Bob Utber recently turned 80. Over the past years he has written regularly for www.footyalmanac.com.au from all around the world. He is known as Citrus Bob Utber as he has a penchant for lime, lemon and orange coloured trousers. He has many talents but one of them is meeting people. He loves to be among the crowd and, as an MCC member of many, many years, spends a lot of time with friends in the member’s area.
He will be keeping an eye on the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand. Written in his characteristic stream of consciousness sort of way, this is his Day 1 report:
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson wins the toss and, not surprisingly, sends Australia in to bat. There has been more conjecture about this wicket than there has been about Boris’s attempt to save Britian. Williamson was going to be damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. Having Trent Boult back in the team will certainly be a plus.
How about that! Burns bowls Boult first ball. What a start for the Kiwi mob in the Olympic stand who are up in their their thousands to do the haka and acclaim a beautiful ball from Boult. Burns does fail as an opener when he plays outside the ball and even minimal swing gets him in trouble. His early demise will certainly give some “feed for the chooks”.
Great decision by Williamson to bowl as both Boult and Southee are moving the ball appreciatively. They certainly are a very complementary couple of bowlers. Both batsmen (Warner and Labuschagne) are having their problems but have also struck beautiful fours up the ground as well. This looks a good pitch for bowling and the batsmen will need to be on their mettle.
A few queries about “why no welcome to country?” The truth is there was a welcome from the MC because Aunty Joy came down ill and had to apologise for her absence.
Already the New Zealand fielding is up to the high standards they set in Perth, exemplified by a great save by Williamson to thwart a four from Warner. Every run saved is a run gained.
‘The Great Man” (De Grandhomme) takes over from Boult and it will be an interesting period as he has everything in his favour for his 120kph wobblies. Labuschagne has faced 34 balls for two scoring shots (both fours). The patience of this man! Mind you the bowling has been excellent and not giving him many chances to get into his rhythm.
A magnificent day now with the cloud cover gone and the crowd are still coming in.
On 41, Warner gets a good one from the irrepressible Neil Wagner and Tim Southee juggles the catch at second slip. A well-deserved wicket for the visitors as they have been a tad unlucky, beating the bat but no nicks, this morning.
We now have Tweedledum and Tweedledee at the wicket. Not sure which one is the more eccentric, Smith or Labuschagne. Smith is getting a bit of a work over from Wagner who has three fielders close in on the leg.
At lunch Australia are 2/67. An interesting morning’s play with honours about even with perhaps NZ slightly in front, another wicket would have been handy for them.
Labuschagne should have been run out just after lunch but a poor throw saw him make it back.
A wonderful crowd now of around about 73,500 (1.45pm) and they’re still coming in. So, already more than Perth and Brisbane combined for whole Test. There is no way that Cricket Australia will move the Boxing Day Test from Melbourne in the near future.
Neil Wagner wins some fans when he returns the perennial beach-ball to the crowd instead of handing it to the advancing security man. There is a bit of Australiana about the South African born New Zealander.
Santner is on and the Aussies attack, both hitting sixes from him in the one over. Santner has never really ever been a threat to the Australian batsmen. In this series he has taken one wicket for many, many runs. Australia is getting on top now at 2/117.
Labuschagne reaches another 50 (4 fours and 1 six) but this has not been one of his best as far as shot making goes, but for G & D it was a winner. He has faced 132 balls in what has been a tough fight against a fine fast attack. A great battle all-round. His battling innings comes to an unusual end when on 63 he tries to let a delivery go but virtually gloves one on to his wicket from De Grandhomme. Australia 3/141. New Zealand needed that wicket badly.
As expected, when Wade arrives Wagner is back on the scene but Wade survives to tea with Smith (41) and Australia 3/155. A much better scoring rate for the Australians: 1/88. The teams shared the session.
SPD Smith is starting to look like he has rediscovered his Ashes form and is moving into position very quickly to hit the ball square from outside the off stump. NZ will need to capture his wicket soon or else a big score is looming. Notice today that he has virtually refused to play the hook shot that has caused his downfall this summer. Smith also passes Greg Chappell in the top list of Australian run scorers.
Wagner returns and Wade slashes at him, over the slips for four, then Wade retaliates by punching him beautifully through the covers. The battle continues. Has been one of the highlights of the series the contest between these two. De Grandhomme comes to the fore and gets Wade (38) caught behind attempting an off-drive. Australia 4/216.
At 4/228 New Zealand take the new ball and the taking of wickets becomes even more important to them. Boult’s first over does not indicate much movement in the ball. Southee’s field is all about containment but it does not stop Head playing a beautiful straight drive for four.
The new ball has contained the batsmen in the dying stages of the day but Smith and Head are playing wisely and not attempting to score from any ball wide of the stumps. Survival until tomorrow is paramount in their thinking.
At stumps Australia 4/257 with Smith 77 and Head 25.
The wicket? Not as bad as many expected and did not show any sign of deterioration and should continue to play well for at least the next two days.
