Prime Batting

Hashim Amla is on top of his game, which is a poignant counterpoint to a guy like Ricky Ponting. We can all remember when he made it look this easy. Just another reminder that in sport you better enjoy the moment.

Knobsville

While my internet might not of been functioning my Sky was, so I too witnessed Watson make a fool of himself with what Frank Zappa would have called a "petulent frenzy".

Funny how after Test 1 the Windies were so bad they shouldn't have been allowed to play a team as exulted as the Chosen Ones, while by Test 3 they were able to  expose a number of raw, and stupid, nerves.

Funny old game cricket.

In further developments Watson says he was teased by Gayle who said bad things about him - Border and Waugh must be cringing.

Welcome To The Big Time

Clint McKay gets the hat that matters but he probably wished he could kick off against someone other than Chris "The Pirate King" Gayle.

Still, it can only get easier, eh?

Travis Dowlin Sees Red

Any one who has ever played the game of cricket knows how Travis is feeling.

If the ball was only a bit bigger, redder, softer and movd a bit slower!

Just Win Baby

Peter Roebuck in The Age (Day 4)

"Ricky Ponting has outwitted his counterpart in this match. Whereas Graeme Smith has responded to the game, his opponent has tried to dictate its course. Admittedly the Australian has had the game breaker in his line-up but he has also been the more alert tactician. Smith does take charge of his team but does not impose himself on a match. Accordingly the home batsmen have been able to escape from every predicament."

Now hindsight is... blah,blah,blah, but just maybe people forget that it is a simple game and, played simply, if you score more runs than the opposition you win. Listening to Lawry & Co. for the first 4 days it seemed to be all about style points but unless the ICC has made even more changes they don't yet count for runs.

Action Aplenty

Last day at Chennai.
First day at Perth.
Anyone missing 20/20?

Well Done, Move On

Stick a fork in it, its done.

A great win for India but let us not forget there is another test to come and that is going to answer many of the questions that this one raised. I for one am going to be glued to the action, tempting though all of that 20/20 bollocks is!

Steak and Chewing Gum

Watching the WACA Test has got me thinking - shocking I know. Test matches are like a good steak dinner - they take a while, they take time to digest and they are long term satisfying. Then I click on cricinfo and see that the Windies and SA boys have played a meaningless 20/20 which can only be compared to chewing gum, if I stay with my dodgy food analogy.

What plonker decided that players throwing their bat at the ball for 40 overs was in any way more exciting or satisfying than the tension of RP Singh hanging in for a vital 30?

Shot of the Day

Didn't see too much of day one, but I did see The Little Master play this shot - wow!

Just goes to show "all class and no arse" is even more entertaining then "hard but fair". It is a pity that he still stands out like Richard Hadlee in a kiwi bowling attack, but there is always the second dig.