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| Not only the best name in world cricket, but the best young bowler in world cricket too. Courtesy Gallo Images |
I’m calling it early. Vernon Philander has the best name in world cricket. And currently, he’s the brightest young fast bowler in world cricket too. James Pattinson is good, but this bloke is something. He has now got 3 Michelle’s in his first three tests, a great achievement. Plus, in days where a day of Test cricket is getting harder and harder to predict (*cough* 47 all out *cough*) this went according to plan. Sri Lanka’s batsman were put off by a pitch with a green tinge, Dilshan played a poor shot, they got skittled, the best name in world cricket took his customary 5-for and Jacques Rudolph poked and prodded around before the close. Perfect.
South Africa won the toss and put Sri Lanka in. At that point in time, one could assume that young opener Paranavitana (who also has a darn good cricket name) locked himself in the toilet, but was probably coaxed out after being offered his wages he and his teammates haven’t received in 5 months. It was all a cruel plan, and the young man had to stride out to the middle with his captain Dilshan, to face Dale Steyn with a new ball. Unfortunately, South African TV don’t have a version of Channel 9’s ‘Gator-Tracker’- probably a good thing for Paranavitana.
Us Australian cricket fans get ripped into Brad Haddin for playing loose shots that others say is his ‘natural game’ Well. Captain Dilshan had a brain fade up there with the NSW keepers odd looking swipe in the 47 all out debacle, but as captain- Dilshan’s ugly hoick across the line should be held in higher sted. That left the Lankans 1/11, but brought no.1 test batsman in the world, Kumar Sangakarra to the wicket. But the best name in world cricket produced one that bounced off a length on the ‘Green Mamba’ and Sanga fatefully followed it. 2/12. Then the ever stylish Mahela Jaywardene and Mr P put on a stubborn stand of 56 before Smith turned to his new go to man. Philander bowled one on a good length to the left handed Mr P, it hit the seam and jagged through a gap between bat and pad and made an absolute meal of the stumps. After Mahela poked loosely to Dale Steyn and nicked to 1st slip, the man I told you to look out for before this test- Angelo Matthews, and Thilan Samaraweera had some fun, largely thanks to Morne Morkel. I also said Morkel was due for a biggie. And I was right. He had a two over spell that went for 23 runs, a wicket off a no ball and never regained his rhythm from then on. Add to that Jacques Kallis not backing him up from the other end, who incidentally was looking ridiculous with that piece of road kill on top of his head, which strangely seemed to be receding. Is that possible?
It was the best name in world cricket who struck again and got the Proteas back on course, breaking the partnership of 65. I also found out that he is a fan of Australia’s breakfast show, ‘Today’ because two balls in a row, he made their signature ‘T’ sign with his hands, and strangely got two wickets in doing so. The power of television hey? With Samaraweera gone, keeper Silva played and missed down leg the very next ball, or so we thought. Vernon said high to his Australian breakfast TV fans again, and Silva can count himself unlucky, because the hotspot on his glove was smaller than the leg room you get in economy on a British Airways flight. 6/156 and the 2nd session was much in South Africa’s favour, after the more even pre-lunch session.
South Africa picked up 3 wickets in 5 balls as Imran Tahir picked one up with a well disguised googly, before the best name in world cricket got his 5 wicket hall with the scalp of the aggressive Matthews, playing a Haddin esque funny swipe straight to the cordon, and South Africa fans were rejoicing. Dale Steyn then made one set of stumps very sore and sorry, after Welegedara and Fernando didn’t get their bat in front of the missile out of Steyn’s hand and making a huge mess of the three sticks, and Sri Lanka had lost 7/104 in one session, and were all out for 180.
Captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Rudolph batted well for their 88 runs, Smith passing 50 before Dilhara Fernando did the old one-two, one ball launching off a nasty length and surprising Smith, before the next was pitched up, Smith hanging back on the crease and he wisely didn’t waste a reviewing the LBW decision. Dale Steyn came in as nightwatchman, something I never understand as it gives the bowlers an easier wicket than if Hashim Amla came in. Luckily for South Africa, no more wickets fell and finished 1/90. Sri Lanka need to make the most of the morning moisture in the Green Mamba tomorrow, otherwise South Africa will run away and bat them out of the test.
The Globe Trotter,
As predicted, the pacemen the key for South Africa although Morkel bowled rubbish in stages to Mathews and Samerawaerra.
ReplyDeletePhilander is something special isn't he, doesn't muck around and get the job done as his amazing statistics show, an average of 15! that is un-heard of!