Smith the only sparkle for West Indies
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the 1st ODI at West End
David Hopps at West End
16-Jun-2012
Dwyane Smith briefly sparkled but otherwise West Indies were very disappointing • AFP
Disappointment of the day #1
Chris Gayle's anticipated return to the West Indies side after 15 months had caused a late spike in ticket sales for the first ODI, so imagine the disappointment of the 14,000 spectators who turned up to West End to find that Gayle had been ruled out of the match with a foot injury. His involvement in the rest of the series remains uncertain.
Chris Gayle's anticipated return to the West Indies side after 15 months had caused a late spike in ticket sales for the first ODI, so imagine the disappointment of the 14,000 spectators who turned up to West End to find that Gayle had been ruled out of the match with a foot injury. His involvement in the rest of the series remains uncertain.
Disappointment of the Day #2
West Indies. Lauded for the six-hitting prowess throughout their order, they were presented by much of the English media as favourites for the series. They hit two sixes all day and lost by a street. Only Dwayne Smith twinkled in his red boots. They must now win at The Oval and Headingley to take the series.
West Indies. Lauded for the six-hitting prowess throughout their order, they were presented by much of the English media as favourites for the series. They hit two sixes all day and lost by a street. Only Dwayne Smith twinkled in his red boots. They must now win at The Oval and Headingley to take the series.
Jetsetter of the Day
Kevin Pietersen found something productive to do with his weekend after retiring from England one-day internationals. He flew to Johannesburg to watch South Africa win the rugby union international against England, met up briefly with family and friends and planned to be back in England by Sunday. Judging by that, he is not about to spend his retirement gardening.
Kevin Pietersen found something productive to do with his weekend after retiring from England one-day internationals. He flew to Johannesburg to watch South Africa win the rugby union international against England, met up briefly with family and friends and planned to be back in England by Sunday. Judging by that, he is not about to spend his retirement gardening.
Over of the Day
That it could be Ian Bell's day became evident in the sixth over of the game. Andre Russell, running into a buffeting wind, conceded 18 runs with Bell beginning with a serene straight six against his first ball. By the end of the over, he had lashed a short ball over point, executed a controlled pull and driven uppishly through extra cover. He was on his way to a second ODI hundred
That it could be Ian Bell's day became evident in the sixth over of the game. Andre Russell, running into a buffeting wind, conceded 18 runs with Bell beginning with a serene straight six against his first ball. By the end of the over, he had lashed a short ball over point, executed a controlled pull and driven uppishly through extra cover. He was on his way to a second ODI hundred
(Re)Name of the day
Traditionalists will not like it, but The Ageas Bowl was everywhere to be seen. The six-year commercial rebranding of The Rose Bowl has helped to ease Hampshire's precarious financial position and the ground's new name was not just displayed around the ground, but on AA road signs and warning signs above the M3. In the pubs, too, Hampshire fans were heard using the term without any sense of shame. When it comes to naming rights, attitudes are shifting, in Hampshire at least.
Traditionalists will not like it, but The Ageas Bowl was everywhere to be seen. The six-year commercial rebranding of The Rose Bowl has helped to ease Hampshire's precarious financial position and the ground's new name was not just displayed around the ground, but on AA road signs and warning signs above the M3. In the pubs, too, Hampshire fans were heard using the term without any sense of shame. When it comes to naming rights, attitudes are shifting, in Hampshire at least.
The Gordon Greenidge Moment
At 156 for 7, Darren Bravo limped out to bat at No 9. He had injured a groin while bowling and under new ICC regulations he was not allowed a runner. With West Indies's defeat seemingly inevitable after a disappointing batting display, it seemed pointless, unless he was about to revive memories of one of the most ferocious West Indies batsmen of all, Gordon Greenidge, who was always at his most dangerous when limping.
At 156 for 7, Darren Bravo limped out to bat at No 9. He had injured a groin while bowling and under new ICC regulations he was not allowed a runner. With West Indies's defeat seemingly inevitable after a disappointing batting display, it seemed pointless, unless he was about to revive memories of one of the most ferocious West Indies batsmen of all, Gordon Greenidge, who was always at his most dangerous when limping.
David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo