BOXING DAY 2
Sam who? Quite amazing that after such a glorious start to his career the doomsayers are having their say. Unbelievable.
Even more unbelievable, well not really, the temperature in Melbourne today compared with yesterday. As a Mildurian I had to bring a jumper with me.
Can’t keep politics out of cricket and vice versa. The Victorian Libs this morning raise the finger for John Pesutto and replaced him with a cricketer. “Brad Battin”
will know be used many times while he occupies the crease not the main seat.
Is Brad Battin’?
Jim Maxwell brought in some wonderful scrap books on cricket in South Africa this morning dating bac to the 1920’s and certainly gave me great memories of the South Africans under Trevor Goddard.
One piece he showed me had this written, in part “John Arlott cluttered up the news (cricket) with the greatest lot of meaningless nonsense ever emoted since Charles Fortune retired to the wilds of Africa. Arlott cluttered up the first 17 minutes without mention of the score”.
Take note you Aussie broadcasters!
Australia went on their merry way this morning with Smith and captain Pat putting on a fine partnership. Cap’n Pat to me has improved his batting immensely this summer.
Smith completed a fine 140 before being dismissed. An innings which once again cemented his standing in world cricket despite me thinking he might be about to retire.
As an athlete close to me said: “why retire while you are having fun”.
What do they have for lunch in the players room? Wickets always seem to fall after the big feed with both Starc (15) and Smith (140) exiting back to the tables.
India not out of trouble as Lyon and Boland add more runs. Australia won’t lose this Test and India might struggle to stay in the game. All out 474 Smith 140, Bumrah 4/99, Jadeja 3/78, Akash 2/94.
Cap’n’ Pat having a great day following his 49 he gets his opposite skipper Rohit Sharma for 3. Caught by Victoria’s own Scott Boland.
Certainly more members here today than yesterday which incidentally was a record for Australia v India 87,242.
Two fine strokemakers at the wicket in Jaiswal and Rahul. KJ Rahul has easily been the best batter for the Indians on this tour.
Some fine shots forward of the wicket by both batters until Rahul (24) gets a ripper from Cummins that would have bowled anybody. Cutting back from outside the off, Cap’n Pat’s day continues.
India’s best strikers are at the wicket in Kohli and Jaiwal, the stars of the Perth test where they both scored hundreds. They will need to be separated.
Sam The Almighty doffs his cap to the crowd, followed by applause and then to top it off a Merv Hughes impersonation. Ahh! Cricket’s New Dawn.
Jaiwal makes it to 50 of 81balls and then a magnificent shot through mid-wicket of Starc for four. There is majesty in his batting.
Interestingly both batters are having no problems with Nathan Lyon who has not had the greatest of series so far.
I hope it is not so but from my observations of other players body language Sam needs to just turn down his on-field show just a tad.
Press Pens Poised! Marsh is in to the attack. A tidy first over but at a speed of 120.1kph. Very slow medium.
Magnificent straight drive for six by Jaiwal off Marsh and then nearly LBW next ball.
Oh dear! Jaiwal (82) drives to mid-off Kohli just stands at the bowler’s end! What a terrible waste of a wicket and another century against Australia.
At 3/153 that was a wicket that Australia so wanted.
Two more wickets fell. In those final minutes, India lost 3/11 to jeopardise what, until then, had been a fighting performance.
A good Test day with Australia thanks to the run out still on top.
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 84 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
I’m enjoying this Test Match (and your match reports) despite myself. Belter of an MCG wicket. Great crowds and atmosphere. Ebb and flow.
Reckon there are still plenty of runs in this Indian batting lineup (the bowling is thinner than Twiggy). If they can bat past tea today and make over 350 we get a real old fashioned Test Match where Australia have to time their lead/declaration. A crumbling pitch and Nathan Lyon in the spotlight on Day 5. Bliss.
Prediction – an exciting, exasperating draw and onto the SCG for the decider.
Trevor Goddard.
Seasons greetings.
Bob Cratchit of Perth.
SK was taking selfies on the fence just below us. There’s a touch of the Jack Ginnivans there. Is this a portent for the next generations?