When DRS is not DRS
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the opening day in Hyderabad
Brydon Coverdale
02-Mar-2013
Michael Clarke's precision placement was a sign of his superb form • BCCI
Non-DRS review of the day
In a series without player reviews, it was a strange sight to see the third umpire checking for an edge on a close-in catch. But that was the scenario after Marais Erasmus asked for the TV official to check whether the ball had carried to silly point when Moises Henriques pushed at a Harbhajan Singh delivery. Under the ICC's Test match playing conditions, while an on-field umpire is meant to only ask for a review to check if a catch is clean, if in the process of doing so the third official sees that the ball was clearly not hit by the batsman, he can inform the on-field umpire. That was the case in this instance and Henriques was reprieved.
In a series without player reviews, it was a strange sight to see the third umpire checking for an edge on a close-in catch. But that was the scenario after Marais Erasmus asked for the TV official to check whether the ball had carried to silly point when Moises Henriques pushed at a Harbhajan Singh delivery. Under the ICC's Test match playing conditions, while an on-field umpire is meant to only ask for a review to check if a catch is clean, if in the process of doing so the third official sees that the ball was clearly not hit by the batsman, he can inform the on-field umpire. That was the case in this instance and Henriques was reprieved.
Miscount of the day
Erasmus was involved in another unusual occurrence earlier in the day when he appeared to call over following the fifth ball of the 19th over. Erasmus gave the bowler Ishant Sharma his cap and the players began to walk to their positions for the next over. But whether prompted by third-umpire intervention or simply his own realisation, Erasmus called Ishant back and corrected his error. The sixth ball was defended by Phillip Hughes without any drama.
Erasmus was involved in another unusual occurrence earlier in the day when he appeared to call over following the fifth ball of the 19th over. Erasmus gave the bowler Ishant Sharma his cap and the players began to walk to their positions for the next over. But whether prompted by third-umpire intervention or simply his own realisation, Erasmus called Ishant back and corrected his error. The sixth ball was defended by Phillip Hughes without any drama.
Placement of the day
Michael Clarke's work against the spinners during this series has been exemplary but he has also shown his class against the seamers when given a chance. One particular shot during the 31st over of the innings was especially impressive. MS Dhoni had put in two catching men at short midwicket, standing just a few metres apart. But that didn't stop Clarke whipping the ball off his pads when Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled too straight, and the ball bounced safely between the two men, either a feat of precision placement or luck. And given the form Clarke is in at the moment, it would be unfair to presume it was luck.
Michael Clarke's work against the spinners during this series has been exemplary but he has also shown his class against the seamers when given a chance. One particular shot during the 31st over of the innings was especially impressive. MS Dhoni had put in two catching men at short midwicket, standing just a few metres apart. But that didn't stop Clarke whipping the ball off his pads when Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled too straight, and the ball bounced safely between the two men, either a feat of precision placement or luck. And given the form Clarke is in at the moment, it would be unfair to presume it was luck.
Presentation of the day
Another match, another baggy green presentation. In Chennai it was Henriques who made his Test debut and in Hyderabad it was Glenn Maxwell, brought in as one of two changes to the Australia side. Maxwell was given his cap by Matthew Hayden, who was commentating on the match. If the presenter was appropriate - one aggressive batsman to another - it was certainly incongruous to see Hayden do so in a jacket bearing the BCCI logo, as required for his commentary duties.
Another match, another baggy green presentation. In Chennai it was Henriques who made his Test debut and in Hyderabad it was Glenn Maxwell, brought in as one of two changes to the Australia side. Maxwell was given his cap by Matthew Hayden, who was commentating on the match. If the presenter was appropriate - one aggressive batsman to another - it was certainly incongruous to see Hayden do so in a jacket bearing the BCCI logo, as required for his commentary duties.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here