Just got back from the match. Awesome day, the SCG is a mad ground, have been there 10 times for cricket now. I was reminded how much more you can tell by watching the match live instead of on TV, let alone text updates.
It was my first time seeing Panesar live, and he certainly looked awesome in the nets, turning it heaps.. He didn`t look very penetrative in the middle however and his fielding was pretty atrocious. I`ve just heard a report of racism, but the crowd certainly loved him today. The biggest cheer of the day was when he came on to bowl his first spell.
Bracken bowled very well with the new-ball, some lucky runs against him and he could`ve had Hoggard three times. Pietersen gave him the charge but played it too late. Bracks certainly seemed to be bowling quick and hitting the deck harder than most other bowlers.
McGrath and Clark looked pretty average to be honest, McGrath more than Clark. Pidge`s bowl to Jones was a bit low, but Geriant wasn`t playing it off either foot.
Geriant should`ve snapped up the stumping off Panesar, but apart from that looked alright.
Bell was practicing playing short-stuff in the nets against a bowling machine, and was leaving most of them. Edged and missed a few, generally looked very uncomfortable.
O`Brien looked very nervous in the nets, and was a walking wicket in the middle.
Lee bowled almost every ball short against the tail. So many men close in as well, no-one at mid-on or mid-off at one stage.
The announcer said Katich retired because he could, and Katich looked to have no injury.
Clarke went the tonk when he hit 44, and he got out making room to a Giles` delivery that hit the top of leg-stump. Giles looked pretty average, but didn`t conceed runs.
Hauritz actually bowled really well today. Seriously.
It must be really worrying for the English fans, because the English bowlers looked very pedestrian, no-one looked like taking wickets.
Harmison was increidbly poor. All over the place, and a really slow pace and labouring run-up.
Hoggard was the pick for mine, great L&L making the batsmen play.
Anderson had his moments and was generally tight. As I said, O`Brien was a walking wicket, and he was lucky to get Henriques, but his delivery to Smith was amazing, if not unplayable. Needs to be picked for the First Test for mine.
Katich was also dropped on 1 to one that should`ve been taken.
Sorry for the random order of events, and hopefully I`ve been as accurate and honest as possible.