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November 25, 2009Posted by Iain O'Brien on 11/25/2009 in Pakistan in New Zealand 2009-10
Off day at the warm-ups but good on the pitch
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From Cricinfo.com
125.6 Umar Gul to O'Brien, 2 runs, fullish outside off and he pushes it wide of mid-off, more description of that in O'Brien's blog tonight
Too right you’re going to hear about it; apart from making a couple of cups of coffee and a toasted sandwich, I didn’t do too much else today.
The sun was out again when I pulled the curtains open, looked like another good day for cricket down here. The forecast wasn’t too great with rain due in later on. I got the late bus to the ground, straight into the shed and threw my batting gear on quickly and headed out to the nets for a hit before warm-ups started proper. I hit it ok, got a few balls out of the middle, ducked a few short ones, played Saqlain Mushtaq really well and was feeling really good. It was a quick run back to the shed, gear off and out to the middle to start warm-ups with the team.
It was an easy warm-up with a short game, stretches and then into whatever you needed to do to be ready for the day. I headed off to do some fielding, catch some catches, pick up a few ground balls and then into some bowling. I was woeful in the warm-ups with my bowling. I felt fast right from ball one but my radar was off. It’s sometimes harder to find pace than it is to find direction so of the two things to have in warm-ups, I’d rather have the pace. Losing the radar in the nets works me up a little bit; although in the past when I’ve bowled poorly during practice, I’ve gone out and bowled well when it counts. I got through probably two overs and just let it go; I walked away. It wasn’t going to let it get the best of me, I just walked away knowing that I did feel fast and energetic, but the radar was slightly off. For me, that’s experience paying off. Walking away, relying on the mental side to take over when the physical isn’t quite there.
Dan and Baz played well again, it was great watching them take us “oh so close” to lunch. It was then Bondy’s job to get Dan through to his 100. This is a big job, it’s a tough job, to come in when someone is near a milestone, you don’t want to get out on them and make it someone else’s job, you want to be out there with them and enjoy it with them. It wasn’t to be though. Dan, in the gloom, nicked one on 99 and the ended another great knock of his.
It was now my turn to head out there, it was pretty dark, and the chat in the changing room was that we shouldn’t be out there. It’s not our decision though, so we keep playing. I got a full toss, about thigh height and let out a ‘whah’ in surprise when it got to me. It was tough to pick up and I wasn’t expecting it to come at me so high without bouncing. I was pretty sure I was going to get a yorker, so I was set up for a full ball, I managed to hit it ok for a couple and got a cheer from the small, but vocal, crowd that was still at the park. Thanks guys!
Rain interrupted the day quite a bit and because of it we only got through 36 overs. Batting four sessions was our first goal and we’ve got there, reached 400 and are happy with what we’ve achieved so far. There was a fair amount of rain too while we were still out there playing, so if things happen like they should it could be quite tough to bat on first thing up in the morning. So whatever happens, it should be very interesting viewing. Not like that ‘bowler-breaking’ run feast that’s happening in Kanpur at the moment!
Follow me on Twitter too: http://twitter.com/iainobrien
Posted by: Umair at November 25, 2009 12:14 PM
Sure. Fully agree with you on the Kanpur bit. But hey, you guys have to watch out, Pakistan have some very good young talent in batting; Fawad Alam & Umar Akmal. Watch out for Fawad. He did really well in U-19 level and good fielder and bowler too. Also look out for M. Asif in second innings, I think he is regainining his rhythm. i suppose he is one of the best line and length bolwers at present after Glenn McGrath.
Posted by: Deep at November 25, 2009 12:30 PM
Awesome job by Dan. Perhaps even a declaration tomorrow, to let you guys have a go at them and pick up a few quick wickets maybe? Yeah - suffering through Kanpur; was exciting to follow yesterday, but was tuned more into your game today! Good luck...
Posted by: hammad at November 25, 2009 1:25 PM
obrien, why you look so difficult while in playing uniform? when you described the only ball you faced for a brace, i checked the recording of that ball again and smiled again. please dont give thums up to the run-feast in kanpur, no one genuinely interested in game likes that aspect only. in my view, nz and aus wickets are the most suitable for cricket where there is always a chance of some conclusion. these kanpur-type things will bring an early exit for test, nothing else!! hats on to kanpurians though, who come in throngs to see this happen!! marvellous!!
Posted by: Eshwar at November 25, 2009 2:32 PM
It was a gr8 pleasure to see Ian take those runs as if Sachin Tendulkar was scoring his 17000th run....but then I am really very impressed with the toughness and the character shown by the current kiwi squad.
Danny is doing a gr8 job....with more responsibilities....captain, coach, selector....he is just proving his mettle....world's best left arm spinner...and a gr8 no. 8 batsman...this man single handedly runs NZ cricket....
Well done Ian...keep your blogs coming in full force....hope tat u guys have a gr8 series ahead
Posted by: Dilip D'Souza at November 25, 2009 5:57 PM
Yet again, Iain, thanks for the insights into Test cricket from where you stand, playing it. So intriguing to know about your warmup and practice routines, and I particularly liked your surprised "whah" at that ball you had to face. And you're right, such a more interesting contest than the batting feast in Kanpur.
More, more, more!
cheers,
dilip d'souza
Bombay
Posted by: Bala Kritikeshan at November 25, 2009 6:41 PM
Last sentence (about Kanpur) is the best sentence. Brave players like you should attempt a walk-out when pitches are that dead.
Posted by: Auchi, Sri Lanka at November 26, 2009 5:59 AM
Good luck for the series!
- Iain O'Brien must type as fast as he bowls. After stumps most days he adds to his popular personal blog, covering his take on the play, dressing room snippets and personal insights (he really doesn’t like bouncers). A fast-medium bowler, O’Brien has become a regular member of the New Zealand Test side over the past year and is enjoying his time at the top.