WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!
After Ricky Ponting sent his troops into bat and only registered a measley 127 runs things didn't look so great for the Aussies. Pakistans eyes lit up and felt this could be a huge chance to beat the Aussies on their home turf, and so they should have. Any team that dismisses their opponent for 127 runs in the first innings should go on and win. Pakistan held their own with the bat and headed into the second innings with a 206 run lead. It was looking as though Pakistan should go on and win the match and the punters jumped on board, piling large amounts of cash on the Pakkis. Shane Watson aka Bruce Willis (star of the 90's) went about his way smashing 11 fours and 3 sixes on his way to 97 runs before being dismissed. I'm sure you're taught in cricket to get your hand out of the way when moving away from the ball. Australia's hopes to keep the dream alive were slowly dwindling away until 'Mr Cricket' Mike Hussey stepped up to the crease. He was splendid to watch as he kept Australia from being humiliated on their home soil. Hussey's 134 runs and his partnership with Peter Siddle(38 runs) was what gave the Aussies a chance and the Pakkis something to think about.
175 run lead was all that Pakistan needed to chase down. Not much pressure if you ask me considering that they had 2 days to get it. A steady partnership early gave the bookies every reason to give odds of $1.10. Punters however started to get on the Aussie value, prices of $7 and $5 were being thrown about. Once a couple of wickets started to fall the Pakkis looked as if they were crumbling by the second. However 49 runs from Umar Akmal gave them a big shot at still taking down the Aussies. Nathan Hauritz had other ideas and took 5 late wickets cleaning up the tail. The way the wickets fell were quite amazing. The caught and bowled by Hauritz was unbelievable. Mohammed Yousuf absolutely cracked it off the middle of the bat at Nathan who absorbed the hit and took a remarkable catch. Some splendid catches in the field saw the tail drop like flies and gave Australia one of the most remarkable comebacks in test cricket history. I don't think many people would argue with me either?
A couple of questions to come out of the Test match were:
- Did Mike Hussey's test century save him from being dropped from the test side?
- Is it time for Marcus North to be replaced?
- Does anyone believe Pakistan may have been throwing the match in regards to how they set the field against Hussey and Siddle? I mean who has eight men on the ropes against the tail!
- How much longer does Ricky Ponting have as the Australian captain? Who will he be replaced by?
Feel free to have your say! I hope you all enjoyed the Test, I wonder how long it will be before Pakistan can come back from this disaster.
I was just saying to a mate of my 'do you reckon Pakistan was on the take, their field settings in that earlier session were bizzare to say the very least.'
ReplyDeleteHussey shouldn't come in 4th Clarke should, Hussey bats really well with the tail enders and I think the selectors should consider this as an option to get the best out of him.