Comments on DROP ZONETypePad2015-07-09T01:59:40ZTony Teahttps://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/2015/07/drop-zone/comments/atom.xml/The Mongrel commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb0860ad31970d2015-08-10T14:38:18Z2015-08-10T14:38:24ZThe Mongrelhttp://profile.typepad.com/6p01053622265e970bHaddin dropped the Ashes in the First Test. Assuming that Australia won in Cardiff (still a stretch)- We would be...<p><i>Haddin dropped the Ashes in the First Test.</i></p>
<p>Assuming that Australia won in Cardiff (still a stretch)-</p>
<p>We would be 2-2 now.</p>
<p>Hard to see us winning or even drawing the fifth test on current form.</p>
<p>Even if we <i>do</i> win at The Oval, it's a dead rubber now. A different ball game had it been 2-2.</p>philsgone commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7bc5359970b2015-08-09T22:40:43Z2015-08-09T22:40:43ZphilsgoneNo truer words typed TT<p>No truer words typed TT</p>Tony Tea commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7bc17e4970b2015-08-09T07:43:13Z2015-08-09T07:43:13ZTony TeaHaddin dropped the Ashes in the First Test.<p>Haddin dropped the Ashes in the First Test.</p>The Mongrel commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7bc17bf970b2015-08-09T07:39:46Z2015-08-09T07:39:49ZThe Mongrelhttp://profile.typepad.com/6p01053622265e970bWell I'll say this for the Aussies- They've managed to make the drops irrelevant. Their batting in the first innings...<p>Well I'll say this for the Aussies-</p>
<p>They've managed to make the drops irrelevant.</p>
<p>Their batting in the first innings of the 3rd and 4th Tests has been so diabolical that they've been stuffed whether or not they hold their catches.</p>2BarRiff commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb0854f422970d2015-07-19T14:10:30Z2015-07-19T14:10:30Z2BarRiff*Voges. Though the commentators are blaming Nevill.<p>*Voges. Though the commentators are blaming Nevill.</p>2BarRiff commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7b0de21970b2015-07-19T14:07:33Z2015-07-19T14:07:33Z2BarRiffVotes. Sigh.<p>Votes. Sigh.</p>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb0853f137970d2015-07-17T03:58:44Z2015-07-17T03:58:44ZBig RamificationsOn a positive note, this game was probably my favourite Watto moment. An ODI in 2011.... it had it all....<p>On a positive note, this game was probably my <i>favourite</i> Watto moment. An ODI in 2011.... it had it all. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKY91kK6l3k" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKY91kK6l3k</a></p>
<p>** a day/night game at biggest cricket stadium in the world against the old enemy <br />
** Watto opens and gets a BIG ton – carrying his bat for 161 not out<br />
** anchoring Australia's biggest ever run chase at the MCG<br />
** it goes down to the wire<br />
** Watto finishes it in style with a six</p>
<p>Ahh, what could have been. <a href="http://www.battlersandbottlers.com/george-best-where-did-it-all-go-wrong" rel="nofollow">Where did it all go wrong, Shane?</a><br />
</p>Tony Tea commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb0853d943970d2015-07-16T22:58:46Z2015-07-16T22:58:46ZTony Teahttp://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/I'm not a bio-machinist, but I am a genie's arse: Far be it for me to "do a Brew" and...<p>I'm not a bio-machinist, but I am a genie's arse:</p>
<blockquote>Far be it for me to "do a Brew" and tell the Australian skipper what to do, but were I to crash a Ponting press conference I would instruct him to ditch the crouch. My immaculately crunched numbers (based on seconds of slap-dash research) reveal that since Ponting started crouching for catches he has dropped a shed load of chances and broken a finger. Trying to get under slips catches so that your fingers point upwards introduces an extra layer of complexity to the catching architecture (to apply traditional sporting nomenclature, which I just invented). <a href="http://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/2011/01/keep-it-simmo-stupid.html" rel="nofollow">Just stand there and catch it, Skip.</a></blockquote>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7af758a970b2015-07-16T13:17:12Z2015-07-16T13:17:12ZBig RamificationsThe simple, unalloyed, raw fact is that Haddin should have swallowed that chance without even having to dive. My long-winded...<blockquote><i>The simple, unalloyed, raw fact is that Haddin should have swallowed that chance without even having to dive.</i></blockquote></i>
My long-winded analysis fills me with much shame. I was overthinking a plate of beans because I hadn't been watching the game live [not one ball in 5 days]. All those missed balls of cricket viewing got focused onto one dropped catch from a video highlights package.
<p>Along a similar vein of overthinking, <a href="http://www.cricket.com.au/video#videoId=4349059486001" rel="nofollow">Alastair Cook's "super juggling tumbling" catch to dismiss Haddin in the first Test</a> was anything but....</p>
<p>After the initial missed attempt, Cook was diving backwards, falling downwards [gravity], his right hand was shooting upwards grabbing at the loose ball, his body began rotating so his left hand could help clutch the ball.... culminating in a <i>most</i> ungraceful elbow-first landing, the jolt clearly travelling thru his shoulder and neck.</p>
<p>Cook possessed enough catching skill for his plan B to work, enough strength for his lummox landing not to jar the ball loose. But jeez, I cringed. A Mark Waugh type taking a similar catch would have been half as busy, with a landing twice as smooth. </p>
<p>[To use primary school parlance, first impressions.... did that entire catch look rather unco to you guys? My mind flashed back to biomechanics lectures and one of its core tenets: any sporting skill or action should be performed as simply as possible, and its component actions should complement each other.]</p>
<p><img src="http://i57.tinypic.com/2epsg20.jpg"></p>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d138e547970c2015-07-16T13:02:32Z2015-07-16T13:02:32ZBig Ramificationslou, it was replayed one year at the Alan Border Medal count, that's where I first saw it. Haddin seemed...<p>lou, it was replayed one year at the Alan Border Medal count, that's where I first saw it. Haddin seemed to enjoy watching the replay and all the trouble he caused to poor Watto. I made this triptych at the time which I just found deep in the bowels of my Pictures folders.</p>
<p><img src="http://i62.tinypic.com/2vvw0h4.jpg"></p>lou commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d137fcdc970c2015-07-14T20:16:58Z2015-07-14T20:16:58ZlouBig Rammers, that youtube vid is very funny. Clarke looks so utterly unapologetic about smacking Watson in the knee. As...<p>Big Rammers, that youtube vid is very funny. Clarke looks so utterly unapologetic about smacking Watson in the knee. As indeed he should be.</p>Carrot commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d137e08e970c2015-07-14T17:27:08Z2015-07-14T17:27:08ZCarrothttp://www.scottwellstead.comWell, it looks like Haddin won't play the next Test anyway. I would have much preferred him to have been...<p>Well, it looks like Haddin won't play the next Test anyway. I would have much preferred him to have been dropped rather than given compassionate leave (or whatever it ends up being), but I think that's at least 50% of our biggest problem out of the way, for one Test at least. Hopefully when they make the inevitable decision about Watson, we'll have actually have our best side on the park at Lord's. </p>The Mongrel commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7adaa62970b2015-07-13T12:44:06Z2015-07-13T12:44:13ZThe Mongrelhttp://profile.typepad.com/6p01053622265e970bPlease at least let this loss be the end of Watto. How many times have I had the sinking feeling...<p>Please at least let this loss be the end of Watto.</p>
<p>How many times have I had the sinking feeling as he walks to the wicket. Please, this time have him concentrate. Let him go on and make a century. Let him not plonk his front leg down the wicket and be out LBW. Let him not rub salt in by wasting a referral.</p>
<p>How many times have I been disappointed.</p>
<p>Watching Watto crash and burn reminds me of the Royal Commission into the Westgate Bridge collapse:<br />
<blockquote> ‘Error begat error … and the events which led to the disaster moved with the inevitability of a Greek Tragedy.’</blockquote> </p>nottrampis commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb08517b50970d2015-07-12T22:56:26Z2015-07-12T22:56:26Znottrampishttp://nottrampis.blogspot.com.au/I thought the BCC comentary was fantastic except for McGrath who is a boring as bat's p..s. Who would have...<p>I thought the BCC comentary was fantastic except for McGrath who is a boring as bat's p..s.</p>
<p>Who would have thought Boys is up there with the best of them. Always interesting and fantastic on batting technique!</p>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7ad36d2970b2015-07-12T14:45:19Z2015-07-12T14:45:19ZBig RamificationsFor your viewing pleasure, here is one of my favourite Sooky Watson moments. Check his body language in the replay...<p>For your viewing pleasure, here is one of my favourite Sooky Watson moments. Check his body language in the replay at 0:38. He's too busy giving Haddin the hairy eyeball to keep an eye on the play. He's given up, basically.</p>
<p>Then when he wakes up, the dopey prick finds himself loitering in between Clarke and the wickets. And check his stupid-assed expression after he deservedly cops a nice whack on the knee. Pure Watto.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVy924aahYo" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVy924aahYo</a><br />
</p>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d136a296970c2015-07-12T13:19:35Z2015-07-12T13:19:35ZBig RamificationsSpeaking of lists, I'm sure there must be a list floating about ranking batsmen and the %percentage of times they...<p>Speaking of lists, I'm sure there must be a list floating about ranking batsmen and the %percentage of times they refer their own LBW decisions.</p>
<p>I think the coach or his team mates might have been forced to tell him to pull his head in, but when the new law was introduced it seemed like Shane Watson was in automatic referral mode, as if he thought he was <i>entitled</i> to use up a valuable referral every time. If there was a chance of saving his own ass then why not? It absolutely smacked of selfishness and ego.</p>
<p>Was I imagining that? There's no real way I can double check.</p>Tony Tea commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7acfa97970b2015-07-12T00:02:20Z2015-07-12T00:02:20ZTony Teahttp://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/The simple, unalloyed, raw fact is that Haddin should have swallowed that chance without even having to dive. (And yes,...<p>The simple, unalloyed, raw fact is that Haddin should have swallowed that chance without even having to dive. (And yes, List Time.)</p>lou commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7acf3d8970b2015-07-11T21:36:13Z2015-07-11T21:36:13ZlouTT, this latest test match second innings is one for the List I believe. Not looking forward to more.<p>TT, this latest test match second innings is one for the List I believe. Not looking forward to more.</p>Big Ramifications commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb085107bc970d2015-07-11T20:46:41Z2015-07-11T20:46:41ZBig RamificationsJosh Hazlewood from the link in the main post: Those ones are always tough. More than often it actually is...<p>Josh Hazlewood from the link in the main post:<br />
<blockquote><i>Those ones are always tough. More than often it actually is a catch, I think you can see by the way it flies off the bat. They're really tough those full ones.</i></blockquote><br />
Bunkum. If you're wearing the gloves then those catches from edged "full" deliveries are bread and butter. Sure, you wouldn't want to be day dreaming, the ball can indeed appear to "fly off the bat". But standing back to a quick bowler gave Haddin puh-lenty of time to track it into his glove[s].</p>
<p>Furthermore, edges like that are easier in a lot of respects. The ball flies fast and true, so the 'keeper doesn't have to consider whether it's going to carry or if he needs to move forward. And those edges don't ever get late swing thru the air or dip or any other confounding factors. Just going by my experience, happy to be corrected [I did play <i>one</i> season of cricket as full time 'keeper].</p>
<p>That sort of nick should be anything but "always tough" for a professional wicket-keeper to catch. An unusual edge? Yes. Tough for the crowd to work out if it was a catch or bump ball? Yes. Umpire requires slightly more think music? Yes. But it wasn't a tough catch. I'm with you, lou. The ball hit near the heel of Haddin's hand. A total clanger.</p>
<p>The Josh-speak was yet <i>another</i> example of Aussie Test squad mutual ass covering when a player is seriously out of form or makes a big stuff up. Christ it ANNOYS me. They sound about as believable as politicians. I'm not saying they should bag their team mates, but please stop it with the puff and the make believe [ps: team balance <img src="http://i60.tinypic.com/2vx0tp4.jpg">].<br />
</p>Tony Tea commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b7c7acac9f970b2015-07-11T03:10:47Z2015-07-11T03:10:47ZTony Teahttp://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/Not forgetting, of course, Australia's fiasco in the Middle East: In the two Tests on the dun-coloured surfaces of the...<p>Not forgetting, of course, Australia's fiasco in the Middle East:</p>
<blockquote>In the two Tests on the dun-coloured surfaces of the Gulf ten months ago, for example, Pakistan made eight centuries and one double century; Australia managed one hundred, took twenty-one wickets in four innings, <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2015-sense-of-dj-vu-around-australias-struggles/story-fnvac96j-1227437763066" rel="nofollow">and dropped eleven catches</a></b>.
Tony Tea commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb0850be7c970d2015-07-11T00:48:58Z2015-07-11T00:48:58ZTony Teahttp://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/cricket/Do you mean the one which scuffed the ground?<p>Do you mean the one which scuffed the ground?</p>lou commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d13617f5970c2015-07-11T00:10:40Z2015-07-11T00:10:40ZlouHave you added Voges to the list? Was difficult but most definitely a drop. Johnson has had little to no...<p>Have you added Voges to the list? Was difficult but most definitely a drop. Johnson has had little to no luck in this match.</p>lou commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb084fb7fd970d2015-07-09T06:28:48Z2015-07-09T06:28:48ZlouThey dropped a few in the West Indies. It was one of my worries. Haddin made a meal of that....<p>They dropped a few in the West Indies. It was one of my worries. Haddin made a meal of that. He misjudged it pretty much.</p>Cam is Nosferatu commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01bb084fb77f970d2015-07-09T06:21:38Z2015-07-09T06:21:38ZCam is NosferatuSaw his comment at the SMH: I dont know what's worse. NSW's defence or Brad Haddin's wicket keeping. CommenterStephenR Location...<p>Saw his comment at the SMH:</p>
<p>I dont know what's worse. NSW's defence or Brad Haddin's wicket keeping.</p>
<p>CommenterStephenR Location Date and time July 09, 2015, 9:27AM</p>The Mongrel commented on 'DROP ZONE'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341cb34453ef01b8d1350a8c970c2015-07-09T04:29:15Z2015-07-09T04:29:17ZThe Mongrelhttp://profile.typepad.com/6p01053622265e970bIt has to be said: These Aussies, they never miss!<p>It has to be said:</p>
<blockquote>These Aussies, they <i>never</i> miss!</blockquote>