Australia were given some early scares before ending day one of their opening tour match against Sussex on 349 for 7.
The early loss of Phil Hughes for just 15 and then skipper Ricky Ponting for 8 put the tourists on the back foot, but two superb partnerships re-built the innings to leave the men from down-under on-top after day one
Fellow opener Michael Katich made 49, before Michael Clark (45) and Brad Haddin (69) came to the crease to build a partnership of 114.
After the two were dismissed Australia showed that their inexperienced bowling attack could bat a little as Brett Lee (47 not out) and Nathan Hauritz (65 not out) put on an unbeaten 117 partnership.
There is only so much you can learn on the first day of a tour match, but from Australia’s perspective they will know their front line bataman will need some more work before being ready for the opening test match in Cardiff in under two weeks.
Hughes who has been the number one batsman in the County Championship this season, failed early in the innings as he was bowled by Pepler Sandri, who made a name for himself taking three Australian scalps on the first day.
The South African born was a thorn in the Aussies side all day, and he also took the prized wicket of the well set Katich and then Marcus North, who after scoring just a single must be sweating over his test place.
But the real stars of the day were the Australian lower order, and in particular Haddin, who after a controversial year seems to have found some form just at the right time.
Many would agree that he has had one of the more difficult jobs in world cricket-replacing the immortal Adam Gilchrist.
Gilchrist started the trend of the wicket-keeper batsman with his breathtaking hitting and faultless form behind the stumps confirming him as the best keeper since the turn of the century.
Haddin had worked under Gilchrist for a number of years, learning the trade slowly and eventually after Gilchrist’s retirement taking the place of the New South Wales born keeper.
He started well in his career, and as his part in the side became more permanent his form then followed, and soon his debut test match century came against New Zealand late last year.
But it was against the Kiwi’s this year that Haddin had his first hiccup in international cricket, and one that has changed the opinion of him across the cricketing world.
During the first one-day international between Australia and New Zealand a ball by Clark beat batsman Neil Broom for pace and appeared to hit the top of off-stump, and be immediately caught by Haddin behind the stumps.
Nothing was made of the dismissal until a replay was seen following the ‘wicket’, where is showed Haddin knock the bails with his glove without the ball hitting the stumps at all.
He took the ball from in front of the stumps and wheeled away to celebrate with bowler Clark, without calling back Broom to admit his dreadful error.
The act sparked a fury of exchanges between Daniel Vettori and Ricky Ponting, and hurt the reputation of the wicket-keeper.
Haddin showed today however that everything gone before was forgotten, and looked the top class player Gilchrist had helped nurture, with some classic on-drives and three sublime sixes.
Whether he will truly be able to get past the incident in Perth earlier this year is hard to say at this stage, but he gave his reputation with the bat a huge boost ahead of the biggest two months of his career.
A quick word should be spared for Hauritz who made 65 today, at an extremely quick rate off 78 balls no less.
A man who has been more suited to the one-day aspect of the game has been called into this touring squad after playing just four test matches for the Aussies.
He’s started his tour with a bang with the bat-now lets see how him and the rest of the fierce bowling attack get along with Michael Yardy and Luke Wright set to be the biggest threats for the visitors, on the second day at Hove.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment