Almanac Cricket: Australia v India – Second Test Adelaide Day 2: Cricket Snicks

CRICKET SNICKS ADELAIDE DAY 2

 

Always hard to sleep after a night sporting event be it cricket or football.  Up early (7.00am) and drove in to find a free car-parking spot  on Memorial Drive only to find every spot was taken.  Golfers were out early for a round before  heading to the cricket.

 

Aficionados love to get to the game early and people were already in line six hours before play begins. Fortunately SACA was providing free coffee and tea to all and sundry.

 

One thing I have noticed driving into the ground is the lack Christmas regalia decorating houses around the suburbs.

 

Back home in Mildura every second house is festooned with Christmas ‘stuff’ and people drive around at night viewing some fine art work.

 

Noticed former Indian great and coach Ravi Shastri ‘talking’ to quick Mohammed Siraj as the players arrived.  Somehow I don’t think it was too complimentary as Siraj lost his cool yesterday.

 

Beautiful day here in Adelaide today and we expect a top temperature of around 26 degrees and another huge crowd as well.  No doubt the area behind the Members will be chockers. To me it is the only cricket ground in the world where the actual game is secondary to meeting up with friends ‘out the back’.

 

Well, I have seen it all now.  Went for a walk ‘out the back’ and in the Village Green I found  a HAIRDRESSER. Yes that is correct, although not quite.  There were five of them on duty and doing a roaring trade. I’ve booked in for Monday so I can do a report for TFA.

 

Not for me but there is also a fast beer dispenser.  Put your money in and out comes a beer.

 

What a sight is the Village Green on a beautiful summer’s day. There must have been a thousand people out there enjoying a variety of food that you would never see in Feast Street in Mildura.  You name it, it was there.  As for alcohol there was even a two-storied infrastructure where you can go up top and be cooled by a  water fan as you enjoy your drink. Can’t see much from there but what the heck!

 

Footy season can’t be far away and the AFL are in on the act. Zac Butters, the Port Adelaide champion, was being interviewed by Channel7. The AFL are never happy unless they are in the media for 367 days a year. Only 89 days until the Roy Boys open up the defence of the premiership against the Pivots in Brissy.

 

Just picked up a habit of McSweeney.  After each ball he takes twelve paces out to square leg and back again. A good way to relax before the next ball.

 

Bumrah strikes early getting enough movement for McSweeney to nick through to  keeper Pant.  Good start for the visitors.

 

Marnus (B1) is striking the ball with confidence and he has now has B2 out there with him. This partnership will have everything if it takes off. Media are still questioning both players of course.

 

B2 is anything but an SPD.  He flicks at Jasprit and Pant does the rest.

 

Have been watching my good friend Sarah Reed working the boundary with her camera. Nearly always in shorts Sarah has a red blanket wrapped around her like a Christmas treat as she keeps the sun at bay. Sports photographers are a different breed.  Sarah has been at it for over twenty years now and loves her work.

 

Local hero Travis Head is a busy, busy batter and you can not take your eyes of his flashing blade. He attacks the bowling like no other as he just smites Ashwin for six. His motto ‘accipere imperium’ says it all.

 

Marnus brings up his 50 from 114 balls with 6 fours.  He has worked hard to beat the press and has done it!

 

Rana bowls short rubbish to Head for 3 fours in one over. Accipere imperium!

 

Rohit Sharma may be captain but to me Kohli still looks and acts like the boss.

 

There are a few things happening in cricket now which I deem are ‘not cricket’.  One happened just now when one of the Indian substitutes runs out to captain Sharma and virtually tell him where to place fieldsmen.  The other is having the substitutes field the ball  when a boundary is struck obviously to save the fielders energy.

 

Marnus slashes, Jaiwal catches superbly at backward point. Return to form by number 33 for 64 runs.

 

A terrible review by Ashwin convincing his skipper leaves India with only one DRS left.

 

Head supremely sweeps Ashwin for six.  The Bahrat’s will have to curb him soon as he is controlling the game with excalibur.

 

Partnership is now looking very dangerous.

 

Great fifty by Head from 63 balls, 4 fours and 2 sixes. Mastered the attack completely.

 

Australia’s morning with 103 runs and 2 wickets.

 

Much will depend on the partnership between Head and Marsh if they can take control of an attack that looks a bit wobbly. Bumrah in particular looks like he is carrying some sort of injury while Siraj and Rana look very pedestrian.

 

The enigmatic Ashwin helps his team out by getting Marsh caught behind.

 

The two Croweaters are at the wicket now and this is what the partisan crowd has been waiting for. Head is batting with supreme confidence and Carey is not far behind him.

 

Head takes to Ashwin with a vengeance. Siraj drops a difficult catch running backwards and Head survives.

 

The bar area on the hill is overflowing but unlike yesterday I do not see any police.  Weekend penalties in place? Surely not.

 

Rana’s rubbish continues and Head will probably reach his century this over if it continues. Not to be as he scores a single late in the over.

 

The plods have returned.

 

Marvellous century by Head from only 111 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes.

 

Ranna continues to bowl short to Head and two more cracking fours from his sword.

 

Cummins has always looked promising as a batter to me but he seldom accommodates. Big chance today with tired bowlers, a partner on fire and a very vocal crowd.

 

Head continues to flay the bowling and reaches 140 with a superb flick over square leg for six of the ‘angry penguin’. The penguin get his revenge next ball when he bowls Head.

 

Tremendous applause for a wonderful innings that could set Australia up for a win and the gladiator responds with arms aloft.

 

A little tete-a-tete takes place between Head and Siraj. If he wasn’t an Indian Siraj would probably be suspended from the next match. I think he must have forgotten what Ravi Shastri said to him before the start of play.

 

My impression is that Australia will continue to push for runs and declare with 30 minutes to play and hopefully a couple of wickets.

 

The sheep are out grazing during the change of innings and there would be about 50 of them ringing families and friends saying “we’re mucking up the Adelaide oval”. I am sure the wonderful curators of this ground would not be impressed.

 

First ball after tea Starc gives Rana some fielding practice and ninth wicket falls.

 

The enfant terrible now has three wickets.  A couple of overs later and you can make that 4 wickets and Australia all out for 337 and a lead of 157.

 

Now to end a great day of cricket with exhilarating batting from Head, 100 minutes of play that could well determine how long the game will last.

 

Just noticed an advertisement appearing around the ground in vivid yellow. FOREVER FEARLESS promoting the Flinders University. What the?

 

The fun has started as Rahul tries to hook Cummins and Carey anticipating takes a simple catch down the leg side.  Great start for Australia who have been on top since the first ball of the match.

 

Gill, a superb timer of the ball, pushes Cummins for four through mid-wicket. He just caressed the ball like a little baby.

 

Jaiwal also showing his shot prowess pushes Starc through mid-off for what looks like a certain four but he runs and keeps running and has run 3before Gill tells him to cease. The spirit of youthful enthusiasm.

 

Boland on for Starc and his first ball has Jaiwal pushing at one that moves very late and Carey accepts. India in all sorts of trouble now and the ship will need steadying before it crashes.

 

Cummins is giving his all as he knows he has the visitors on the ropes. Another wicket tonight would be icing on the cake.

 

A great battle going on out in the middle and the crowd completely absorbed in it.

 

The batters know the importance of staying there but they are also running hard and getting every possible run they can manage to whittle down the difference.

 

Boland The Great moves one into Kohli and the King can do nothing about it but edge to Carey. Pant dances down the wicket to his first ball and clouts BTG for four. What is he doing?

 

The crowd is on edge. Boland 2/16  India 3/66

 

What next?

 

Rishabn Pant that’s what as he does a double somersault with pike to hit Boland over the keepers head for four.  9.6 from the judges.

 

Starc’s turn and he beats Gill and knocks the middle stump flying. He then gets Sharma plumb – NO BALL!

 

As Bill would say “It’s all happening out there!”

 

Pant sloshes Boland through cover for four then back-flips over fine,fine leg for another.

 

Another record crowd.  This time 51,642 who have had their monies worth twice over. Wonder Alan Kohler can put a price on delight’?

 

Pant’s attack on Boland has caused a change with Captain Pat coming back and bowling Sharma with a pearler.

 

This is great Test cricket.

 

Is Reddy ready?  Two stroke players at the wicket what will they do?  Play defensively or play as they were taught.

 

Cummins is not happy as the Indians take a ‘time out’ for running repairs to one of the batters and he lets the umpires know. No love lost out there between the two teams.

 

What a day and at stumps India 5/128 and still a lot of work to do.  Still trailing by 29 runs.

 

As Richie would say  “Maarvellous”

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE