When Bob Simpson was the captain and coach of the Australian teams he would often say, “I can understand if the opposition can out-bat and out-bowl us but we should never be out-fielded.”
At the end of fourth day’s play, when Mickey Arthur and co. sit down and try find the defining point that changed the course of the match, they should look no further than Ed Cowan’s dropped catch of Bhuvenshwar Kumar.
Moises Henriques had dismissed Harbhajan Singh and Kumar, the number 10, was facing only his fourth ball. He flicked one in the air that was dropped by Cowan fielding at short midwicket.
By modern day fielding standards it was a dolly. In the past Australia could afford to drop a catch or two because a new opportunity would present itself with Shane Warne and Glen McGrath at the helm, but when playing alien conditions as an underdog, Australia could ill afford to drop such an opportunity.
The lead at the time was only 26 and Dhoni was only on 121. They both went on to add 140 runs and virtually put Australia out of a winning position.
We can all speculate but if the lead could have been limited to within the vicinity of 50-odd, we still could have gripping Test match on our hands.
As it stands, thanks largely to the last wicket unbeaten partnership of 52, Australia’s lead is pushing up to 50 and the debutante Henriques should be admired for his efforts in the second innings.
At the conclusion of day’s play, Henriques refused to declare what would be a realistically decent total in the fourth innings.
“It’s hard to tell what’s a good total, I would have to say over a 100 or maybe even 150 but you do need a bit of luck to survive out there.”
In cricket sometimes you need to make your own luck and dropping catches isn’t the ideal way to go about it. Like the old saying goes, “catches can win you matches and also lose you some.”
Looking back over this Test, had Bob Simpson been the coach, perhaps the opportunity would have been taken and the Test match still alive.
Whiteline
Guest
Robert, you are right, Cowan is a snail. He reminds of a teenager growing into his body - slow, lacking athleticism and sharpness..and that's also applies to his batting!!!
JGK
Roar Guru
Were you asleep during the mid 80s?
Robert
Guest
This is the poorest fielding Aust unit I've seen in 50 years, led by Wade who is without doubt the worst keeper. Cowan and Hughes are both unco and Watson is totally immobile!
Sunil
Guest
Yes the net form, the exact reason we are losing, we are picking on net form
matt h
Guest
He is catching everything in the nets ...
Pope Paul VII
Guest
very funny, I heard that too
Praveen
Guest
I am sure we will hear some crap such as Cowan is great for the dressing room to justify his spot
Sunil
Guest
Its funny when you want to find an excuse you will, even though Khawaja is a much better fielder then Cowan we never hear about Cowan's fielding issues.
Sunil
Guest
Yes i think its beyond most folks, if Cowan had 2-3 games then you could make a case for him to get a further chance, but he has had 14 tests in a row, more then what even Hughes and Marsh were afforded. And with a better alternative availalbe in Watson its hard to understand why the move is not being made with Khawaja coming in at 4. Chappell, Waugh, Border and Lee seem to back this up as well.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Cowan's never been a good fielder, yet fielding is used as an excuse not to pick Khawaja.
JGK
Roar Guru
Gav The turning point was when when you were being interviewed on ABC radio when we were about 7/360 and you predicted that we'd get 450.
waterboy
Guest
How Cowan stays in this team whilst Khawaja sits on the sidelines bewilders me.
John Edgar
Guest
Yes agree 100%, that catch was the turning point, but as a favorite of the selectors you will hear no one mention it.
Praveen
Guest
I have no doubt that this was the turning point, had Cowan held on to this catch Sharma would have come in and we could have wrapped them up with a lead no more then 40 or 50, then we would have got a 200 lead and possibly won the match