That was mindblowing

That was a mind-blowing match to watch, my fingernails are gone.  More later, but for now, wow.

Tait, 160.7km/h ... wow, just wow.

Update:  If Pakistan had fielded like that for the rest of the summer, we would have lost AT LEAST one of the tests, one or two or the ODIs.  That was electrifying fielding, I was amazed.  Kamran Akmal was just legendary.  Keep Shoaib Malik as Captain, he had this side jumping.  Great confidence, great intent.

As good a response as can be expected, I suppose

WACA wants stiffer fines for pitch invasion

Try to get the legislation changed to allow a $10,000 fine to make sure louts can't simply pool together with their mates to beat the fine, admission of fault for the security breach, full (sounding at least) apologies to the Pakistani team and the player in question, and contrition.

If we can see the fines actually increase, an actual security review and that fool get pinned down with the assault charge and to see some time in the jail, I'd say it was a good step to making sure this never happens again.

Best Moment From 3rd ODI

The 48th Over, Umar Gul copping three consecutive no balls, one of them not even his fault and seeing his over go for 23 runs in the worst over of butchery I can personally recall.  Crazy stuff.

And coming back from that to be on a hattrick with his next over.

That match was won in those last five or so overs.  Brutal batting; glad I caught it on the telly.

Ways not to stay competitive in a Test Match with Australia

28.6  Bollinger to Mohammad Yousuf, 2 runs, OUT, run out! full length delivery, driven along the ground through mid-off, Yousuf wants a third, Butt says no but the captain keeps coming, he's halfway down the pitch before he finally concedes the necessity to retreat, the throw comes in from Johnson at deep mid-off all the way to the keeper's end, Haddin removes the bails with Yousuf well short
Mohammad Yousuf run out 7 (24b 0x4 0x6) SR: 29.16

33.3 Hauritz to Umar Akmal, OUT, run out! pushed to mid-off, the batsmen set off for a single, before Butt stops in his tracks, Akmal is already half-way down before he has to retreat, the throw from Siddle comes into Haddin and Akmal is just short, as the television replay confirms Umar Akmal run out 8 (13b 2x4 0x6) SR: 61.53

You're 500 runs down and you want to start playing a game of risky rushed singles?  The captain as well?  Are you all crazy?

A day without rain for Australia, seeing Ponting get our first double-tonne since Gillespie in '06 (funny he just pops that out, randomly, JUST AS THE PRESSURE IS ON, I smell a conspiracy) and Clarke reach a new high score, to be followed by a top-order collapse from Pakistani.  And Peter Siddle, for nabbing two in an over and prompting the collapse, may have just gone a long way to saving his place in the team, especially in light of last match's batting heroics.

Ps. Hi Sid

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

Terribly sorry I have not updated you, I am quite remiss.  I blame my holidays, but alas, they are over now, so I will try and churn out some stuff on this very weird series with Pakistan very soon!

Regards,
The Author

PS.  Sid, I'm not doing my best to ignore you, your site just keeps causing my browser to crash!

Thanks for including me in your worst of '09    ):