No McGrath, No Warne, No Press, No Worries
Today the 07/08 season officially starts, if only someone had thought to organise the weather in Brisbane. You'd think Cricket Australia had already done enough to guarantee blue skies by not scheduling the test in Melbourne, but alas scattered showers are predicted for Days 1, 2 and 3 of the test.
Latest weather from the bureaux: Rain periods this morning, tending to a few showers during the day. Moderate SE winds. Click here for Satellite weather image, the Gabba is between Brisane and Mt Gravatt about 30km NW of the centre of image.
Guess we want to bowl then.
Australian lineup: 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Phil Jaques, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Stuart MacGill.
Sri Lankan lineup: (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Marvan Atapattu, 3 Michael Vandort, 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Chamara Silva, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.
Pre-Match Shenanigans: Stuart Clark in a move eager to distinguish himself from McGrath has predicted a 2-0 whitewash. Mitchell Johnson has indicated the Lankans will be dancing to chin music from himself and Lee, Michael Clarke has warned the Aussie public to keep their hopes down as the new guard aren't as good as the old one, Kumar Sangakarra has decided the best way to beat the Aussies is to annoy them, and more recently has claimed that they can in fact play bounce.
Global Press Boycott: Cricket Australia thought they'd make some more cash by charging press agencies for "rights to photographs and the amount of text and data allowed to be sent from the ground." The IRB tried the same thing before the Rugby World Cup and it was a stunning failure. Regardless, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press have boycotted the first test, so coverage will no doubt be limited.
This blog thread will be updated throughout the day with the latest news, so be sure to refresh often. LIVE Scores available HERE.
| Posted by Moses on Thu 8 Nov |  51 comments |
Brisbane is currently going through the worst drought in my lifetime. Every Saturday this summer, I've played club cricket in blazing hot Queensland sun. But now that Test cricket has arrived with the 1st Test starting today, what happens? A week of downpour! Here is Google's weather forecast for the next four days
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 09:56:22
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 09:56:22
Play will begin at 10:15am local, so a delay of just 15 minutes. The pitch is green and conditions are still overcast, but the sun is breaking through.
So how bout a toss?
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:02:37
So how bout a toss?
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:02:37
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bowl first. But, in a major shock they have left out Lasith Malinga. His place has been taken by Farveez Maharoof who did bowl fairly well in the Tour Matches. Play to start at 10:15am local.
No Slinger! Haydo's will be happy to get out there and push for some runs, though with the cloud cover it'll be some very tough batting conditions, especially for the new bow Jaques. Still, from Phil's POV he'd be happy to get out and straight into it before having too much time to think himself out. Go son!
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:11:38
No Slinger! Haydo's will be happy to get out there and push for some runs, though with the cloud cover it'll be some very tough batting conditions, especially for the new bow Jaques. Still, from Phil's POV he'd be happy to get out and straight into it before having too much time to think himself out. Go son!
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:11:38
Despite the alledged press boycott all online services appear to be covering the match. Here's some direct links to the coverage I've found.
CricBuzz - Ball by Ball commentary via AJAX (doesn't require refreshes). Is the quickest I've found thus far but they do have some annoying advertisments along with their coverage.
Cricinfo - Ball by Ball commentary via old school HTML. Auto-refreshes every 30 seconds but if you swing the cricinfo way then make F5 and Ctrl-F5 your friend. Has been a solid performer over many years, and the commentary is particarly good when they have the Poms writing for them.. brilliant dry senses of humour - just ask Marto the angry dwarf.
Cricket.com.au - Official Cricket Australia commentary. Utilises AJAX but only gives commentary of eventful balls.
Phil Jaques on strike to Vaas........
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:18:13
CricBuzz - Ball by Ball commentary via AJAX (doesn't require refreshes). Is the quickest I've found thus far but they do have some annoying advertisments along with their coverage.
Cricinfo - Ball by Ball commentary via old school HTML. Auto-refreshes every 30 seconds but if you swing the cricinfo way then make F5 and Ctrl-F5 your friend. Has been a solid performer over many years, and the commentary is particarly good when they have the Poms writing for them.. brilliant dry senses of humour - just ask Marto the angry dwarf.
Cricket.com.au - Official Cricket Australia commentary. Utilises AJAX but only gives commentary of eventful balls.
Phil Jaques on strike to Vaas........
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:18:13
and... Jaques bats out a tight opening over from Vaas, and it's raining.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:25:10
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 11:25:10
Dang, 10am came and went and I forgot to turn on the radio (always like hearing the guitar strums of "cricket on the radio" on the ABC).
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 11:28:07
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 11:28:07
Sigh this is going to be a painful match to watch with constant scattered showers.
By the way since when has Brett Lee been considered an all-rounder?
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-08 11:32:43
By the way since when has Brett Lee been considered an all-rounder?
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-08 11:32:43
Cricket On The Radio WAS alright, but now I'm completely over Greg Champion. It's time that strumming hack folked off.
Posted by Tony T. on 2007-11-08 11:59:43
Posted by Tony T. on 2007-11-08 11:59:43
I'm rethinking whether to go tomorrow or not - taking a day off work to sit watching a damp field all day isn't looking too inviting right now (if I had a regular job maybe but being self-employed, well...)
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 12:06:41
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 12:06:41
can you take a laptop along to the game and work from the Gabba? I reckon in a corp box you'd probably get a power outlet...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:30:46
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:30:46
Oh, and on the topic of Greg Champion.. what a complete knob! His songs are TERRIBLE. The poms claimed last year that people were booing him due to his calling them the great unwashed, that wasn't the case at all.. we were booing him due to their APPALLING songs.... remember the one to the tune of YMCA that went "Bye, Wide, Leg Bye..." along with the hand guestures? Pathetic. Give yourself an uppercut.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:32:19
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:32:19
Jaques doing the hard yards out there.. 26 balls and yet to get off the mark. Stick in there Jaquesy.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:45:43
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:45:43
Well PJ is certainly taking his time. And leaving out Malinga seems bizarre...?
I'm supposed to be writing documentation at home today. As if.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 12:51:59
I'm supposed to be writing documentation at home today. As if.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 12:51:59
Looks like he's playing JC's gameplan, just make it through to lunch.. can score some runs in the second session. Lunch is only a few overs away now...... and Fernando is into the attack so in one way he's done his job and seen off the new ball..
It's times like this that he'd be so stoked that Haydo's is out there with him. An experienced campaigner who's seen it all before..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:52:07
It's times like this that he'd be so stoked that Haydo's is out there with him. An experienced campaigner who's seen it all before..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 12:52:07
8 overs in and Phil Jaques still hasn't broken his duck. Suddenly I'm feeling better about my batting! :-)
Murali coming in, bowling to Jaques now...
Bummer about Malinga being dropped - what is it with tourists dropping their interesting, up-and-coming players (a la Monty Panesar)?
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 12:56:03
Murali coming in, bowling to Jaques now...
Bummer about Malinga being dropped - what is it with tourists dropping their interesting, up-and-coming players (a la Monty Panesar)?
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 12:56:03
Muralitharan to Jaques, 1 run, and he's finally off the mark, to the crowd's content, as he picks the doosra and tucks it into the gap at square leg for one
And what a way to do it, picked his chuck and turned it into a duck breaker
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:01:05
And what a way to do it, picked his chuck and turned it into a duck breaker
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:01:05
Fernando to Jaques, FOUR!!, yorker length delivery on the middle and leg, Jaques shuffles across and glances it to fine leg, that races away for four!!!
Replays show that four came off Jaques' boot
--
and now he's off the mark it's time to shine. Show those Brisbanites a thing or two about batting ;)
Fernando's been warned twice for following up on the danger area
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:03:33
Replays show that four came off Jaques' boot
--
and now he's off the mark it's time to shine. Show those Brisbanites a thing or two about batting ;)
Fernando's been warned twice for following up on the danger area
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:03:33
Huh, "Brisbanites". Note the Queenslander is scoring at twice the rate of the NSWer, more so if you don't count Jaques' "four runs" (the quotes are meant to denote a sarcastic tone).
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 13:13:12
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 13:13:12
and I thought this was a Test Match, then you go bringing up run rates!
Note, when you take into account balls faced and Jaques "four", his strike rate is a Boycottesque 7.5 runs / 100
... but this is a test match, and his job was to see off the new ball and make it to lunch. Another 10 runs at this stage won't make any difference in the scheme of things. I've still got 100% faith in you Jaquesy..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:31:19
Note, when you take into account balls faced and Jaques "four", his strike rate is a Boycottesque 7.5 runs / 100
... but this is a test match, and his job was to see off the new ball and make it to lunch. Another 10 runs at this stage won't make any difference in the scheme of things. I've still got 100% faith in you Jaquesy..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 13:31:19
Haydo's GONE! c Muralitharan b Vaas 43(63)
Jaques now showing off for the captain, has just bought up his 30. I'll be the first to call it... 100 on DEBUT! Carn son.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 14:51:03
Jaques now showing off for the captain, has just bought up his 30. I'll be the first to call it... 100 on DEBUT! Carn son.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 14:51:03
Debut? This is Jaques' 3rd Test.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 14:54:47
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 14:54:47
Oh yeah... duh. well he's 37 now so still a century would be nice..
Just read this on cricinfo which is quite cool though:
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:10:53
Just read this on cricinfo which is quite cool though:
A British passport holder, Jaques was the victim of a country tug-o-war in 2003 after scoring 1409 County Championship runs with Northamptonshire, but he refused to commit to England because "my heart says Australia".
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:10:53
Well PJ's confused nationality aside, he's on debut as "the" opener at least. And he's outlasted his partner which is a good start. 100 would guarantee him the position for a few matches at least.
THe game seems slow but the current rate is 3.81 which is quite decent. Too much ODI and 20/20 has skewed my sense of normal run flow I think.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:20:39
THe game seems slow but the current rate is 3.81 which is quite decent. Too much ODI and 20/20 has skewed my sense of normal run flow I think.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:20:39
the more they bowl Fernando the higher our run rate will lift... 19 off his last two overs ;)
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:31:52
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:31:52
I hope they are asking themselves why they left Malinga out...
And resorting to bowling Murali in the first session seems a bit desperate, but what options do they have?
First innings: I'm guessing over 500 easily.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:34:24
And resorting to bowling Murali in the first session seems a bit desperate, but what options do they have?
First innings: I'm guessing over 500 easily.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:34:24
That's a half-ton for Jacques!
Nice one :)
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:37:41
Nice one :)
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 15:37:41
What 500+ in the first innings at the Gabba? Surely that's never happened before.. not even in a Hussein nightmare.......
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:41:47
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:41:47
39.5 Muralitharan to Jaques, 1 run, flighted delivery on the middle and leg, Jaques comes on the frontfoot, looks to flick it away, closes the face of the bat early, edges it to 1st slip, DROPPED!! by Mahela, he dives to his left but that was very quick and just wide of him
--
wonder if that'll come back to hurt them.. dropped on 60..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:52:45
--
wonder if that'll come back to hurt them.. dropped on 60..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 15:52:45
44.2 Maharoof to Jaques, 3 runs, good length delivery outside the off stump on that occasion, Jaques stays rooted on the crease and drives it to deep extra cover, uppish and DROPPED!! by the fielder inside the circle, he dives to his left but the ball goes past him!!!
--
so the first time they dropped him only cost 7 runs... how much will this one cost?
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:09:24
--
so the first time they dropped him only cost 7 runs... how much will this one cost?
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:09:24
Finally the second session is finished with the Aussies cruising on 1/161. 139 runs and 1 wicket came from that 35 over session..
Still 40 overs scheduled for the third session, lets see how much of that they can fit in..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:15:57
Still 40 overs scheduled for the third session, lets see how much of that they can fit in..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:15:57
Anyone else miss Alfie Langer today. I did!!
Jacques had better make the most of his good fortune here.
We now have two players who'd qualify to play for the Poms, Jacques and Symonds. JC can arrange for the transfer of the latter!!
Might be a bit premature looking at 500 plus at this stage. One wicket from Murali and more might tumble.
Why can't the sport I love most be one that takes only an hour or so!
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 16:21:43
Jacques had better make the most of his good fortune here.
We now have two players who'd qualify to play for the Poms, Jacques and Symonds. JC can arrange for the transfer of the latter!!
Might be a bit premature looking at 500 plus at this stage. One wicket from Murali and more might tumble.
Why can't the sport I love most be one that takes only an hour or so!
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 16:21:43
Hey Dan, if it only went for an hour then what would you do tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday and Monday?
Jacques is lucky to get two chances, though in fairness to him he made it to 60 before giving any chances which is a fair score regardless.
I just hope he unleashes some Steve Waughed themed rubbing it in now..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:29:13
Jacques is lucky to get two chances, though in fairness to him he made it to 60 before giving any chances which is a fair score regardless.
I just hope he unleashes some Steve Waughed themed rubbing it in now..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 16:29:13
I'll keep Roy for the ODIs and Twenty20 but the Poms are welcome to him for Tests.
Who's to bet he gets a run-a-ball century tomorrow with me watching in the crowd, eating crow.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 16:56:40
Who's to bet he gets a run-a-ball century tomorrow with me watching in the crowd, eating crow.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 16:56:40
Punter stumped, bowled Murali (7 wickets to go till he passes Warnie).
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 16:59:00
Posted by JC on 2007-11-08 16:59:00
Sounded like a close one...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 17:02:46
Muralitharan to Ponting, out Stumped!! Muralitharan bowls a good doosra from round the wicket, Ponting comes on the frontfoot and looks to defend, misses the line of the ball, Prasanna whips the bails in a flash and Ponting's foot is on the line, the line belongs to the umpire and he flashes the red signal Ponting st Prasanna b Muralitharan 56(85)Now Hussey is in at 4, which I'm very happy to see. Is it just me or is he in a form slump? His ODI form has been ordinary lately, or am I just expecting too much?
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 17:02:46
55.4 Muralitharan to Jaques, no run, flattish delivery outside the off stump, Jaques plants a long stride forward and looks to defend, the ball balloons off the pad to 2nd slip, HUGE APPEAL!! for a bat pad catch turned down
Sounds like Murali's being difficult out there, seems to be getting some turn on his flatter deliveries as well..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 17:16:59
Sounds like Murali's being difficult out there, seems to be getting some turn on his flatter deliveries as well..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 17:16:59
Oh Ponting, oh Ponting...
I feel really sorry for the Ponting….. He brag about not giving a single wicket to Murali and the poor fellow simply got out for the greatest spinner
Hey Pointing, check whether you still got your balls between your legs
Posted by LordOfCricketGame on 2007-11-08 17:19:22
I feel really sorry for the Ponting….. He brag about not giving a single wicket to Murali and the poor fellow simply got out for the greatest spinner
Hey Pointing, check whether you still got your balls between your legs
Posted by LordOfCricketGame on 2007-11-08 17:19:22
Ponting has been out to the "greatest spinner" - Warne has dismissed him in state competition before.
This time he only got out to Murali.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:26:23
This time he only got out to Murali.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:26:23
Nice Manning.
Hopefully Hussey can get some time in the middle and get some form back. He hasn't had many chance to bat in the middle so hopefully these Test matches will give him some much needed time in the middle.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-08 17:29:18
Hopefully Hussey can get some time in the middle and get some form back. He hasn't had many chance to bat in the middle so hopefully these Test matches will give him some much needed time in the middle.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-08 17:29:18
There ya go Andrew. The NSW boy gets a ton... nice way to bring it up too :)
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:50:30
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:50:30
OK, now we might have a game on...
65.5 Muralitharan to Jaques, OUT, gone! Murali drags Jaques out of his crease with a well-disguised slower one, well wide of off stump, deceiving him in the flight and the momentary lapse of concentration bring Sri Lanka back late in the day!
PA Jaques st HAPW Jayawardene b Muralitharan 100 (203b 13x4 0x6) SR: 49.26
Second stumping for the day.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:58:00
65.5 Muralitharan to Jaques, OUT, gone! Murali drags Jaques out of his crease with a well-disguised slower one, well wide of off stump, deceiving him in the flight and the momentary lapse of concentration bring Sri Lanka back late in the day!
PA Jaques st HAPW Jayawardene b Muralitharan 100 (203b 13x4 0x6) SR: 49.26
Second stumping for the day.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 17:58:00
Warney's probably got him a few times in the nets too..
Gotta love what you can do with Foxtel IQ and a digital camera... click thumbnails to see full size :)
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:12:51
Gotta love what you can do with Foxtel IQ and a digital camera... click thumbnails to see full size :)
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:12:51
Well done to the young NSWelshman too. The future sure is looking good, lets just hope the bowlers step up.
Is it too much to ask that we get TV coverage of home tests? If Channel 9 aren't going to show it then why don't they let Foxtel?? Makes me so freaking mad.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:15:54
Is it too much to ask that we get TV coverage of home tests? If Channel 9 aren't going to show it then why don't they let Foxtel?? Makes me so freaking mad.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:15:54
Heh AM Study, household chores, gambling,
women, song..
Second thoughts, keep to Test Cricket!!
350 will be a good score. They've gotta bat last and lineup looks a bit flimsy.
Summing up the day, a good toss to lose.
(TV coverage here has ceased, at least for a half hour while we get the bloody news.)
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 18:22:59
women, song..
Second thoughts, keep to Test Cricket!!
350 will be a good score. They've gotta bat last and lineup looks a bit flimsy.
Summing up the day, a good toss to lose.
(TV coverage here has ceased, at least for a half hour while we get the bloody news.)
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 18:22:59
TV's off here too, rest assured ABC radio is going just fine and Jim Maxwell and Damien Flemming are doing a fine job. So frustrating to have Foxtel and they can't show it either as Channel 9 have exclusive right to not show it.
Guaranteed they wont budge A Current Affair for it either..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:32:55
Guaranteed they wont budge A Current Affair for it either..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:32:55
Yeah, A Current Affair has just started down here now so that's it for the day. Pathetic.
Can Kevin07 fix this problem.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 18:35:13
Can Kevin07 fix this problem.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-08 18:35:13
Not sure, the self confessed cricket tragic who can't bowl never stood up to Kerry... can't see how Kev could be any worse.
Regardless they're off for bad light... apparently not very dark either.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:38:35
Regardless they're off for bad light... apparently not very dark either.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:38:35
9:30 am start scheduled for tomorrow, that'll allow them to fit in the 14 hours lost today.
Flemming is saying that with the blue skies conditions are better than they were this morning.
Covers going out, that's officially stumps.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:40:11
Flemming is saying that with the blue skies conditions are better than they were this morning.
Covers going out, that's officially stumps.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-08 18:40:11
Off at 242/3...
Hussey and Clarke looking in good nick, Symonds and Gillie to come... I don't think 500 is impossible you know. If it stays dry overnight the pitch might flatten out a bit more.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 18:43:08
Hussey and Clarke looking in good nick, Symonds and Gillie to come... I don't think 500 is impossible you know. If it stays dry overnight the pitch might flatten out a bit more.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-08 18:43:08
Hello!
Nice site ;)
Bye
Posted by TymnMuroarony on 2008-01-26 16:56:10
Nice site ;)
Bye
Posted by TymnMuroarony on 2008-01-26 16:56:10
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