The Ashes – First Test: Day 3 – The day that wasn’t!

 

 

The Ashes ­— First Test, Day 3: the day that wasn’t

 

Back in a far-off time when all things digital media were barely a thought in their creators minds, regional Australians counted themselves lucky to be able to turn on the TV set to watch content on either of two channels. Granted that where I grew up it was possible to install a four- or five-metre-tall antenna to pick up the ‘Adelaide’ stations, but my parents decided against doing so. As kids, my brother and I had to be content with the offerings on GTS/BKN—the local Spencer Gulf network—and ABC TV South Australia.

 

Our dual-channel situation was quite acceptable for most of the time, the exception being, in my childhood opinion, cricket season. This was when all regular programming was bumped for endless broadcasts of dull* cricket matches being played somewhere or other. Surely, Astro Boy and Monkey were far worthier of being shown at their rightful timeslots!

 

Nor was my torment confined to the TV. Cricket also seemed to given precedence on radio, as generously obliged by ABC 891 AM.

 

Four decades on the First Test in Perth has delivered up precisely the type of quick-fire test match my eight-year-old self might have wished for.

 

The coverage of the Test made for great listening/viewing from the start: England’s decision to bat first; wickets being taken left, right and centre; Mitchell Starc landing the catch of the Series; disarray of Australia’s batting line-up; and the ‘Trav-effect’ which turned the match on its head.

 

While I work on a campaign to have the Piping Shrike included on the national coat of arms for the Third Test, England and Australia can take pause and regroup. England might benefit from loading into the team tour bus and going to City Beach. A refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean followed by a feast of fish and chips at Clancy’s overlooking the sand and surf, would do wonders for reviving their morale.

 

Meanwhile, injuries to Usman Khawaja and Nathon Lyon create an extra layer of complexity for the Australian selectors in the lead up to the pink ball test in Brisbane. Having consulted with ‘SGD’ (Sports Guru Dad), I offer the following scenarios:

 

1. Khawaja unavailable #1 – Travis Head to open the batting on the proviso he takes a more controlled approach. All-rounder Beau Webster who ‘did pretty well against India’ to make up the middle order.
2. Khawaja unavailable #2 – Head sticks with his middle-order position and Nathan McSweeny comes in to open the batting alongside Jake Weatherald.
3. Lyon unavailable – bring in left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann who had a successful double-act with Lyon in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

 

On this non-Day 3 of the First Ashes Test Kuhnemann put in a noteworthy performance playing for Tasmania in the Shield match against the NSW Blues at Cricket Central, Sydney. Having bowled 27.5 overs and claiming a couple of wickets at an economy rate of 3.80, the spinner then came out to open the batting with Caleb Jewell, the pair putting on a 56-run partnership before Kuhnemann was caught behind by Phillipe off the bowling of Liam Hatcher for 21. Thanks to a century from Jewell (102 off 162 balls), Tasmania at stumps on Day 2 are 2 for 196, trailing the Blues by 195.

 

Across all formats of the game, it was Marizanne Kapp’s knock for the Melbourne Stars Women in WBBL|11—you know, that other outstanding competition which seems to have been allocated a back seat—which gets my vote as the highlight of the day. Batting first against the bottom-of-the-ladder Brisbane Heat Women the Stars struggled early on. Enter Kapp with her usual seriousness and focussed intent she went about her work scoring an undefeated 93 off 51, including 9 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 182.35. It was effortlessly sublime batting to watch while the melodic ‘ping’ of Kapp’s bat striking the ball was akin to the resonance of fine crystal glassware.

 

Melbourne Stars Women (8-171 off 20 overs) defeated Brisbane Heat Women (9-153 off 20 overs).

 

*refer Dan Lonergan’s comment re Boycott and Tavare in ‘The Ashes — First Test, Day 2: England needs a plan B’

 

 

Here is the link to espncricinfo website for the full scorecard.

 

 

More from Heather Here.

 

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