Pakistan v Australia Third ODI Report Card
Featuring ruining the boring middle overs and Pollux off the long run
Ruining The Boring Middle Overs
Grade: D
This match was due to start during the first day of the England v New Zealand first Test. Helpfully, Lord’s had arranged some rain for us. Less helpfully, Pakistan had simultaneously arranged a wet outfield that delayed the toss. Come on, lads. Sort it out. Communication!
Australia won the toss and batted first, losing the wicket of Matt Short second ball. This, of course, was a 100% improvement on the first ball wicket of Alex Carey in the previous ODI. Pakistan on the back foot early.
And even more so when captain Josh Inglis, having promoted himself to opener, settled early into milking the spinners (despite PETA’s objections!). This has been a superb series for Boring Middle Over fans such as myself, but Marnus eventually ruined it, running himself out like an entertaining nitwit. And then the rest of the batting decided that looked like fun too and started collapsing all over the place. But by that stage, I’d gone back to the Test match. And then, also, eventually bed.
