Aussie media see pink ball appeal
The first game of its kind in cricket's 138-year history, the opening day of the Australia v New Zealand clash on Friday drew some 47,441 fans -- the biggest crowd at the Adelaide Test since the famous 1932-33 Bodyline series.
"The whole thing looked pretty much like Test cricket," wrote Richard Hinds in The Daily Telegraph after the first day saw New Zealand win the toss and bat, only to be all out for 202. Australia were 54 for 2 at close.
"Played with a pink ball. Under lights. At Trent Bridge.
"The visibility was different. The beaten batsman might say worse. But the conditions were not completely unfamiliar or particularly unfair."
Writing in The Australian newspaper, Peter Lalor said at times Australian opener David Warner might have felt like he was back playing the Ashes in England.
"When the Australian innings began in the last session Trent Boult and Tim Southee made it swing like it was a dark day in England," he said.
Commentators were pleased with the seeming restoration of parity between bat and ball, with 12 wickets falling in the first day in Adelaide.
This compares with only two wickets on the opening day of both of the first two Tests of the three-match series in Brisbane and Perth.
On
Thursday, during a rigorous net session at Jadavpur University’s Salt
Lake Campus ground, Rishabh Pant was focusing on one particular shot
against the pacers – lofted drive over the bowler’s head or mid-off.
It’s a very difficult shot to play, especially for an 18-year-old of
relatively short stature. Pant, however, was timing the ball
beautifully, getting the distance. Overall, he looked a batsman in fine
fettle.
Pant carried forward the rhythm into the match against Afghanistan Under-19 and set up India’s fourth win on the spin in the tri-series with an excellent 98-ball 118 (14X4, 4X6) on Friday. He had scored 87 and 51 in the last two games.
Today he reached three figures. But more than the runs, it was his
authority that attracted attention. Afghanistan colts at times offered
freebies for fun and it was easy to get carried away. Pant had missed
out on a hundred in the first leg fixture against the same opposition as
he let his concentration slip. He was a lot more disciplined in his
approach this time around. “Discipline is what I’m learning from Rahul
sir, both in life and cricket,” Pant said after the match.
He played some very accomplished strokes. A couple of cover drives against Muslim Musa and Muhammad Zahir were absolutely gorgeous. Sixes to the straight boundary and over deep mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Tariq Stanikzai were even better. It was a facile contest, given that India had already qualified for the final. But Pant’s batting was a joy to watch.
But maybe he would like to spend more time against the spinners in the nets. His technique is good as he plays spin with the bat in front of the pad. Just that he has had a tendency to push at the ball rather than waiting for it. There was a half-chance on 48, when his forward push went uppishly back to bowler Rashid Arman. Someone more agile might have taken the catch but Arman was a tad slow to react. Pant needs to address the issue. Pant had a 186-run partnership (185 balls) with Virat Singh (71) for the second wicket to ensure India post the highest total of the tournament so far. And a victory target of 267 was always going to be out of Afghanistan’s reach.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/u-19-tri-series-rishabh-pant-sizzles-with-ton-india-unbeaten/#sthash.CT43Bxkx.dpuf
Pant carried forward the rhythm into the match against Afghanistan Under-19 and set up India’s fourth win on the spin in the tri-series with an excellent 98-ball 118 (14X4, 4X6) on Friday. He had scored 87 and 51 in the last two games.
He played some very accomplished strokes. A couple of cover drives against Muslim Musa and Muhammad Zahir were absolutely gorgeous. Sixes to the straight boundary and over deep mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Tariq Stanikzai were even better. It was a facile contest, given that India had already qualified for the final. But Pant’s batting was a joy to watch.
But maybe he would like to spend more time against the spinners in the nets. His technique is good as he plays spin with the bat in front of the pad. Just that he has had a tendency to push at the ball rather than waiting for it. There was a half-chance on 48, when his forward push went uppishly back to bowler Rashid Arman. Someone more agile might have taken the catch but Arman was a tad slow to react. Pant needs to address the issue. Pant had a 186-run partnership (185 balls) with Virat Singh (71) for the second wicket to ensure India post the highest total of the tournament so far. And a victory target of 267 was always going to be out of Afghanistan’s reach.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/u-19-tri-series-rishabh-pant-sizzles-with-ton-india-unbeaten/#sthash.CT43Bxkx.dpuf
Rishabh Pant: A thoroughbred among Colts
Rishabh Pant: A thoroughbred among Colts
Rishabh Pant: A thoroughbred among Colts
Rishabh Pant: A thoroughbred among Colts
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