Doug on the deck, and maybe in the dock
Plays of the day from the fourth day between New Zealand and Australia in Hamilton
Brydon Coverdale in Hamilton
30-Mar-2010
Another one bites the dust: Doug Bollinger tumbles in his follow through • Getty Images
Not very appealing
Doug Bollinger has visited the match referee already this summer and will come under scrutiny again after ignoring the umpire on the first ball of New Zealand's innings. Bollinger was convinced he had BJ Watling lbw and appealed to Aleem Dar, who turned down the shout only to see Bollinger run on towards the cordon as if the wicket had been given. The usually impassive Dar raised his palms skyward as if to question Bollinger's actions and he was proven correct; when Australia requested a review the ball was shown to have pitched outside leg stump.
Doug Bollinger has visited the match referee already this summer and will come under scrutiny again after ignoring the umpire on the first ball of New Zealand's innings. Bollinger was convinced he had BJ Watling lbw and appealed to Aleem Dar, who turned down the shout only to see Bollinger run on towards the cordon as if the wicket had been given. The usually impassive Dar raised his palms skyward as if to question Bollinger's actions and he was proven correct; when Australia requested a review the ball was shown to have pitched outside leg stump.
Bollinger felled by fancy footwork
The appeal wasn't Bollinger's finest moment but he won a few cheers from the crowd soon afterwards when he tried to stop a drive on his follow-through and tripped over his own feet, ending up on the pitch with his backside in the air. It wasn't a first for Bollinger, who also tumbled over in a tangle of his own feet while fielding during the Australian summer.
The appeal wasn't Bollinger's finest moment but he won a few cheers from the crowd soon afterwards when he tried to stop a drive on his follow-through and tripped over his own feet, ending up on the pitch with his backside in the air. It wasn't a first for Bollinger, who also tumbled over in a tangle of his own feet while fielding during the Australian summer.
Curiosity won't kill this Kat
Simon Katich is often seen under the helmet at short leg but his caution knew no bounds today. Katich had been in close but was moved back to leg gully, a good 15 metres from the batsman, and kept the helmet on. It looked ridiculous to be under the lid while so far away from the action but perhaps it was wayward bails that he was seeking protection from. The next ball from Mitchell Johnson shattered the stumps of Tim McIntosh and sent the bails flying away behind the wicket.
Simon Katich is often seen under the helmet at short leg but his caution knew no bounds today. Katich had been in close but was moved back to leg gully, a good 15 metres from the batsman, and kept the helmet on. It looked ridiculous to be under the lid while so far away from the action but perhaps it was wayward bails that he was seeking protection from. The next ball from Mitchell Johnson shattered the stumps of Tim McIntosh and sent the bails flying away behind the wicket.
Mitchell leaves lefties for dead
The wicket of McIntosh was Johnson's 150th in Test cricket and he reached the milestone in fewer matches than any other left-armer in history. Johnson achieved the feat in his 34th Test, beating the fast and slow-bowling Invincible Bill Johnston by one Test. On the all-time list, Johnson now sits equal 12th, behind such greats as Shane Warne, Dennis Lillee, Waqar Younis and Ian Botham. At the head of the pack is SF Barnes, who had such limited opportunities that despite reaching the landmark in only 24 Tests, it took him 12 years. By comparison, Johnson has done it in two and a half.
The wicket of McIntosh was Johnson's 150th in Test cricket and he reached the milestone in fewer matches than any other left-armer in history. Johnson achieved the feat in his 34th Test, beating the fast and slow-bowling Invincible Bill Johnston by one Test. On the all-time list, Johnson now sits equal 12th, behind such greats as Shane Warne, Dennis Lillee, Waqar Younis and Ian Botham. At the head of the pack is SF Barnes, who had such limited opportunities that despite reaching the landmark in only 24 Tests, it took him 12 years. By comparison, Johnson has done it in two and a half.
New Zealand's hard task
If that's not enough stats action for you, consider the dimensions of New Zealand's task of chasing 479 for victory. Not only was it a target well clear of the all-time Test record of 418, set by West Indies, it wasn't even in the same ballpark as New Zealand's highest successful fourth-innings chase of 324. In their entire Test history they have only chased down 200-plus to win a Test on six occasions.
If that's not enough stats action for you, consider the dimensions of New Zealand's task of chasing 479 for victory. Not only was it a target well clear of the all-time Test record of 418, set by West Indies, it wasn't even in the same ballpark as New Zealand's highest successful fourth-innings chase of 324. In their entire Test history they have only chased down 200-plus to win a Test on six occasions.
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo