or angry, he didn’t get personal. He gave as good as got, and in the long run he came out as the winner on the scoreboard and possibly in the verbal stoush. When Kohli told Paine “I’m the best batsman in the world and you’re just a fill-in captain”, Paine was restrained. When Kohli suggested “If he gets out here, he knows the Test is over”, Paine replied “you have to bat again, fathead”. Kohli’s pointed exaggerated laugh at Paine’s dismissal to a brute of a delivery in the second innings brought no response from Paine but was surely stored in his mind. On Kohli’s dismissal late on day four there was plenty of celebration from the Aussies, but nothing directed at the batsman himself, just lots of talk in the group to each other, but surely none of it was missed by Kohli himself. Then as Vijay lined up for the next over Paine was heard to ask him “I know he’s your captain, but you can’t seriously like him as a bloke”. After listening to Pant’s constant conversation over two Tests and seeing and hearing the way Kohli goes about his work, seeing and hearing Tim Paine taking on the Indians in this way was just superb. Nothing malicious, nothing personal, just wonderful banter. Kohli’s demeanour had gone full circle by match end, showing his disappointment at being bettered in this match by hurriedly moving on from the captain’s handshake at the end. This as much as anything showed that Paine had certainly won this battle, and in a way that no one can complain about. Kohli may have suggested he is only a fill-in captain, but that most certainly no longer applies. He’s the real deal, and ready to attempt his first series victory following his first Test victory. 

Melbourne is set up for another classic battle. Having nominated the same squad, the only change Australia will contemplate is bringing in Mitch Marsh for Peter Handscomb, a move that doesn’t feel like it will do anything to improve the team. Handscomb may still have a chance to redeem himself on his home ground. India will be sweating on the fitness of Ravi Ashwin, and will no doubt rectify the error of not taking a spinner into their XI no matter what. Apart from that and the possible re-inclusion of Rohit Sharma there appears little change will occur in the Indian team either. Given how well contested the first two Test have been, perhaps this is the right way to go. At 1-1 in the series, it will be the most exciting and well contested Boxing Day Test in some years, and one that should once again draw massive attention around the world.

2nd Test Day 4. Paine and Lyon Show Their Leadership to Steal the Day

You would be hard pressed to see a better day’s Test cricket than what was put on at Perth Stadium yesterday for the fourth day of the 2nd Test. We saw fighting and tenacious batting, we saw blistering and brilliant fast bowling, we saw guile and turn from Australia’s premier spin bowler and we saw and heard plenty of talk between the two teams on the field without the anger and personal insults that had filled previous series. All in all it was a joy to watch.

• The first session was wonderful old school Test match cricket. The bowling was tight and decisive, with the ball beating the bat on countless occasions through swing and seam. Through all of this the Australian pair of Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine battled on, knowing that they had to survive and keep progressing their lead to one they could defend in the fourth innings of the match. It wasn’t pretty and it was hard work, but the 57 runs they added in that first session without losing a wicket were priceless. Khawaja has been marooned for most of the series so far but today he was able to find more singles and twos that he had been. Paine continued to do what he has done since his return to the Test team, fighting at number seven and refusing to give away his wicket while still scoring runs. It was terrific cricket.
• The second session was monstrous. The whole complexion of the game changed as Shami and Bumrah battered the Australian line up with fast short bowling that was reminiscent of the great West Indies teams of the 1980’s. The deliveries that got both Paine and Khawaja out were brutes, and the blows taken by the tail from the fast bowlers were scary. Nathan Lyon was clanged full on in the grille, while Starc took a number in the midriff. If you weren’t batting it was terrific to watch, both the bowling and the way the batsmen tried to defend it. Through all of this, Cummins got a grubber that there was no way he could defend which must have put wild thought into the Indians batsmen. Then Starc and Hazlewood put together an invaluable partnership of 36 to hold up the Indian charge. It could yet prove to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
• The early inroads by Australia’s openers put them on the front foot, but the brilliance of Nathan Lyon shone through again on a wicket that two hours before had been a fast bowlers paradise. His first over to Kohli was all at the stumps spinning in, and Kohli turned them all to the leg side comfortably. Then Lyon bowled the ball wider of the off stump and with more flight, drawing Kohli forward and out of his comfort zone. The extra bounce helped to take the edge and fly to first slip. It was an obvious plan and worked to perfection. Brilliant to watch. Then he kept the same line next over for Vijay, but this one turned out of the footmarks and took the inside edge on the way to taking leg stump. 2/2. He may well have monikered himself as the GOAT; today he again showed he is right up there with the best bowlers in world cricket. 
• It has already been mentioned in many commentaries today, but today will be remembered as the day when Australia returned to the battleground of Test cricket through the fighting words of its skipper Tim Paine. We have watched the opening dispatches as Virat Kohli emoted and pumped and generally used his body language to dominate the exchanges to start this series. Yesterday he decided to try and provoke Paine into verbal exchanges, which he responded to on a couple of occasions. Today though he led with the front foot, happy to start these conversations with Kohli and not allow him to dominate in that way. Kohli’s delight in Paine’s dismissal with a ferocious and obvious laugh right at him as he departed would have rankled, but the delight in which the Aussies celebrated Kohli’s dismissal was worth more. The fact that through all of this there was not one swear word used, not one threat of personal injury, just light hearted but determined banter between them, showed that Australia can use the art of ‘sledging’ without having to plunge to the depths of aggression and personal insults to be involved on the field. Paine’s parting comment to Murali Vijay that “I know he’s your captain but you can’t seriously like him as a bloke” was the perfect riposte on a day Australia finished on top for the first time since the South African tour in March. 

Australia start the final day with five wickets to take to level this fascinating series at 1-1. On this wicket with their bowling attack there should be no doubt of victory, yet after the year that we have had in 2018 perhaps we’ll just wait for it to occur before we start celebrating too much.

2nd Test Day 2. Kohli and Rahane Swing Balance Towards India

Honours were fairly even at the conclusion of day one, with perhaps Australia just with their nose in front. Not much had changed by the time we reached the end of day two, though perhaps India had just snuck ahead after an excellent unbroken third wicket partnership had gotten them to 3/172 after a shaky start, and their two batsmen set and seemingly in control.

Australia would have been fairly pleased with their morning’s work, adding another 49 runs to their overnight total before being bowled out for 326. Skipper Tim Paine and underrated batsman Pat Cummins did a good job in the first hour, despite being consistently beaten outside the off stump again from more excellent bowling from the Indian pacemen. They may even have felt they had broken the backs of the bowling when they were still together at the drinks break, but once undone by Yadav for 19 the end came quickly. Bumrah ended another Paine specialty, once again halting a slide in the middle order to post another valuable innings of 38, which is almost precisely what he averages in Test cricket. While he may not be a Gilchrist or Hadden with the bat he more than does his job and keeps doing it. The final two wickets fell in successive deliveries on 326, which at least gave the Australians a couple of overs before the lunch break, which Vijay failed to negotiate as Starc bowled him neck and crop for a duck.

The Aussies kept at it after the break, with Hazlewood doing for Rahul with a beauty to bowl him for 2. Pujara and Kohli settled and took the score to 82 before Starc returned and found Pujara’s edge to send him on his way for 24.

Despite this, the final session belonged to India, and in particular their captain. Virat Kohli may have not scored as many runs as he would have liked in the 1st Test, but here he had the demeanour of a batsman that was not going to be dismiss or cowed in any way. He bided his time, accepting the good deliveries that came his way, but as soon as anything was over pitched or too short he was on it like a shot. It was pure Test batting from one of the current best exponents of the craft and was fascinating to watch. Alongside him Ajinkya Rahane played as he always does as well, preferring to take a more attacking frame of mind but still wary of the outcome. Between them the pair blunted the afternoon bowling of the Australians, making them work hard on a wicket that now seemed devoid of any devils. Perhaps it was just the way Kohli played that made it seem that way. Whatever people may think of him and the way he plays the game he is a wonderful study to watch when he bats.

The game stands at the same crossroads as yesterday with no further idea as to which way the game may turn. Perhaps by the end of day three we will have a better idea. If the cricket remains this good, in the long run most of us won’t care, because at the moment Test cricket has returned to its glory days where every session is unmissable.

2nd Test Day 1: Honours Shared as Perth Wicket Takes Centre Stage

For lovers of cricket there was a bit of everything on the first day of the 2nd Test in Perth. Australia’s batting swung from good pieces of play to once again failing to maximise their position, India’s bowling was less disciplined than in Adelaide and yet had moments of complete unplayability, and the final total of 6/277 has left both sides feeling both vindicated and thoughts of missed opportunities.

Winning the toss gave Australia the advantage they didn’t have in Adelaide. An opening partnership of 112 put the icing on that cake. Marcus Harris was sublime. He looks a likely prospect, with a set up that reminds one of Warner and a temperament than reminds one of Langer. He played much better straight today than he did in Adelaide and in getting to 70 looked every chance of a maiden Test century. The freak delivery he received from the off spinner Vihari that reared off a spot on the pitch and took his gloves to first slip was unfortunate. He has made a solid start to Test cricket. Aaron Finch on the other hand looks as though his Test career will proceed much as his short-form career was gone. He drives with a gap between bat and pad and he likely to take full balls off the stumps through mid wicket. Bowled and LBW always look likely to be the way he is dismissed, and it’s just how many he makes before he gets taken down that will determine his place. He played some nice shots today and was then trapped in front two balls in a row that he escaped by the skin of his teeth, before finally being trapped plumb by Bumrah. He fought hard to play straight and his 50 was well made. One gets the feeling India have him worked out though.

Khawaja and Handscomb again failed to make any impression. Khawaja was magnificent in the 1st Test against Pakistan in saving that match, with his temperament and patience the key to that innings. At the moment he appears to still be stuck in that mindset without being able to work the singles or get off strike. He is wanting to be the number three batsman, the one who plays through the innings and takes the responsibility of holding the batting together. But he’s forgotten that he also needs to generate runs as well. Today it felt as though he over-compensated for his poor dismissal in the second innings in Adelaide and tried not to play the wild slog, but he got so bogged down that he instead tried to cut a ball that wasn’t there and just edged it behind for 5. Again the Indian plans to him have been excellent and he needs to have some hard thought as to how to get out of the boggy ground he is currently occupying. Handscomb was taken by a blinder by Kohli at second slip, but the cut shot wasn’t on to a bowler whose stock delivery is the one in to the right hander, which cramped Handscomb and made the glide over slips he was attempting just a push to slips. Today was his chance to nail down his position in the team. The door is still wide open.

Marsh and Head played terrifically well under trying conditions. By mid afternoon the wicket was starting to play tricks and the bowlers had found their range. It would not be unfair to suggest that there was about a hundred play-and-misses by the Australian batsmen on day one as the ball started to move in the air and off the wicket. Neither batsman allowed this to worry them as they consolidated after the four quick wickets. Marsh played a couple of those cuts and drives that make him look like an elite batsman, but was also dropped by Pant from a simple edge behind from the off spinner. To his detriment Marsh failed to learn the lesson, and soon after was caught at first slip attempting the same shot. His 45 should have been more.

Travis Head is Australia’s new talisman, the young kid with a desire to get on with the game and change the course of the match, such that players like Ponting, Clarke and Smith had done before him. He is not in that company yet but he has the same spirit as they did at the same age, and the same ability to exhilarate and frustrate. He had reached 58 through a combination of wonderful strokeplay and some good fortune, and with the new ball taken should have looked to negotiate his way to stumps with his skipper to leave Australia in a leading position. Instead he slashed away in the air to deep backward point where Kohli had stationed a fielder all day, in what was really a very negative fashion for a team on the first day of a Test. However it looked like genius as Head picked him out, and not only concluded his own innings but opened up the Australian lower order late in the day against the new ball, and the possibility was there for India to finish the innings off on day one. Head is a very good up-ad-coming player, but he negated all of his good work during the day with that one shot.

Paine and Cummins showed the way batsmen should play out the final nine overs of the day, and will resume on day two with more work to do. Once again the lower order will have to be the ones to fashion a good first innings total rather than an average one, and again it is the batsmen who should be disappointed in their dismissals after making a good fist of the start of their innings.

You get the feeling that India missed a trick in not choosing either Jadeja or Kuldeep as the spinner in the XI. Perhaps they will still reap the reward of choosing four specialist fast bowlers, and all four are good fast bowlers at that. But the pitch does appear to be open to spin already, and while their part timer Vihari picked up two wickets he did not appear threatening in the way Ashwin was in Adelaide, or that Jadeja has been against Australia in the past. The already up-and-down nature of the pitch may well work better for the fast bowling cartel, but if it does flatten out a little then the lack of a specialist spinner may well harm their chances.

How many more can Australia fashion with the bat on Day Two against the Indian attack who all had extravagant movement with the ball? Can Australia’s bowlers exploit any dangers in the pitch to bowl India out cheaply and set up a winning position? With Nathan Lyon end up being the key protagonist on a wicket that 24 hours ago looked as though it was going to be a fast bowlers paradise? Or will India’s batting line up hit their straps and take the game between their teeth. Like the six previous days of this series, the new day looks to be as promising and exciting as Test cricket can offer.