Almanac Cricket: Second Test – Aust v WI: Day 3 – Citrus Bob’s report: Boland stings the ‘Bees’

Day 3 in Adelaide

BOLAND STINGS THE ‘BEES”

It is always a pleasure to come to an interstate Test match as you know you are going to meet someone from home.

Today I had the pleasure of having coffee with an old-young sports guru from Nar Nar Goon. Chris Cullinan was both a very good cricketer and a West Gippsland Football League Best & Fairest winner and a passionate sports fan.

You might have heard of Nar Nar Goon?  Was in potato country until the urban sprawl hit Melbourne  and it is now virtually suburbia but was made famous by comedian Joff Ellen from ‘In Melbourne Tonight’ fame and the irrepressible Lou Richards with his famous quote “they couldn’t beat Nar Nar Goon Thirds”.

Boy did we have a wonderful time talking about in ‘our day’ although Chris is many, many years younger than me.  It was all about “how good was he”, “whatever happened to Joe Blow?”,  “I heard Bill Smith had lost the plot”, etc etc.  A great couple of hours of quality reminiscing.

Mind you we did lament the  changing face of country football in recent years in our area of Gippsland.  Players no longer rate the importance of playing with their town and change teams like changing your socks.  This has been a sad indictment as football is now controlled by central office in Melbourne. The relevance of “community” has been lost on everyone.

What a start for Australia and disappointment for Chanderpaul minor. Sent back after charging off for a run, he slips and Starc hits the stumps. So disappointing to the crowd as well as he shouldered the batting with G & D yesterday.  Will make the task much easier for the home team.

Carey takes a brilliant catch diving to his right of Starc to get Holder before he has scored.  At 6/103 the Windies are in real trouble.

Phillip and Da Silva have fought back well and put on over 50 before drinks are taken for the first time.   Thought drinks would have been more regular on what is the hottest day of summer so far.

No sooner said than done and DRS gives Josh Da Silva (23)  LBW to Lyon.  In a matter of a few overs Phillip is run out for a gritty 43 and Joseph (0) is another LBW to Lyon.

No doubt Australia will have a second dig on this hot day to give their bowlers a rest and build the lead to over 500  and an impregnable position.  There is just too much difference between the two teams.

Mindley and Chase hit out  and can each claim a six hooking as they put on 43 for the last wicket before Lyon – I don’t think I have ever seen him drop a catch, takes Mindley at long leg.  West Indies 214.  Lyon 3/57 with Neser and Starc 2 apiece.  Australia lead by 297 with 2 two and a half days to go.

A few more people have entered the ground and a few more left. Ussie continues with his fine 12 months. Still has 2 more big games to boost his tally of runs.

Warner is still struggling, the fluency is just not there like his was in his hey-day.

It is easy to see that the Croweaters were free settlers, they certainly lack flare when it comes to ‘dressing up or costuming’  they are left for dead by the forced immigrants that settled in New South Wales and Victoria.  Today I have seen one Santa, eight blokes dressed in red and white striped sailor skivvies and that’s about it. No ducks, Charles III, superman.  My they are a dreary lot.

Just witness what we will see in Melbourne in a couple of weeks.  For heavens sake where are the Richies?  Sacrilegious!

This a glorious cameo from Ussie with shots all around the wicket. This is one thing you will remember about today’s play.  He is scoring at a run a ball and I expect if these keeps up Australia will declare before stumps with a lead of five hundred plus.

Looking at the body language of the Windies at drinks they just can’t wait to finish this game. The only one trying to motivate them is ‘keeper Joshua Da Silva as he wanders around  patting each of them on the back.

Warner swishes at Chase’s first ball and plays on.  Not unlucky, a bad shot, and runs are here for the taking. Not that Khawaja makes many more. He lazily plays a drive to Chase, in the same over, and gets a faint edge to Da Silva.  A fine 45 but a lazy shot.

Smith and Labuschagne push the score along but on the last ball before tea Marnii cuts and Chase takes a fine catch low down.  Australia 3/136.

Smith decides plays a few swashbuckling shots before getting out for 35. Obviously he is keen to get the lead well past 500 and then give his quicks a few overs tonight.  Green does like wise but is soon out. I doubt the wisdom of having Green going the tonk.  He is still young in his career and is still not secure in his position.  Would have rather seen Starc come in as he is a mighty hitter.

This is one-day slap and slop as the Oz boys throw caution to the wind .  When Carey (8) is bowled SPDS declares at 6/199. Travis Head 38 n.o, Joseph 3 wickets and Chase 2.

Windies need 497 to win .

Are we back in Melbourne at Christmas time?  No, but it seemed like it as Scott Boland relived that moment again when he took three wickets in his opening over. He knocked over the 3 B’s Brathwaite, Brooks and Blackwood.  Boland 3/0.

The catch by Cameron Green at backward point was a pearler.

According to a few of the ex-player experts his performance in the Windies first innings was very, very ordinary.  Too much for the ‘sperts’ who want him out of the team.

Sometimes I feel the general public should be able to drop the experts because of unsatisfactory performance.   I even reckon it would make a great live show on TV with the expert having to defend themselves against a hostile (unbiased) tribunal.

Back to the cricket and Starc gets into the act when Chanderpaul minor gets the faintest of edges for Carey moving beautifully to take.  Windies 4/21.

 Veteran Jason Holder and Thomas are trying to hold the fort  until stumps and doing a good job against good line and length from this very disciplined Australian attack.

The best day so far with plenty of entertainment from both bat and ball.  With no rain on the radar the match surely shall conclude tomorrow, day four.

At the close of play West Indies  4/38  Mitchell Starc 1/11  Scott Boland 39