Swinging | All Swinging From Afridi, No Spinning From Smith
July 15, 2010 – 12:08 am
Afridi not afraid-i Shahid Afridi walked to the crease for his first Test innings in nearly four years with Shane Watson sitting on the imposing figures of 2 for 0 from seven deliveries. But instead of going block-block, Boom Boom went bang-bang. Second ball, Afridi nonchalantly flicked a boundary over midwicket and followed with another four and a six. It was much the same in the next over, including a six over long-off, but Watson had the last laugh when Afridi was caught at mid-on trying to clear the infield again. It left Watson with the Twenty20-like figures of 3 for 30 from three overs, including a maiden, while Afridi departed with 31 from 15 balls in a 15-minute cameo. “That’s probably the only way he knows how to play,” Watson said. “That’s the reason people love him but also people can get a little bit frustrated with him at times. I had no answers for a couple of overs. Every time I bowled a ball that I felt came out well he just hit it for four or six.”
Able Tasmanians This is the first time three Tasmanians have played in the Test team together, and they were in the thick of the action early on the second day. Ben Hilfenhaus started from the Pavilion End but was soon swung around to the Nursery End, and with his first delivery from that side he drew an edge behind from Imran Farhat. Tim Paine comfortably pouched the ball to register his first Test catch. Oh, and it was Ricky Ponting who switched Hilfenhaus to the Nursery End, where the slope worked in his favour.
Don’t come in, spinner There was considerable interest in how Steven Smith would bowl at Test level, but we’ll have to wait until the second innings to find out. Such was the swing in the air and the success of Australia’s pace attack that Ponting didn’t require a single over of spin, as Pakistan were bundled out in the
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