The worst dismissal in history?
Plays of the day from the second day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's
Chris Rogers missed a full toss from Graeme Swann to be lbw • Getty Images
Worst ball ever of the day
Chris Rogers' ludicrous dismissal has a case for being the worst wicket in Test history. Usually a wicket comes from a combination of excellence and error. Here as many as five people were at fault, and none in credit. Graeme Swann bowled a high full toss; Rogers missed it; Marais Erasmus gave him out even though the ball was missing leg; Rogers then decided not to review after a discussion with Usman Khawaja; he surely would have gone upstairs but for Shane Watson's indulgent waste of Australia's first review before lunch. It was a five-piece farce, but only England were laughing.
Chris Rogers' ludicrous dismissal has a case for being the worst wicket in Test history. Usually a wicket comes from a combination of excellence and error. Here as many as five people were at fault, and none in credit. Graeme Swann bowled a high full toss; Rogers missed it; Marais Erasmus gave him out even though the ball was missing leg; Rogers then decided not to review after a discussion with Usman Khawaja; he surely would have gone upstairs but for Shane Watson's indulgent waste of Australia's first review before lunch. It was a five-piece farce, but only England were laughing.
Review of the day
You need a lot of confidence in your ability to make it as a professional sportsman. Watson certainly has that. What he doesn't always have is an awareness of the world around him. There were people on double-decker buses on Wellington Road that saw Watson was plumb, but the man himself didn't see it that way. He decided to review the decision. Shockingly to no one at all, it remained out.
You need a lot of confidence in your ability to make it as a professional sportsman. Watson certainly has that. What he doesn't always have is an awareness of the world around him. There were people on double-decker buses on Wellington Road that saw Watson was plumb, but the man himself didn't see it that way. He decided to review the decision. Shockingly to no one at all, it remained out.
Lost saviour of the day
Bonnie Tyler wasn't at Lord's, but when Ashton Agar walked out every Australia fan was whispering "I need a hero". Agar's groin and finger injuries so far this series have limited his effectiveness as a bowler, but as a batsman, well, you know. In collapses, kids who didn't take things too seriously and haven't been beaten down by life can often stand up and do well. Instead Brad Haddin refused to run on Agar's call, and Agar almost completed two runs. Australia lost their magical No. 8 for only 2.
Bonnie Tyler wasn't at Lord's, but when Ashton Agar walked out every Australia fan was whispering "I need a hero". Agar's groin and finger injuries so far this series have limited his effectiveness as a bowler, but as a batsman, well, you know. In collapses, kids who didn't take things too seriously and haven't been beaten down by life can often stand up and do well. Instead Brad Haddin refused to run on Agar's call, and Agar almost completed two runs. Australia lost their magical No. 8 for only 2.
Walk of the day
Stuart Broad snicked James Pattinson behind to present Haddin with his fifth catch and end the England innings. But the hosts had a review left, and Broad would not have been sufficiently fulfilling his role as Australia's chief agitator if he had not called for it. So the third umpire was summoned, and the replays were forensically examined. Broad stood and waited, as did the umpires. But the Australians were in no mood to continue the charade, and bounded off the field, not waiting for Tony Hill's verdict to be relayed. They seemed in a hurry to start batting, and were equally enthusiastic about ignoring Broad.
Stuart Broad snicked James Pattinson behind to present Haddin with his fifth catch and end the England innings. But the hosts had a review left, and Broad would not have been sufficiently fulfilling his role as Australia's chief agitator if he had not called for it. So the third umpire was summoned, and the replays were forensically examined. Broad stood and waited, as did the umpires. But the Australians were in no mood to continue the charade, and bounded off the field, not waiting for Tony Hill's verdict to be relayed. They seemed in a hurry to start batting, and were equally enthusiastic about ignoring Broad.
Drop of the day
Khawaja never once looked comfortable against the spin of Swann, and it was not much of a surprise when on 7 he prodded at an offbreak and snicked straight into the hands of Jonathan Trott at slip. More startling was that, having been offered such a friendly chance, Trott spurned it, the ball slipping to the turf. It was the kind of missed opportunity that good players make a fielding side pay for but, on this day, Khawaja would not prove himself up the task. A mere seven runs later, he advanced with neither conviction nor precision to loft Swann, and succeeded only in popping a skier to mid-off.
Khawaja never once looked comfortable against the spin of Swann, and it was not much of a surprise when on 7 he prodded at an offbreak and snicked straight into the hands of Jonathan Trott at slip. More startling was that, having been offered such a friendly chance, Trott spurned it, the ball slipping to the turf. It was the kind of missed opportunity that good players make a fielding side pay for but, on this day, Khawaja would not prove himself up the task. A mere seven runs later, he advanced with neither conviction nor precision to loft Swann, and succeeded only in popping a skier to mid-off.
Jarrod Kimber is 50% of the Two Chucks, and the mind responsible for cricketwithballs.com