Thursday, September 08, 2005

Take A Bow @ The Oval...

Shane Warne - The glorious leg-spinner. What a way to bid adieu to the Kingdom. This is, in all probability, his last test match on the English soil. What a series he has had with both bat and ball. Yesterday, when England looked to take it away from Australia, he brought them right back into the game twice. First time when he broke the Strauss-Trescothick opening stand and second when he had Strauss - The Century Maker, out towards the end of the day. That wicket brought back Aussie hopes which were taken away by the Flintoff-Strauss Stand.

Andrew Flintoff : Finally we have a genuine all-rounder. What a fine entertainer! I simply love the way he goes about his mission quietly and smiles back at his opponents innocently. I also love the way he looks back at his opponents straight into the eye, it has unnerved them quite a bit.

Andrew Strauss: He got out to a delivery similar to the ball of the century, bowled by the legendary leg-spinner in the second test. He was almost close to being labeled as the spinner’s bunny just the way Daryill Cullinan was. It’s not easy to face the Aussie tongues in the middle and certainly not easy to break the shackles of one’s mind playing against Warne. Cricket as we know is played in the mind too. But he tried and he fought hard. Two centuries in the matches to follow. The second one helped to pull his team out of trouble along with his other namesake. Certainly had a point to prove. 7 centuries in 19 matches is no mean effort.

P.S: This scene was particularly disturbing: No slips when pacers were on. 301/7 scared you to go into a defensive mode? Aussie Captain giving way too much respect to Giles & Jones. What do I make of it?

6 comments:

Tugga said...

Punter's flipped his lid, very unimaginative captaincy. As usual the God bowled like only God can, hell he's carried this Aus attack almost single handedly. It was so awesome watching him get KP, that one drifted in like an inswinger almost. And the oohing and aahing even when 4s were hit. Just magnificent this bloke!

Mary said...

Have you heard that the current rumors going around Australia are that if we win this test, Warnie is considering retiring!! I hope it really is just rumors.

Minal said...

@Mary : Seeing yesterday's debacle, I think Warne will need to postpone his retirement plans:-) He has bowled his heart out!

@Tugga: Did u see the debacle yesterday? Flintoff was awesome man! What will this Ashes defeat do to the world series?:-)

Sunil said...

You'll have to add Kevin Pietersen to this list.....what a superb 100 today, to make sure England go home with the ashes....

Michael Higgins said...

Hi Minul
A great innings by Pietersen and also by Giles completely frustrated Australia. It was very tense after the seventh wicket fell but the century partnership by Pietersen and Giles clinched it for England. A great Ashes.

Minal said...

@ Sunil: You bet I'm. But that post was on Day 1. Outstanding is the one word I have for Pietersen's knock. I can just imagine the South Africans kicking themselves! What a loss to them.
What a series!

@ Micheal: Yes frustration is what got to the Aussies as well as Pietersen's Aggressive knock!
But it really hurt to see the Aussie faces down and out!

Btw you mixed up my nick-name(Minu) and name(Minal):-)Minul??:-)