How To Get Hashim Amla Out

Australia v South Africa: Third Test, Day 3

 

When I was 7, dad bought me a book of cricket cartoons. The front cover posed the question: “How to get Viv Richards out”, with a picture of a blindfolded Viv taking guard in front of about 5 sets of stumps. The 2012 version could feature Hashim Amla. He is just a nightmare to bowl to. Against Australia in Perth, he punished anything outside off stump, however if the bowlers even strayed within 5 inches of his off peg, he whipped them through midwicket. Then again, the Australian bowlers could have showed a little more consistency of line and length today. Though when you are bowling to a person in that form, line and length is easier than it sounds.

 

After Kallis was well caught by Johnson at fine leg, AB de Villiers strode out to the wicket with a few question marks over his head. Could he keep wicket and continue his stellar batting form of the past 4 years? OK, that was just one question, but a fair one at that. By the time AB had reverse-swept his third successive boundary with that audacious shot to bring up a scintillating hundred, the question had just about been answered. From that point, he really opened up the shoulders and raced to 169. By the way,Hashim Amla was relatively pedestrian today in making 196 off 220-odd deliveries. His innings ended by another fantastic Mitchell Johnson catch off his own bowling. This represented something of a purple patch for Johnson, who had Elgar out leg before in the same over. The unfortunate debutant registered a pair on debut.

 

From there, the innings fell in something of a heap. South Africa lost their last 5 wickets for 31, though the damage had well and truly been done. Mitchell Starc finished with 6 wickets in a good display of perseverance, though he conceded nearly 6 an over. Johnson took 4, and was the standout bowler. Australia were set 632 to win, or forced to bat for 14 hours to save the match. Despite intereference from a few flys that seemed to enjoy Ed Cowans helmet, the Australian openers went to stumps with their wickets intact. Two more days to go. Good news for Australia – Hashim Amla will not have to bat again this series.

Second Test: Australia v South Africa

Today marks the first Test at the Australian Football League’s Adelaide Oval. For international viewers, you may notice that the ground previously known as the Adelaide Oval is in a state of demolition. Essentially, this is because the Australian Football League (they administer a sport called ‘Australian Rules Football’, which is played in one nation of 20,000,000 people and think that they run Australia) wanted to play their game there. Funny thing is, that they no longer wanted to play at the ground called ‘Football Park’, which had previously been the home of the Adelaide Crows and Port Power. If you are not from Australia, you will never have heard of these teams.

 

As a result, the Adelaide Oval is being demolished and rebuilt as a first class sporting arena.

 

The problem is, that the Adelaide Oval ranked as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. The ground was unique. It really was beautiful. As a South Australian, I first saw a day of Test cricket at this ground. I first saw a day of Sheffield Shield cricket at this ground. The atmosphere was serene. You could go there to relax on the grassy banks, and just become immersed in the action. Now it will be plastic seats and towering stands to block out the view of the Adelaide hills and St Peters Cathedral. This is so sad. I will go to the Adelaide Oval again, but it just wont be the same.

 

The arena will hold 50,000 people in a town of 1 million. The two football teams couldn’t fill their own 50,000 seat arena at West Lakes. Port Power could barely get 20,000 along to their games. Why Adelaide needs another 50,000 seat arena is anybody’s guess. The Australian Football League wanted it, so they got it. They need to get some perspective. They are a big organisation within Australia, but Australia is a small country in a big world. Cricket is global, Australian Rules Football is not.
Anyway. The cricket starts today and it will be great. Shane Watson is not playing, but who really cares. I have never heard so much speculation about the possible availability of a guy who averages in the mid 30s and bowls medium pace. Look for the match to go the full 5 days.