Raina fails Johnson's short-ball examination
Plays of the day from the third ODI between India and Australia in Mohali
Abhishek Purohit
19-Oct-2013
Raina hopped, jabbed and missed in the face of some short-pitched stuff from Mitchell Johnson • BCCI
The controversy
Aaron Finch had provided another sturdy beginning when Vinay Kumar banged one short in the 11th over. Finch went for the pull, but could not get hold of it. There were two sounds as the ball seemed to snick his top edge before pinging his shoulder and lobbing towards point. Virat Kohli ran in, dived forward and plucked it inches from the ground. Even as Kohli celebrated, umpire C Shamsuddin remained unmoved. Kohli turned his attention to Finch now, imploring him to walk in characteristically colourful language. Finch was going nowhere.
Aaron Finch had provided another sturdy beginning when Vinay Kumar banged one short in the 11th over. Finch went for the pull, but could not get hold of it. There were two sounds as the ball seemed to snick his top edge before pinging his shoulder and lobbing towards point. Virat Kohli ran in, dived forward and plucked it inches from the ground. Even as Kohli celebrated, umpire C Shamsuddin remained unmoved. Kohli turned his attention to Finch now, imploring him to walk in characteristically colourful language. Finch was going nowhere.
The power
MS Dhoni went berserk at the death, and James Faulkner went for plenty. In the last over, Dhoni stayed back in the crease, targetting the straight boundaries, trying to get under full deliveries. The third ball of the over, the helicopter shot made an appearance, the ball disappeared over long-on and Mohali shouted hoarse. Next delivery, Dhoni flashed his arms again, and the ball went over long-off for six more.
MS Dhoni went berserk at the death, and James Faulkner went for plenty. In the last over, Dhoni stayed back in the crease, targetting the straight boundaries, trying to get under full deliveries. The third ball of the over, the helicopter shot made an appearance, the ball disappeared over long-on and Mohali shouted hoarse. Next delivery, Dhoni flashed his arms again, and the ball went over long-off for six more.
The dismissal
Soon after Suresh Raina came in, Australia brought back Mitchell Johnson. And then began the expected short-ball examination for India's new No 4. Raina hopped, jabbed and missed. He tried hooking half-heartedly but could not put bat to ball at Johnson's extreme pace. When he did, off another weak attempt at a hook, he only edged to slip.
Soon after Suresh Raina came in, Australia brought back Mitchell Johnson. And then began the expected short-ball examination for India's new No 4. Raina hopped, jabbed and missed. He tried hooking half-heartedly but could not put bat to ball at Johnson's extreme pace. When he did, off another weak attempt at a hook, he only edged to slip.
The repeat
Yuvraj Singh walked in on his home ground and walked back first ball, his dismissal a replay of the manner in which Johnson had dismissed him in the first ODI in Pune. Johnson banged it in short of a length. The ball pitched outside off and moved away. Yuvraj followed it instinctively, had a waft far away from the body and got a healthy edge through to the wicketkeeper.
Yuvraj Singh walked in on his home ground and walked back first ball, his dismissal a replay of the manner in which Johnson had dismissed him in the first ODI in Pune. Johnson banged it in short of a length. The ball pitched outside off and moved away. Yuvraj followed it instinctively, had a waft far away from the body and got a healthy edge through to the wicketkeeper.
The timing
Fresh from making the fastest hundred for an Indian in the previous game, Virat Kohli showed off his touch early in his innings. The fifth delivery he faced was a fast yorker outside off from Mitchell Johnson. Kohli calmly bent his knees in the crease and opened the face of the bat. The ball raced past point for four.
Fresh from making the fastest hundred for an Indian in the previous game, Virat Kohli showed off his touch early in his innings. The fifth delivery he faced was a fast yorker outside off from Mitchell Johnson. Kohli calmly bent his knees in the crease and opened the face of the bat. The ball raced past point for four.
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo