da roleta： Brydon Coverdale presents the plays of the day from day two in Durban
Brydon Coverdale in Durban07-Mar-2009
Michael Hussey ducks into a bouncer © AFP
Over rates over-rated
The start of South Africa’s innings was so eventful that in the first22 minutes only 15 balls were bowled. First there was a ridiculouslylong five-minute delay as Steve Bucknor proved that his “slow death”reputation has been transferred to the third umpire’s chair. Hashim Amlawas lbw to Mitchell Johnson and asked for a referral. Although he wasplumb, Bucknor seemed obsessed with detecting if there had been aninside edge and used far too many replays to determine what Hot Spotshowed in one go – there was no bat involved. Then there was anotherlong delay as Graeme Smith was assessed by the physio before he retiredhurt. Ricky Ponting will have a right to complain if there is anyquery over Australia’s slow over rate.Deal or no deal?
Phillip Hughes struck an agreement with his fellow opener Simon Katichbefore the first Test that Hughes would face the first ball of eachinnings if Katich took the short-leg duties. It seems the younger manisn’t keen on getting in harm’s way. But something must have happenedto void the deal. As Mitchell Johnson fired in unplayablebouncers, Hughes was in close under the helmet while Katich kickedback and relaxed at mid-off. Even when Hughes was at leg gully – some15 metres from the bat – he kept his helmet on.Double header
Michael Hussey was a gun squash player as a teenager, as well as beinga star cricketer. If his effort at Kingsmead is anything to go by hemight also have been a handy soccer striker. Hussey ducked into avicious Dale Steyn bouncer and it flew off the top of his helmet andbehind point at such speed that the batsmen were able to run twoleg-byes. It was the kind of header that would have done Ronaldoproud. It also kicked off a fiery Steyn spell that featured some wordsexchanged between him and Hussey.Mamba strikes
The so-called green mamba pitch at Kingsmead has a mysticalreputation. The idea is that because the ground is so close to thesea, at high tide the ball begins to move around so much that itstrikes fear into the batsmen. High tide on the second day was at1.45pm. As that time approached there was such a spate of wickets thatit was hard not to think about the legend. But alas, the exact momentcame and went without a perfectly-timed strike. However, both teamscombined to take 10 for 85 plus two retired-hurts in the first twosessions. The mamba had awoken.