The things we do for cricket
March 7th 2009 15:08
As I write this I am sitting in my living room, it is just past one-thirty in the morning and the temperature is freezing. I sit on my couch in a dressing gown, rugged up in a blanket. So why am I braving the cold and my ever increasing urge to simply go to sleep? Why am I still up, against all my better judgement?.....Well I'm watching the cricket of course.
The game currently in progress is the second test between Australia and South Africa, part of the return series being played over there after they recently beaten us earlier this year on our home soil. After being beaten comprehensively by the Proteas at home, our first home series loss in 16 years, many were fearing that the Australian run of dominance which has lasted almost an entire generation was beginning to come to its inevitable end.
Indeed with two sides on the rise in South Africa and India (both of which have defeated us in test series in the last 6 months) and our side which has for so long had a plethora of talented champions ready to step in and fulfil any task asked of them, no matter how challenging. We are now seemingly falling from grace due to a dilution in the talent pool caused by numerous retirements in the last few years including McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer, Warne, and most recently Mathew Hayden. Many were touting us to be the major casualty of this cricket season.
Granted we have lately lost more tests then we have become accustomed to doing so. We have struggled to grasp games during the crucial moments, on numerous occasions losing matches we had every right to win. Regularly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as it were.
However as I sit here typing away when I should be really be having a well earned sleep instead. I can't help but observe some promising signs to take from the performance of this continually evolving team which is eternally learning new lessons. Sure the names which now fill the baggy green caps are different these days. They include previously un-thought-of names such as Hilfenhaus, MacDonald and North. But remember what goes up must come down, we have been on top for so long and now that we are rapidly coming back to the pack. Keeping that in mind, I must say that these boys plucked from relative obscurity are giving a vary good account of themselves.
We have a new spearhead to the bowling attack in Mitchell Johnson. Who tonight has bowled with a tantalising yet scary combination of blistering pace, miserly accuracy and bemusing swing. The latest being a weapon previously shrouded in mystery and unused by modern day Australian Fast bowlers. Mitch has unlocked the key to success. He has rattled Kallis and Smith with sharp bouncers, so viscous that they have both been forced to retire hurt, Smith not to return for at least to weeks.
We have a fresh young opener by the name of Hughes. Just out of nappies in first-class-cricketing-terms, he seemed at sixes and sevens in his first test innings a week ago. He was getting out playing a rash shot to a ball which was closer to the edge of the pitch then the stumps. This test match has been his coming of age though. With his elegant yet powerful century in the first innings (brought up with consecutive sixes if you don't mind). I think young Phil could be a stalwart at the top of the order for many years to come.
These thoughts may not be the most articulate as I am in dire need of either some shut eye or a strong cup of coffee. Though I must say once again I think there is much potential floating through this current list. Right on cue MacDonald has slipped one through Morne Morkel's bat and pad for his third in the innings and I'm out for the night.
This cricket match just another moment in life, life itself being a series of distractions designed to keep me out of bed.
By Sebastian Reinehr
The game currently in progress is the second test between Australia and South Africa, part of the return series being played over there after they recently beaten us earlier this year on our home soil. After being beaten comprehensively by the Proteas at home, our first home series loss in 16 years, many were fearing that the Australian run of dominance which has lasted almost an entire generation was beginning to come to its inevitable end.
Indeed with two sides on the rise in South Africa and India (both of which have defeated us in test series in the last 6 months) and our side which has for so long had a plethora of talented champions ready to step in and fulfil any task asked of them, no matter how challenging. We are now seemingly falling from grace due to a dilution in the talent pool caused by numerous retirements in the last few years including McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer, Warne, and most recently Mathew Hayden. Many were touting us to be the major casualty of this cricket season.
Granted we have lately lost more tests then we have become accustomed to doing so. We have struggled to grasp games during the crucial moments, on numerous occasions losing matches we had every right to win. Regularly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as it were.
However as I sit here typing away when I should be really be having a well earned sleep instead. I can't help but observe some promising signs to take from the performance of this continually evolving team which is eternally learning new lessons. Sure the names which now fill the baggy green caps are different these days. They include previously un-thought-of names such as Hilfenhaus, MacDonald and North. But remember what goes up must come down, we have been on top for so long and now that we are rapidly coming back to the pack. Keeping that in mind, I must say that these boys plucked from relative obscurity are giving a vary good account of themselves.
We have a new spearhead to the bowling attack in Mitchell Johnson. Who tonight has bowled with a tantalising yet scary combination of blistering pace, miserly accuracy and bemusing swing. The latest being a weapon previously shrouded in mystery and unused by modern day Australian Fast bowlers. Mitch has unlocked the key to success. He has rattled Kallis and Smith with sharp bouncers, so viscous that they have both been forced to retire hurt, Smith not to return for at least to weeks.
We have a fresh young opener by the name of Hughes. Just out of nappies in first-class-cricketing-terms, he seemed at sixes and sevens in his first test innings a week ago. He was getting out playing a rash shot to a ball which was closer to the edge of the pitch then the stumps. This test match has been his coming of age though. With his elegant yet powerful century in the first innings (brought up with consecutive sixes if you don't mind). I think young Phil could be a stalwart at the top of the order for many years to come.
These thoughts may not be the most articulate as I am in dire need of either some shut eye or a strong cup of coffee. Though I must say once again I think there is much potential floating through this current list. Right on cue MacDonald has slipped one through Morne Morkel's bat and pad for his third in the innings and I'm out for the night.
This cricket match just another moment in life, life itself being a series of distractions designed to keep me out of bed.
By Sebastian Reinehr
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