The helmet that took out Joe the Cameraman
ESPNcricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the second day of the first Test between Australia and India in Melbourne
Sidharth Monga at the MCG
27-Dec-2011
The Australians help Joe Previtera pick up the pieces • AFP
The start
The last time Virender Sehwag played in Australia he went a session without hitting a boundary, while saving the Adelaide Test in 2007-08. There was anticipation as to how he would start here, playing the last Test of a year in which he hasn't scored a century. His first ball was very Sehwag. A length ball outside off, shaping away and he drove at it, mis-hitting but clearing mid-off with ease.
The last time Virender Sehwag played in Australia he went a session without hitting a boundary, while saving the Adelaide Test in 2007-08. There was anticipation as to how he would start here, playing the last Test of a year in which he hasn't scored a century. His first ball was very Sehwag. A length ball outside off, shaping away and he drove at it, mis-hitting but clearing mid-off with ease.
The drop
Michael Hussey can't catch a break these days. On day one he was given out first ball when he didn't touch the ball. On day two, he got an early low offering from Sehwag at gully. Both the openers had been uncertain until then. Sehwag was 11, India 13. Hussey, though, couldn't hold on.
Michael Hussey can't catch a break these days. On day one he was given out first ball when he didn't touch the ball. On day two, he got an early low offering from Sehwag at gully. Both the openers had been uncertain until then. Sehwag was 11, India 13. Hussey, though, couldn't hold on.
The collisions
Early on in his innings, while running between the wickets, Sehwag ran into James Pattinson, whereupon words were exchanged between him and Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ricky Ponting. A minor scene was created. That was not the end of pleasantries. Later, when Siddle came on to bowl, Sehwag smacked him for a four down the ground, touched down at the non-striker's end, and ran into Siddle on the way back. Sehwag apologised this time, but Siddle didn't look back. It doesn't look good when you mouth off just after being hit for a four.
Early on in his innings, while running between the wickets, Sehwag ran into James Pattinson, whereupon words were exchanged between him and Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ricky Ponting. A minor scene was created. That was not the end of pleasantries. Later, when Siddle came on to bowl, Sehwag smacked him for a four down the ground, touched down at the non-striker's end, and ran into Siddle on the way back. Sehwag apologised this time, but Siddle didn't look back. It doesn't look good when you mouth off just after being hit for a four.
The field set
When Nathan Lyon was introduced early on in the Indian innings, bets were on in the stands as to whether he would bowl the first ball to Sehwag with a long-on and deep midwicket in place. Sehwag was only 29 then. Rahul Dravid then heightened the excitement around the bet by playing the first 10 balls that Lyon bowled. Michael Clarke and Lyon didn't surprise. Long-on, deep midwicket and fine leg were firmly rooted to the fence as Lyon bowled to Sehwag for the first time.
When Nathan Lyon was introduced early on in the Indian innings, bets were on in the stands as to whether he would bowl the first ball to Sehwag with a long-on and deep midwicket in place. Sehwag was only 29 then. Rahul Dravid then heightened the excitement around the bet by playing the first 10 balls that Lyon bowled. Michael Clarke and Lyon didn't surprise. Long-on, deep midwicket and fine leg were firmly rooted to the fence as Lyon bowled to Sehwag for the first time.
The stumble
Joe Previtera, the artist famously known as Joe the Cameraman of the "can't bowl, can't throw" fame is back. He now operates the Channel 9 segway camera, which is basically a kind of unicycle you move on when filming. Just after lunch on day two, when he was taking his final shots of the Aussies warming up and moving back to the stands, with his eyes firmly on the viewfinder, he tripped over Brad Haddin's helmet, which lay harmlessly until then. Cue a loud cheer in the stands. Joe was a good sport, and acknowledged them with raised arms. Later he told Channel 9 that he feared he had hit a player down on the ground, stretching before the start of the session. Scott Muller would have had a good laugh.
Joe Previtera, the artist famously known as Joe the Cameraman of the "can't bowl, can't throw" fame is back. He now operates the Channel 9 segway camera, which is basically a kind of unicycle you move on when filming. Just after lunch on day two, when he was taking his final shots of the Aussies warming up and moving back to the stands, with his eyes firmly on the viewfinder, he tripped over Brad Haddin's helmet, which lay harmlessly until then. Cue a loud cheer in the stands. Joe was a good sport, and acknowledged them with raised arms. Later he told Channel 9 that he feared he had hit a player down on the ground, stretching before the start of the session. Scott Muller would have had a good laugh.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo