No tea but more boycott
Plays of the day for the first day of the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide
Brydon Coverdale at the Adelaide Oval
28-Nov-2008
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No tea for you
A full day in the field is draining enough but Australia's oldest player, Matthew Hayden, was given even less time to rest than his younger team-mates. During the tea break Hayden was presented with a special baggy green cap to commemorate his 100th Test. He posed for photos with his family and spoke about his journey from rural Queensland but by the time the presentation was over he had used up nearly all of the tea interval. Hayden dashed off for a three-minute sit-down before resuming his spot at first slip for the final session.
A full day in the field is draining enough but Australia's oldest player, Matthew Hayden, was given even less time to rest than his younger team-mates. During the tea break Hayden was presented with a special baggy green cap to commemorate his 100th Test. He posed for photos with his family and spoke about his journey from rural Queensland but by the time the presentation was over he had used up nearly all of the tea interval. Hayden dashed off for a three-minute sit-down before resuming his spot at first slip for the final session.
Another spinner bites the dust?
Nathan Hauritz would have been happy to copy his fellow offspinner Jason Krejza's 12-wicket match-haul. Instead, he emulated Krejza in an unwelcome way. Hauritz got his unexpected opportunity because Krejza twisted his ankle in the lead-up to the match and there were some feelings of déjà vu when Hauritz hurt his ankle in the field. Hauritz ran around to cut off a ball at deep backward square leg and during the lunging save he rolled his right ankle. He hobbled to the dressing rooms but soon re-emerged, alleviating the immediate fears of the Australians.
Nathan Hauritz would have been happy to copy his fellow offspinner Jason Krejza's 12-wicket match-haul. Instead, he emulated Krejza in an unwelcome way. Hauritz got his unexpected opportunity because Krejza twisted his ankle in the lead-up to the match and there were some feelings of déjà vu when Hauritz hurt his ankle in the field. Hauritz ran around to cut off a ball at deep backward square leg and during the lunging save he rolled his right ankle. He hobbled to the dressing rooms but soon re-emerged, alleviating the immediate fears of the Australians.
Boycott drags on
Major news agencies continued their boycott of the Australia-New Zealand series due to a dispute over their accreditation agreements with Cricket Australia. Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and the New Zealand Press Association refused to cover the first Test at the Gabba and the status quo remained for the Adelaide Test. The picture agency Getty Images, which supplies photographs to Cricinfo, also declined to cover the event. The news organisations launched a similar boycott last season but reached agreement with Cricket Australia after the first Test of the summer.
Major news agencies continued their boycott of the Australia-New Zealand series due to a dispute over their accreditation agreements with Cricket Australia. Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and the New Zealand Press Association refused to cover the first Test at the Gabba and the status quo remained for the Adelaide Test. The picture agency Getty Images, which supplies photographs to Cricinfo, also declined to cover the event. The news organisations launched a similar boycott last season but reached agreement with Cricket Australia after the first Test of the summer.
Take it easy, Ryder
Jesse Ryder is not the prototype of the modern professional sportsman but he proved his athleticism during his short innings. Ryder drove Mitchell Johnson towards long-on and Adelaide Oval's lengthy straight dimensions meant it was hauled in before reaching the boundary. Despite his solid frame, Ryder hared back impressively for a fourth run. His stamina ran out when he pulled Hauritz to midwicket in the first over after lunch.
Jesse Ryder is not the prototype of the modern professional sportsman but he proved his athleticism during his short innings. Ryder drove Mitchell Johnson towards long-on and Adelaide Oval's lengthy straight dimensions meant it was hauled in before reaching the boundary. Despite his solid frame, Ryder hared back impressively for a fourth run. His stamina ran out when he pulled Hauritz to midwicket in the first over after lunch.
Punter a reluctant tosser
Attending the toss has been rather pointless for Ricky Ponting over the past few weeks, so it was understandable that he was reluctant to take the coin out to the middle at the Adelaide Oval. Daniel Vettori was waiting patiently on the pitch at the appointed time of 10am but Ponting was nowhere to be seen. A couple of minutes later, Ponting was hustling out the middle, still putting on his green-and-gold blazer with the help of a Cricket Australia official. He had been batting in the nets for just a fraction too long. Ponting need not have rushed - he lost his fifth toss in a row.
Attending the toss has been rather pointless for Ricky Ponting over the past few weeks, so it was understandable that he was reluctant to take the coin out to the middle at the Adelaide Oval. Daniel Vettori was waiting patiently on the pitch at the appointed time of 10am but Ponting was nowhere to be seen. A couple of minutes later, Ponting was hustling out the middle, still putting on his green-and-gold blazer with the help of a Cricket Australia official. He had been batting in the nets for just a fraction too long. Ponting need not have rushed - he lost his fifth toss in a row.
Remembering Hibbert
The Australians were wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the Mumbai attacks and of the former Australian opener Paul Hibbert, who died this week. Hibbert played one Test during the days of the World Series Cricket split and while he was never a flamboyant batsman, he could be an immovable and effective one. In 1977 he became the second man to score a first-class century without striking a single boundary. It was the sort of self-control New Zealand needed on the first day in Adelaide, where their top three all threw their wickets away with reckless shots.
The Australians were wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the Mumbai attacks and of the former Australian opener Paul Hibbert, who died this week. Hibbert played one Test during the days of the World Series Cricket split and while he was never a flamboyant batsman, he could be an immovable and effective one. In 1977 he became the second man to score a first-class century without striking a single boundary. It was the sort of self-control New Zealand needed on the first day in Adelaide, where their top three all threw their wickets away with reckless shots.
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo