Boxing Day Test. Australia v. India.

[piedys]

[K]

Khawaja is Mr. NickIt.

His footwork is atrocious, like many of his teammates'. Problem is: many folks insist footwork and technique don't matter. Think e.g. Woodhill. In Keating's words, when Woodhill was born a rainbow must have hit his **se. He just got lucky in that some talented juniors just happened to be where he was coaching juniors. He has no idea about cricket. But he's turned it all into a well-paid career.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Australian cricket team is too old

[K]

Paine criticises third umpire as DRS issue wages on

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/paine-criticises-umpire-wilson-as-drs-issue-wages-on-20201229-p56qoy.html

"Asked if he had hit the ball, Paine was adamant.

"No, I think that was pretty clear by my reaction," he said.

In particular, Paine took exception to the fact Indian batsman Pujara had survived a similar call despite the Australians reviewing a 'not out' call on the first ball of day two at the MCG.

"I thought we had a pretty similar example in the first innings with Pujara on the first ball of day two, which sets a precedent, and then it seemed to change," Paine said."


[Was the Pujara decision really similar??]

[K]

Brian Lara can't understand why India and Oz are not choosing to bowl first.

I do remember that WI chose to bowl first in NZ, both Tests I think. Is this a WI thing?


(The last time Paine got crazy and bowled first, it cost an Ashes series win. Well, that and the crazy burning of the TV review two Tests before. And Smith's limp dismissal in the last innings, when all that was needed was someone to stay in with centurion Wade on an easy wicket.)

[K]

Tendulkar to PTI, as reported by cricinfo:

"In the first Test, Smith got out to an arm ball or you can call it a straighter one which Ashwin releases differently. An offspinner bowls a straighter one which skids off the surface when the fingers are not on top of the ball.

"In the second Test, it was not a slider but [Ashwin's] fingers were on top of the ball, which produced bounce and turn. Steve Smith played a normal flick to a regulation off-break that any batsman does by instinct, and the fielder was brilliantly placed there. It was a well-planned ball and wicket by Ashwin."

[K]

Dropped catches in Melbourne

Marnus Labuschagne 2
Cameron Green 1
Matthew Wade 1
Mitchell Starc 1
Steve Smith 1
Tim Paine 1
Travis Head 1

Test catch rates 2020

South Africa 81.4%
England 79.4%
Zimbabwe 79.2%
Pakistan 79.1%
Sri Lanka 78.8%
Bangladesh 77.3%
New Zealand 76.4%
India 75.5%
Australia 71.4%
West Indies 63.0%

Source: Stats Perform


"Labuschagne said players, by the time they reached Test standard, had their own "catching technique" but were given adequate feedback on how they positioned themselves "to help you in making it easier to catch".

In reviewing the MCG meltdown, McDonald said there had been "nothing obvious" that had led to the spilt chances.
...

What appears clear is that Australia's skips cordon lacks the surety and aura of the days of Mark Taylor, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and, at gully, Steve Waugh, and there will be change come Sydney."


https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/catching-on-are-australia-s-fielding-woes-a-lapse-or-a-major-problem-20201230-p56quj.html