Missing Marcus and crucial run-outs
Plays of the Day from Australia's win over England
Andrew Miller in Antigua
08-Apr-2007
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Comeback of the Day
England continued their quest for some top-order momentum by promoting Ian Bell to that troublesome No. 1 spot, but even his best one-day innings to date was no match for the feats of big-hitting being produced by his predecessor in the role. After pulling out of the Ashes tour for personal reasons, Marcus Trescothick marked his comeback for Somerset today by walloping the small matter of 256 in a 50-over knockabout against Devon. His innings spanned just 117 balls and included 25 fours and 19 sixes. What England would give for some of that oomph right now.
England continued their quest for some top-order momentum by promoting Ian Bell to that troublesome No. 1 spot, but even his best one-day innings to date was no match for the feats of big-hitting being produced by his predecessor in the role. After pulling out of the Ashes tour for personal reasons, Marcus Trescothick marked his comeback for Somerset today by walloping the small matter of 256 in a 50-over knockabout against Devon. His innings spanned just 117 balls and included 25 fours and 19 sixes. What England would give for some of that oomph right now.
Interception of the Day
Rudi Koertzen must have been a handball goalkeeper during his wild youthful days on South Africa's Garden Route. He produced a star-jump intercept that Peter Schmeichel could not have bettered, as Kevin Pietersen whistled a pull through square-leg that pitched just short of the umpire, and crashed into his spread-eagled shin. A certain boundary had been denied to England, and to make matters worse, the resulting single brought Bell back on strike to chip a tame catch to the covers. To Rudi's credit, he didn't flinch on either occasion.
Rudi Koertzen must have been a handball goalkeeper during his wild youthful days on South Africa's Garden Route. He produced a star-jump intercept that Peter Schmeichel could not have bettered, as Kevin Pietersen whistled a pull through square-leg that pitched just short of the umpire, and crashed into his spread-eagled shin. A certain boundary had been denied to England, and to make matters worse, the resulting single brought Bell back on strike to chip a tame catch to the covers. To Rudi's credit, he didn't flinch on either occasion.
Drop of the Day
Pietersen led a charmed life during his innings, which was just as well for England's prospects of turning this game into a contest. On 50 he spanked a Symonds full-toss high to Ricky Ponting's right at mid-on, which the skipper did well to get a hand on. Thirteen runs later, however, KP chipped a muffed drive to mid-off that Matthew Hayden inconceivably made a hash of. Admittedly Brad Hodge was in his eyeline as he jogged round behind the bowler's arm, but even so, this was a sitter by anyone's standards.
Pietersen led a charmed life during his innings, which was just as well for England's prospects of turning this game into a contest. On 50 he spanked a Symonds full-toss high to Ricky Ponting's right at mid-on, which the skipper did well to get a hand on. Thirteen runs later, however, KP chipped a muffed drive to mid-off that Matthew Hayden inconceivably made a hash of. Admittedly Brad Hodge was in his eyeline as he jogged round behind the bowler's arm, but even so, this was a sitter by anyone's standards.
Miss of the Day
Where's Gary Pratt when you need him? (Playing non-league football for Crook Town, as it happens.) Half-chances are everything when a man like Ponting is gathering momentum, and one such opportunity arose when, on 21, he tucked James Anderson to midwicket and hurtled through for a quick single. Michael Vaughan stooped, paused and flung at the non-striker's end, but with Ponting not even close to the frame, he missed. Vaughan flung his head so violently into his hands he almost headbutted the turf; Ponting merely grinned a grin that might have been aimed directly at Duncan Fletcher. Pratt's former Durham colleague, Paul Collingwood, eventually showed how it should be done. But it was a little too late by then.
Where's Gary Pratt when you need him? (Playing non-league football for Crook Town, as it happens.) Half-chances are everything when a man like Ponting is gathering momentum, and one such opportunity arose when, on 21, he tucked James Anderson to midwicket and hurtled through for a quick single. Michael Vaughan stooped, paused and flung at the non-striker's end, but with Ponting not even close to the frame, he missed. Vaughan flung his head so violently into his hands he almost headbutted the turf; Ponting merely grinned a grin that might have been aimed directly at Duncan Fletcher. Pratt's former Durham colleague, Paul Collingwood, eventually showed how it should be done. But it was a little too late by then.
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Law of the Day
Law 32.3 states: "The act of making a catch shall start from the time when a fielder first handles the ball and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control both over the ball and over his own movement." Tough luck then on Pietersen, who produced a superb pluck high above his head on the boundary's edge, followed up with a series of graceful balletic tiptoes along the perimeter of the pitch, but was in the end forced to fling the ball back into the field of play as his momentum carried him over the ropes. Four runs saved though. Well done that man.
Law 32.3 states: "The act of making a catch shall start from the time when a fielder first handles the ball and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control both over the ball and over his own movement." Tough luck then on Pietersen, who produced a superb pluck high above his head on the boundary's edge, followed up with a series of graceful balletic tiptoes along the perimeter of the pitch, but was in the end forced to fling the ball back into the field of play as his momentum carried him over the ropes. Four runs saved though. Well done that man.
Momentum squanderer of the Day
At 132 for 2 with 20 overs to go, the game was still very much in the balance, so back into the attack, in search of a breakthrough, came Sajid Mahmood. His first ball to Ponting was short, wide and dreadful, and lashed for four behind point; the second was on the pads and whipped away for another boundary. Andrew Strauss misfielded the third and allowed one to become two, and the fourth was a regulation leg-side wide. Three legitimate balls, 11 runs, England's tenuous grip on the game unprised.
At 132 for 2 with 20 overs to go, the game was still very much in the balance, so back into the attack, in search of a breakthrough, came Sajid Mahmood. His first ball to Ponting was short, wide and dreadful, and lashed for four behind point; the second was on the pads and whipped away for another boundary. Andrew Strauss misfielded the third and allowed one to become two, and the fourth was a regulation leg-side wide. Three legitimate balls, 11 runs, England's tenuous grip on the game unprised.
Banner of the Day
Captain
Vice Captain
Pedal Boat Captain
Captain Morgan?
After his paltry return of four runs from 19 balls, a sheet blowing in the breeze at midwicket suggests that Andrew Flintoff might want to seek solace in the official rum of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Vice Captain
Pedal Boat Captain
After his paltry return of four runs from 19 balls, a sheet blowing in the breeze at midwicket suggests that Andrew Flintoff might want to seek solace in the official rum of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Stat of the Day
Six matches, 31 balls, 20 runs, average 5. Michael Hussey's World Cup is no closer to lift-off after another no-show in the middle. Will he remember which end to hold his bat when his turn finally comes?
Six matches, 31 balls, 20 runs, average 5. Michael Hussey's World Cup is no closer to lift-off after another no-show in the middle. Will he remember which end to hold his bat when his turn finally comes?
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo