The on-field drop, and the off-field drop
Plays of the day from the tri-series match between Australia and South Africa in St Kitts
Brydon Coverdale
12-Jun-2016
David Warner struck his first ODI century outside Australia before hurting his left index finger in the chase • AFP
The worry
David Warner's century was the difference in the match, but the Australians had a concern late in South Africa's chase when Warner left the field with a finger injury. Fielding at backward point, Warner dived, attempting to snare a tough catch off JP Duminy's bat, but the ball flew through his hands, hurting the top of his left index finger on the way. He left the field to have the finger iced and was expected to be assessed over the next day.
David Warner's century was the difference in the match, but the Australians had a concern late in South Africa's chase when Warner left the field with a finger injury. Fielding at backward point, Warner dived, attempting to snare a tough catch off JP Duminy's bat, but the ball flew through his hands, hurting the top of his left index finger on the way. He left the field to have the finger iced and was expected to be assessed over the next day.
The off-field drop
In January, Glenn Maxwell was voted Australia's ODI Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne. But a lean patch with the bat cost him his place for this game. Maxwell had fallen for a duck in the first match against West Indies and 3 against South Africa in Guyana, and his last five ODI innings read 0, 6, 0, 0, 3. He was replaced in this match by George Bailey and it was the first time since November 19, 2014, that Maxwell had been dropped from Australia's ODI team. Since then Australia had played 32 games and Maxwell had played 31, missing just once due to injury.
In January, Glenn Maxwell was voted Australia's ODI Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne. But a lean patch with the bat cost him his place for this game. Maxwell had fallen for a duck in the first match against West Indies and 3 against South Africa in Guyana, and his last five ODI innings read 0, 6, 0, 0, 3. He was replaced in this match by George Bailey and it was the first time since November 19, 2014, that Maxwell had been dropped from Australia's ODI team. Since then Australia had played 32 games and Maxwell had played 31, missing just once due to injury.
The on-field drop
Usually, AB de Villiers makes cricket look about as difficult as eating a sandwich. So it was rather a surprise to see him spill a simple chance when Usman Khawaja top-edged off Imran Tahir. South Africa's captain positioned himself comfortably under the ball only to see it bounce off his hands to the turf, a life for Khawaja on 56. Fortunately for de Villiers, Khawaja made only three more runs before another top-edge was taken by Hashim Amla.
Usually, AB de Villiers makes cricket look about as difficult as eating a sandwich. So it was rather a surprise to see him spill a simple chance when Usman Khawaja top-edged off Imran Tahir. South Africa's captain positioned himself comfortably under the ball only to see it bounce off his hands to the turf, a life for Khawaja on 56. Fortunately for de Villiers, Khawaja made only three more runs before another top-edge was taken by Hashim Amla.
The delay
Sometimes cricket does itself no favours. Only three overs had been bowled in the match when a sightscreen malfunction led to a quarter-hour delay, just another in the long line of sightscreen-related interruptions that are part of international cricket nowadays. Eventually play restarted and Warner showed his concentration had not waned by immediately clubbing a cut for four.
Sometimes cricket does itself no favours. Only three overs had been bowled in the match when a sightscreen malfunction led to a quarter-hour delay, just another in the long line of sightscreen-related interruptions that are part of international cricket nowadays. Eventually play restarted and Warner showed his concentration had not waned by immediately clubbing a cut for four.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale