1st Cricket Test: Aust v Sth Africa @ The Gabba

[QF WP]

Had a great afternoon talking with the retired umpires from around Australia. In this picture, in the foreground on the RHS is Mel Johnson.



Was nice to buy them a beer and listen to some of their stories.

 

[QF WP]

Time to go home and the end of my 2 day stint at the Cricketers Club

Far less beers drunk and most were done inside the Cricketers Club.

Duminy must be feeling sore and sorry, ruptured an Achilles yesterday in a warmdown the SA team had on the Gabba.

Was talking to somebody who saw the incident. They were playing (touch) football and he slipped and went down, immediately cluching his ankle and head at the same time. Graham Smith ran off to get their Physio who assessed the ankle and they took him off hobbling into the dresssing rooms, from which they called the Ambo. Looks like his tour is over.

Heard that the SA team left the Gabba at lunchtime in their team bus back to their hotel. The retired umpires said to a man, they would have called it off by tea - given the time that would be taken to take off the covers and ready the ground for play.

 

[QF WP]

Sad (for me) that there was an extended day of play yesterday and I was on Daddy Day duties. So being the good son, took the kids to my mothers place so she could play Granny (and my aunt was there as well).

Thought we did well to restrict them to 450 and was looking forward to seeing the top 3 perform. Disappointed with Warner and Ricky, but some backbone finally shown at 3 down.

Got some good play in (both meanings) until bewitching hour. Son fell asleep in the car on the way home but woke up when we put on Bananas in Pajamas at home.

Returning to work today but cricinfo will be on all day. Early start today again, beautiful weather

 

[QF WP]

Been busy this morning catching up after having Friday off. Thrilled that Cowan is 98 not out and Clarke 78 (Aust 3/214 at lunch), so it looks like my predicted draw is looking an almost certainty.

Jealously thinking what they are having for lunch today

 

[markis10]

Been busy this morning catching up after having Friday off. Thrilled that Cowan is 98 not out and Clarke 78 (Aust 3/214 at lunch), so it looks like my predicted draw is looking an almost certainty.

Jealously thinking what they are having for lunch today

Whats your thoughts re the early timing of the series??

 

[QF WP]

Good from my attendance point of view, but understandable because the Jarpies won't play a Boxing Day Test here in Australia, because it clashes with their own (given it is the best attended Test match in either country, they always want to play it in their home country - as does Australia). Therefore we only ever play 3 Tests against them when they tour (and vv). IIRC, Sri Lanka is the 3rd team this year and they don't have the same issues.


I'd have loved to chat to Simon Taufel about his thoughts on that same subject.

 

[QF WP]

You little beauty ^, Cowan scores a century:

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[TD="width: 30, align: right"]61.4
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[TD="width: 100%"]Philander to Cowan, FOUR, there it is! Cowan gets a short ball and he isn't going to let that go, he pulls and begind to celebrate as he runs down the pitch, raising his arms. Such joy on his face. Takes his helmet off and hugs Clarke. Special innings, this. Well played.
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I'll bet this one will be for his 12 week old daughter Romy (Sp?). Heard his wife interviewed on 612 ABC Grandstand Radio this morning.

Nice photo here

 

[QF WP]

More reasons for celebrating - a double century partnership :

Current partnership 200 runs, 56.1 overs, RR: 3.56 (Clarke 94, Cowan 87)

 

[QF WP]

Finally, a 3rd reason to celebrate, a Clarke century:

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[TD="width: 30, align: right"]73.6
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[TD="width: 100%"]Kleinveldt to Clarke, 1 run, Clarke dabs the ball behind point and looks up at Cowan, who responds quickly. That's his century and the Gabba gives Clarke loud applause. Clarke takes his helmet off as he celebrates and heads to a drinks break.
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I'll bet Ponting, Quiney and Warner are all kicking themselves...

Madhu, one of our stats men, says: "Michael Clarke's average of 98 is the second-highest among Australian captains who have scored at least 800 runs in a year. Bradman is on top with an average of 113.88 in 1948."

​

 

[QF WP]

A bit of luck for Cowan:

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[TD="width: 30, align: right"]75.3
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[TD="width: 100%"]Kleinveldt to Cowan, 1 run, dropped at long leg. Cowan pulled a short ball, high in the air towards long leg. Steyn ran hard from fine leg to his right, Rudolph ran from deep square leg to his left. Steyn yelled, "Mine, mine, mine" and stuck his hand out to the approaching Rudolph, who just kept coming, asking him to stop. Steyn was put off by the interference and eventually only got fingertips on the ball
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3/276 now.

 

[QF WP]

Three overs until the new ball becomes available to South Africa, and Graeme Smith has decided he will bowl the first of them.

Not something you see very often

​

 

[QF WP]

80 overs have been bowled, time for SA to make a decision...

The new ball has been taken right away, and Steyn has first use of it, over the wicket from the Vulture Steer end.

Only decision they could have taken - the old one was not being friendly to them .​

 

[QF WP]

The game just keeeps getting better:

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[TD="width: 30, align: right"]81.2
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[TD="width: 100%"]Philander to Cowan, 3 runs, shot, Cowan leans forward and drives the full ball through midwicket for three runs to bring up the 250 partnership
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Current partnership 251 runs, 72.1 overs, RR: 3.47 (Clarke 117, Cowan 112)

 

[Rallo]

Lindsay they must be close to or if not passed a batting record for the fourth wicket at the Gabba.

 

[markis10]

Lindsay they must be close to or if not passed a batting record for the fourth wicket at the Gabba.

Passed it, it was 245, Clarke and Hussey against Sri Lanka 5 years ago, ironically Hussey having also held the previous record with Ponting against England the year before.

 

[NM]

not a bad recovery from 3/40 to 4/299.

 

[Rallo]

Healy was commenting earlier regarding Cowans sloppy backing up.

 

[QF WP]

A great innings:


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[TD="width: 30, align: right"]84.4
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[TD="width: 100%"]Steyn to Clarke, OUT, has Eddie Cowan been run out backing up too far? He's walking off. He's out. Clarke drove the full ball hard and straight, Steyn bent down low and got finger tips on the ball. Cowan was a long long way out of his crease and couldn't get back in time. An immense innings ends in a sloppy way. He's been backing up too far quite a bit. Cowan holds the bat in the wrong hand too, his right hand.
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[TD]EJM Cowan run out 136 (257b 17x4 0x6) SR: 52.91
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Bet he got a standing ovations from the apreciative crowd.

 

[markis10]

Lets see if they can break the 5th wicket record, its a long standing one:

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5th​

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187​

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[TD="class: Main_Text_"]

Bill Lawry / Doug Walters​

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Australia​

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England​

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[TD="class: Main_Text_"]

Dec 1965​

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[QF WP]

Clarke has hit his 150:


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[TD="width: 100%"]Kallis to Clarke, 2 runs, Clarke turns the ball through square leg to bring up his 150. He's had his share of luck in this innings and importantly he has made it count. Came in when Australia were struggling and he has played superbly.
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Now 4/378, with Hussey on 44.