A Tale of Two Tons

Angelo Mathews celebrates - but
why did it take so long?

It may seem a strange thing to say when the opposition scores 473 and leads by plenty but Australia completely dominated the fourth day at Colombo, as much through the quality of their captaincy, tactics and bowling, as through the inept and lost performance of Sri Lanka.

In charge of the game after three days and behind in the series, they needed quick runs and a lead of 250 to pressure the Australians. Instead, they dithered over Mathews maiden Test century, refusing to call Clarke's bluff until late in the piece. The standard for such situations was set by Steve Waugh when he batted with lesser men. Waugh took the runs on offer and trusted his batting partner. Not only did it have immediate effects for that innings but it made better batsmen of super duds like Glenn McGrath. Its easy to be critical of a young man but if Mathews was uncertain what to do then Dilshan should have made it clear. The fact that 90 minutes were lost over too few runs is an indictment on the captain not the player.

Whilst the tactics employed by Clarke to string Mathews along are difficult to sit through in the stands, they are not new. Jack Fingleton (Cricket Crisis) talks about Bradman using the same tactics against Compton in Adelaide when England toured Australia immediately after the war. The circumstances were remarkable similar - an established batsmen moving toward a hundred with only the tail on a dead pitch. Time was Bradman's friend as a draw would give Australia the series. Unpleasant to watch but in in this instance, justified. Sri Lanka may regret losing time.

The real culprit here is the pitch. Much fuss was made of the state of the pitch in Galle - indeed, it has been the subject of an official report to the ICC from the match referee. Will the same apply to the Sinhalese Sports Ground track here in Colombo? It was tracks like these which drove people away from the game. Phil Hughes hundred was the 79th at the SSG which makes it the most prolific ground for centuries on the sub-continent. Of course, defenders of the ground will point out that Muralitharan had an outstanding record here, with four 10 wicket hauls and a best of 8-87 but its ten years since bowlers had an even chance. Besides, Murali had a great record everywhere ... except Australia. This road is taking the match nowhere which is a boring end to what has been an interesting series.

Phil Hughes

The Australian second innings was always going to be a matter of mind over matter, as the reality is they have been given five sessions of centre wicket batting practice. Hughes and Watson opened with 62 in twelve overs, with the little left hander in a particular hurry smacking some beautiful cover drives. Watson was out in Rangana Herath's first over, lbw to a ball he stretched forward to and was given not out by Tony Hill. In pre DRS days, only Billy Bowden would have given this one as most umpires erred on the side of caution. That's why players got well forward to create that doubt. The DRS means that if you're out, you're out. You might think that's a good thing but just like porn, it's stripped the romance from act.

Shaun Marsh caught off the pad

Marsh stood watching whilst Hughes kept his swash buckled, the latter attacking judiciously but after adding 60, Marsh committed the batting equivalent of hari kari, confused perhaps by the feel of his batting pad against his glove. The actualities of the event were clear, even on first run at full speed: Herath had sent a ball from Marsh's pad into Thiramanne's hands at short leg, the Sri Lankan's appealed, desperate to remove him and Tony Hill obliged. Marsh stood for a moment like an Eastern Grey in a Mack's spotlights and then turned and left without thought of a review. What was only marginally less crazy was that Phil Hughes didn't suggest a review either, to an original decision that looked a howler as it happened.

Ricky Ponting looked impressive

Ponting joined Hughes for yet another sixty odd partnership but left, as he has done repeatedly this series, when in complete control. He looked good, with one fierce cover drive from an over pitched gift from Dilshan, who was by now trying to pretend to be the second spinner. Ponting's real test is coming in a month in South Africa when he'll be asked to hook Steyn and Morkel and defend them at pace and moving away from his vulnerable off stump. Herath got him with a beauty which he did all the right things to combat but it was just too good for him.

Hughes had raised his century before Ponting left. It had been a spectacular innings, despite slowing after he reached the 80's and realised that his tall mountain was almost peaked. There were many of his trademark drives, cuts and slog sweeps. It was aggressive and it was the answer he needed. Unfortunately, it was the worst thing possible for Australian cricket. Just as Marcus North saved himself innumerable times from the axe with last minute centuries, so has Hughes and whilst all should admire his grit and his success, amidst the glorious drives and cuts there were awkward moments where better bowlers would have taken advantage. His style in unconventional which is bright and refreshing but is also vulnerable to quality bowling, a fact proven often enough since his initial onslaught as an unknown to the South Africans.

Hughes reaches his hundred
but why the fisticuffs?

Upon reaching his century, he shook his fist at the press box with Ponting laughing his approval. Up yours was the message. After play, Michael Clarke talked of Hughes' frustration, his concern that he had taken Katich's place in the side and other elements which may have led to his exuberant show of defiance to the press. Apparently, a lack of skill at this level, lack of form and lack of results are not Hughes responsibility but those of the fourth estate who have written and commented about it. Yesterday was put up or shut up time and good for you Phil, you put up, but the press and the rest of Australia's cricket fans put a high price on the Baggy Green - as you clearly do too - and the previous 19 Test innings against five different countries on four different continents with only 1 half century and an average which declined from 87 to 35 gave all of us due cause to suggest Australia would be better placed with someone else doing your job.

Katich already proved he could but given the circumstance,s Marsh looked to have the technique to take on the role.

Australia should have little trouble batting this game to a standstill. Clarke needs a hit out and Hussey is the Oliver of this side ... please sir, I want some more! The only slight doubt  is over Herath, a man who gives chunkies the world over cause to hope for greater things. He will trouble the Aussies but he's bowling without company after the Sri Lankans decided to leave Surav Randiv, the off spinner, out of this game in order to debut  Shaminda Eranga. A good decision in the first innings but spinners win games on the last day more often than quicks and Eranga is in trouble as his follow through takes him into Maverick territory in centre pitch. He's already received one wag of the finger from Eileen Darl. Welegedara bowled a good spell late in the day but has only removed tail enders so far and every over Dilshan sends down must remind him that Randiv was his best bowler in Pallekele.

A draw looks the most reasonable result ... there is no England attack here to reproduce Cardiff.