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boilover
Game. On.
2 years ago, mid-AprilEntering into the fifth day, and who thought we’d be writing about this, but the First Test between Bangladesh and Australia could go either way. At stumps, Australia are 212 for 4 chasing 307. Things were looking good for Australia while Hayden and Ponting were at the crease, but Hayden’s run out sparked a late collapse at the end of the day. Adam Gilchrist will resume tomorrow with Ponting.
So anyway, here’s a thread for you all to post predictions. Can Australia get home, or will Bangladesh complete an astonishing Test victory? I am going to go with the upset, on the grounds that Australia rarely wins the close ones, and we just won a close one last week against South Africa. Bangladesh to win by under 20 runs is my guess.
Who was that masked man, anyway?
2 years ago, mid-April
A long time since I’ve written. Not been well, writers block, work, etc. Will is sick of hearing my excuses.
Anyroad, as The Corridor of Uncertainty’s resident Australian and cudmurgeon-in-chief, I thought it was appropriate that I comment on the extraordinary events in Bangladesh, where the locals have just bowled Australia out for 269 to get a large first innings lead.
Old grumble-bum I might be, but I am fine with Bangladesh doing well against Australia. The national pride is a teeny bit mortified, to be true, to see my team struggle against the minnows-in-chief of world cricket. But my first loyalty is to Test cricket, and you can not argue that this Test is going to be a huge boost to Bangladesh cricket, regardless of the eventual result.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch, the wicket is slow, and the odd ball is keeping very low. I think this is what’s caught out the Australian batsmen.
But one batsman didn’t have any trouble- Adam Gilchrist got 144, with six sixes, and although he was slightly more cautious then of old, for the most part it was the authentic Gilchrist, with a smile, swagger, and confidence galore. After his recent form slump, he’ll be delighted to find that he can still smash bowlers all around the park.
But it got me thinking how, for a batsman out of form, a change is as good as a holiday. Gilchrist has been struggling for ages on the pacey, bouncy wickets of Australia and South Africa. Soon as he arrives to the sub-continent, he’s hit his straps, and he’s back to his best. Coincidence?
By the way, Habibal Bashir mis-read the situation with the latter part of the Australian innings. I’ll give him a pass on that- he’s not used to dealing with batsman manipulating the strike to avoid the follow on. But the way Bangladesh are improving since Dav Whatmore took over, he’ll get more practice in the future.
Anyway, I think Bangladesh will set Australia a huge target. Lee is lining up to bowl, but his back is dodgy. Warne’s shoulder is crook too. The Bangladesh batsmen should be able to cope with the pitch, and it’s up to them to get out there and seize a famous victory. And good on them.
