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« Calling on Wellington | 'I want to do something special' »
December 3, 2009Posted by Iain O'Brien on 12/03/2009 in Pakistan in New Zealand 2009-10
Wind, wickets and Tower returns
Delayed start, soggy outfield, very quick lunch and we’re into it; day one of the second Test is underway. And a pretty engrossing day it was too!
We knew the outfield was going to be very wet as it was splashing a lot underfoot just walking on it when we went to train the day before. It was a lot better when we arrived this morning but still very wet and a bit splashy in places; hence the delayed start. The problem with the outfield, apart from being a bit slippery, was that it was quite wet through part of the run-up from the Northern end. Running through the soggy bits isn’t the issue; it’s the water that gets transferred from the bottom of your boots to where you are landing on the pitch that causes the problems. Eventually the pitch gets wet and becomes slippery. This can be quite scary - hitting the crease at a decent running speed and trying to keep a stable front foot while delivering the ball can become difficult. This did cause a couple of problems today, but it’s just part of the game and sometimes you have just got to get on with it!
Dan won the toss - I’ve written that a lot if you’ve followed these blogs. Tuffey, playing in his first Test in five years opened the bowling with Tommy. It is great to see Tower (Tuffey) back. He’s been working so hard and finally gets his chance back in the Fern.
The wind was blowing from the south - that’s the cold wind here at the Basin and it’s also not the common wind direction. This meant I would bowl from a slightly unfamiliar RA Vance Stand end and it’s fair to say it took me three overs to settle. The next three were a lot better and cost just three runs. Not having a decent bowl leading up to this match hasn’t helped me in finding my rhythm quickly, as well.
Dan turned me around to bowl with the wind for my second spell. I had been bowling at around 125-129 kmh in my first spell and in this spell I reached 144 kmh a few times and hung around in the 140’s quite a bit. I felt great with the wind behind me and bowling from the end that I have made mine for Wellington and New Zealand. I picked up the first wicket after getting Butt to hit one straight up to Tower at mid on. The openers had done a great job; they left the ball very well on a tough surface and played the right lines but Butt's wicket opened the gates up. I bowled a really good over to Umar next up and made it really uncomfortable for the youngster in just his second Test.
Dan then picked up two wickets in one over, Farhat and Yousuf, and we were well on top. I kept making Umar’s life difficult and was really feeling great at this time: quick and aggressive and I really wanted a couple more wickets. Dan congratulated me on my spell at the end of an over, which meant I wouldn’t bowl the next one when I really wanted to keep bowling. I made an unhappy grunt in protest when he reminded me there were only two minutes until tea. Arh, that'll be why I'm done then - sorry Dan, I got that wrong. Smiles all around.
Those wickets didn’t come for me, but we finished the day with Pakistan on 161 for 6 and we are in a good position to knock them over tomorrow and have a decent bat. We would love to set up a big score and help out poor Wyvern Hunt (91 years old, not 93 as I had written), who presented us with our caps last night, and make this Test a little less close.
Time for a bath, catch you tomorrow night …
Posted by: HAMMAD at December 3, 2009 12:01 PM
hi iain, i like optimistic people as being one myself, but you are getting too much. simply getting 6 wickets today have made you feel you could end the match earlier. i will request you to please be careful in gesturing as we always look for incisive thinking from your blogs, but not over-excitement!!
as far as todays performance was concerned, like previous test match, it was more the mistakes of pakistani batsmen than the newzealand bowling. only the wicket of umar was because of a ripper. all the other were rash shots. even umar got airy in some of his shots earlier expecially the first boundary through the slip cordon was very reckless of him.
please dont consider me rude. but after becoming a fan of yours, i was expecting much better from you in all aspects.
cheers.
Posted by: waseem sarwar at December 3, 2009 12:22 PM
well, the over you bowled to Umar was simply fantastic. you really set him back, he played some very good shots but it was kiwis and you who had the day. best of luck for 2morrow and plz plz bowl wib wind behind u. u bowled really fast on that end.
Posted by: Jawwad Jafar at December 3, 2009 12:23 PM
It was wonderful over from you to Omer Akmal when he came one down first up. But dont you think its a big mistake to send him so early when he has made such a wonderful start to his international career at no. 5. I wont to know we exactly how opposition feel of our blunders.
Posted by: Kamran Younas at December 3, 2009 12:31 PM
Hi Iain - great blog! It's really fascinating to get a behind the scenes look at the series, so thanks for the updates. I am a Pakistani fan, but really appreciate your sportsmanship - and your gesture in grabbing a stump for Umar at Dunedin brought you up in everyone's esteem - well played sir! Considering there are no Pakistani bloggers, we'd appreciate any insights you have into the Pakistani team, players and any anecdotes. And maybe even persuade one of them to start a blog! Cheers, Kamran (London)
Posted by: Bal Dev at December 3, 2009 12:48 PM
Nice, Iain! Keep working hard... You guys are doing good work for Newzeland. I would love see Nz winning more matches. Good luck!
Posted by: Siddharth Gollapudi at December 3, 2009 1:01 PM
Good Job Iain! U nd the rest of the bowlers bowled fantastically well but, beware of the pakistani tail. They are very gritty and can still turn around the game. However, i hope that u guyz skittle them out cheaply and then post a big total.
Looking forward to Fulton's batting. I really like him as a batsman. Hope he comes good with the Bat !
Best of Luck to u guyz
Regards
Sid
Posted by: saurabh at December 3, 2009 1:02 PM
Iain, your writing is a breath of fresh air, this is the perspective that all the cricket writers die to strut out and yet it all comes naturally to you. I do not know if you know, but I have been writing back on your posts since reading your posts in the series against Australia 2007-08 Keep going strong and do well. Good Luck against Pakistan. :)
Posted by: Rajesh Raman at December 3, 2009 2:12 PM
Hey Iain!
Good job!!!
I was following the game late evening from the eastern part of United States and I was sure that you will be taking a wicket that over since, there were couple of close shouts for a lbw the previous over. It looked like you were in a great rhythm before tea break. I wished Dan had started the attack with you and Tuffy after the break. Oh well….. you still have 4 more Pakistani wickets to finish the innings with a 5 wicket haul. Good luck!!!
Posted by: Himanshu at December 3, 2009 2:19 PM
Hey Iain. Great effort today. I am from India so I didn't watch much of your game today (I hope you can understand that:) ), but I did watch the over in which you got Butt's wicket. It was a classical fast bowler's over, and I think you deserved that wicket. All the best for tomorrow.
BTW this one is nicely written post. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: mark at December 3, 2009 2:22 PM
To be honest I thought you were on the way out of test cricket before THAT spell at the end of the last test match.
I've never seen you bowl so aggressively and your pace was really staggering too.
You are a much better bowler when you crank it up those extra 10kms to 138-142 km/hr. It's like that little bit extra makes it do a little more off the deck for you too.
Anyway, I hope you can keep it up. New Zealand needs another super aggressive wicket taker that's for sure. Too much placidness from some of the other seamers (bond excluded).
Good luck for the rest of the test.
Posted by: Jim at December 3, 2009 3:11 PM
My favorite column on cricinfo and FIRST!
Posted by: Anoop at December 3, 2009 3:49 PM
Hai Iain, kindly advice your batting team mates to make some centuries. Centuries are not happening in Kiwi cricket now a days. Where is Nathan (Astle)? Ask your management to bring him back.
Posted by: Johnny Twoshoes at December 3, 2009 4:37 PM
I'm afraid I'm a dreadful traitor. Born in Oz, living in the UK I just love the NZ cricket team. Kiwis are the sort of people Australians think they are - easy going but get the job done types. With only 3M odd Kiwis, they can beat countries in the sub-billion - incredible. You only realise NZ is a small place when the injuries expose a lack of depth, but that's hardly their fault!
I'm retiring to Dunedin, no question.
Posted by: Ram at December 3, 2009 6:03 PM
Ian, the Wolverine look kicks some serious butt! I am sure your looks gave the kid (Umar) some scares which made you potent bowling even more potent!
Posted by: Cam at December 3, 2009 6:51 PM
Great watching you get a bowl from your favoured end with a breeze at your back. You looked in the zone. Good luck today and for the rest of the test. Work hard and enjoy yourself!.
Posted by: Kumar at December 3, 2009 7:02 PM
Iain, I was watching the game yesterday and want to commend you on your spell where you got Salman Butt and had the talented Umar Akmal poking outside off and ducking into good length deliveries. Combined with Dan it was a great advert for test cricket then.
Posted by: Dave C at December 3, 2009 7:16 PM
Great blog, great bowling, was great to see you bowling with the wind and the ball thudding into McCullums gloves with such zing and verve. Bond? Bond who?
Posted by: Ahsan at December 3, 2009 8:17 PM
Great job Iain on the blog, its very interesting to read your perspective after a days play. Good luck for the rest of the match I hope its as good as the last one but this time Pakistan wins! :)
Posted by: Srini at December 3, 2009 8:44 PM
Lain,
How do you find the energy to do this? I am absolutely impressed!!! I am from India and of course I am rooting for NZ in this series.
one of the main attraction in playing against NZ for the fans of any team is your blog. You provide us a view of the game from inside the park that is absolutely unique. I wish more players start to follow your trend.
Please do win the match for all the NZ and die hard Indian fans like me.
Posted by: Suman at December 3, 2009 9:09 PM
Ian... Way 2 Goooo.. More than the tests your blogs are more intresting..
Posted by: Mukesh at December 4, 2009 3:01 AM
It was a poor display once again by NZ top order. Until NZ fixes that problem they will continue to have poor results now that Bond is gone.
Posted by: Samhouse at December 4, 2009 3:15 AM
love your blog iain!
also good job in this series. you've proven your worth!
Posted by: CricFan at December 4, 2009 6:19 AM
Iain,
Excellent updates.
Expecting a five wicket haul in the Second Innings.
ALL THE BEST.
Posted by: Taz at December 4, 2009 8:35 AM
Ian,
What have you guys done!You have completely lost the initiative here.I am a Pakistani supporter but being a cricketer myself I do like a good game of cricket.Its a pity your batsmen have let the good work go to waste that Daniel V and you did with the ball in your hands yet again.I guess its down to the two of you again to put in a herculian effort in with the hope that the Pakistanis find the self destruct button and press it yet again.On a positive note, if Pakistan win this one it will set up the next game nicely.Anyway, you are one of my favourite NZ players and win or lose, I hope you do well.
All the best!
Posted by: rajesh at December 5, 2009 1:48 PM
u will really be missed a lot ian, thanks for all blogs and hope u also do well in future with your goals,
rajesh, mumbai
- 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.