Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

Australia Dominate Day 1​

Stumps Day 1 - 88 overs
Australia 4/325

The Australians are way infront at the close of play on day 1. Matthew Hayden has batted through the entire day showin awesome class and determination. Mike Hussey is his partner who is nearing a hundred as the partnership is worth a massive unbeaten 161.

These two master willow weilders bated through the final session without losing a wicket and the only chance they gave was a costly missed run out. Hayden was left for dead as he could only watch the throw from 5 metres away a good thing for him that it missed by 6. The feilding really not upto scrath as the Australians have stolen singles all day.

The Australians now look set with Gilchrist and a handy lower order still to come to the crease. The West Indies really need early wickets on Day 2 if thy are to have a chance otherwise they will be needing to answer to a first innings total of 500+ tax.

Hayden 143*
Hussey 83*

Edwards 0/70
Powell 0/41
Bravo 2/119
Gayle 1/27
Collymore 1/58

 

[Short Leg]

Windies Strike Early​

Australia 5/334 - 91 overs
11:08am - Day 2

The prayers of the West Indies were answered as Bravo picked up the early wicket of centurion Matthew Hayden who was 2 runs short of 150 when he picked out the feilder.

The crowd showed there appreciation as he walked off the a standing ovation. Bravo who now has 3 wickets is the unlikely hero who has been given a mountain of overs to work with.

Adam Gilchrist the new man in. This is a big wicket that the West Indies need or the game could be take away from them alltogether before tea if the Gilchrist we all know and love gets a chance to free the shoulders.

 

[Cricket_60]

Big wicket for the Windies

Aussies are still guna win

 

[Short Leg]

Hussey Hundred as Gilchrist is Electric​

Australia 5/400 - 104 overs
12:01pm Day 2

Mike Hussey reched a well deserved hundred to be the second to reach the feat in the Australian innings. What a champion this man is as he played every shot in the book perfectly all day and never looked like giving the West Indies a half chance at getting him.

Gilchrist has given fantastic support at the other end with a unbeaten 47 off just as many balls.

The West Indies have been mediocure so far through this match and you would get the feeling that when there turn to bat comes the trend will continue. Australia massive favourites in local betting with rain being the only thing that can save the Windies at this point in time.

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Stumbles at the MCG​

Australia 6/404

Adam Gilchrist falls for the slower ball and skies the pill to mid on and safe hands take the catch to send him on his way for 51.

Australia 7/406

Shortly after Shane Warne was gone LBW to Gayle. Warne onto the backfoot was caught out and Rudi Koertzen gave the slow raise of the index finger. A hugely dissapointed crowd that cheered Warne onto his home ground watched him walk off without troubling the scorers.

Brett Lee comes to the crease needing to support Mike Hussey who can now start to attack in quest of an even bigger lead.

 

[Short Leg]

Australia relentless as visitors struggle​

Australia 7/450 - 117 overs
Lunch Day 2

Lee managed to stay at the crease while Hussey tried to step it up a bit. A big session with over 100 runs scored. If this innings is anything to go by then the rest of the tournament would be shaking at the depth in the Australian batting order and its destructive power.

How much longer can the Australians keep up this display? Another hour an the total would reach 500. It will depend on what kind of strokes Hussey plays and if the West Indies can somehow find a way to remove him. The Australians probably wouldnt declare so it will be up to Chanderpaul to find a bowler good enough.

Hayden 148
Gilchrist 51
Warne 0
Hussey 126*
Lee 16*

Edwards 0/75
Powell 1/85
Bravo 3/170
Gayle 2/43
Collymore 1/63

 

[Short Leg]

West Indies End The Pain​

Australia 8/459

Hussey charged the bowling of Gayle attempting to hit him out of the MCG but didnt get all of it and his brave 133 was brought to an end as he was applauded off the ground.

Australia 9/472

Lee did a bit of scoring before Bracken was caught infront for 3 and McGrath made his way to the crease

Australia All Out 477 - 124 overs
2:11pm Day 2

The innings came to an end when McGrath got a leading edge to be caught for just 4 as the West Indies finally ended the Australia marathon innings. The West Indies will need a strong display of batting at the top of the order to salvage anything from this match.

Hundreds from both Hayden and Hussey the highlight for the Australians as Gilchrist also chipped in with a 50.

The West Indies have been treated to a fine batting display the downside to that is that they were on the wrong end of it. The runs have been piled on against them and they would need a big score from someone (Lara) to get back in this match. The first thing they have to worry about is getting past the follow on point so they can atleased make Australia bat again.

Mark Nicholas was lucky enough to catch up with the runs scorers for Australia after there great innings.

Matthew Hayden​

Matthew a fine effort by you have we seen the best of your form first up in the championship?
"Yeah, I was hitting the ball well from the word go and i really enjoyed spending time at the crease. I can say that i am enjoying hitting balls now more then i ever had and its definatly pleasing to be involved in a good partnership with Hus today."

Mike Hussey​

A fantastic knock by yourself we witnessed you play to all parts of the ground without fault and you also managed to score quickly talk us through what you felt in the middle.
"Well when i came to the crease Matty was doing really well by himself so my first goal was to stay there and support him but i found that i was finding the middle really well all day and i was getting my value for strokes. Its taken me a while to get to this point of my career and i really enjoy scoring runs for Australia."

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Has One​

West Indies 1/24 - 10 overs
2:56pm Day 2

The West Indies captain is on his way back to the pavillion. A Brett Lee bouncer had him in all sorts of trouble as he took his eye off the ball and payed the price as it went from glove onto leg stump to finish his innings of 2.

West Indies great hope comes to the crease in the form of Brian Lara.

 

[Short Leg]

Gayle Leaves Worlds Greatest For Dead​

West Indies 3/27
3:07pm Day 2

Having survived a close shout for LBW on 0 the thought that went through everyones head was how many would he make after that. In an unbelievable turn of events Gayle called through Lara for a suicidal run and left him for dead as he was run out by a long way without troubling the scorers.

As bad as some of the desision making from the West Indies has been this is the worst the West Indies now have dug a massive hoile that they almost have no chance of getting out of.

 

[Short Leg]

West Indies Run into the Ground​

West Indies 3/65 - 20 overs
Tea Day 2

Amazingly another mixup results in the second run out as the West Indies are reduced to 3 down at the Tea break.

The West Indies are playing stupid cricket that has plagued them for years. They done deserves to get near the Australians and that is reflected in there results they now look like they will struggle to even bat out the day let alone make the Australians bat again. There best bet is to look to turn it around next match because this one is just a formality now.

Chanderpaul 2
Lara 0
Gayle 43
Sarwan 17*
Samuels 0*

McGrath 0/21
Lee 1/6
Bracken 0/21
Symonds 0/12
Warne 0/5

 

[Short Leg]

Warne Having Fun In His Own Backyard​

West Indies 4/86 - 26 overs
4:29pm Day 2
Trail by 391 runs

As Shane Warne came into the attack it was clear that it wasnt going to be long before he made things happen on his home ground. Warnes first victim was Marlen Samuels who tried to use the sweep shot as his counter attack to the leg spinner but Warne was to good for that.

Samuels top edged a sweepshot over the keepers head and into the safe hands on Hayden who was back tracking from first slip.

With the last of the specialist batsman at the crease a big partnership is needed to avoid the follow on.

 

[Short Leg]

Lee At His Best With Warne Keeping The Pressure On​

Ramnaresh Sarwan showed that runs arnt impossible to come by against the Australians as he brought up his 50. A valuable innings however it looks like it may go to waste as the West Indies have been apauling of late.

After reaching s the milestone Sarwan relaxed for a second and the Australians were good enough to make him regret it as Brett Lee got through his defences and sent him back for a solid 56.

West Indies 5/115

The inspired spell of express fast bowling continued as Brett Lee charged in. He had the new batsman Bravo jumping as he never looked comfortable against him.

A slow scoring Devon Smith was also on the backfoot against Lee and he paid the price as the fuller ball uproted the stumps and Smith would of considered himself lucky to be out for 6 with just 36 minurtes remaining in the days play.

West Indies 6/118

The West Indies were made to look like children against the out and out pace of Lee and the pin point accuracy of Warne as they battled to be there at the send of the day. Still a massive 359 runs behind.

Just as Bravo had looked to of come to terms with the MCG pitch Warne had him. An amazing bat pad catch from skipper Ricky Ponting got rid of the all rounder. One of the best catches seen as the crowd marveled at the reflexes of Ponting.

West Indies 7/118

Collymore joined Ramdin who as looking torepeat his heroics of the 2nd one day game. The tailender put up a great fight for his wicket and proved hard to remove as Warne wondered why there as no justice in cricket.

Finally Warne crashed through the defence of Collymore as he was out for 6.

West Indies 8/128

Umpire Bucknor removed the bails for the end of the days play with the West Indies in real trouble. Australia needs just 2 wickets to wrap up the first innings and then they have the option of putting then in for another dig.

West Indies 8/128 - 48 overs
Stumps Day 2
Trail by 349 runs

It would need to be one hell of a third day for the West Indies to stay in this game that will not attract to many crowds if the series continues along these lines. Australia need 12 wickets wickets in 3 days with 350 runs to play with. The state of West Indies cricket will not change if they give performances like this. Another dull series for the Australian public as the ICC must now wonder how this new tournament can bring new fans with matches like this.

Sarwan 56
Samuels 3
Smith 6
Bravo 2
Collymore 6
Ramdin 4*
Edwards 0*

McGrath 0/25
Lee 3/24
Bracken 0/39
Symonds 0/12
Warne 3/27

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Cleans Up The Tail​

It didnt take to long into the third Day for Lee and McGrath to take the final 2 wickets.

A well directed short ball from Lee found the shoulder of the Edwards bat and sailed into the air when Symonds made good ground to take the diving catch.

The last wicket fell when Powell who was new at the crease skied a ball from McGrath and Langer took the safe catch. McGrath had now destroyed Lees efforts for a bag of 5.

West Indies all out 131 - 52.2 overs
11:34am Day 3
Trail by 346 runs

Australia now needing 10 wickets to win but would they want to have a bat to give the bowlers a rest or just put the West Indies back in again. The answer to that question is in Ricky Pontings hands.

Mark Nicholas did the boundary riding and posed the question to Ricky Ponting.
Ricky, Will you be enforcing the follow on?

Ricky Ponting:

Yeah, we are in the position to put the West Indies back in because our bowlers have had the overnight rest and are ready to go again. We arnt going to be doing them any favours and we will not let up in taking these 10 wickets for victory.

There you have it the West Indies will be back out shortly for there second innings. There goal will be to get some time in the middle ahead of the second test as it would be near impossible for there paper thin batting lineup to bat out 3 days for a draw or make over 400 runs to make Australia chase in there final innings.

I hope everyone is enjoying Australians dominance while it lasts before my next tour of India. I should have this match finished tomorrow as all i have to do is knock over Lara and the rest will tumble.

 

[Cricket_60]

Shocking total by the Windies

Maybe they might get past 200 next innings

 

[Short Leg]

West Indie Its As Easy As 1 - 2 - 3​

I worked at polishing off the first test and this is what i came up with.

McGrath did the dirty work for the Australians on the third day which proved to be the West Indies last. Symonds was overlooked as Brad Hodges handy off spinners picked up 2 wickets.

Bracken had Lara edgeing out for just 4 runs as a poor test match for the Calypso king came to an end. Lee another solid display with 3 wickets and Warney also did the job as the MCG didnt attract to many fans.

Attention turns now to the 2nd and final 3 Mobile Test Match at the bouncy WACA ground. That will prove to be an interetsing match as Australia will again look to dominate from the early stages.

Australia wins by an innings and 216 runs