The Llong wait, and a fatal leave
Plays of the Day from the first day of the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in Hobart
Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval
09-Dec-2011
Pattinson to Ryder: The final decision took a while to come • Getty Images
The blow
There are few men in world cricket who are more important to their side than Daniel Vettori. It was therefore significant that Vettori was left out of the side due to hamstring tightness, which he aggravated during the warm-up. Not only is he New Zealand's most reliable bowler, he is also arguably their most consistent batsman. In that moment when it was decided Vettori would not play, New Zealand's chances in the match plummeted.
There are few men in world cricket who are more important to their side than Daniel Vettori. It was therefore significant that Vettori was left out of the side due to hamstring tightness, which he aggravated during the warm-up. Not only is he New Zealand's most reliable bowler, he is also arguably their most consistent batsman. In that moment when it was decided Vettori would not play, New Zealand's chances in the match plummeted.
The leave
Before the match, Ross Taylor spoke about the importance of leaving the ball. It was a part of New Zealand's play that they felt they neglected at the Gabba, flashing and driving at deliveries they could have allowed to pass safely by. Unfortunately, Taylor chose to leave the wrong ball on the first day in Hobart. Peter Siddle nipped the ball back in and struck Taylor on the pads as he shouldered arms. Asad Rauf gave him out lbw and although Taylor asked for a review, replays suggested the ball struck him in line and would have clipped the top of the stumps.
Before the match, Ross Taylor spoke about the importance of leaving the ball. It was a part of New Zealand's play that they felt they neglected at the Gabba, flashing and driving at deliveries they could have allowed to pass safely by. Unfortunately, Taylor chose to leave the wrong ball on the first day in Hobart. Peter Siddle nipped the ball back in and struck Taylor on the pads as he shouldered arms. Asad Rauf gave him out lbw and although Taylor asked for a review, replays suggested the ball struck him in line and would have clipped the top of the stumps.
The Llong wait
The Decision Review System is supposed to ensure more correct decisions, and that often means lengthy delays while the third umpire assesses the evidence. That was certainly the case when Nigel Llong adjudged Jesse Ryder not out when James Pattinson appealed for lbw. The third official, Aleem Dar, watched the footage over and over again, trying to ascertain whether there was an inside edge. Hot Spot was viewed from side on and front on, regular footage was played from all angles, and in the end Dar decided there was no bat on ball before pad. Several minutes had gone by when Llong was finally advised by Dar and the decision was overturned.
The Decision Review System is supposed to ensure more correct decisions, and that often means lengthy delays while the third umpire assesses the evidence. That was certainly the case when Nigel Llong adjudged Jesse Ryder not out when James Pattinson appealed for lbw. The third official, Aleem Dar, watched the footage over and over again, trying to ascertain whether there was an inside edge. Hot Spot was viewed from side on and front on, regular footage was played from all angles, and in the end Dar decided there was no bat on ball before pad. Several minutes had gone by when Llong was finally advised by Dar and the decision was overturned.
The inevitable
James Pattinson had four wickets when Chris Martin walked to the crease. It was the perfect opportunity for five. And sure enough, Martin missed his first delivery and was bowled, Pattinson not making the mistake that Mitchell Starc had in Brisbane, when he kept bowling outside off and did not make Martin play. It was Martin's 32nd Test duck - one more and he will equal Muttiah Muralitharan, who has played more than twice as many Tests, in fourth place on the all-time list. And Pattinson became the first Australian since Rodney Hogg in 1978 to take a five-wicket haul on debut and in his second Test.
James Pattinson had four wickets when Chris Martin walked to the crease. It was the perfect opportunity for five. And sure enough, Martin missed his first delivery and was bowled, Pattinson not making the mistake that Mitchell Starc had in Brisbane, when he kept bowling outside off and did not make Martin play. It was Martin's 32nd Test duck - one more and he will equal Muttiah Muralitharan, who has played more than twice as many Tests, in fourth place on the all-time list. And Pattinson became the first Australian since Rodney Hogg in 1978 to take a five-wicket haul on debut and in his second Test.
The (brief) accolade
Dean Brownlie has made such a consistent start to his Test career that immediately before he was dismissed for 56, he held third place on a fascinating list. At that point, of all players to have appeared in more than one Test, only Don Bradman (99.94) and the West Indian Desmond Lewis had higher batting averages than Brownlie, whose figure was 82.33. Unfortunately for Brownlie, he was bowled with no addition to his score, and plummeted to 13th on the list.
Dean Brownlie has made such a consistent start to his Test career that immediately before he was dismissed for 56, he held third place on a fascinating list. At that point, of all players to have appeared in more than one Test, only Don Bradman (99.94) and the West Indian Desmond Lewis had higher batting averages than Brownlie, whose figure was 82.33. Unfortunately for Brownlie, he was bowled with no addition to his score, and plummeted to 13th on the list.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo