The fragilities of Australia’s batsmen were once again exposed overnight, as the West Indies bowlers ripped through the top order before coasting to a five-wicket victory, the first over Australia in any form of the game since 2006.
Drizzle and overcast skies greeted the players as they arrived at the Arnos Vale ground and after winning the toss, West Indies captain Darren Sammy was happy to see how the tourists would handle the conditions, electing to field first.
Australia looked to have gotten off to a solid start, reaching 0/16 before a 90-minute rain delay stopped play and reduced the match to a 40-over contest.
After the resumption it didn’t take long for the home side to get on the front foot, with Kemar Roach removing David Warner (13) and Peter Forrest (0) in the second over back from the break.
Wickets continued to punctuate the Australian innings and only David Hussey (37) managed to find any semblance of comfort on a tricky pitch despite Michael Hussey, Shane Watson and George Bailey all making starts.
In only his second ODI on home soil, spinner Sunil Narine picked up 4/27 off his eight overs.
Conditions were definitely in favour of the bowlers and after Brett Lee trapped Kieran Powell leg-before off the opening ball of the innings, it looked as if Australia clamp down on the home side’s top order and make a contest of it.
But despite falling to a perilous 4/74, the West Indies were able to reach Australia’s target with 11 balls to spare after the steady hands of Kieron Pollard (47*) and Dwayne Bravo (30) secured the win for the home side, with Pollard lighting up the Australian attack with several booming sixes.
The five-ODI series continues on Wednesday morning Australian time and Australia’s batsmen will be eager to quickly erase the memory of this morning’s loss. You can read comprehensive over-by-over commentary on the 2nd ODI here.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
Actually thinking about it, Kallis did badly against Australia when the were good. He's no Graham Thorpe. I'm dropping Kallis from my all-time 11 and replacing him with Wally Hammond. I have Sobers at 6 to be a fifth bowler so I don't need Kallis. I have the suspcion that Kallis's stats are padded by runs against the weaker teams. A bit like Sir Everton Weeks. I can't pick a great player in a helmet over one that didn't wear one. Also, Tendular's stats need to have matches in the sub-continent stripped out. In the past, Tendular has done well against the good teams outside of the subcontinent. Alastair might end up scoring more test match hundreds than Tendular. He's 26 and he already has 19. 3 short of the England record.
GBv44
Roar Rookie
Ben D., Perhaps you might have just pointed out the single most reason why Kallis go as the most underrated allrounder. His figures against ENG, as you pointed out, is average. Seriously, since when did we start measuring a player's caliber by his performance against ENG alone?
GBv44
Roar Rookie
geno, Did Tendulkar refuse to give you an autograph or perhaps did something worse to you? You seem to have a serious grudge against one of the greatest batsmen of all time (whether you accept it or not), and a bit of respect wouldn't hurt. It looks to me like you are consciously trying to bring his name into every discussion and downplay his achievements. If you could explain your reasons behind such actions, may be I could understand why you say the things you do.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
@Jason From Cric Info Stats Guru: Kallis vs England: 28 matches, 46 wickets at 34.67 and he scored 1879 runs at 42.7 Brett Lee vs England: 18 matches, 62 wickets at 40.61 and a he scored 334 runs at 20.87
Jason
Guest
"Kallis is a far better bowler than Brett Lee." Well now I've heard it all.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
Kallis is a far better bowler than Brett Lee. Check out Lee's record against England. Kallis gets in my Greatest All Time X1 along with Imram Khan. [not the 6 best batsmen and 4 best bolwers and best wicket keeper but the best team] Gavaskar G Pollock Viv Richards [captain discipline] Bradman Kallis Sobers Gilchrist Imram Khan Wasim Akram [he bolwed on flat pitches and he's left arm] SF Barnes [be bowled fast legcutters litterally ie not seamers] Murali
geno
Guest
Sober's is well before my time so I personally find it quite difficult to fully appreciate a cricketer from the highlights reel, his record is outstanding however. Kallis though has what 12,000 runs and nearly three hundred test wickets? It's like have a Pointing and a B.Lee rolled into one. Surely he is the greatest test player of our time. I cannot fathom all this nonsense about Tendulkar and no mention in the press of a man who would have to considered vastly superior.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
My piece on the second ODI is up now. You can find it quickest by going to my profile page. Thanks for the interest. I don't know about Kallis being the greatest but certainly the most underated and underappreciated allrounder. In terms of batting allrounders, we need to remember that Sir Gary Sobers batted with no helmet protection, poor gloves, and bats not as good as today's. He also probably played with poor sightscreens and on uncovered wickets. Also Sir Garry's bowling needs to be split up into the various categories of what he bowled ie his effectiveness as a left arm seamer compared to as an orthodox left arm spinner compared to his more expensive left arm wrist spin. Joe public likes their all rounders to be dashing with the bat eg Miller, Sobers, Botham. Folks also tend to forget the value of Kallis's slip catching. However, Cook will get more hundreds than him. Cook has 19 hundreds at aged 26.
geno
Guest
Okay mate, look forward to reading it! Perhaps an article in the future on the greatest all rounder of all time (Jacques Kallis).
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
If you want a better idea of what happened, read my piece that describes every dismisal in technical detail eg the above "Brett Lee trapped Kieran Powell leg-before off the opening ball of the innings" shortchanges the reader; it doesn't paint the full word picture for the reader who might not have seen the action ie that the lefthanded Powell left the ball (bat high above head) but the over the wicket ball from Brett Lee sharply swung back into him. A ball that swung from the hand and off the pitch from middle-and-off to middle leaving it as plum as can be. My piece also mentions the atmosphere created by the buzzing vuvuzelas and the partying big bouncing women in the crowd that the TV cameras were so fond of. I also list all the "left-handers" who are not lefthanders at all; they're righthanders who bat "top-handed" eg Warner and Michael Hussey all bowl and throw right arm the same as Chanderpaul and Gayle if they were playing. In fact, I should have mentioned that Chris Gayle was in the crowd (dressed in black) signing autographs and a having a chat with Michael Holding and the Prime Minister of the host country Saint Vincent and the Grenadines(sp). Why was Gayle there? His home in Jamaica is not exactly a stone's throw away from Saint Vincent .. unless thrown by Superman. MY PIECE SHOULD BE PUBLISHED SOON. I think it's better than my first article (on game 1 of this series) which was good but too long and contained a horriby clunky second sentence that folks will need to let slide given it was my debut article.
geno
Guest
Why isn't Callum Ferguson and Nathan Lyon in the side? Surely Lyon's spin would have been advantageous on that pitch. Also with our middle order frailty Ferguson would add so much needed steel.
formeropenside
Guest
And, in even more important news, Queensland win the Shield.
mickey
Guest
Hopefully Gayle and the WI board can kiss and make up. Having him at the top of the order and WI are almost a competitive side..