Redbacks
International Captain
Nice stuff from Haigh
It found in Chris Martin a stern interrogator, chock full of fight, and operating at velocities and in areas ideal for the conditions. As at Brisbane, he warmed up with his team, moved on to further solo warm-ups, and remained on the ground through much of the intermissions bowling into a catcher’s mitt, perhaps as a precaution against stiffness, perhaps out of a compulsion; heaven knows he might sleepbowl, such is his fitness. His high-stepping run pushed along by piston-like arms recalls an industrial revolution steam engine; you can almost imagine him oiling and greasing his joints.
After one stumbling heave-ho, the firm-footed Warner nicked off. The slim, studious Khawaja then became so engrossed in holding Martin at bay as to lose all animation, recalling Douglas Jardine’s comment about batting against Bill O’Reilly: ‘I’ve cut out all the shots that could get me out, and now I have none left.’ He finally nicked off too.