1st test Aus v NZ

[Mike]

The analysis started with a split screen comparison of Michael Clarke's stance with Mark Ramprakash who is regarded as a technically correct batsman. Ramps said that the English batsman tend to be coached to have their head in a vertical line above their feet - a fairly upright stance. They also draw the bat back toward the keeper. This is to bat effectively on English pitches where the ball tends to seam about. Play with a straight bat tends to be the strategy. By contrast, Clarke almost looks like he is falling away to the off-side. His head is nowhere near the vertical line above his feet. He also lifts his bat towards Gully. Ramps reckons this is a trait of batsman playing on drier pitches where horizontal shots are featured. Clarke's stance allows him to get his head inside the line of the ball much earlier so he can latch on to those hook and pull shots. Remarkably, though, Clarke's footwork is so good that he quickly adjusts for off-side shots. For example, in his last innings, he hit 21 fours - only 7 were played to the on side.

The other major point that was discussed was Clarke's mental thinking. Apparently, he doesn't look at the scoreboard. Approaching Lunch most batsmen tend to put up the shutters. Clarke, on the otherhand, needed 20 runs for his century with three overs to get them. In the last over he still needed 10 runs. With one ball remaining he needed a four. Charles Colville, rather untactfully I thought, said that Ramprakash allowed the state of the game and the current situation to dictate his play. In otherwords, he wasn't as focussed on playing each ball on its merits and may have "worried" himself out too often. Clarke, on the otherhand, plays with a "youthful arrogance". A lot of players get bogged down in the "nervous" nineties because they almost fear losing their wicket. Clarke seems oblivious to these sort of situations.

[Maranello]

Wonderful analysis Mike, makes very interesting reading. A trivial question, but what time was it on? I saw most of the 3 hour highlights on SSX, but did not see any of the analysis?

The "not watching" the scoreboard thing is remarkable, and shows real mental toughness. Hayden in one of his interviews claimed the same thing - that he is not aware of his score, though when "I am batting with Langer, I keep an eye on our partnership score".

Sunil Gavasker, who holds the record for most Test hundreds of all time, was one who did not let personal milestones, scorecards or such like affect his approach to the game. He said nervous 90s never bothered him since he played each ball as a delivery, on its merit, and seldom looked at the scoreboard (though that did not work on home grounds where the whole ground would be cheering him on through his 90s to yet another ton!).

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Maranello

A trivial question, but what time was it on? I saw most of the 3 hour highlights on SSX, but did not see any of the analysis?

About 7:30 am. You probably watched the highlights which started about 2 pm. These analysis segments usually happen after the day's play in the post-match discussion. They don't appear in the highlights package later.

[Zainub]

I'll echo Maranello on his annalysis of your annalysis, made a very interesting read indeed.

Since you've figured out how good a player Clarke is, in the sense that you now know what his relative strengths and weaknesses our, would you mind, I'd appreciate actually, telling us what you think would be the best way to get him out? They way he is batting right now I'm really concerned, especially with Pakistan's tour to Aus just around the corner and the Ashes not that far away either.

[Maranello]

Day 4 - decent start by Australia. McGrath and Gillespie managed to extend their p/ship to 114 runs for the tenth wicket, and believe it or not, they had a few great cricketing shots, and in fact, not many slogs or tailend heaves.

They did have their share of luck though, with Gillespie dropped at least twice yesterday, easy-ish chances and McGrath being on the fortunate side of an umpiring decision or two. However the Kiwis have no one to blame but their ineffectual and unpenetrative bowling. Bowling short-pitched stuff to fast bowlers at 80mph - what better way to get hit for boundaries! They did not bowl enough yorkers aimed at these guys feet for my liking. Having said that, McGrath in particular pulled with aplomb. Most if not all his 61 runs were on the leg side or behind the wicket. They had a split screen showing the two best shots of the innings, one was a pull by Clarke for a six over midwicket, the other was a pulled boundary from McGrath!

McGrath's knock was the third highest score by a number 11 in history.

New Zealand have already lost Richardson to McGrath, out in the very first over.

[Maranello]

3rd over of the innings, and McGrath gets his second wicket, in his second over. Sinclair out LBW. Great bowling by McGrath - three good outswingers followed by a very good off-cutter and the batsman out as he was looking for the movement away.

Pace or no pace..the guy still has his cricketing brain about him and will be a handful.

[Maranello]

hmm..McGrath gets Fleming... the Kiwis' skipper seemed to try to leave one but couldn't and got an edge to slips. Good bowling, making the man play at something just outside his off stump.

[haseebbutt007]

Well done McGrath and Gellispie for half centuries


JN Gillespie* 54(155)
GD McGrath 61(92 )

Australia 1st Inning= 585/allout


Great performance as usual!!!!!!!!!!!!

[haseebbutt007]

Lunch: New Zealand 42/4 (Astle 15*, 18.1 overs)



Australia should win this test match comfortably

[haseebbutt007]

Mcgrath 3/19


Great test match for Mcgrath

Another Good performance by ball after his first half century with bat