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Loading ...Cannot wait for tonight, after watching England block for endless sessions, the game has suddenly come alive, thanks to two bowlers: Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar. Notice how Hoggard and Harmison both huge members of the 2005 Ashes squad are suddenly being turned into lesser bowlers by these two relatively new players.
Catching into contention
By Will 2 months ago Leave a comment on this post
What a genuinely extraordinary day of Test cricket. My boss and I meandered through proceedings much as England did, as Stephen Fleming and Jamie How looked increasingly confident, before an hour of brilliance took over. New Zealand’s bravado cost them dear. (scorecard)
So flat did England look that New Zealand confidently mucked around with their lineup in an attempt to chivvy their run-rate. But in doing so, they let England through the backdoor and allied with some astonishing catching - the like of which I haven’t seen an England side take for years - we’re in for a corker of a final day.
Matthew Hoggard’s catch to dismiss Jamie How was a wonderfully athletic salmon-leap at deep midwicket. A Youtube classic for sure. But the real sensation - and that is what his catching has been in this Test - was Alastair Cook who added two more snaffles to his three in the first innings, one of which was an outstanding two-handed leap to his left. When an average fielder pulls off a fine catch, we all dismiss it as a) marvellous / wonderful / slightly hilarious and b) a fluke to be savoured, not expected. But when has one fielder, who was previously considered nothing short of a liability, taken so many corking catches in a Test? Remarkable.
However, isn’t it odd that a flurry of catches can make an average team look really rather good? England, as Andrew Miller points out in his verdict, probably don’t deserve to be in this situation; they bowled like drains in the first innings and their batsmen have showed all the urgency of an asthmatic mole.
Some of you will no doubt tick me off for not praising England - and yes, Ryan Sidebottom richly deserved his hat-trick - and you’re quite welcome to call me a cynical old bugger. But for now, let’s just savour the fact that a dead Test match has fizzed into life with one day to go. Who needs one-dayers?
Tags: alastair-cook, catching, cricket-catches, england, england in new zealand, matthew-hoggard, new-zealand, ryan-sidebottom |
5 Responses to “Catching into contention”
March 8th, 2008 at 12.21 pm
March 8th, 2008 at 1.02 pm
Great day of cricket. Its even now. Anyone can win & draw is also a possibility. Looking forwards to tomorrows play.
March 8th, 2008 at 3.11 pm
I think that England’s bowlers have managed to put the batsmen under a lot of pressure. Playing to win on slow wearing pitch will be difficult and judging by the first innings I can’t see England winning. But credit to the bowlers, especially Sidebottom, who have played really well for England for a few series in a row.
March 9th, 2008 at 1.46 am
I really think I might give up following English cricket.
I mean why should I sit here watching this, when I could be pulling my own teeth out, or drinking water out of the toilet?
March 9th, 2008 at 2.23 am
England die again. The team with real quality is showing England how to play.
No,Will, never praise England too soon.
