Sway

Kane Williamson let's another one go by.

Ole!!

What might Hemingway made of this sort of sunny conflict?

Getting Some Back

Mitchell Johnson gets a few short ones. Nothing he wouldn't expect (or handle) but it is nice to see that the biter can be bit.

Repeating The Dose

Michael Carberry better get used to it 'cause there is a lot more where that cam from.

In Your Face

There are more techniques for intimidating the batsman than the sledge or the bouncer.

Shahid Afridi is pictured here practicing his scowl - scary enough to distort time and space.

Fear And Loathing In The Second Innings

I am not sure who needs the ether and speed more, the Black Caps middle order or those of us sitting up to watch the carnage.

Meeting Things Head On

Duck, sway or drop on your arse are the most common escape methods for the well directed bouncer. Michael Clarke is shown here developing a more confrontational approach.

Celebrating The Bouncer

Remember when test wickets would bounce. When big nasties ran in and played a little chin music. When batsman feared for their life not their bank balance. I am sure Robin Smith does. Over the next week or two I intend to live in the past and recall why I loved watching and was bloody pleased I wasn't out there.

Chin Music

With the perfect bouncer you don't see stars, just lots of very hard coloured spheres.

Well Left!

Bravo subscribes to the school of "anything that doesn't hurt is a good shot".

Meeting Challenges Head On

Michael Clarke displays the old Aussie battling spirit and puts his head on the line. A display not apparently lost on his bowlers.

Taking It On The Chin

Matthew Wade gets a blast from the past and a bit of a feel for how it was touring the West Indies in days gone by.

If Looks Could Kill...

... they still wouldn't be as threatening as a well directed bouncer. Kane Williamson is keeping his eye on the ball, only it has already gone.

Brutal

Not so much the barrage of bouncers but the wimpy way the Black Caps lost 5 wickets for no/zero/naught/bugger all runs.

The WACA Wave

If you are going to play at the WACA it is best you spend a little time taking your head out of the line of the ball while still keeping your eye on it.

Blast From the Past

It's 1975, Dennis Lillee is bowling very short, and very very fast. 

The only protection you have is good eye sight, a piece of willow and a toweling floppy hat.

So what happens next?

Bouncy Bridgetown

Dravid is seen here highlighting the fact that there is nothing like a hard red ball hurled at your head at 140 km to distort time and space.

This effect seems to have been quite common so far in the Bridgetown Test.

Welcome To Bridgetown

Suresh Raina gets a traditional greeting from Ravi Rampaul on Day 1 at Bridgetown

It is a great bit of photography from the Getty crew - those hands tell you everything there is to know about facing the bouncer.

Bats A Flying

Who says there is no intensity and aggression in county cricket. Not James Taylor and Alex Hales, who are seen here being struck hard enough by the bowler to loose a bit of bat focus. The cricket aficionado will understand that these events did not occur at the same time despite the photographic evidence.

A Genuine Contest

Isn't it great to see two evenly matched sides thumping away at each other? Well, if they are matched and skilled that is.