Australia lose match to Pakistan and Ponting to injury
Australia once again teeter on the brink of elimination after being defeated by Pakistan by 6 wickets. Australia's innings began well, rattling along at 10 runs per over for the first 7 overs despite losing early wickets. However, the wickets continued to fall and the innings ground to a halt halfway through. It took some precise hitting from Hussey to post a reasonable total of 7 for 164.
It was the first time I'd witnessed Sohail Tanvir and I have to say I like the cut of his gib. He has a bizarre bowling action reminiscent of New Zealand bowler Ewen Chatfield (if my childhood memories serve correctly). However, his snappy action tends to hurry the batsmen and he dispatched Hayden and Gilchrist in his first two overs, later outwitting Hussey with a slower ball.
Pakistan also lost early wickets but Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik put on a 119 run partnership and got them comfortably home (with 5 balls to spare). It was a slick performance from Pakistan while Australia lacked inspiration. Losing Ponting to injury so he couldn't take the field during Pakistan's innings didn't help their chances either. Disappointingly, Adam Gilchrist threw out some post-defeat disclaimers about how Australia don't care about Twenty20:
"Er, yeh, yeh. It's um... well. The more I play it, I am starting to, not so much like it as a player, but love watching it."Inspiring stuff. He then goes onto clarify where Twenty20 lies in their list of priorities:
"[That we haven't hit the stumps when fielding] probably shows we have not put in the time. We could have cut our break short by a month and come here peaking, but to be honest, at the time when we made those decisions we didn't see it as a priority leading into a big run of cricket."Thursday's game against Sri Lanka will decide whether Australia have any chance of making the semi-finals. Let's hope they can muster up some interest in time.
| Posted by JC on Wed 19 Sep |  14 comments |
While on the post on Aussies crushing Bangla boys ... I had said Bracken would be easy meat for better batsmen..
MT and Andrew countered... Toldya! What happened yesterday? He was just riding his luck for a long time as there was pressure applied by Brett Lee and Stuart Clark at the other end.
Pakistan decimated Bracken and with him, Australia today!! (18-Sep)... and the most expensive amongst the regular bowlers was Nathan Bracken, gifting away 8.75 runs for no wicket...
And, my man Stuart Clark stole the show in a losing cause.... grabbing 3 wkts... but alas, no one supported him.. Sad, the others, including the super brawn (but lacking on brains) Mr Lee failing badly...
Having said that, Misbah was a revelation.. He was rarely beaten.. and was completely at ease.. For me, he looked like an Aussie batsman in form!!
Aussies are hurting... Zimbies and now Pakis..Acting capt Gilly changed the bowling 9 times in 10 overs.. a record in the tournament !!!!! Panic ??? No idea what to do after Hayden and Gilly depart??? What's happening guys???
Cheers
Mahesh
Posted by Mahesh on 2007-09-19 12:20:44
MT and Andrew countered... Toldya! What happened yesterday? He was just riding his luck for a long time as there was pressure applied by Brett Lee and Stuart Clark at the other end.
Pakistan decimated Bracken and with him, Australia today!! (18-Sep)... and the most expensive amongst the regular bowlers was Nathan Bracken, gifting away 8.75 runs for no wicket...
And, my man Stuart Clark stole the show in a losing cause.... grabbing 3 wkts... but alas, no one supported him.. Sad, the others, including the super brawn (but lacking on brains) Mr Lee failing badly...
Having said that, Misbah was a revelation.. He was rarely beaten.. and was completely at ease.. For me, he looked like an Aussie batsman in form!!
Aussies are hurting... Zimbies and now Pakis..Acting capt Gilly changed the bowling 9 times in 10 overs.. a record in the tournament !!!!! Panic ??? No idea what to do after Hayden and Gilly depart??? What's happening guys???
Cheers
Mahesh
Posted by Mahesh on 2007-09-19 12:20:44
You called it, Mahesh. The Sri Lanka game should be interesting. I fell asleep several overs into the Pakis game - haven't been getting enough sleep lately. So I'll try and stock up tonight so I go the distance on Thursday night.
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 13:22:22
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 13:22:22
Actually Mahesh I said Bracken had a great record against the Sri Lankans - we'll see whether that's true tomorrow.
I can't help thinking Ponting has other things on his mind - like his wife. For some reason I get the impression she might be pregnant and her illness was a miscarriage scare - this is pure speculation, I've got no proof. Ponting even said cricket was only a game and family was more important before he left! So that doesn't bode well for the rest of the tournament - which might be short for the Aussies.
JC the game is on earlier on Thursday so that should help!
Posted by MT on 2007-09-19 16:45:42
I can't help thinking Ponting has other things on his mind - like his wife. For some reason I get the impression she might be pregnant and her illness was a miscarriage scare - this is pure speculation, I've got no proof. Ponting even said cricket was only a game and family was more important before he left! So that doesn't bode well for the rest of the tournament - which might be short for the Aussies.
JC the game is on earlier on Thursday so that should help!
Posted by MT on 2007-09-19 16:45:42
Hmm, according to yourtv.com.au, there is no cricket on Channel 9 on Thursday night, just hour after hour of extruciating footy show. If Paul Vautin is bumping the cricket, I will be most displeased.
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 17:39:53
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 17:39:53
Pakistan played pretty well, the new coach seems to have made them a much more professional outfit, including some improved fielding.
There was a distinct lack of training and preparation for this 20/20 world cup, I guess from the Australian's point of view they wanted to avoid burnout. After all didn't all of them pull out of English County Cricket during winter?
I guess it really depends on which targets are more important. Maybe we need to have a "B" team for ODIs and 20/20s so they key players can rotate off.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-09-19 18:05:30
There was a distinct lack of training and preparation for this 20/20 world cup, I guess from the Australian's point of view they wanted to avoid burnout. After all didn't all of them pull out of English County Cricket during winter?
I guess it really depends on which targets are more important. Maybe we need to have a "B" team for ODIs and 20/20s so they key players can rotate off.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-09-19 18:05:30
JC, the cricket will be on Ch 9 at 6:30pm. Well, maybe that's just in Sydney.
Posted by stumps on 2007-09-19 19:51:42
Posted by stumps on 2007-09-19 19:51:42
Hmm, you may be right - it's possible it was there from 6.30pm to 9.30pm but I missed it, only checking the later hours. But yourtv.com.au is down right now so I'll have to check again tomorrow. Of course, the missus is going to be spewing if tomorrow night's viewing consists of 3 hours of cricket. The only entertainment she's got from cricket lately is mocking the Australian's Twenty20 uniform and the fact that every batsman's favourite shot is the pull shot.
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 20:37:37
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 20:37:37
So the Aussies didn't win eh? Well, there's proof this format is a crock in itself! I don't want to carry on about how none of these results mean anything as Gilly rightly alluded to (much less bowling or batting form) - the only glimmer of interest here is that the nations that aren't very good at test matches (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) actually have a chance of getting a favourable result against the better teams (AND WE ALL KNOW WHO THAT IS... OOPS,I MEAN ARE).
20/20 bowling: forget it, a pointless episode for even the best.
20/20 fielding: ornamental most of the time.
20/20 Batting: 6 and out - nothing more than a backyard hoiking session.
But wait, there's more... Here's a Virtualgaz revelation for the ACB...
How about playing 10 batsmen plus a batting wicketkeeper? As the bowling is only there to serve the sixes up, anybody can chuck 'em down the strip because the whole flawed concept revolves around how many sixes you can get. Symonds in at 9, Lehmann at 10 and 11 could be Hayden - this way they could try and 36 an over all the way through. The score would be around the 400 mark and the opposition have only got 6 batmen!
Flawed concept - Q.E.D.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-09-19 22:08:35
20/20 bowling: forget it, a pointless episode for even the best.
20/20 fielding: ornamental most of the time.
20/20 Batting: 6 and out - nothing more than a backyard hoiking session.
But wait, there's more... Here's a Virtualgaz revelation for the ACB...
How about playing 10 batsmen plus a batting wicketkeeper? As the bowling is only there to serve the sixes up, anybody can chuck 'em down the strip because the whole flawed concept revolves around how many sixes you can get. Symonds in at 9, Lehmann at 10 and 11 could be Hayden - this way they could try and 36 an over all the way through. The score would be around the 400 mark and the opposition have only got 6 batmen!
Flawed concept - Q.E.D.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-09-19 22:08:35
*Groans* How did we lose? I am so disappointed that Australia lost but also losing our key player/skipper, Ricky Ponting is just absolutely shocking.
*Sighs* Well, we're in a tight position at the moment. It's a do-or-die situation for the Aussies on Thursday when they face up to Sri Lanka. We did well against them at the World Cup final (thanks to Gilly and his magic squash ball) but I'm not sure (but hopeful) that the Aussies will win. I mean, we are the total best in the 50 over form of game so I guess Twenty20 is just Australia's weakness. Does this mean that Gilly will have to use his magic squash ball agian to save us?? Or will Australia come through with their natural ability and knock Sri Lanka's socks off and crush them?? Think about it...
Posted by Aussie on 2007-09-19 22:41:19
*Sighs* Well, we're in a tight position at the moment. It's a do-or-die situation for the Aussies on Thursday when they face up to Sri Lanka. We did well against them at the World Cup final (thanks to Gilly and his magic squash ball) but I'm not sure (but hopeful) that the Aussies will win. I mean, we are the total best in the 50 over form of game so I guess Twenty20 is just Australia's weakness. Does this mean that Gilly will have to use his magic squash ball agian to save us?? Or will Australia come through with their natural ability and knock Sri Lanka's socks off and crush them?? Think about it...
Posted by Aussie on 2007-09-19 22:41:19
It's obvious Gilly's flat press conference after the Pakistan game that he's lost his mojo (aka the magic squash ball). Bring back the squash ball!
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 22:59:12
Posted by JC on 2007-09-19 22:59:12
News Flash!!
The ICC, concerned about falling revenue, has announced a World Cup 5/5 competition, to be held at the spiritual home of cricket Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 25 2007. Given the shortened nature of the game some 50 teams will compete. Innings' will last 15 minutes maximum, with a 60 second change over between innings.
Shane Watson is believed to be rapt with the new concept, confident he'll be able to bowl his full quota.
Adam Gilchrist says he looks forward to the challenge of becoming the first century maker in this new format.
The ACB announced it would immediately be seeking to recruit new specialist coaching staff.
An ICC spokesperson claimed that the trial of 5/5 cricket was a direct result of complaints from the general public over the time it took for 20/20 matches to be decided. "Many found it boring, and claimed they could not maintain their concentration in this longer form of the game".
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-09-20 20:56:08
The ICC, concerned about falling revenue, has announced a World Cup 5/5 competition, to be held at the spiritual home of cricket Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 25 2007. Given the shortened nature of the game some 50 teams will compete. Innings' will last 15 minutes maximum, with a 60 second change over between innings.
Shane Watson is believed to be rapt with the new concept, confident he'll be able to bowl his full quota.
Adam Gilchrist says he looks forward to the challenge of becoming the first century maker in this new format.
The ACB announced it would immediately be seeking to recruit new specialist coaching staff.
An ICC spokesperson claimed that the trial of 5/5 cricket was a direct result of complaints from the general public over the time it took for 20/20 matches to be decided. "Many found it boring, and claimed they could not maintain their concentration in this longer form of the game".
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-09-20 20:56:08
Well, I see Virtual Gaz is on his high horse again about 20/20. Mate, if you've got 5 world class batsmen, like Australia, then you can afford to play at least 3, maybe 4 world class bowlers, like Australia. It's all about balance. No use having 11 KP's, Hussiens, Vaughns. Imagine the carnage when they come on to bowl. Hayden, and Gilly, being, well, slightly better cricketers than those other guys, would smash them.
So VG, get off your high horse with this sole crusade to get 20/20 cricket stopped, and accept that even though, the Aussies aren't fans, if it gives them a chance to discredit opposition teams, let them at 'em. No.1 Test Nation. No.1 ODI Nation. No.1 Twenty20 Nation. Has a certain ring to it.
Posted by T11 on 2007-09-20 23:27:39
So VG, get off your high horse with this sole crusade to get 20/20 cricket stopped, and accept that even though, the Aussies aren't fans, if it gives them a chance to discredit opposition teams, let them at 'em. No.1 Test Nation. No.1 ODI Nation. No.1 Twenty20 Nation. Has a certain ring to it.
Posted by T11 on 2007-09-20 23:27:39
I'll have to pay that one, T-1-1...
But consider this: SA are out after losing one game, Aus were beaten by Zim, Zim are out and the the best in theory and experience (Eng) had woeful results... methinks Dan Tas is right on the money with this horrific version of our game.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-09-21 10:50:15
But consider this: SA are out after losing one game, Aus were beaten by Zim, Zim are out and the the best in theory and experience (Eng) had woeful results... methinks Dan Tas is right on the money with this horrific version of our game.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-09-21 10:50:15
Post New Comment
You need to be logged in to post a comment. If you're new, register here. Existing users, login via the right margin.
