Australia sat their first serious English Examination today and would have mixed feelings. MR Cricket, speaking to Holding, described it as “a par score. Hard work for the bowlers and difficult to drive when the ball got softer.”
Though Hussey was dropped twice, his 143 not out was both assured and authoritative.
He is no longer batting like a hen-pecked husband. He has been the missing link in the last 12 months. He is back and his reliability will prove priceless in the battles ahead.
Philip Hughes was caught between attack and defence and was roughed up by a rejuvenated Steve Harmison.
Ponting followed cheaply and it was left to Simon Katich and Hussey to restore order.
That Australia manged 337 for the loss of eight wickets was due to a partnership of 100 between Mitch Johnson and Hussey.
Johnson was unlucky not to reach a half century and played with a maturity that augurs well for Australia. He also dismissed the leg spinner Rashid as a pretender, with a massive six out of the ground.
Rashid, at this stage of his career, is no more than a good club bowler. Unfortunately for England, he is not their answer to Warne. For the time being they will have to contend themselves with Swanning about.
Simon Katich with his 95 proved again how important he is to Australia’s recent success. He will need to protect the precocious Philip Hughes, who is susceptible early in his innings.
Michael Clarke lunged at a full pitched ball that was wide and scooped to point. A shot showing that his footwork and balance were rusty.
This first day proved that the first ten overs with the new ball are going to be vital. Once the shine was gone, bowling became hard work and there was no reverse on offer.
Australia have to bowl with discipline and not waste the new ball. And there cannot be a repeat of the no balls from their first outing.
Marcus North seems to have lost his compass and is playing too soon. He is playing for the pace that is not there. It is still a week before the first Test and he has time to discover his bearings.
This is a very rusty Australian team and is being carried in its batting by a few. It needs to build more partnerships at the top of the order and the batsmen have to start performing to their potential sooner rather than later.
Harmison proved that he still has the fire and his opening salvo was reminiscent of 2005. England will be tempted to include him for Cardiff at the expense of Bresnan or Onions.
This first day’s play proved a sober reminder that Australia have work to do if they are going to beat England.
Matches are not won on paper and the middle is an altogether different playground. Ponting will need to go back to his Mowbray roots and summon the resilience and street smarts that are so necessary to survive Test cricket.
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After posting 92 with the bat, the RCB star was having an equally brilliant day in the field.
The RCB opener posted a man-of-the-match 92 off 47, as his side defeated Punjab Kings by 60 runs.
The opener scored a man-of-the-match 89 off 30, in the 10-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants that came off just 9.4 overs.
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