Weekend of Cricket

After our big win on Saturday, I went out to the SCG on Sunday to see Day 3 of the Australia v World XI Test… This match is full of controversy and my 2 cents are as follows:

The World XI Team: I think the selectors have erred big time.  People like Lara and Kallis are woefully out of form.  With little preparation and the added fact that the team was picked on reputation than form, then it is no wonder that Australia are having a better run of it.  People like Vaughn, Fleming, Vaas should have been given a run.  Fielding should also have been a factor, particularly in the ODI’s.  Inzamam Ul-Haq is the most useless tub of lard to grace a cricket field… his dismissal on Saturday was comical… he basically fell out of his crease…

Third Umpire:  I hate it.  I am sorry, but the fact that umpires can make mistakes is part of the game.  They referred a lot of decisions yesterday upstairs and it took a lot of momentum out of the game.  Everyone stops and stands around and the video screen at the ground goes blank.  However, if you’re in the bar queue, you can watch the Channel 9 coverage… seems odd that the big screen is blank.  Then I noticed when Ponting was given not out he was quizzing the umpire for the reason… I think the umpire (Taufel) didn’t actually know… One commentator says that eventually all you will need is a guy to hold a bowlers jumper and hat… I think we’re at that stage now.

Bad Light: Bad weather happens and it’s a fact of life.  You wont get rid of nature, so I think they need to work on the consistency.  The lights are not good in daylight with a red ball… they are for full night time with a white ball.  Unless they use coloured clothing and a white ball for tests, then the fact is that bad light will occasionally end or post pone play.  So be it.  Let the umpires make the call and stop trying to beat nature with technology.  I was at the game, it was frustrating, but what can you do.

Australian Team:  Watson is not a test batsman nor a test bowler, but he can do a bit of both.  I think we should play Andrew Symonds who can bowl spin and mediums and is a better batting prospect.  Then let the conditions dictate whether MacGill or a 3^rd seamer plays.  However I think they should now be only playing a 3^rd seamer on real green tops rather than waiting for a spinners paradise to play MacGill.  MacGill is a great bowler and add the fact that opposing nations have no idea against leg spin, it’s a great option.  Katich needs a score too, but he should be getting plenty of time to do so… Hussey is knocking on the door though… why is Hodge 12^th man though if Hussey is the “next man in” so to speak??