da casino： Plays of the day for the second day of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG
Osman Samiuddin and Brydon Coverdale27-Dec-2009
If Kevin Rudd can’t convince him, who else can?•Getty Images
Umpires receive mixed reviews
The umpire decision review system contributed to Australia’s continuedfailure to find a Test centurion this summer. Michael Hussey was given lbwfor 82 when he tried to sweep Saeed Ajmal and although it was a closecall, Billy Doctrove’s decision was upheld when Hussey asked for a review.The ball struck him marginally in line with off stump and Hawkeyesuggested it was just clipping the stump, so the out verdict stood. Later,a less-than-enthusiastic Mohammad Yousuf requested a review of a not-outlbw decision against Nathan Hauritz, who was on 75. Abdur Rauf picked uphis first wicket of the innings when Asoka de Silva viewed the footage andsaw an appeal that couldn’t have been much more plumb, and duly overturnedRudi Koertzen’s call.Fail of the century continues
Australia remain the carry-over champions in this show and themillion-dollar question is how many half-centuries they will post beforesomeone finally registers a hundred. The efforts of Hussey and Hauritztook Australia’s remarkable record to 20half-centuries this home summer without a single person reachingtriple-figures. The last time an Australian made a Test hundred was whenHussey struck a career-saving 121 in the final Ashes Test at The Oval.Six and out…or not
Pakistan’s catching has been as poor as their luck so far at the MCG andthus it was entirely appropriate that the best catch they took wouldn’tactually get them a wicket. Hauritz was just beginning to cut looseafter lunch when he smacked Saeed Ajmal high back over his head towardsthe sightscreen. Mohammad Aamer came running round from long-on and tookan extremely well-judged catch, only for the momentum to carry himcomfortably across the boundary.PM puts the heat on Warne
Australia’s prime minister Kevin Rudd enjoyed a stint in the Channel Ninecommentary box and told Shane Warne it was his national responsibility tomake a comeback. The prime minister cited the example of Colin Cowdrey,inflating his yarn a little by having Cowdrey make his comeback at 43rather than 41. That gave Warne his out clause: I’ve got three years tothink about it then?Dry spell
The MCG is a big ground and boundaries aren’t always easily to come by,but 36.2 overs without one was stretching it. Pakistan’s batsmen were solidafter Australia’s early declaration, but never spectacular. There werethree threes and 12 doubles in their 50 – brought up in the 28th over -but no boundaries, though there was a rare all-run four. Finally, in theinnings’ 32nd over, it took a typically elegant dance down the pitch fromMohammad Yousuf to break the rot with a maximum. And to think we live inthe age of Twenty20.