Breaking the trend
Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day of the first Test in Brisbane
Peter English at the Gabba
28-Nov-2009
A day of contrasts for Travis Dowlin • Getty Images
Follow-on breaks trend
Ricky Ponting likes making sides bat again as much as losing - and does it less often. In 62 games before this one Ponting enforced the follow-on twice, first in a rainy Wellington in 2005 when he really had no choice if he wanted a result, and then two years ago against Sri Lanka at the Gabba on the way to victory by an innings and 40 runs. Today's choice, which came halfway through the lunch break, made it three times in 13 opportunities.
Ricky Ponting likes making sides bat again as much as losing - and does it less often. In 62 games before this one Ponting enforced the follow-on twice, first in a rainy Wellington in 2005 when he really had no choice if he wanted a result, and then two years ago against Sri Lanka at the Gabba on the way to victory by an innings and 40 runs. Today's choice, which came halfway through the lunch break, made it three times in 13 opportunities.
No fear
Hat-trick balls are usually treated extra cautiously by batsmen who don't want to become the final victim. Travis Dowlin didn't care. Nathan Hauritz had already stung Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach in his previous over when Dowlin faced up with five close-in fielders and Brad Haddin hoping for a catch. Hauritz jogged in to deliver and Dowlin charged him, lifting the ball into the outfield at midwicket and running two.
Hat-trick balls are usually treated extra cautiously by batsmen who don't want to become the final victim. Travis Dowlin didn't care. Nathan Hauritz had already stung Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach in his previous over when Dowlin faced up with five close-in fielders and Brad Haddin hoping for a catch. Hauritz jogged in to deliver and Dowlin charged him, lifting the ball into the outfield at midwicket and running two.
Deja vu review
Remember yesterday? When Chris Gayle was hit on the back leg in front to Ben Hilfenhaus? The umpire raised his finger, Gayle waited and waited and then called for a review? Only to be given out when the replay showed what everyone else already knew? It happened again in the third over of the second innings, the only differences being he didn't play a shot, it hit slightly higher and Asad Rauf was making the on-field decision.
Remember yesterday? When Chris Gayle was hit on the back leg in front to Ben Hilfenhaus? The umpire raised his finger, Gayle waited and waited and then called for a review? Only to be given out when the replay showed what everyone else already knew? It happened again in the third over of the second innings, the only differences being he didn't play a shot, it hit slightly higher and Asad Rauf was making the on-field decision.
Down and out. Twice
Dowlin was caught at deep midwicket off Hauritz to end the first innings and his 62 was the high for the West Indies. Thirty-eight balls later he was gone again, this time bowled by Hilfenhaus after playing on. A day that started with his second Test fifty in only his third game had ended with a double dismissal. Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach suffered the same fate.
Dowlin was caught at deep midwicket off Hauritz to end the first innings and his 62 was the high for the West Indies. Thirty-eight balls later he was gone again, this time bowled by Hilfenhaus after playing on. A day that started with his second Test fifty in only his third game had ended with a double dismissal. Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach suffered the same fate.
Hook him
The silliest wicket came with Dwayne Bravo's exit in the over before tea. Michael Hussey had been given a bowl to try something different and a man had been placed at deep backward square leg for the short ball. Hussey bowled it, Bravo hooked it and Hilfenhaus caught it.
The silliest wicket came with Dwayne Bravo's exit in the over before tea. Michael Hussey had been given a bowl to try something different and a man had been placed at deep backward square leg for the short ball. Hussey bowled it, Bravo hooked it and Hilfenhaus caught it.
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo