First Test Post Match Comments

Firstly, congratulations to Shane Watson on his maiden Test century. He has shown all the youngsters out there that, if you are an all-rounder, and the selectors like you enough to give you a hundred chances to impress, then you too can score a century thanks to a dropped catch. Honestly, why is Abdur Rauf fielding at point? Why would you put a fast bowler there? Do we plug the point region with Doug Bollinger? The West Indies had an even more retarded idea; let's put the ungainly Sulieman Benn at point. But back to Watson, and in all seriousness, he has surprised me with the quality of his batting. That is, until he hits the nervous nineties, where he transforms back to the crappy Watson of old. Straight bat, still head, timing, clean hitting, it's quality stuff. However, the man-child still has a long way to go for us here at WHAB to forgive the spoilt brat persona that comes with being gifted ODI and Test call-ups without doing anything to deserve them for years on end...

The other notable from the match was Mohammad Aamer. In Australia's second innings, he gave us a glimpse of what to expect over the next 5 or 6 years until he breaks down. I can't imagine being a Test spearhead at just 17 is going to lead to a long career, so enjoy his Wasim-style bowling and all-round brashness while you can. Aamer aside, I find it hard to believe that this is the Paki's best bowling lineup. Abdur Rauf; innocuous medium pacers, and obviously not in the team as a specialist point fieldsman. Mohammad Asif; kept things tight at around 130k/h and picked up a couple of wickets...if you look up "first-change bowler" in the cricketing dictionary, you'll find that exact description. There seems to be a couple of other speedsters in the wings and they need to be given a go. Aamer can't do it all. Saeed Ajmal; convincingly out-bowled by Nathan Hauritz. For all the doosra talk, he bowls a poor man's Murali' doosra. Hopefully Danish Kaneria will be right to go for Sydney, if so, we might see a cracking Test match.

Obviously Pakistan's batting appeared a little thin also. It will be interesting to see if Younis Khan answers the call to bolster their line-up for Sydney.

Happy New Year to all, strap yourselves in for a big 2010!!!