The day of the nightwatchmen
Plays of the day for the third day of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG
Osman Samiuddin at the MCG
28-Dec-2009
Umar Akmal gave Peter Siddle a fitting reply after the blow to the helmet • Getty Images
First impressions
First impressions last, especially on Australian crowds, and there are few better ways to do it than what Umar Akmal pulled off. Pakistan's big batting hope came here with a big reputation and he had been quietly solid towards the close of play yesterday. He started off cautiously this morning, but a brutal wake-up call from Peter Siddle, who pinged him square on the helmet, brought about an audacious response. A couple of Siddle overs later, he drove and pulled him for 19 runs, including a monstrous six over long-on. Impetuosity got him soon after a fourth half-century, but the announcement had been made.
First impressions last, especially on Australian crowds, and there are few better ways to do it than what Umar Akmal pulled off. Pakistan's big batting hope came here with a big reputation and he had been quietly solid towards the close of play yesterday. He started off cautiously this morning, but a brutal wake-up call from Peter Siddle, who pinged him square on the helmet, brought about an audacious response. A couple of Siddle overs later, he drove and pulled him for 19 runs, including a monstrous six over long-on. Impetuosity got him soon after a fourth half-century, but the announcement had been made.
Practice makes perfect?
Pakistan's catching has been poor in this Test, though it doesn't seem to be for want of trying. Intikhab Alam said they are trying to resolve the problem at the grassroots level and they held a catching session during the tea interval on the third afternoon. Salman Butt dropped three catches in a row during practice, which clearly helped him take the one at deep square leg to send back Ricky Ponting a little while later.
Pakistan's catching has been poor in this Test, though it doesn't seem to be for want of trying. Intikhab Alam said they are trying to resolve the problem at the grassroots level and they held a catching session during the tea interval on the third afternoon. Salman Butt dropped three catches in a row during practice, which clearly helped him take the one at deep square leg to send back Ricky Ponting a little while later.
The day of the night(watchmen)
What Australian nightwatchmen can do, Pakistan's can do better? Maybe not. Nathan Hauritz frustrated Pakistan yesterday morning for an entire session, having come in before the end of the first day. Mohammad Aamer came in to face the last ball of day two and lasted the entire first session this morning as well. Hauritz, of course, helped himself to an unusually free-spirited half century in that time, while Aamer did a fair latter-day impersonation of Hanif Mohammad, grinding out ten runs in two hours. Both innings say something about the pitch though.
What Australian nightwatchmen can do, Pakistan's can do better? Maybe not. Nathan Hauritz frustrated Pakistan yesterday morning for an entire session, having come in before the end of the first day. Mohammad Aamer came in to face the last ball of day two and lasted the entire first session this morning as well. Hauritz, of course, helped himself to an unusually free-spirited half century in that time, while Aamer did a fair latter-day impersonation of Hanif Mohammad, grinding out ten runs in two hours. Both innings say something about the pitch though.
Not the season's greetings Hauritz wanted
Pakistan have felt Hauritz could be vulnerable to aggressive batting and Misbah-ul-Haq wasted no time doing just that. Hauritz's first ball on the third day was slogged mercilessly over midwicket before the following delivery was smashed to the same region for four. The assault was all the more memorable because Pakistan looked like they'd fallen asleep for the previous ten overs, which had brought 13 runs. The captain Mohammad Yousuf had set the precedent on the second day, when he came to the crease and within three balls launched Hauritz high over his head for six.
Pakistan have felt Hauritz could be vulnerable to aggressive batting and Misbah-ul-Haq wasted no time doing just that. Hauritz's first ball on the third day was slogged mercilessly over midwicket before the following delivery was smashed to the same region for four. The assault was all the more memorable because Pakistan looked like they'd fallen asleep for the previous ten overs, which had brought 13 runs. The captain Mohammad Yousuf had set the precedent on the second day, when he came to the crease and within three balls launched Hauritz high over his head for six.
Hussey's review deja vu
Michael Hussey asked for a review when he was adjudged lbw to Aamer and Hawkeye showed the impact in line with off stump and indicated the ball would clip the bails. The line-ball nature meant that Billy Doctrove's on-field decision of out remained, and there was a distinct sense of deja vu for Hussey. In the first innings he had also questioned Doctrove's lbw decision when he was out sweeping Saeed Ajmal, and, on that occasion, too, Hawkeye showed the ball striking him marginally in line and probably clipping the bails. But on neither occasion was Doctrove's decision shown to be wrong, implying the system had worked.
Michael Hussey asked for a review when he was adjudged lbw to Aamer and Hawkeye showed the impact in line with off stump and indicated the ball would clip the bails. The line-ball nature meant that Billy Doctrove's on-field decision of out remained, and there was a distinct sense of deja vu for Hussey. In the first innings he had also questioned Doctrove's lbw decision when he was out sweeping Saeed Ajmal, and, on that occasion, too, Hawkeye showed the ball striking him marginally in line and probably clipping the bails. But on neither occasion was Doctrove's decision shown to be wrong, implying the system had worked.
Kiss of the day
Aamer bowled a fiery spell to a sturdy Shane Watson to liven up the final session. He peppered him with bouncers from round the wicket, clocking over 150kmph on a couple of occasions. Still he found time to show Watson some love, following a particularly brutal short-pitched delivery with a delicate air kiss in his follow-through. Much to everyone's disappointment, Watson didn't return the favour, though it would've made for a nice PR gesture given his antics against West Indies.
Aamer bowled a fiery spell to a sturdy Shane Watson to liven up the final session. He peppered him with bouncers from round the wicket, clocking over 150kmph on a couple of occasions. Still he found time to show Watson some love, following a particularly brutal short-pitched delivery with a delicate air kiss in his follow-through. Much to everyone's disappointment, Watson didn't return the favour, though it would've made for a nice PR gesture given his antics against West Indies.
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo