Day 1 was the story of Usman Khawaja. Prior to this outing, his highest first class score was 85, however on Day 1 he piled on a near chanceless 109* while all and sundry fell around him.
This morning while batting with number 11 Burt Cockley he was eventually caught down the legside chasing a wide one, the 4th NSWales batsman dismissed in this manner!
Usman’s 112 out of a team score of 269 provides a workable total on a Gabba wicket that’s been as tight as a nuns nasty all year.
The real issue for NSWales could well be lack of bowling penetration. We’ve gone into this match missing some real bowling stars, namely
Nathan Bracken – injured
Stuart Clark – injured
Brett Lee – injured
Doug Bollinger – 12th man in South Africa
Marc Cameron – injured
Aaron Bird – chucker
Turns out that Moises Henriques is opening the bowling with Burt Cockley at the other end, however Cockley has just broken the opening stand having Broad caught behind by Docklands Light Rail in the 4th over.
JRod’s mob look to be holding up their end of the deal by dominating the Tasmanians, here’s to a few more wickets and keeping the dream alive.
I’m pleased that the Blues are taking this must win outright match against the New Texas seriously. The Bulls are looking pretty motivated with this match being Marcus North’s last home appearance, Shane Watson returning, and their own finals aspirations riding on the match.
However after the first session you’d have to agree it’s all New South Wales, who have won the toss and been dominant with the bat. That is, if you can call 3/39 dominant. Fortunately Twenty20 final hero Brett Rohrer 27(59) and everyone’s favourite ranga Dominic Thornley 18(40) steadied the sinking blue ship, taking us through to lunch at 3/81.
Looking at the Gabba this year, we see the following innings totals:
Which tells me it has not been a high scoring ground. The average completed innings total is 246, however considering the Blues are looking to gain first innings points I’d like at least 300 in the bank.
Queensland also have what I feel is a flakey middle order, despite it containing three Internationals in Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson and James Hopes. Fortunately Symonds is pants at state level, Watson is in his first game back from injury, and Hopes has scored 1, 6, 4, 32, 12, and 35 this year.
For those wanting to follow the match from work, there’s occasional updates here, and a less frequently updated scorecard here.
As the top wicket taker in both T20 and F50 competitions, he’ll be missed by the Blues in their remaining two Shield matches and also for the final when we make it. His 90 day ban concludes on 26th May 2009, which would have been an interesting test for the IPL had any franchise bid for him.
Upon completing his 90 day exclusion from competition Aaron will have to undergo biometric testing, where he’ll bowl all his deliveries except his wonky one, I believe the word for it is Doosra.
Tomorrow has been declared as Phillip Hughes Day by the prestigious Star Hotel in Macksville. Publican Ben Partridge has claimed they’ll be “chock-a-block” with locals eager to drink to their local boy’s debut in South Africa.
This town of 2,000 punches well above it’s weight in the sporting arena, also boasting Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis. I wonder if his selection in the NRL was also announced over the school’s PA system..
Good luck to Phil in his Aussie debut, I’ll certainly be wishing him all the best from my position in front of a telly somewhere. At the very least he’ll be better than Hayden..
Dave Warner has been left out of the NSWales squad to challenge Queensland in Thursday’s 4 day match. I can’t find the actual squad posted anywhere, but I heard it on the radio so it must be true.
With Greg Mail top scoring in both innings with 101 and 49 in the game we won’t be mentioning, he’ll have to retain his position. So the selectors are left with a straight choice for the second opener – prolific run scorer and recently fit Phil Jaques, or Twenty 20 dominatrix machine and the most likely man to get out to a baseball slog David Warner.
Sorry Dave, but as much as I’d love to see you tonking Noffke back over his head for 6, this is a must win outright game for the Blues and hardly the time to be blooding new openers… but if the story is true then they could have at least picked him in their second XI squad! At least Warner’s useful in the field and will make a top notch 12th man, he’s got International experience after all.
That innings loss to the Mexican’s is but a small hickup on the road to our 46th Sheffield Shield.
First, lets have a look at the table with two rounds to go. Sure sitting in 5th place on 16 points is not ideal, and with Tassie sitting pretty on 24 and our not getting a chance to play them, we’re banking a lot on an implosion of note on the apple isle.
Obviously NSWales will get outright victories from our remaining two matches, finishing our regular season on 28 points. Here’s the events beyond our control that also needs to fall into place for us to retain our title:
Tassie to gain at most 4 points from VIC and SA. This would force a tie, however we’d likely make it through on equal outright victories (4) and a better quotient.
QLD to not beat VIC outright
WA to get 0 points from our match
Then we’ll meet the VICs at the MCG for the Final where they’ll choke as is their custom. Easy As.
Fixtures
Thu 26 – Sun 1 Tasmania v Victoria, Hobart
Thu 26 – Sun 1 Queensland v New South Wales, Brisbane
Thu 26 – Sun 1 Western Australia v South Australia, WACA
Thu 5 – Sun 8 New South Wales v Western Australia, SCG
Thu 5 – Sun 8 South Australia v Tasmania, Adelaide
Thu 5 – Sun 8 Victoria v Queensland, MCG
Now that I’ve dropped Cameron White and David Hussey, the search has begun for a new number 6 and 7 in the Aussie ODI squad. I’ve taken a look at the scorecards from our Domestic F50 competition and compiled a list of all the batting performances where more than 20 are scored at greater than a run a ball. The most recent performances are listed first.
Birt, TR 86(66), 94(80), 67(56), 25(15)
Smith, DLR 29*(13), 28*(26)
Manou, GA 48* (39) Warner 31(20), 97(54), 165*(112)
MG Dighton 59(58), 87(76)
Klinger 133*(128) Ferguson, C 52(35), 32(26), 101(83)
Hopes J 76(61), 42(40)
Bailey, GJ 32(28)
Divin, MA 38(31)
Ronchi, L 80(64)
AK, Heal 43(34) Quiney 42(40), 16(15), 92(85), 73(63)
Crosthwaite, AJ 52(49), 29(17)
Thornely, DJ 108(90)
Doropoulos, TP 92(75)
Henriques, MC 41(37)
Borgas, CJ 39(35)
I’ve quite possibly missed some, if anyone can point me towards a tool that pulls out domestic data rather than having to manually read the scorecards, that would be most appreciated.
Looking purely at the numbers, the standout domestic performers are:
Travis Birt from Tasmania
Travis is the form pinch hitter in the domestic T50 competition with his 7 innings yielding 363 runs at 60.5 and at a strike rate of 122! His returns this year are:
1/11/08 56*(37) vs SA
12/11/08 25(15) vs Vic
29/11/08 34(38) vs NSW (the game where Warner scored 165*(112)
07/12/08 67(56) vs NSW
10/12/08 94(80) vs SA
14/12/08 1(5) vs QLD
07/02/08 86(66) vs VIC (this low scoring game Tas made 197 and VIC made 189)
David Warner from NSW
Dave has already been given a shot in the national setup with promising signs but too many failures. From his 8 starts there have been 3 good innings, yielding 89(43) on debut, 69(60) in his 4th match, and 22(29) in his 6th match when he was very unlucky to be run-out.
Combine these scores with Dave’s domestic highlights of 31(20), 97(54), 165*(112) and it’s easy to agree he has the destructive power hitting would really dominate the batting powerplay without the additional pressure of opening. I’d like to see Dave given a go down the order, where he’ll have a chance to perform without the added pressure of opening.
Callum Ferguson from South Australia
His stand out performances include 52(35), 32(26) and 101(83). It’s good to see him given a shot in the Aussie side, though I would have picked Birt first purely on the numbers. Callum played well last night before a Bucknor howler cut short his opportunity. Who did the BCCI ask to wipe him from their fixtures, and can we please be added to this list?
James Hopes from Queensland
In the two games that Hopes played for Queensland he’s opened in both, scoring 76(61) and 42(40). I’d like to see him given an extended run at the top of our order, his tight straight bowling will keep him in the squad regardless. Ideally we’d have a run of 2 or maybe even 3 ODI’s without changing our openers, wouldn’t that be nice.
Adam Voges from Western Australia
Conversely, Adam Voges has made the squad without topping a run a ball all year. Now he’s the one our selectors have picked to apply ‘pressure’ to Hussey and White, yet even if he were to continue his domestic results at the higher lever I don’t believe this would be enough. His 295 runs at 49.2 certainly doesn’t constitute bad numbers, but his strike rate of just 70.2 is not get our 300+ mojo back.
8/10/08 13(35) vs NSW
24/10/08 56(78) vs Tas
16/11/08 104(119) vs SA
26/11/08 39(72) vs VIC
20/12/08 78(108) vs VIC
23/12/08 5(8) vs NSW
If we were after a reliable batsman then Simon Katich would have to be the first picked, selecting Voges in this form to me makes little sense.
Here’s some footage of Aaron Bird’s action. He’s had a troubled career, having being reported early on and remodelling his action to pass the ridiculous 15 degree requirement. This season he’s been the leading wicket taker in both the T20 and F50 competitions, regularly bowling in the 140’s and bowling good tight lines. However, he’s been reported a further 3 times and now heads back for further testing on his action.
I feel sorry for the bloke. He’s in the form of his life and with “role models” like Muttiah Muralitharan and Johan Botha (who action Healey described as “flicking flight” last week) succeeding on the international stage who can blame a young bloke for wanting to bowl just like them? Now he’s got to dress up like Gollum and bowl slow in the nets which will of confirm that he only chucks by 14.2 degrees which is enough of a chuck that no-one seems to care anymore.
Here’s some footage and discussion from Inside Cricket, at the end I’ve slowed it down heaps so you can really see the arm straightening.
I don’t like it, but what really grates me is there being any tolerance allowed. If you bend your arm then play baseball. Here’s a great summary by Tony T at After Grog Blog on this very issue (thanks for the flicking flight reference too)
The fact that Under 15 Degree Chucking has been legalised is a sick joke. Quite obviously the bowling coaches around the orb – Troy Cooley included if you judge by Sideshow Roy’s rancid offies – have been experimenting with the 15 degree limit so that bowlers, and offies in particular, can get that little extra purchase. So what if they sometimes go to 20 degrees, 25 degrees and greater… it’s a bluff worth making and a risk worth taking. No umpire will call them, and only the odd match official will refer the bowler for so-called remedial attention. Then if, on the rare occasions the bowler is cited, they need only stroll off to the bowling doctors, go through the motions under 15 degrees in the lab, and receive the rubber stamp that will allow them “bowl” again.
And do you think there’s a chance in Hades Hot Bread Kitchens Botha will be cited, after he played a significant role in the Vark’s win over Straya? Not on your life. Come on, Mr Official, do your job properly and prove me wrong.
I’d already written half of this post when JRod beat me to it… still, It’s gold so I’m sticking it up regardless.
Poor Tasmanian fast bowling bástard Brett Geeves has been left stranded on 99*. Again! And again it was his nemisis Tim McDonald who left him there. Even though he top scored for Tasmania and avoided the follow-on on behalf of their batsmen, he must be incredibly píssed off at having been abandoned again.
Can I start this blog by apologising for Tim MacDonald’s woeful display of playing short pitch bowling? Yes I’m angry. 99 no and the number eleven gloves a short ball from a guy who is into his 50th over of the match. Clinton McKay won’t mind me saying he wasn’t bowling his quickest. Sore groins, ankles barking at him saying “why don’t we ever get any tucan pie?”. DUCK THE BALL TIM!! Instead, Tim plays the ball as if someone had inserted a stick of dynamite up his “Speedy Claxton” (bottom), jumping high into the air and letting out a little squeal, ballooning the ball to first slip. I’m left stuck on 99. One run short of my maiden first class century. One run – One (multiple expletives) run. The words I’m thinking of rhyme with Clucking Bell.
It’s a feeling that can’t be explained. I have an analogy that might help put it into context. You are one piece away from finishing the 20,000 piece jigsaw puzzle your grandmother brought you for Christmas. I know what you’re thinking – Just give me the cash for Christmas.. kicking me in the shins would have been a better present!! Anyway, your one piece away from finishing the worst Christmas gift ever and it’s no where to be found… Where the (expletives) is it!!?? For hours and hours you’ve toiled away, and your one piece away from mastering the puzzle!! You ask questions of yourself. What have I done to deserve this? Why me? Who can I kill? Why does the MCG catering staff continue to give us these Macadamia Nut low fat muffins? Where are the chocolate ones?
I’m looking forward to his next update, and I wonder what rhymes with clucking bell?
10 Comments to Read 
I’m pleased that the Blues are taking this must win outright match against the New Texas seriously. The Bulls are looking pretty motivated with this match being Marcus North’s last home appearance, Shane Watson returning, and their own finals aspirations riding on the match.
NSWales fast bowler and Aaron Bird has 
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