Australia v Bangladesh, First Test, Day Two
Featuring bouncing back, the Roman Empire and the abstract sciences
Bouncing Back
Grade: D
Australia began the second day keen to bounce back in this Test, only to be stymied by the absorbent goo of Bangladesh’s batters.
The first sign of this looming stymying came early, when, after a Beau Webster change-of-ends over, Mitchell Starc began pawing at the crease like a disgruntled yak. Starc glaring and muttering about footing, as he kicks aways furiously at the crease, is traditionally a sign that it may be a good day for batting.
And so it proved in the opening session, with Bangladesh adding 85 for the loss of just one wicket. Australia tried to counter their opponents with a variety of ploys, all of which were doomed. They went for a desperate review - one sufficiently bad that it made Nathan Lyon, fielding square on the boundary edge, abandon his jog to the DRS huddle and return to his original position immediately upon seeing the first replay.
They also tried bringing Alex Carey up to the stumps in a non-change-of-ends spell from Webster, in the hope of channeling some Ashes vibes. A nice idea, but this is a proper team, not just silly old England. Although, to be fair, Mominul Hoque was dismissed by Hazlewood in the very next over, via a wild waft that had a lot of England top order energy about it.
Heck, an over before lunch, Australia even tried changing the ball. And, upon consultation with the umpires’ Rings of Spherical Purity™, received a replacement ball for their trouble. A brief moment of success, immediately undone by Najmul Hossain Shanto hitting Lyon straight down the ground for four from the first ball he bowled with it.
The Roman Empire
Grade: C+
Lyon was not to be denied, however, effortlessly winning over the crowd after lunch by returning a stray beach ball. Proper cricket. Bangladesh with no answers to this simple act of heroism.
