Bolly's musical numbers
Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan
Doug Bollinger's musical tones at the top of his bowling mark have a calming effect on him • Getty Images
Swing and a miss
Marcus North appears to be one of the coolest-headed members of Australia's team, which makes it all the more surprising that he reacted so angrily to his dismissal. North played on to a fullish delivery from Mohammad Aamer and immediately swung his bat in disappointment. Lucky for him it sailed a few centimetres above the bails; had he made contact a summons from the match referee would have been inevitable.
Marcus North appears to be one of the coolest-headed members of Australia's team, which makes it all the more surprising that he reacted so angrily to his dismissal. North played on to a fullish delivery from Mohammad Aamer and immediately swung his bat in disappointment. Lucky for him it sailed a few centimetres above the bails; had he made contact a summons from the match referee would have been inevitable.
Bolly would love a musical number
There's already so much to like about Doug Bollinger. Now we learn that he sings to himself at the top of his bowling mark to help calm him down. Bollinger made the admission in a television interview before play on the fourth day and it raised the question, what would Dougie sing? Given that he has also previously said he struggled to hold down a job before becoming a full-time cricketer, the answer seems plain. Get a haircut, and get a real job...
There's already so much to like about Doug Bollinger. Now we learn that he sings to himself at the top of his bowling mark to help calm him down. Bollinger made the admission in a television interview before play on the fourth day and it raised the question, what would Dougie sing? Given that he has also previously said he struggled to hold down a job before becoming a full-time cricketer, the answer seems plain. Get a haircut, and get a real job...
Boxing clever
Bollinger has proved difficult to face over the past few Tests and it might be because he likes to aim for the batsman's box. After Bollinger gave that line on Channel Nine, Shane Warne clarified for any viewers who didn't understand: "What he's trying to say is that he aims for the top of the batsman's middle stump."
Bollinger has proved difficult to face over the past few Tests and it might be because he likes to aim for the batsman's box. After Bollinger gave that line on Channel Nine, Shane Warne clarified for any viewers who didn't understand: "What he's trying to say is that he aims for the top of the batsman's middle stump."
Nagpur revisited
Mohammad Yousuf took a leaf out of MS Dhoni's book when the prospect of a first Australian hundred of the summer began to loom. Dhoni's defence as attack theory in Nagpur in 2008-09 against Australia had seen him employ 8-1 fields through a third day that yielded just 166 runs. Shane Watson has had a nervy time of it in the 90s recently and when he entered it this time, Yousuf and Mohammad Asif decided to test him. Soon after morning drinks, a lone mid-on patrolled the entire leg-side as Asif pitched wider and wider, tempting Watson into indiscretion. What followed was either very compelling or very dull, disgraceful or very clever. It almost worked as well.
Mohammad Yousuf took a leaf out of MS Dhoni's book when the prospect of a first Australian hundred of the summer began to loom. Dhoni's defence as attack theory in Nagpur in 2008-09 against Australia had seen him employ 8-1 fields through a third day that yielded just 166 runs. Shane Watson has had a nervy time of it in the 90s recently and when he entered it this time, Yousuf and Mohammad Asif decided to test him. Soon after morning drinks, a lone mid-on patrolled the entire leg-side as Asif pitched wider and wider, tempting Watson into indiscretion. What followed was either very compelling or very dull, disgraceful or very clever. It almost worked as well.
Drop counter
Keep the count going: Pakistan dropped three chances in Australia's first innings and two more were added the second time round. Imran Farhat, who once dropped six catches at Lord's, put down Marcus North at midwicket, though it didn't cost too much. Then, with Watson on 99 and all of Australia's nerves on his fingertips, Abdur Rauf grassed a sitter at point, to allow a first Australian hundred of the summer and general relief across the land at the lifting of a jinx. What Rauf was doing at point is anyone's guess, though he deserves a stand to be named after him at the MCG. At the very least, Watson's first child should be christened Rauf Watson.
Keep the count going: Pakistan dropped three chances in Australia's first innings and two more were added the second time round. Imran Farhat, who once dropped six catches at Lord's, put down Marcus North at midwicket, though it didn't cost too much. Then, with Watson on 99 and all of Australia's nerves on his fingertips, Abdur Rauf grassed a sitter at point, to allow a first Australian hundred of the summer and general relief across the land at the lifting of a jinx. What Rauf was doing at point is anyone's guess, though he deserves a stand to be named after him at the MCG. At the very least, Watson's first child should be christened Rauf Watson.
Kat call
Why doesn't Simon Katich bowl more often? He hadn't bowled a single over all summer until he came on as the day drew to a close today and immediately things began to happen. Umar Akmal, who rarely needs an invite to attack a spinner immediately pulled his first ball, but only as far as Nathan Hauritz at midwicket, who duly spilled it. Next ball it needed the intervention of the third umpire to adjudge Umar not out off a stumping. Finally Umar managed to pull him through midwicket for four and when Yousuf did the same in the next over, to be subsequently bemused by a full toss as high as the sky, the reasons for Katich not bowling so much became a little clearer.
Why doesn't Simon Katich bowl more often? He hadn't bowled a single over all summer until he came on as the day drew to a close today and immediately things began to happen. Umar Akmal, who rarely needs an invite to attack a spinner immediately pulled his first ball, but only as far as Nathan Hauritz at midwicket, who duly spilled it. Next ball it needed the intervention of the third umpire to adjudge Umar not out off a stumping. Finally Umar managed to pull him through midwicket for four and when Yousuf did the same in the next over, to be subsequently bemused by a full toss as high as the sky, the reasons for Katich not bowling so much became a little clearer.
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo