A day for walkers and a day out for the ladies
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the second day of the first Test between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park
Firdose Moonda at SuperSport Park
17-Dec-2010
On the last tour, Sreesanth entertained with his batting. This time it was his antics on the field • AFP
The five-for
Morne Morkel was thrown the ball first up this morning after his aggressive display on day one. His strategy from yesterday effortlessly carried over and it was the follow-up ball that did the trick again. Morkel presented MS Dhoni with two short balls and then dished up the fuller delivery. Dhoni was trapped in his crease and struck on the pads, giving Morkel career-best figures of 5 for 20.
Morne Morkel was thrown the ball first up this morning after his aggressive display on day one. His strategy from yesterday effortlessly carried over and it was the follow-up ball that did the trick again. Morkel presented MS Dhoni with two short balls and then dished up the fuller delivery. Dhoni was trapped in his crease and struck on the pads, giving Morkel career-best figures of 5 for 20.
The walkers
If Morkel has any doubts about whether the decision that gave him his five-for was the correct one, they must have been immediately erased by Dhoni's reaction. Without waiting to see if umpire Ian Gould thought that the ball would go on to hit the stumps, the India captain started the trudge back. South Africa had a walker of their own. Alviro Petersen showed no hesitation in getting off the park after he inside-edged Harbhajan Singh onto his pad, popping a catch to forward short-leg.
If Morkel has any doubts about whether the decision that gave him his five-for was the correct one, they must have been immediately erased by Dhoni's reaction. Without waiting to see if umpire Ian Gould thought that the ball would go on to hit the stumps, the India captain started the trudge back. South Africa had a walker of their own. Alviro Petersen showed no hesitation in getting off the park after he inside-edged Harbhajan Singh onto his pad, popping a catch to forward short-leg.
The crowd pleaser
The last time Sreesanth was in South Africa he gave a bat-lassoing display after hitting Andre Nel for six at the Wanderers. This time he provided the crowd more entertainment. They cheered when he started the South Africans innings with a wide but cheered even louder when he misfielded twice at fine leg. The first time it was a measured burble but on his second fumble, Sreesanth received loud applause.
The last time Sreesanth was in South Africa he gave a bat-lassoing display after hitting Andre Nel for six at the Wanderers. This time he provided the crowd more entertainment. They cheered when he started the South Africans innings with a wide but cheered even louder when he misfielded twice at fine leg. The first time it was a measured burble but on his second fumble, Sreesanth received loud applause.
The body blow
When part-timer Suresh Raina came on to bowl, fireworks were expected. Jacques Kallis dug straight in but instead of hooking the ball to the boundary he found Gautam Gambhir at forward short leg, whose shoulder absorbed the full force of the stroke. It continues to be a painful time for the Indian opener's upper body. He was hit on the back yesterday by a Dale Steyn delivery while batting.
When part-timer Suresh Raina came on to bowl, fireworks were expected. Jacques Kallis dug straight in but instead of hooking the ball to the boundary he found Gautam Gambhir at forward short leg, whose shoulder absorbed the full force of the stroke. It continues to be a painful time for the Indian opener's upper body. He was hit on the back yesterday by a Dale Steyn delivery while batting.
The ladies
Castle Lager hosted the fairer sex in their "Maiden's Bowled Over" function on the grass embankment. Tickets were R400 ($57) for a full-day experience which included all food and drinks, and a massage. The highlight was a visit by Ryan McLaren, who found that he was not as popular with the maidens as he may have hoped. The woman introducing him wasn't sure of his name and poor Ryan ended up identifying himself.
Castle Lager hosted the fairer sex in their "Maiden's Bowled Over" function on the grass embankment. Tickets were R400 ($57) for a full-day experience which included all food and drinks, and a massage. The highlight was a visit by Ryan McLaren, who found that he was not as popular with the maidens as he may have hoped. The woman introducing him wasn't sure of his name and poor Ryan ended up identifying himself.
The Kallis-do
The talk about the mop of hair Kallis has sprouted on his once balding head was done yesterday, but Rahul Dravid was expecting its effects would be seen today. "We were hoping he would be spending time looking in the mirror so he might not score as many runs," Dravid joked. "The hairstyle has changed, but the batting hasn't." Kallis started as a blistering rate by his standards and when the lull arrived, he kept going relatively quickly. A memorable six off a Sachin Tendulkar full-toss took him to the brink of his hundred. Some wondered if his new hair would fall off when he removed his helmet to celebrate his century. Like the man himself, it remained firm.
The talk about the mop of hair Kallis has sprouted on his once balding head was done yesterday, but Rahul Dravid was expecting its effects would be seen today. "We were hoping he would be spending time looking in the mirror so he might not score as many runs," Dravid joked. "The hairstyle has changed, but the batting hasn't." Kallis started as a blistering rate by his standards and when the lull arrived, he kept going relatively quickly. A memorable six off a Sachin Tendulkar full-toss took him to the brink of his hundred. Some wondered if his new hair would fall off when he removed his helmet to celebrate his century. Like the man himself, it remained firm.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent