Almanac Cricket: Australia v India – Second Test Adelaide Day 3: Final cricket snicks

 

 

CRICKET SNICKS  DAY 3

 

Thought I would be smart and decided to take some books to the annual almanac Adelaide lunch at the up town Duke of Wellington Hotel.  Not smart enough as Rulebook, Harms, and Whimpress were all flogging literary books as well. As Marvin Vaas so apply put it “The Great Book Off”.

 

Apologies to my respected associate Marvin who so kindly took notes for me at the lunch.  Unfortunately I left them in the car, that could read fortunately in some respects.  Marvin is also my co-selector of the ‘best ever knacker XI’ but we are having trouble coming to an agreement on the ‘best’. As MV said, ” you can’t please everyone”.

 

If you are from interstate and have purchased the local paper today you would have to believe that only one player Travis Head was the total team. South Australia would have to take the cake as the most parochial when it comes to sport and ‘their’ player. It only makes you wonder how come that their cricket team can’t win the Sheffield Shield.

 

An amazing number of attendees at the game today despite it being a foregone conclusion.  Obviously Pant and Ashwin thought so as they played very lazy shots to get out. Within half a dozen overs they were gone. The youngster of the team  Nitish Kumar Reddy is not giving up so easily and is continuing the promise he showed in Perth.  He is even farming the strike.

 

Starc and Cummins have one wicket each this afternoon.  Will be interesting the lineup for Australia in Brisbane.  Boland who replaced the injured Hazlewood has done a serviceable job.  Can’t see them playing the four fasties unless they leave Marsh out.  One change Hazlewood for Boland.  Players near the electric chair Khawaja, Smith and Marsh who all must contribute at the Gabba.

 

On the other side of the coin India are at ‘sixes and sevens’ with who to select.  How and why Jadeja has not been selected in the first two Tests is bewildering.  So dependable at 6 or 7 and his bowling can’t be faulted. Always have him in my side. Captain Rohat Sharma must lead the way and go back to opening the batting while the free-hitting KL Rahul goes to six, his best position.

 

Reddy (42) plays a duo of formidable shots for 4/6- but then ramps Cummins to McSweeney at deep third man.  India 9 in front and Cummins has 5/55.  Captain Pat is very determined to get this over and done with as soon as possible.

 

The idiotic booing of Mohammed Siraj is not even funny. Cummins bounces one off his helmet and he is ‘not happy Jan’.

 

The Australians continue to pepper the batters and Boland gets Siraj.  India all out 175  Cummins 5/56. Boland 3/51 and Starc 2/60.  Easy Test match like the first for Nathan Lyon.

 

Australia need 18 to win very comfortably in a reverse of the First Test.

 

Interesting to see whether Siraj and Bumrah bowl a few nasty ones to finish the game. McSweeney needs to have a not out and not give his wicket away easily just to confirm to the ‘three wise men’ that they have found a good’un.

 

McSweeney plays a lovely drive through the covers from Jasprit for four and back cuts the winning stroke for the same. He has the mettle.

 

Even though it was only three days it was exhilarating cricket from the very first ball bowled by Starc.  This gave Australia the upper hand and they never let it go.

 

Australia 337  and 0/22

 

India     180  and 175

 

Now to Brisbane.

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

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