Feature

No Stokes, no-ball, no nerves

Plays of the day from the first T20 between Australia and England in Hobart

Andrew McGlashan
Andrew McGlashan
29-Jan-2014
Moises Henriques claimed the wicket of England's danger man Alex Hales  •  AFP

Moises Henriques claimed the wicket of England's danger man Alex Hales  •  AFP

Omission of the day
There are sound reasons for keeping faith with players that have served you well but when it means leaving out one of your in-form stars, it has to be questioned. Ben Stokes was a rare shining light during the Ashes and recent one-dayers but he was nowhere to be seen when England's XI was named on Wednesday evening. Instead, they went with two players - Jade Dernbach and Danny Briggs - who have played no cricket of late.
No-ball of the day
When Cameron White hoicked at a full toss from Luke Wright, the umpire was already calling no-ball for height by the time it was caught at short fine leg. Then, however, the game ground to a halt as queries were made about the call and eventually the third umpire was called in. It was a borderline call, and the TV official took his time before sticking with his on-field colleague. After all that, however, it barely mattered because White was out to the next ball he faced.
Nerveless start of the day
Chris Lynn is one of the players to benefit from Australia having a number of first-choice names unavailable. When he came in during the 16th over he did not have much opportunity to make a mark, and there was no time to worry about playing himself in. Maybe that helped, because facing just his fourth ball in international cricket he slotted Tim Bresnan straight down the ground for six.
Over of the day
Moises Henriques' Twenty20 series has been cut short by a call to South Africa but he still had time to make an impression during an opening over that seriously dented England's chase. First he bowled Wright, who under-edged a slower ball as he aimed leg side, then trapped Alex Hales lbw when the opener shuffled across the crease. Unless there are injuries in South Africa, it could well be the last bowl he has in the middle for a few weeks.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo