Vinay's redemption and Rohit's misfortune
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first Twenty20 between Australia and India, in Sydney
Sidharth Monga at Stadium Australia
01-Feb-2012
Rahul Sharma was welcomed to Australia by a hard blow that left him with a bloodied finger • Getty Images
Improvisation of the day
The switch-hit is not quite the novelty it used to be, but batsmen keep doing it better. In the third over of the match, cramped until then by R Ashwin's straight bowling, David Warner became a right-hand batsman. He took a full ball from outside what would have been his leg stump, and punched it over what would have been long-off. If you had watched only from when he struck the ball onwards, you would have thought it was a classic lofted drive. Let's call it the switch-punch.
The switch-hit is not quite the novelty it used to be, but batsmen keep doing it better. In the third over of the match, cramped until then by R Ashwin's straight bowling, David Warner became a right-hand batsman. He took a full ball from outside what would have been his leg stump, and punched it over what would have been long-off. If you had watched only from when he struck the ball onwards, you would have thought it was a classic lofted drive. Let's call it the switch-punch.
Jersey of the day
Changing jerseys at the start of a new series or new season has become a common marketing ploy, and Australia keep doing it. The change to India's jersey, however, was the addition of another big logo of their sponsors, Sahara, on the back of the jersey, under the number.
Changing jerseys at the start of a new series or new season has become a common marketing ploy, and Australia keep doing it. The change to India's jersey, however, was the addition of another big logo of their sponsors, Sahara, on the back of the jersey, under the number.
Welcome of the day
Rahul Sharma did not receive a warm welcome in Australia. With the rain pouring down, it was difficult to grip the ball. If that was not enough, Travis Birt smacked Rahul's fourth delivery back towards his face. It was hit with such fierce power Rahul could just about get his hand up to protect himself. Unfortunately, it goes down as a drop. To add injury to insult, the impact with his hand cut the little finger on his bowling hand, and he had to go off the field. He came back on to finish with figures of 3.4-0-27-1. That, though, included another dropped return catch, this one an easier one to his left, in the last over of the innings.
Rahul Sharma did not receive a warm welcome in Australia. With the rain pouring down, it was difficult to grip the ball. If that was not enough, Travis Birt smacked Rahul's fourth delivery back towards his face. It was hit with such fierce power Rahul could just about get his hand up to protect himself. Unfortunately, it goes down as a drop. To add injury to insult, the impact with his hand cut the little finger on his bowling hand, and he had to go off the field. He came back on to finish with figures of 3.4-0-27-1. That, though, included another dropped return catch, this one an easier one to his left, in the last over of the innings.
Redemption of the day, sort of
R Vinay Kumar's introduction to Test cricket was hostile. David Warner was the man who tormented him, hitting him for a six in his first over, and taking 43 runs off the 36 balls Vinay bowled to him. If Vinay has been having nightmares about Warner, tonight's game may ease his sleep a bit. He dismissed Warne after conceding five off two balls to him.
R Vinay Kumar's introduction to Test cricket was hostile. David Warner was the man who tormented him, hitting him for a six in his first over, and taking 43 runs off the 36 balls Vinay bowled to him. If Vinay has been having nightmares about Warner, tonight's game may ease his sleep a bit. He dismissed Warne after conceding five off two balls to him.
Haze of the day
If the two India openers were missing their hometown Delhi's fog and pollution, the organisers of the match made them feel at home. Massive fireworks went off during the short innings break and the smoke did not look like it would clear by the time the teams walked out. To add to that, a couple of giant torches went off as the Australia fielders walked out. The scenes during the first over were reminiscent of Delhi or Kanpur on a winter morning.
If the two India openers were missing their hometown Delhi's fog and pollution, the organisers of the match made them feel at home. Massive fireworks went off during the short innings break and the smoke did not look like it would clear by the time the teams walked out. To add to that, a couple of giant torches went off as the Australia fielders walked out. The scenes during the first over were reminiscent of Delhi or Kanpur on a winter morning.
Misfortune of the day
Rohit Sharma spent the whole English summer in India, waiting for a chance. He went to England for the ODIs, and the first ball he faced reared up at him to break his finger. He was out for months. In Australia, he spent more than a month as subject of the debate over whether India were better off losing with young blood if they were going to lose anyway. India kept losing, Rohit kept spending time out of the side. When he finally got his first international game of the tour, today, he was cramped up first ball by a sharp offbreak from David Hussey. The ball hit his pad outside the line of leg before deflecting onto the stumps.
Rohit Sharma spent the whole English summer in India, waiting for a chance. He went to England for the ODIs, and the first ball he faced reared up at him to break his finger. He was out for months. In Australia, he spent more than a month as subject of the debate over whether India were better off losing with young blood if they were going to lose anyway. India kept losing, Rohit kept spending time out of the side. When he finally got his first international game of the tour, today, he was cramped up first ball by a sharp offbreak from David Hussey. The ball hit his pad outside the line of leg before deflecting onto the stumps.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo