Cow Corner Blog

White innings in vain due to Manchester rain

Sun Aug 30 07:37PM

A belligerent 55 from Australia vice-captain Cameron White was cruelly rendered irrelevant as rain abandoned his side's first Twenty20 international against England in dank conditions at Old Trafford.

A characteristically cavalier 27 from captain Michael Clarke complemented White (pictured) perfectly as the tourists salvaged some pride on an arctic evening in Manchester, with even the uncompromising David Warner resigned to sporting two sweaters and long johns.

A few bashful individuals abandoned the bus in favour of arriving at the ground via lurid orange parachutes, while flares were let off around the boundary to ensure that everyone was fully aware of the fact that it was a Twenty20 match which was being played.

David 'Mr Cricket's brother' Hussey was quick to play down the hosts' abilities after his side's victory over Scotland: "England are probably a bit more talented than Scotland, but our dressing room is ultra-talented," he said with an attitude as blunt as his batting.

Ryan Sidebottom made his shaggy-haired return to the England fold with a white Kookaburra in his hand: why an Australian ball was being employed for the occasion no one was quite sure, but Dutch-Aussie paceman Dirk Nannes and co were licking their lips at the prospect of using it.

Much has been made of the fact that Nannes can reportedly speak fluent Japanese and is adept with a saxophone in his hand, but judging from his assessment of his form, he is not entirely eloquent in English: "When I'm fit and well, I'm bowling well, and when I'm bowling well then I'm confident I can do really well."

Earlier in the summer, while representing the Netherlands in the World Twenty20, Nannes had said of his omission from the Australia squad: "To not get picked flies in the face of picking your best team." Clearly Merv Hughes et al have finished flying in faces, but the rain prevented Nannes from having a bowl in this match.

Warner mullered 33 off 26 balls opening the batting with Shane Watson before he suffered a dubious LBW dismissal when facing the adept medium-paced dolly mixtures offered up by Paul Collingwood.

The England captain wisely brought himself on to bowl the moment the first powerplay had been negotiated, but unwisely bowled short and wide to Warner, dishing out exclusively slow off cutters and even-slower balls.

Hussey then proceeded to dance down the track with his head in the clouds and was promptly stumped by Matt Prior. 'Huss' has frequently been praised for putting a high price on his wicket, but on this occasion he gave it away as if it were a Dermot Reeve autobiography.

One side note was the shocking exclusion of Owais Shah from the bowling attack after the 'go on if I have to' spinner produced a devastating display of death bowling against Ireland on Thursday.

After being dropped on 12 by some sloppy fielding from Joe Denly, White raced to his 50 off 33 balls with sixes coming from three successive overs, and the Kent batsman's misery was later compounded with a golden duck in an inept display. 

Scantily clad spectators who had clearly enjoyed a few jars of cider before embarking on their fancy-dress outfits looked forlorn figures as the temperature plummeted in Manchester, before rain proceeded to delay England's shoddy reply.

Brett Lee, who has been cooped up in the shed all summer like a Jamaican bobsleigh, roared in from the sightscreen and fired a vicious bouncer at Denly's nose to dismiss the opener first ball.

Sounding just like compatriot Andrew Symonds after yet another XXXX-rated misdemeanour, Lee solemnly vowed that Australia would atone for 'The Oval debacle', but victory here would have been scant consolation for the tourists and their underused paceman.

Mitchell Johnson received a shower of abuse after spraying a wild outswinger down the leg side for a wide to begin his spell, but proceeded to strike next ball with Ravi Bopara edging behind so tamely it beggared belief.

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes must have felt like slapping ECB chairman Giles Clarke after Old Trafford was 'awarded' two Twenty20 fixtures instead of an Ashes Test and he would have been less than enamoured with how the match petered out before his eyes.

England were left languishing haplessly on 4-2 as a final and decisive bout of rain abandoned all hopes of their innings reaching the five-over mark to constitute a match.

As it was, the half-match will have left the hosts relieved that their dismal Twenty20 record was not further tarnished, while Lee reminded the Australia selectors that he is still a very potent threat.

SHOT OF THE DAY: White's third six was less a drive over long on, than a wellied slap. Sidebottom looked utterly dismayed to see the full, straight delivery - just like his dad Arnie had taught him to bowl - pummelled away with disdain from the batsman.

STAT OF THE DAY: White has clearly turned to savaging England's bowling attack after feasting on the county circuit for the Somerset Sabres. The all-rounder has the second and fourth biggest scores in the embryonic history of the Twenty20 Cup with an unbeaten 141 against the Worcestershire Royals and 116 not out against the Gloucestershire Gladiators.

USER COMMENT OF THE DAY: When will international umpires realise that their duty is to treat a paying public with the respect they deserve?! Of course it is not their fault that the rain messes up a match like this but it certainly is their responsibility to keep the poor spectators in the ground updated - today they were an absolute joke and it is not the first time! (Jameson49)

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