Oracle of Delphi
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Paladin
Shan Jayaweera
KC Hill
Cibbuano
Craig HillBehold the cricketing paradox, a fascinating draw
December 4th 2006 22:37
Even since the abolishment of timeless tests in the late 1920’s cricket at the highest level has been faced the paradox unique to cricket and perhaps football, how to make something out of a contest that nobody wins even after five days of competition. Luckily for cricket fans five days in a long time and plenty of questions are asked and often, as is the case in this test, many answers are provided.
Despite the likely draw in this test match England will have found plenty of reasons to smile. Fletcher’s slightly cheeky assertion after the first test that his batsmen had played Warne well proved more of a prophecy designed to invigorate players than a statement of fact at the time. It certainly had the right effect though as Collingwood and Pieterson treated Warne and others in the Australian attack very well indeed. Collingwood’s runs are a bonus for England, Pieterson’s an expectation and Strauss’s lack there of a cause for concern.
Hoggard toiled manfully in the batsmen friendly conditions and will take confidence from this effort into coming matches, his reverse swing perhaps reminding Australian batsmen of their past foibles at a critical stage of the series. Even Harmison rediscovered some of his long lost mojo and managed to string together a couple of maidens in batsmen friendly conditions.
That the pitch itself was so batsmen friendly is cause for concern for Cricket Australia. Les Burdett has been head groundsmen at the Adelaide Oval for many years and doubtless was given little choice in the positioning of the current test match in early December rather than over the traditional Australia Day long weekend in late January. While the media has talked in animated fashion about the need for alternative bowlers I don’t suspect many of them, save for bowling addict Panesar, will have fancied trundling through a mountains of overs for scant reward.
Certainly more recently appointed test grounds like Bellerive Oval in Hobart and to a lesser degree grounds in Darwin and Cairns respectively will have developed a nervous twitch on the notion that their pitches are far more conducive to even contests than the placid offerings at the Adelaide Oval.
Compounding this issue is the increasingly mild nature of the WACA pitch in Perth. Various theories have been bandied about as to why the glory days of bounce, carry and pace have deserted the WACA playing surface. Be it soil quality, lower than average rainfall or simply wear and tear the fact remains that conditions will be remarkably similar to Adelaide.
Nobody will be more frustrated about this than Glen McGrath who could have done with a traditional Perth wicket to help keep the wolves from his door for another test match. Not even the most successful test bowler in history can play on indefinitely and every performance will be scrutinised, not only from McGrath but from incumbents Tait, Johnson and Bracken.
Not so for Watson who looks ever more likely to be bought into the side, perhaps at the expense of a listless Damien Martyn who one feels is really testing the selectors after his reprieve earlier this year. Clarke’s hundred is a timely reminder of his ability to bat higher up the order and with Watson only missing out on selection in tests one and two due to injury Martyn’s tenure in the team may be limited.
Despite the likely draw in this test match England will have found plenty of reasons to smile. Fletcher’s slightly cheeky assertion after the first test that his batsmen had played Warne well proved more of a prophecy designed to invigorate players than a statement of fact at the time. It certainly had the right effect though as Collingwood and Pieterson treated Warne and others in the Australian attack very well indeed. Collingwood’s runs are a bonus for England, Pieterson’s an expectation and Strauss’s lack there of a cause for concern.
Hoggard toiled manfully in the batsmen friendly conditions and will take confidence from this effort into coming matches, his reverse swing perhaps reminding Australian batsmen of their past foibles at a critical stage of the series. Even Harmison rediscovered some of his long lost mojo and managed to string together a couple of maidens in batsmen friendly conditions.
That the pitch itself was so batsmen friendly is cause for concern for Cricket Australia. Les Burdett has been head groundsmen at the Adelaide Oval for many years and doubtless was given little choice in the positioning of the current test match in early December rather than over the traditional Australia Day long weekend in late January. While the media has talked in animated fashion about the need for alternative bowlers I don’t suspect many of them, save for bowling addict Panesar, will have fancied trundling through a mountains of overs for scant reward.
Certainly more recently appointed test grounds like Bellerive Oval in Hobart and to a lesser degree grounds in Darwin and Cairns respectively will have developed a nervous twitch on the notion that their pitches are far more conducive to even contests than the placid offerings at the Adelaide Oval.
Compounding this issue is the increasingly mild nature of the WACA pitch in Perth. Various theories have been bandied about as to why the glory days of bounce, carry and pace have deserted the WACA playing surface. Be it soil quality, lower than average rainfall or simply wear and tear the fact remains that conditions will be remarkably similar to Adelaide.
Nobody will be more frustrated about this than Glen McGrath who could have done with a traditional Perth wicket to help keep the wolves from his door for another test match. Not even the most successful test bowler in history can play on indefinitely and every performance will be scrutinised, not only from McGrath but from incumbents Tait, Johnson and Bracken.
Not so for Watson who looks ever more likely to be bought into the side, perhaps at the expense of a listless Damien Martyn who one feels is really testing the selectors after his reprieve earlier this year. Clarke’s hundred is a timely reminder of his ability to bat higher up the order and with Watson only missing out on selection in tests one and two due to injury Martyn’s tenure in the team may be limited.
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