Kohli's costly drop
Plays of the day from the fourth ODI between India and Australia in Ranchi
Abhishek Purohit
23-Oct-2013
Glenn Maxwell found an unorthodox way to thwart R Ashwin's plans to contain him in the batting powerplay • BCCI
The drop
India put down five catches in the game, but none was to prove as costly as the first one in the sixth over. Australia had lost their openers early for the first time in the series. Like Phillip Hughes the previous ball, the in-form George Bailey was surprised by the bounce Mohammed Shami generated. He prodded at his first delivery which went low to Virat Kohli's left at third slip. Kohli went too eagerly at the ball and it bounced off his wrist. After the drop, Bailey went on to top-score for Australia with 98.
India put down five catches in the game, but none was to prove as costly as the first one in the sixth over. Australia had lost their openers early for the first time in the series. Like Phillip Hughes the previous ball, the in-form George Bailey was surprised by the bounce Mohammed Shami generated. He prodded at his first delivery which went low to Virat Kohli's left at third slip. Kohli went too eagerly at the ball and it bounced off his wrist. After the drop, Bailey went on to top-score for Australia with 98.
The hit
MS Dhoni had joined the bowler Suresh Raina in appealing loudly for leg-before against Bailey in the 31st over. Even as the ball rolled towards third man, the batsmen scurried for a single. Wise to their efforts, Shikhar Dhawan had a go at the striker's end. Dhoni was still busy with the appeal and had no clue what was happening behind him till the ball smacked him on his leg. Wincing in pain, Dhoni clutched his leg and called for treatment and to add to the blow, umpire Vineet Kulkarni ruled Bailey had got an inside edge.
MS Dhoni had joined the bowler Suresh Raina in appealing loudly for leg-before against Bailey in the 31st over. Even as the ball rolled towards third man, the batsmen scurried for a single. Wise to their efforts, Shikhar Dhawan had a go at the striker's end. Dhoni was still busy with the appeal and had no clue what was happening behind him till the ball smacked him on his leg. Wincing in pain, Dhoni clutched his leg and called for treatment and to add to the blow, umpire Vineet Kulkarni ruled Bailey had got an inside edge.
The reverse sweep
In the batting Powerplay, R Ashwin tried to contain Glenn Maxwell with his deep fielders on the leg side and bowling from round the stumps. Maxwell countered by picking one from outside leg stump and cracking a reverse-sweep so hard it carried for six over the deep-cover boundary. No leading edges, this was a proper strike. The next ball was given the same treatment, and sailed over the infield for four in the same region.
In the batting Powerplay, R Ashwin tried to contain Glenn Maxwell with his deep fielders on the leg side and bowling from round the stumps. Maxwell countered by picking one from outside leg stump and cracking a reverse-sweep so hard it carried for six over the deep-cover boundary. No leading edges, this was a proper strike. The next ball was given the same treatment, and sailed over the infield for four in the same region.
The bouncer
Mitchell Johnson has used the short ball liberally through the series. First ball to Shikhar Dhawan, and third ball of India's innings, Johnson decided to see how much bounce there really was on offer in Ranchi. He banged it hard into the surface and the ball flew, past Dhawan, who had managed to sway out of the line, over a hapless Brad Haddin leaping as high as he could to crash into the boundary after only one bounce. Johnson reined himself in a bit and ended the over with three successive short-of-a-length deliveries.
Mitchell Johnson has used the short ball liberally through the series. First ball to Shikhar Dhawan, and third ball of India's innings, Johnson decided to see how much bounce there really was on offer in Ranchi. He banged it hard into the surface and the ball flew, past Dhawan, who had managed to sway out of the line, over a hapless Brad Haddin leaping as high as he could to crash into the boundary after only one bounce. Johnson reined himself in a bit and ended the over with three successive short-of-a-length deliveries.
The throw
Rohit Sharma defended Clint McKay into the covers in the fourth over of India's innings. James Faulkner fielded the ball and lobbed it towards the keeper. Rohit was standing casually in his crease when he saw the ball descend on him and instinctively, he attempted to defend again to protect himself. Haddin was right behind him, rushing up to collect the ball but it missed both men and rolled off to the boundary. Seeing that the batsmen were never attempting a run, the umpires conferred and called the ball dead.
Rohit Sharma defended Clint McKay into the covers in the fourth over of India's innings. James Faulkner fielded the ball and lobbed it towards the keeper. Rohit was standing casually in his crease when he saw the ball descend on him and instinctively, he attempted to defend again to protect himself. Haddin was right behind him, rushing up to collect the ball but it missed both men and rolled off to the boundary. Seeing that the batsmen were never attempting a run, the umpires conferred and called the ball dead.
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo