The segway strikes again
ESPNcricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the third day of the first Test between Australia and India in Melbourne
Sidharth Monga at the MCG
28-Dec-2011
Ed Cowan's skills as a 'leaver' didn't come in handy in Australia's second innings • AFP
The stumble II
Before the start of the second day, Ian Healy, a Channel 9 commentator, tried to show Joe the Cameraman how to do the segway camera. It was all going swimmingly for Heals until he tried to get off it, and tumbled over, taking out pieces of turf with him. The few who had turned up early were riddled by laughter, Healy sportingly did a mock limp, and Joe had the final laugh.
Before the start of the second day, Ian Healy, a Channel 9 commentator, tried to show Joe the Cameraman how to do the segway camera. It was all going swimmingly for Heals until he tried to get off it, and tumbled over, taking out pieces of turf with him. The few who had turned up early were riddled by laughter, Healy sportingly did a mock limp, and Joe had the final laugh.
The flying bail
The speed gun told us Ishant Sharma bowled seriously fast today. In his mid-afternoon spell, he kept hitting the late 140s, and even crossed 152kph once. Just how quick was it? When he bowled Michael Clarke, hitting the top of the stumps, the leg bail flew over MS Dhoni's hand. It went so far that if that had that been the ball, the batsmen might have contemplated a second.
The speed gun told us Ishant Sharma bowled seriously fast today. In his mid-afternoon spell, he kept hitting the late 140s, and even crossed 152kph once. Just how quick was it? When he bowled Michael Clarke, hitting the top of the stumps, the leg bail flew over MS Dhoni's hand. It went so far that if that had that been the ball, the batsmen might have contemplated a second.
The leave
Ed Cowan is generally considered, with merit, the best 'leaver' in Australia. He showed why in the first innings at the MCG. Today, though, it went horribly wrong when he shouldered arms to Umesh Yadav. The ball pitched on a length, around off, and instead of going with the angle, came back in. Marais Erasmus didn't waste a second in raising the finger.
Ed Cowan is generally considered, with merit, the best 'leaver' in Australia. He showed why in the first innings at the MCG. Today, though, it went horribly wrong when he shouldered arms to Umesh Yadav. The ball pitched on a length, around off, and instead of going with the angle, came back in. Marais Erasmus didn't waste a second in raising the finger.
The hit
Cowan couldn't have left this one alone. This was when he was fielding at short leg, and Ishant flicked Ben Hilfenhaus off his legs. There was no time for Cowan to get out of the way, and he was hit flush on the helmet. Ishant looked overly concerned, immediately went to apologise, and ended up having a longish chat with the man he had hit. This might find a mention in Cowan's next book.
Cowan couldn't have left this one alone. This was when he was fielding at short leg, and Ishant flicked Ben Hilfenhaus off his legs. There was no time for Cowan to get out of the way, and he was hit flush on the helmet. Ishant looked overly concerned, immediately went to apologise, and ended up having a longish chat with the man he had hit. This might find a mention in Cowan's next book.
The presence
It is not here, but the DRS dominates discussion. In the 18th over of the Australian innings, Zaheer Khan appealed against Ricky Ponting, but was denied. Replays and ball-tracking showed the ball was hitting the middle stump three-fourths of the way up. Not sure India will be complaining, though.
It is not here, but the DRS dominates discussion. In the 18th over of the Australian innings, Zaheer Khan appealed against Ricky Ponting, but was denied. Replays and ball-tracking showed the ball was hitting the middle stump three-fourths of the way up. Not sure India will be complaining, though.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo