A tribute to Tony Greig
Plays of the Day from the first day of the third Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney
Daniel Brettig at the SCG
03-Jan-2013
Before play, on the stumps at the Paddington end was hung Tony Greig's trademark broad-brimmed hat • Getty Images
The tribute
Australia, Sri Lanka and the match officials had another team join them for a moment's silence to honour Tony Greig after the former England captain, World Series Cricket pioneer and strident commentator died last week. Also lined up at the SCG were Greig's commentary colleagues at Channel Nine, including Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell and Richie Benaud. Joining them were members of Greig's family, while on the stumps at the Paddington end was hung his trademark broad-brimmed hat. The players wore black arm bands in memory of Greig, while Australia's captain Michael Clarke donned a neck scarf reminiscent of those Greig wore when leading England in Australia and India. Many in the crowd also wore sunhats. Of the tribute, Greig's wife Vivian said: "I just wish he could have seen it. I'm so grateful, truly grateful."
Australia, Sri Lanka and the match officials had another team join them for a moment's silence to honour Tony Greig after the former England captain, World Series Cricket pioneer and strident commentator died last week. Also lined up at the SCG were Greig's commentary colleagues at Channel Nine, including Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell and Richie Benaud. Joining them were members of Greig's family, while on the stumps at the Paddington end was hung his trademark broad-brimmed hat. The players wore black arm bands in memory of Greig, while Australia's captain Michael Clarke donned a neck scarf reminiscent of those Greig wore when leading England in Australia and India. Many in the crowd also wore sunhats. Of the tribute, Greig's wife Vivian said: "I just wish he could have seen it. I'm so grateful, truly grateful."
The retiree
Michael Hussey led Australia onto the field for the start of his final Test, and in the first session the ball followed him too. He ran from the slips cordon to accept a high, swirling chance after Dimuth Karunaratne miscued Jackson Bird for the first wicket of the day, but had less success claiming the second. He lunged for a slips chance offered by Mahela Jayawardene when Sri Lanka's captain had made just four, but unlike in Melbourne the ball burst through his outstretched left hand and scurried away to the third-man boundary.
Michael Hussey led Australia onto the field for the start of his final Test, and in the first session the ball followed him too. He ran from the slips cordon to accept a high, swirling chance after Dimuth Karunaratne miscued Jackson Bird for the first wicket of the day, but had less success claiming the second. He lunged for a slips chance offered by Mahela Jayawardene when Sri Lanka's captain had made just four, but unlike in Melbourne the ball burst through his outstretched left hand and scurried away to the third-man boundary.
The exasperation
Mitchell Starc can be given to moments of intemperance on the field, and another arrived after he had dismissed Jayawardene to end a stand that frustrated the hosts. Fielding Thilan Samaraweera's push back down the pitch, Starc hurled the ball back in the general direction of the stumps. He had done this in Hobart and struck the batsman; this time the throw was much further awry, and eluded Matthew Wade's dive to skid away for four overthrows.
Mitchell Starc can be given to moments of intemperance on the field, and another arrived after he had dismissed Jayawardene to end a stand that frustrated the hosts. Fielding Thilan Samaraweera's push back down the pitch, Starc hurled the ball back in the general direction of the stumps. He had done this in Hobart and struck the batsman; this time the throw was much further awry, and eluded Matthew Wade's dive to skid away for four overthrows.
The catch
Lahiru Thirimanne was progressing so serenely towards a first Test century that it came as a surprise when he sliced an attempt to drive Lyon square of cover. The ball hung in the air for someone to attempt a catch, and David Warner obliged, running around and diving to claim the chance in his right hand. It was a vital moment: Thirimanne was beside himself with grief at missing out on three figures, Warner equally overcome, but with jubilance at hanging on to a catch that could so easily have tumbled out when he hit the turf.
Lahiru Thirimanne was progressing so serenely towards a first Test century that it came as a surprise when he sliced an attempt to drive Lyon square of cover. The ball hung in the air for someone to attempt a catch, and David Warner obliged, running around and diving to claim the chance in his right hand. It was a vital moment: Thirimanne was beside himself with grief at missing out on three figures, Warner equally overcome, but with jubilance at hanging on to a catch that could so easily have tumbled out when he hit the turf.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here