The first Test has come and gone but there’s still a lot of processing going on.
The experts – the ones on TV, radio, podcasts, newspapers and social media – provide so many observations, opinions, prejudices and contradictions that our cricket processor can get clogged up.
Let’s see if we can sort it out.
Preparation is everything in cricket so let’s start there…
India: they arrived in Australia short on confidence after being comprehensibly beaten at home by the nice New Zealand team. They opted for secrecy in the nets and then a kind of in-house practice game at the WACA. Big mistake. Two of their best batters were unavailable and a legendary one was all washed up. Bad luck.
• Mitchell, Lalor, Sundaresen. Three of the more sensible cricket voices.
Australia: all they needed was a new opening batter in a very settled team. One old player now in the media (Dave Warner) suggested Dave Warner might be the required specialist. The selectors opted for a bat-off with aspirants Cam Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and anyone else really, given opportunities to shine. They didn’t. In fact Bancroft, after years of pitch occupation and run accumulation, went into a slump of Biblical proportions. So the selectors decided Nathan McSweeny might as well get the job. The keyboard warriors and microphone botherers sharpened their fingers and tongues in anticipation.
The experts made their predictions: 5-0 Australia; 4-1 Australia (some recalled India being ok in Australia years ago) or 4-0 Australia (taking a Sydney wash-out into consideration).
The pitch at Perth Stadium was gonna be spicy.
Day one…
India win the toss and bat. Big mistake. All out for 150. Told ya so.
Australia get Bumrahed. Why can’t we have Karsan Gharvi and Madan Lal opening the bowling?
Day two…
Suddenly the Australian bowlers, having done their job, are out there again and batting is easy.
Questions are raised about Australia’s preparation.
I discover the Hindi commentary on 7+ (bliss).
Day three…
Australians continue their first look at Jaiswal. The washed-up bloke scores a hundred. The experts say, in English, India will bat on into day four, grind the Aussie bowlers into the ground. Mr Warner suggests they’ll declare and give Australia some uncomfortable minutes batting late in the day. He’s right. Another Bumrahing. Why isn’t Rusi Surti opening the bowling?
Day four…
My first day in attendance. One of 6,600. At lunch I’m put off by the queue at the curry outlet and opt for salt and pepper squid. Big mistake.
Steve Smith is becalmed, Travis Head bats nicely, Mitch March hits one into the second tier. And it’s over just after tea.
On the train home I look for guidance on social media. The answer is clear. If Pat Cummins doesn’t stop believing in climate change we’re doomed.
australianrules.com.au 