Australia v Pakistan – MCG, Day 4: Prospects thwarted

Pakistan 443/9d
Australia 465/6 (113.5 ov)

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DAY 4 AT THE G

It should be an interesting day.

By my calculations, the only team that has a chance of winning is Australia. A huge score today followed by a late declaration this afternoon could set up an exciting Day 5.

Will it happen?

No.  It won’t happen because this is Test cricket but wouldn’t it be wonderful?

My theory is blown away in the first 15 minutes when Khawaja plays a lazy shot and feathers Wahab through to Sarfraz.  A century gone begging as he trudges off (the slowest walk I have ever seen) for 97.  Australia 3/282.

Smith and Handscomb are showing their intent by attacking at every opportunity but the Pakistani bowlers are not giving much away.  For Handscomb to be outscoring Smith says something about his ability. His scoring shots backward of point are a sheer delight and his footwork to Yasir is pure Fred Astaire.

Handscomb reaches his 50 and takes his Test average to 124.00, shades of Adam Voges. A dropped caught and bowled to Amir does not dent his confidence.

How many times have I done that this summer?   Sohail tosses one up, Handscomb goes to drive, Sami takes an easy catch at point.  Handscomb 54, Australia 4/374. Australia are only 69 runs behind.

This could not be a better time for Nic Maddinson to come to the wicket.  Hard ball, excellent light and the wicket dead easy. A score is a must for him today.

He moves nicely to 22 with composure but then dances down the wicket to Yasir and is clean bowled.  Australia 5/433.

Like Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade needs runs as the powers that be suggest that he is in the team for his batting, probably more than for his keeping.

He does not let us down, those fans who believe he is not good enough behind the wickets to be Australia’s keeper.  Wade c. Asad b Sohail 9. Australia 6/454. It was a slash by a man badly out of form.

The umpires meet, the members are revolting.  Play continues long enough for Steve Smith to reach his century and the rains come.

Things look pretty grim out there and the likelihood of play continuing today is fast disappearing.

Starc slogs a six, Smith reaches his ton and off they go. Australia 6/465 with SPD Smith 100 and Starc 7.  Sohail, Yasir and Wahab have taken 2 wickets each.

Any chance of a result is long gone and one can assume that the gates will be thrown open tomorrow to attract a crowd to watch – well, not much at all.

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Well the players and umpires have been off for over an hour the rain is pouring down, the wind is blowing a gale and ground level and the fourteen security guards out in the middle are wet and freezing.

People are still hanging around.  What for I don’t know but the umpires are refusing to make a decision either way. It’s just not cricket.

Like me they have probably arrived at the ground with no jackets and they are just waiting for the rain to stop.

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Hello, hello the sun is shining, the seagulls are having a ball out on the ground , and the members in the bar regale with tales, tall and true(?).

After farting around for another fifteen minutes play is abandoned for the day.  Daah!

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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.

Comments

  1. Citrus Bob while the test match has had some fine individual performance not a test to be remembered fondly played on yet another bloody road ( drop in crap wicket ) thanks Citrus

  2. Luke Reynolds says

    Handscomb’s footwork to the spinners was a delight to watch. Really looking forward to watching him bat in India.

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