Starc makes a mark, Hughes gets a break
Plays of the Day from the third day of the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in Hobart
Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval
11-Dec-2011
Phillip Hughes got away with a glove to the keeper before opening his account • AFP
The blow
Mitchell Starc hasn't had the same impact in this match as his colleagues James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, but he certainly left an impression on Dean Brownlie. Starc sent down a bouncer that Brownlie tried to duck, but he was unable to get out of the way and copped a painful blow to the left wrist before the ball crashed into the grille of his helmet. Immediately, Brownlie called for the physio and the magic spray was applied. It was the sort of knock that could have caused a fracture, but Brownlie batted on. However, it was another bouncer that got him out, when he ducked Pattinson but left his bat in the way, and the ball clipped it on the way through to the wicketkeeper.
Mitchell Starc hasn't had the same impact in this match as his colleagues James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, but he certainly left an impression on Dean Brownlie. Starc sent down a bouncer that Brownlie tried to duck, but he was unable to get out of the way and copped a painful blow to the left wrist before the ball crashed into the grille of his helmet. Immediately, Brownlie called for the physio and the magic spray was applied. It was the sort of knock that could have caused a fracture, but Brownlie batted on. However, it was another bouncer that got him out, when he ducked Pattinson but left his bat in the way, and the ball clipped it on the way through to the wicketkeeper.
The good fortune
Phillip Hughes has been unable to take a trick in the past few weeks and walked out to the crease on the third day in Hobart knowing that he was playing for his place in the team. But before he had scored, Hughes enjoyed a stroke of good luck when he gloved a catch down the leg side off the bowling of Chris Martin. The wicketkeeper Reece Young took the ball cleanly but the umpire Nigel Llong turned down the appeal, and New Zealand decided against a review. Had Ross Taylor requested a referral, he would have seen that Hot Spot showed a clear mark as the ball brushed the glove.
Phillip Hughes has been unable to take a trick in the past few weeks and walked out to the crease on the third day in Hobart knowing that he was playing for his place in the team. But before he had scored, Hughes enjoyed a stroke of good luck when he gloved a catch down the leg side off the bowling of Chris Martin. The wicketkeeper Reece Young took the ball cleanly but the umpire Nigel Llong turned down the appeal, and New Zealand decided against a review. Had Ross Taylor requested a referral, he would have seen that Hot Spot showed a clear mark as the ball brushed the glove.
The black armbands
Ricky Ponting's return to Tasmania is usually a happy occasion for him, a chance to catch up with family and friends, and represent his country on his home ground. However, on the third morning the Australians walked out on to the field wearing black armbands, Ponting having received the sad news that his grandmother had died. A Cricket Australia spokesperson described Connie Ponting, 86, as her grandson's greatest fan. The sad news came just over a year after Ponting missed a one-day game against Sri Lanka in Melbourne to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother in Launceston.
Ricky Ponting's return to Tasmania is usually a happy occasion for him, a chance to catch up with family and friends, and represent his country on his home ground. However, on the third morning the Australians walked out on to the field wearing black armbands, Ponting having received the sad news that his grandmother had died. A Cricket Australia spokesperson described Connie Ponting, 86, as her grandson's greatest fan. The sad news came just over a year after Ponting missed a one-day game against Sri Lanka in Melbourne to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother in Launceston.
The rain
Hobart isn't exactly known for its tropical weather, but even by Tasmanian standards the Bureau of Meteorology forecast - an 80% chance of rain on Sunday - was grim. And it proved to be correct. At lunch, the rain came, drizzle at first and then enough to force the Milo in2Cricket kids from the outfield, ending their enjoyable day of playing at the Bellerive Oval. The Test resumed nearly an hour after lunch finished, but there was further frustration to come for the fans and players. At tea, the rain arrived again, the gloomy weather approaching over the Southern Stand from the Derwent River. It cleared in time for the umpires to declare a resumption at 5.30pm - the scheduled stumps time - but before the clock reached that mark, the drizzle had returned to end the day's play.
Hobart isn't exactly known for its tropical weather, but even by Tasmanian standards the Bureau of Meteorology forecast - an 80% chance of rain on Sunday - was grim. And it proved to be correct. At lunch, the rain came, drizzle at first and then enough to force the Milo in2Cricket kids from the outfield, ending their enjoyable day of playing at the Bellerive Oval. The Test resumed nearly an hour after lunch finished, but there was further frustration to come for the fans and players. At tea, the rain arrived again, the gloomy weather approaching over the Southern Stand from the Derwent River. It cleared in time for the umpires to declare a resumption at 5.30pm - the scheduled stumps time - but before the clock reached that mark, the drizzle had returned to end the day's play.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo