3rd Test, day 1: What an action packed day of cricket!

Heading into this Test we had a lot of discussions with regards to the pitch, whether it would be a green top and a track like the one we saw against England last year, and if so whether it would it be wise to have a spinner or should it be a four man pace attack?
All these questions were answered at the start of play.

Four fast bowlers were picked and the pitch had that green tinge.
Michael Clarke decided to bowl first after winning the toss and while this is usually a decision deemed as ‘bold’, in Clarkey’s case it was strategic and paid off.

David Warner took the honours giving us something special, a little unexpected, with the bat in hand as he blitzed his way to his second Test century.
It was indeed an action packed day of cricket. A very lucky WA crowd.

Full scorecard via ESPN Cricinfo.

Bowling:
India: 161 all out from 60.2 overs
Ben Hilfenhaus 4-43 (18 overs) , Peter Siddle 3-42, Mitch Starc 2-39, Ryan Harris 1-33

‘Confidence’ is a strong word and it’s definitely the word to define our bowling unit along with a Skipper who has shown nothing but confidence within their skill sets.
A total lack thereof is what smoked India.

For the 6^th time in 5 matches Ben Hilfenhaus dismissed Virender Sehwag. There was some talk about Pedro Siddle making Sachin Tendulkar his “bunny”, but I’d say Hilfy definitely has Sehwag’s number just like he had Ravi Bopara’s in the 2009 Ashes series.
It was a beautiful delivery from Hilfy that had perfect outswing, pitched up full and finding the outside edge to carry to Ricky Ponting who held a good slip catch.
It was a delivery that Sehwag played correctly with soft hands but Punter was in the right place.

The top order continued to fall as Ryan Harris built up outstanding pressure upon his return to the Baggy Greens, allowing Pedro to come in immediately and bowl Rahul Dravid.

Yes, Dravid bowled once again! It was a ball yorked on leg stump which Dravid edged onto the pads and then onto the stumps. Some misfortune but he was on his way.

Sachin Tendulkar must be so sick of the hype around this 100^th International century.

Being the experienced candidate he is, he came out playing his shots with fluency and some lovely drives, especially his one off-drive!

Ryan Harris had alternative plans to end the show and for the first time in his Test career picked up the wicket of an Indian batsman, that of Sachin LBW.
It was a good call by the Umpire, given the bounce on offer makes it tough with even fuller pitched deliveries for the Umpires, but Ryano angled it into Sachin who missed it with the additional swing on offer and he was given out.

Ryano only took 1 wicket but he bowled outstandingly in my opinion. He was instrumental in maintaining the high intensity and while his line dragged a little too far to leg side at times, this angle is what brought him that all important wicket of Sachin.

Gambhir was the next to fall getting out to Hilfy when he half-heartedly nudged at a good delivery which found the edge of his bat. It was a poor shot after he’d tried to show some resistance during his innings.
Four were down and it was the ultimate start for the Baggy Greens, with the experienced men working collectively to pick up their victims.

VVS and Virat Kohli (who I felt was due a decent innings) managed to scrap for India and get them into a slightly better position. Kohli deserves his chances as he is without doubt a very skilled batsman and can only get better with opportunity which so many emerging players have been starved of due to reliance on the veterans.

Their hard work was blown up with a ferocious spell from Peter Siddle who took both of their wickets just before the tea break. It was a quick spell that I don’t think many will quite appreciate to the full extent it should. It was an important passage of play.
First was Kohli who played a shot who could done without after really applying himself to his innings, while VVS  received a shorter delivery he edged.

It was brilliant variation from Pedro and he quickly put aside his previously forgettable appearances at the WACA. What a bloke.

In the 58^th over Hilfy was able to claim the big wicket of MS Dhoni, who can really attack any bowler on his day, who was out simply prodding at a delivery to give Hilfy his 3^rd wicket.
The 4^th was the wicket of Zaheer Khan, who I admittedly enjoy watching bat given his mad slashing of the ball, always creates some excitement and humor. His wicket came with ease this time.

Both Pedro and Ben Hilfenhaus have really come back hard and I’ve impressed (although not surprised) with their best performances within their Test careers on display for us to see.

This is the hunger and tenacity that drives a player after being dropped and going through the correct channels to get back their spot.
Still work to be done but they deserve the acknowledgement.

Mitchell Starc was called in to fill the void for James Pattinson and Patty Cummins, both injured until the next Test tour of the Windies.
He struggled initially, similar to his efforts against New Zealand, where he strayed a lot and while his line was pretty good, he just couldn’t find the line and released a bit of pressure.
There was no shortage of swing on offer for him so if he can just tighten that line he will be a real handful in a few years time.

He was able to get into the action though and I was so pleased for him.

His dismissal of Vinay Kumar would have lifted his spirits so much and every wicket is an important one.

It’s all a learning game though for Mitch Starc at this point. Fortunately his senior mates were able to do the damage Clarkey anticipated on this track.

Batting:
0/149, trail by 12 runs.
David Warner 104* (80 balls, 13 fours, 3 sixes, SR 130.00), Ed Cowan 40*

Batting again on day 1 after bowling first, seemed kind of normal. It was still high intensity stuff as the bowlers had done all the hard work, as has been the case for a few months now.
Our batting collapses have been a huge concern with a foundation still being developed for our top order.

I still have the patience and trust in the selectors’ decisions in this regards, especially for Ed Cowan and David “The Pitbull” Warner.

The Pitbull didn’t waste time in kick starting our innings with his usual aggressive intents. He has a good technique which will hold him in good stead with his development, as it did for Matthew Hayden who I believe David has the potential to play a similar role.
It was good to see it didn’t initially distract Ed Cowan, who played his usual game, which indicates they have an understanding with their respective roles, one as the aggressor and the other the cautious traditionalist.

Pitbull reached his fifty in the best way he knows how -backing himself with his natural ambition to attack when pace is on offer. He carved through India’s bowlers, an attack that was also a four man pace setup.
Flat bat shots were the shots of choice, targeting mid-off with execution that just looked awesome.

For Test cricket it was quite a laugh when The Pitbull got a hold of Ishant Sharma and smacked him for a monstrous six.
By the time the drinks break arrived he had 70 runs from 50 deliveries, 8 fours and 2 sixes.
But the best moment came after he took a nasty knock on the side of the helmet from a Yadav bouncer.
What was his response to this?

Two fours blasted against some short pitched bowling and he was into the 90s!

Instead of ‘nervous nineties’ it was the ‘mad-rush nineties’ as he slammed a six to bring up his 2^nd Test century!
Like the centurions of the SCG Test, don’t forget this innings. Very special performance as it was the fastest Test century by an opening batsman, the fourth fastest in Test cricket history.

Ed Cowan also freed his arms up a bit as well to join the onslaught as the pair brought up their first 100 run partnership.  Not going to write much more about it, rather go check a highlights package if you didn’t see it!

Ed deserves acknowledgement as he offered valuable support to The Pitbull.

A new duo takes time to settle and I can honestly say (read previous articles) I never doubted this pair as a Test duo.
Something works with the balance and while Ed is slightly older, they both have time to merge a partnership for a few years.

Here’s the partnership wagon-wheel. (ESPN Cricinfo graphs)

Verdict:

Day 1 belongs to the Baggy Greens and if they wanted to make an impact this game and a statement of the hunger to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, this is the way to start the 3^rd Test.
Another unforgettable from the bowling unit, it really was and well done to Michael Clarke for showing confidence in his men.

The bowlers worked well in partnerships, executed by Michael Clarke tactically, and this has been the key for the performances thus far while also noting the consistency of the bowlers to take the advice that Craig McDermott has been so focused on them delivering.
Build pressure, work in partnerships, use your skills sets and get the rewards.

The day goes to David Warner for that innings and Ed Cowan for the support. Like Haydos and JL.

Destructive to say the least!

Day 2 brings about a new challenge. Trail by 12 runs and 10 wickets in hand.

The WACA pitch of the eve of the game, very green!
© ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Ben Hilfenhaus, like Peter Siddle, has made a full turnaround and is showing the critics why he is a professional cricketer. He took 4 wickets.
© Getty Images/Paul Kane

The picture says it all….brutal! David Warner blasts a pull shot on his way to an insane century. Photographers doing a grand job this series.
© Getty Images

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