Story Australian Bliss - End of first day

[Jaztheman]

The presentation has improved tenfold, see what constructive criticsm can do? Fantastic to see you put the effort to improve your story, Jake. Congrats.

Great victory for Australia, even if expected. They allowed Zimbabwe to get too many runs in the first innings but made up for it with the ball in the second innings. Siddle and Krezja were very impressive with the ball. Ponting, Katich, Jaques, Symonds and a few others all did their part with the bat to secure the big victory for Australia. Ricky Ponting's knock wasn't too bad, I guess, and maybe enough for a Man of the Match award.

 

[Jakester1288]

The presentation has improved tenfold, see what constructive criticsm can do? Fantastic to see you put the effort to improve your story, Jake. Congrats.

Great victory for Australia, even if expected. They allowed Zimbabwe to get too many runs in the first innings but made up for it with the ball in the second innings. Siddle and Krezja were very impressive with the ball. Ponting, Katich, Jaques, Symonds and a few others all did their part with the bat to secure the big victory for Australia. Ricky Ponting's knock wasn't too bad, I guess, and maybe enough for a Man of the Match award.

I think Krejza and Siddle will have something to say about that!

Jakester1288 added 33 Minutes and 42 Seconds later...

Geoff 'Swampy' Marsh during his playing days.

Former Australian opening batsmen and Zimbabwean coach Geoff Marsh has been offered the position of coaching the Australian Cricket team, and has accepted. It was one year ago when he denied he wanted to get back into coaching until his youngest son got into high levels of cricket, and now Mitchell is pushing for a spot in the Western Australia Second XI and Shaun the Australian side, he has decided to get back into coaching.

He was called last night by James Sutherland and at his press conference today, said he would start where Tim Nielsen left off, and is glad to have over a year to prepare for the 2011 World Cup. He is looking to the future, and said he would be blooding young players against minnow sides, and he would get used to the players during the second test, and at training, and then try to repair their broken one day team, which his son has opened the batting for in the past.

The right-handed opener played 50 tests for Australia, and averaged 33.18 with 4 100?s. He said after his press conference that he is ?honoured to have the opportunity to coach such a great side, and looks forward to hopefully continuing their success over the coming months?.

 

[Zohaib]

the presentation has improved

good win for Aussies

 

[Jakester1288]

First post updated with links to updates.

 

[Jakester1288]

I am going session by session now to see if it's a better format.

 

[Jakester1288]

Australia v Zimbabwe - Second Test

The second test is the start of a new era for Australian Cricket, with Geoff Marsh getting back into coaching. He has been keeping a low profile, but hinted that he will be blooding some youth where possible. He has kept the same side for the first test, with the minor change of Hussey and Katich in the batting order, and the Zimbabweans have removed paceman Rinke and Garwe for Maruma and Cremer.

The official line ups are as follows:



Coin toss:

Ricky Ponting calls tails and wins the toss, and elects to bat. The pitch looks good, has a bit in it for the bowlers and the spinners will benefit on this pitch. Buckle up and get ready for the first session.

Team line up picture to come later, it's stuffing up at the moment.

Jakester1288 added 9 Minutes and 51 Seconds later...

Australia v Zimbabwe - Second test - Day 1 - 1st session

Katich acknowledges the crowd's applause on reaching his half century.

Jaques and Katich got off to a good start, bringing up the 50 off 16.4 overs. Katich brought up his half century off the second last ball of the session with a flick to the vacant fine leg area. Australia ended the session on 97 without loss, a very good session for the Australian openers who set themelves for a big opening partnership and big team total.

 

[Jakester1288]

Australia v Zimbabwe - Second test - First day - Second Session

Simon Katich raises his bat upon making 100

Australia brought up the 100 5 balls after lunch with a quick single from Jaques. Jaques brought his 50 up off 123 balls with an excellent back foot cover drive that deserved to go to the boundary for 4 but an excellent piece of fielding kept it to 1.

Jaques 50* (123)

Shortly after Jaques edged one through to the keeper off Cremer on 57 and was caught easily.

Jaques c Taibu b Cremer 57 (149)

Australia were 1/127 and the captain Ricky Ponting made his way to the crease. Katich and Ponting cruised past 150, with a little glance from Katich to fine leg for a single. Katich brought up his century 7 minutes out from the Tea break, off 195 balls.

Katich 100* (195)

Australia proceeded to survive until the tea break without losing a wicket.


Tea break
Australia 1/184
Katich 102*
Ponting 23*

Jakester1288 added 3 Minutes and 2 Seconds later...

25 minutes after the break Katich departed LBW to Manyumwa who had been troubling him all innings for 112, a great knock and recieved a standing ovation as he left the ground after his 271 minute knock.

Katich LBW Manyumwa 112 (228)

This brought Michael Hussey to the crease. Ponting brought up the 200 only 2 wickets down with a powerful cut shot that beat two fielders to race across the quick outfield for 4. Hussey edged one behind for Taibu's second catch of the innings when only on 1 off Maruma. He was trying to defend a ball very wide outside off that he could have left, but with the bowler spinning it back towards his stumps he didn't quite have the confidence so early in his innings.

Hussey c Taibu b Maruma 1 (7)

Vice-captain Michael Clarke came to the crease with the score at 3/206 knowing another wicket before the end of play could contribute to a batting collapse and a bad end to a good day for Australia. He had a job to do, was the Australian fans hoped he was in the right mood to do his job.

He definitely was not! Second ball he edged to Williams at first slip off Maruma, and Australia were reeling at 4/206. Andrew Symonds came to the crease looking very nervous after witnessing the Zimbabweans take 3-8. Ponting and Symonds had a long chat midwicket and Symonds eventually made his way to the crease, took guard and faced up to his first ball. He survived, and the Australians sat back in their seats with relief.

If that wasn't bad enough for Australia, Zimbabwe took the new ball. However, things did look positive from one perspective that Maruma would probably be taken off, or be bowling with a new ball, that won't get as much grip and turn off the pitch.

Ponting caressed a ball through the covers off the back foot for 4 to bring up his 50, providing the only resistance in Australia's middle order. He had blasted 3 fours in the previous over from Chigumbura and it looked like he was trying to belt the cover off the ball. We were set for a thrilling last hour...

Ponting 53* (124)

Chigumbura struck back, bowling a delivery bang on middle peg that nipped back a fraction off the seam that Ponting played all around trying to drive him through mid on to the boundary. The umpire didn't hesitate in raising the finger, and Ponting was on his way. Australia were in deep trouble at 5/239, where at 2/206 things were looking great. Bangladesh had taken 3/33, including arguably Australia's best 3 batsmen in Ponting, Hussey and Clarke. Wicketkeeper batsmen Brad Haddin knew he needed to stick around for the remainder of the session then a considerable amount of time tomorrow morning as well to get the Australia innings back on track after their middle order collapse.

Ponting LBW Chigumbura 54 (127)

Symonds took to Chigumbura, following on from where Ponting left off, hitting 3 fours off his next two overs and taking Australia past 250. He has everyone in the grounds heart in their mouth when he edged past second slip for 4, but acted as calmly as possible, almost as if he purposely played the stroke to third man.

With 5 balls left in the day, after playing a crisp off drive back past the bowler, Symonds played a stupid shot in the air back to the bowler Cremer to be caught and bowled. All his hard work had come undone, and put Australia in an extremely bad position at the end of the day.

Symonds 41 c&b Cremer 41 (71)

Johnson made his way to the crease to face 4 balls...He survived, and Australia had ended the day at 6/284 after such a great start. All Katich's great work had come undone by stupid, wreckless batting from the middle order, and some great bowling from the Zimbabweans.


For some reason I can't post up attachments, so I will have to post them later.

 

[Jakester1288]

Australia v Zimbabwe - Second test - Second day - First session

Australia start the day in trouble at 6/284 with Haddin on 13 and Johnson still scoreless. The Zimbabwean fielders, Australian batsmen and umpires make their way out to the pitch...we have a big day ahead of us.

Haddin survived a caught behind shout and a LBW appeal off Manyumwa as they brought up the 300 with 6 wickets down, and were looking like forging a big total. Then disaster struck, and Haddin got run out taking a dangerous 2 when they could have easily settled for 1.

Haddin Run out 35 (84)

This brought Krejza to the crease who is more than handy with the bat, but needs a good start. The Zimbabwean bowlers are very chirpy and confident, and the bowlers bowling well. There was 58 minutes remaining in the session, and if these two survived, it could be a good session for Australia.

With 14 minutes left Johnson's innings came to a close on 40, edging Murama to first slip. He was looking really good, especially through the off side, hitting 5 boundaries in his knock. He really rescued Australia with a solid lower order knock, proving his worth with the bat once again.

Johnson c Williams b Murama 40 (114)

Brett Lee came to the crease with Australia at 8/359 and 12 minutes remaining until lunch. Brett Lee is no mug with the bat, and neither is Siddle, the next man in.

Brett Lee struck a 6 and a 4 in his 12 minute stint before lunch, surviving, and making his way to 13, equal with Krejza. Australia were 8/373 at the break, and surely thinking of a 400+ score.

 

[age of the fall]

In my opinion you shouldn't do session by session. day by Day is the best in ICC

 

[Roofrom50]

Good knock from Katich. a wonderful century

 

[Jakester1288]

In my opinion you shouldn't do session by session. day by Day is the best in ICC

I forget what happens if I don't write it down. :P

Prefer it session by session TBH.

 

[Jakester1288]

Lol @ me, I don't have tie to do this with my other story.

 

[Jaztheman]

Bit of a pity as it was getting into the match but oh well. Looking forward to your other story.