NZ vs Aust - Adelaide - Day One

A day of opportunities lost, I think is the best way to sum today up.  Dan won the toss, taking his test match toss success ratio to over 70%.  Indeed, Dan is one helliva tosser!  He choses to bat, as would all rational captains on this ground, and was rewarded early buy some very good batting from Howza and Redders.  They left well, defended with intent, ducked and weaved when needed and set us up for a good day.  Forty six was the score when Howza waved at a wider one from Johnson and gleefully caught by Hadden behind the stumps.  It was a shot that wasn't in Jamie's game plan today, he had looked real good.  He had his 'sexy block' going and was looking well in control.  'Sexy block,' you ask?  Well, have a look at it, they way he blocks the ball is as sexy as a cricket shot can be.  There just ain't no way past that.  

Redders, at the other end, was looking more and more comfortable both at the crease and with himself.  He went past his previous best today, but I know he's not happy with the end of his innings.  Before lunch Redders had looked fantastic.  At one point, when Haurtiz came on to bowl, he hit him for four, six, six of consecutive balls taking him from 37 to 53, all this while Jesse, who is known for his big hitting, sat at the other end watching on.  Entertaining stuff.

Lunch, and we're sitting pretty handy.  And then comes one of those sessions we just don't want.  We lose three wickets in the session, on a deck that the nature of the dismissals is disappointing and by the end of the day, really only Flynn and Taylor being undone by good balls.  Four guys gave up opportunities to score big on a very good deck.  I'm sure they're hurting for themselves and the team.

Over the last couple of days I've been feeling quite tired in the afternoons.  Really haven't been able to put it down to anything.  As I said yesterday, I've been doing all the right things but still been lethargic.  This afternoon was not great.  By about 2pm I was literally sleepy.  By 2.40pm I though it was time to maybe do something about it.  I hunted down the doctor and had an examination from him,  nothing stood out, things were normal.  He suggested a blood test, and as tea was coming up, I thought I could slip away and get that done before the 20 mins was up.  Nothing is ever that easy.  Our Liaison was already at the clinic with one of the partners who hasn't been feeling well herself, so he had to come back to pick me up so I could get my 'bloods' done.  We were four down at the time, this means that if we lose two wickets I need to start to get ready, start getting ready to bat.  It's a five min drive to the clinic, I was guessing that it would take about 10 mins to get the sample done and then five min drive back.  That's half an hour, anything can happen in half an hour!  While I was in getting the blood taken, we lost a wicket.  Our Liaison got a phone call checking on how much longer I'd be.  No more wickets fell while I was away, so back in time with no worries regarding a small reshuffle of the order.  

Still tonight I don't feel that flash.  Salad for tea tonight, trying to get as many 'good things' into me as I can.  Plenty of water and another early night is on order.

So, that's where I'll leave it, as it's now 9pm and I'm going to hit the sack after a quick chat to my wife.  Thank God for Skype!!