Saturday 29 November 2008

NZ vs Aust - Adelaide - Day Two

Today is one of those days that you learn from.  Well, that's the official line.  Today was a bad day.  That's the honest line.  Losing four wickets for eight runs certainly doesn't make for a tail wagging, which is what we really needed.  Me nicking a ball I didn't need to play at all was weak.  I had faced a three balls from both Johnson and Lee.  All were rather quick and two of them would have hurt had I not got down fast enough.  First ball from Johnson, bouncer... Not surprised, and felt quite good getting under it; a new feeling!  Then a couple of fuller balls which I defended pretty well I thought.  Next ball I face was from Lee, another bouncer.  This one I didn't quite play as well.  If it had of been a limbo competition I would have been disqualified for putting a hand on the ground.  I swayed back and then had to get lower again, falling backwards a little, hence the hand on the deck.  A quick yorker after that, and I actually saw that one ok.  The next ball though I played poorly.  Didn't need to be anywhere near it and I've played a bit of a defensive poke at it, and nicked it though.  I had enough time to turn around and see Haddon dive to his right, full flight, and catch it.  That ball seemed to take an age to get through to the keeper.  Or maybe he was just standing a mile back!

Dismissed for 270 is not good enough, at all.  We were going to have to bowl very, very well.  And, well, we didn't.  Apart from Dan (and Jesse) us three quicks went for well over three an over.  I actually felt quite good out there, just didn't bowl as well I have been.  Sure it's flat and runs are a little easier to come by, but I wasn't good enough.  The one bright bit was the spell I bowled in the last session.  First ball after Tea, to Ponting, and I just have this feeling that he wants to jump all over me, like he was earlier in the day.  The shot he likes the the pull shot, and I make sure I'm not short as to gift him an early boundary.  He still pulls hit, not quite high enough to hit it where he wants to and he picks out the tallest guy in our team, Fulton, and he comfortably takes the catch.  Now, here is where things got a little interesting.  Obviously very happy to get him out, and especially as he had been playing us all very well, he reacted to something small that I said and a little bit of 'chit chat' between him and our boys resulted.  Nothing nasty, nothing that had to be dealt with by anyone, and it wasn't.  

That pretty much wraps up today.  Debrief after the close of play and the bowlers come under some heat for todays efforts, and so we should as it was the other way around last night.  Some very good things come from it.  I certainly will go into tomorrow with a slightly different plan of attack.  Back to the hotel, massage and then out to get some food.  There is a Mexican restaurant near by that does take away salads and burritos.  I got one of each, eyes bigger than the tummy here!  Brydon Coverdale from cricinfo introduced himself to me while I was waiting to be served.  I was going to head back to my room and eat it, but then thought I might as well sit in, eat, and talk some cricket.  Good guy, but I not sure that he did me any favors by writing a piece about me and bouncers.  

Which brings me to something I was going to bring up yesterday.  There is a lot of Kiwis over here in Oz.  It's been really great when they come up and say hi and the traditional "c'mon Kiwi" as you pass in the hotel or out and about.  Bumped into a guy in the lifts once yesterday morning, and then again at the end of the day, quick chat, a quick " 'on ya mate," and out again.  Although there is a bad time to do it, and that's when we're eating, as a group, mid conversation, mid mouthful and they come up and want a chat.  I sometimes get the feeling some people just aren't taught manners!

So, tomorrow we have some work to do.  I felt a bit better today, although still a little down on energy that where I'd want to be, but it's one of those times that you just have to 'suck it up' and get on with it.  Worry about it when the match is over.  The blood test, from yesterday, came back with a couple of interesting things.  But no real reasons.  We'll solider on and see how I am in a week.

That's all for now.... 

Oh, and yes I do read the comments, thanks for all the positivity.  

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Iain,

But can you please elaborate on the verbals with Ponting?

You'll probably get more hits on here today than any other day, and that's what people will be coming over to look for.

Ben said...

And are you taking suggestions for other stuff you could say to Ponting next time you get him?

MrKistic said...

C'moooooon Iain, was looking forward to finding out what you and Mr Ponting had to say to each other? Don't tell me they wouldn't let you say for fear of Cricket Australia claiming that it didn't actually happen again?? Looked to me like you'd simply offered to share a quiet Tui with Ricky in the dressing room and go over his shot selections with him when he politely suggested that we have much better beer than that in Australia thanks very much.
Anyway, looking forward to you making more runs in the second innings to see if you'll still go through it ball by ball - it's great reading, keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Great to see us get the wicket after a break after hearing the commentators crap on about how the aussies never switch off and are generally fantastic they are. Loved the celebration, you showed your anglo saxon rhythm with that little dance down the wicket towards pointing then great to see him cop a little of the stuff he gives out. Good luck for tomorrow, I shall be watching intently hoping for an early break through.

Anonymous said...

Iain....can you pass on the following to the heads....why not give Aaron Redmond more of a bowl? He was a leggie and another bowler in the top 5 along with Jessie would be bloody handy....and a spinner.... gold!

2) Our batting.I saw a piece featuring Ian Chapple and Micheal Slater a couple of years back where they talked about touring teams batsmen not adapting to the Aussie condictions well and they reasoned that you needed to exagerate your forward or back movements as a batsman to counter the bounce and pace....just a tip that may have some weight....tell Braces and the batters anyway.

All the best.

J

Anonymous said...

A pretty painful day to watch to be honest. I imagine it was pretty painful playing as well. I thought getting Hayden runout was pretty handy, on that sort of pitch he is the type of flat track bully that takes attacks to the cleaners. I'm interested to see what your new plan for today is, and I really hope it pays off. I thought you bowled probably the best out of the front line seamers, Ponting really seemed to want to get after you and unlike in 2005 (no offense) you held your ground pretty well. To get him out was absolute gold..2 in 2 now!

Hopefully you can get Hussey early, I think everyone knows he is the key, the guy is a freak!!! Perhaps then we have a chance, if we knock over their tail like they did ours...a bloody tough ask though.

Oh, and by the way, atleast you played the short ball better than Southee :P

Anonymous said...

Hey Iain,

Love your blog, it's good to hear a player's perspective.

Good luck today!

Jrod said...

You called him a goblin, didn't you...

GUVNOR said...

Common Iain, we all want to know what you said to Ricky..? :-)

Anonymous said...

Top blogging Iain, really appreciate being able to read your views in their raw and unedited form!

Hope you give it to those Aussies today and make a real game of it!

Anonymous said...

Loved you getting Ponting again, keep up the great work,watching you steam in as we speak,keep up the great blogging!

Anonymous said...

Writing an insiders blog and pissing off punter. Iain it's just give, give, give, with you...

Keep living' the dream

Anonymous said...

Yes, play a few more part-time spinners this match. Ross Taylor can do a bit off off-break apparently, and Redmond is a leggie. Come on Iain, don't be a hogger... Yeah, I know its not your decision...

Barhilo said...

Just watching you bowling to Lee atm, you have a nice battle going on, fun to watch.

Anonymous said...

Hi Iain

Bowled well today mate. Hitting the deck hard and kept your pace up. Well done.

Big shout for haddin edging to the keeper early on. Was it out??

Good to see Lee taking some pain from you as well. Keep getting into the buggers!

Ponting looked like a tool of a midget waltzing into your huddle after you got him out btw

Anonymous said...

nice work on giving ponting back a bit of what he likes to give out.

I wonder if you guys try and avoid shaking his hand, not just because he is a tool, but because he is constantly spitting in them all day long in the field.

i would love to know the purpose of it?!

Anonymous said...

Hey Iain,

Awesome to hear the players prospective and pick waht your thinking a bit..

You should be getting a pay rise for all of this to be fair

Hope the team bat all day tomorrow and most of the last day

Best of luck

Anonymous said...

Is this blog a day out?
Wasn't Sunday's play the 3rd day, not the 2nd?
While in Adelaide, why not head to the Bradman museum in the city. I went there last year while in the city (after a tour of the Adelaide Oval) and it was well worth it. Also head up into the scoreboard for an interesting experience if you get the time.

Mannu said...

Hello Iain i must admit that Haddin took the game away from you Guys but i have seen Your bowling improve immensely i saw You against England in the Summer i thought You showed superb control and You looked like You'd get a wicket every over!I first saw You in South Africa and My sons and i felt genuinely sorry for You especially since You tried so hard but fair play to You Sir You deserve all Your wickets You've got a great work ethic and i love the blog!You are sharing the field with some of the greatest Test cricketers You lucky so and so!All the best oh and not a good idea to pepper Brett Lee with bouncers!!
Mannu

JA said...

Hi Iain! It's Kate,this is the first time i have read your blog,Jon has lots of times but has never left you a comment it is great! Pleased to see you are doing well, hope you feel on top form soon though. We are all fine, hoping to see your better half soon! Love from us all x

Anonymous said...

dont get such a big head, so what if your at dinner table! smile politley and have a quick chat and then get back to your food! thats is manners.