Rip, Rig + Panic

PL from Barbados on cricket and memories of that time Crowded House played in a mate's living room.

Crowded House, circa 1986, read on for more …

A note from Cricket Et Al’s Caribbean correspondent.

As far as early finishes go, the end to the Kensington Oval game was a late one. The game was extended by the umpires for an 1 hour and 13 minutes, which had everyone, including the teams, confused.

I ran into Richard Kettleborough on Saturday night. One of the best officials in the business, he is now even with David Shepherd as the most capped English umpire (92 Tests each) and will soon pass Rod Tucker (94).

It is an achievement he should be proud of.

It will come as no surprise to hear that rules and regulations muddle my brain, but my understanding is the game went so long because: an extra half hour was played to achieve the overs not bowled and a result, another half hour (or 8 overs – whichever is the longest takes precedent) was added because a result was at hand. The eight overs have to be bowled completely if this option is taken

It seemed like the match would never end, especially when Sam Konstas put down that catch late.

Nathan Lyon’s final over in the fading light was delayed some minutes by a pigeon which appeared to have forgotten how to fly when encouraged to move, but which eventually and reluctantly took off so the spinner could complete the over.

I swear that pigeon had been smoking pot.

When the ninth wicket fell with three balls left, some Australians headed for the pavilion, thinking that was it, but were called back because the over had to be completed. Thank god for that. Lyon, as we know, did the job with his next delivery, and we all got to spend the fourth day decompressing.

Everyone needed to breathe after that hectic Test.

Konstas among them, but his critics also. The rush to judgment on the teen has been extraordinary and, to some degree, understandable. He looked at sixes and sevens in that second innings, flipping between defence and all-out attack, and unable to find the middle path.

I suspect he, like almost anyone who has succeeded in Test cricket as a batter, will have to fail first. Very, very few have not been found out in their early attempts at the game, and let’s not forget that this was a gruelling examination. The home attack bowled magnificently on a pitch where only a handful of very experienced batters passed 50, not one of them batting higher than No.5.

Khawaja’s 47 in the first innings, given that context, takes on far more significance.