An awkward but effective Hughes
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first day of the Hobart Test
Andrew Fernando in Hobart
14-Dec-2012
Phillip Hughes was caught off a no-ball from Chanaka Welegedera when on 77 • Getty Images
The drop
Sri Lanka's tour might have begun with a roar had Angelo Mathews held a difficult chance off Ed Cowan off the second ball of the Test. Cowan poked at one that was moving across and away from him from Nuwan Kulasekara and the edge flew towards second slip, only it died long before it could reach the fielder. Mathews at third slip was standing closer to the crease, and he dived across to take the catch but could not make it stick.
Sri Lanka's tour might have begun with a roar had Angelo Mathews held a difficult chance off Ed Cowan off the second ball of the Test. Cowan poked at one that was moving across and away from him from Nuwan Kulasekara and the edge flew towards second slip, only it died long before it could reach the fielder. Mathews at third slip was standing closer to the crease, and he dived across to take the catch but could not make it stick.
The mix-up
Australia were only five balls from completing the first session for the loss of only Cowan when Phillip Hughes and David Warner contrived to gift Sri Lanka a breakthrough. Warner pushed Tillakaratne Dilshan wide of short cover, and appeared to have called "Yes, yes," to which Hughes responded instantly, paying no heed to the "no, no," that followed quickly after. With Hughes almost at his end, Warner chose to set off rather than run his partner out. Long before he reached the other end, Mathews had collected and lobbed the ball back to Dilshan, who removed the bails.
Australia were only five balls from completing the first session for the loss of only Cowan when Phillip Hughes and David Warner contrived to gift Sri Lanka a breakthrough. Warner pushed Tillakaratne Dilshan wide of short cover, and appeared to have called "Yes, yes," to which Hughes responded instantly, paying no heed to the "no, no," that followed quickly after. With Hughes almost at his end, Warner chose to set off rather than run his partner out. Long before he reached the other end, Mathews had collected and lobbed the ball back to Dilshan, who removed the bails.
The awkward six
Hughes decided he had seen enough of Rangana Herath to attack him in his sixth over. But he was almost undone by Herath's flight, only to recover spectacularly to send the bowler into the stands. Hughes ran down the pitch, but soon realised he wouldn't get to the pitch of the ball and ended up almost kneeling to reach the ball - his movement carrying the air of a stumble. He went through with the shot however, and timed it so superbly that the ball sailed high over mid-on, and into the second row.
Hughes decided he had seen enough of Rangana Herath to attack him in his sixth over. But he was almost undone by Herath's flight, only to recover spectacularly to send the bowler into the stands. Hughes ran down the pitch, but soon realised he wouldn't get to the pitch of the ball and ended up almost kneeling to reach the ball - his movement carrying the air of a stumble. He went through with the shot however, and timed it so superbly that the ball sailed high over mid-on, and into the second row.
The no-ball
Sri Lanka's bowlers had barely overstepped in their last series, but suffered from a no-ball malaise that seems to have recently plagued international cricketers in Australia, delivering nine no-balls in the day. They were hurt most when Welegedara overstepped on a ball Hughes nicked to the keeper on 77.
Sri Lanka's bowlers had barely overstepped in their last series, but suffered from a no-ball malaise that seems to have recently plagued international cricketers in Australia, delivering nine no-balls in the day. They were hurt most when Welegedara overstepped on a ball Hughes nicked to the keeper on 77.
The catch
Mahela Jayawardene reclaimed some of his finest slip catching form to dismiss Shane Watson for 30 off Welegedara's bowling, just when Sri Lanka seemed destined to play out the second session wicketless. Watson drove at a ball angled across him, and the edge flew high, fast and wide of Jayawardene at second slip. In an instant Jayawardene flung himself in the air to his right, and reeled in a one-handed stunner to make brighten his side's session.
Mahela Jayawardene reclaimed some of his finest slip catching form to dismiss Shane Watson for 30 off Welegedara's bowling, just when Sri Lanka seemed destined to play out the second session wicketless. Watson drove at a ball angled across him, and the edge flew high, fast and wide of Jayawardene at second slip. In an instant Jayawardene flung himself in the air to his right, and reeled in a one-handed stunner to make brighten his side's session.
Andrew Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent