The Perth test, 2nd day, fizzled out. After yesterday’s troubles so far away epic days play, today was very disappointing. Kim Hughes was in deep despair on 774. Pain and frustration, I think he felt like he was witnessing the last day of test match cricket ever, as though he feared test cricket would be axed overnight. He was absolutely despondent and claiming to never have seen worse batting ever.

There was a bit of fun late on when Ponting had a bowl for a few overs – Kim Hughes was disgusted, I thought it was the best part of the afternoon. At least until Pakistan got to bowl again. Now I think we can look forward to another day of Shoaib (he will be fit) and Sami challenging the Australian batsmen. We will just have to forget that there’s been this other innings already and pretend the match has started all over again – another day 1. Pakistan are right up there as a bowling side.

There was a fantastic picture of Shoaib on baggygreen earlier today but its gone now. In fact I can’t really find any good pictures to link to. I do like this one of Shoaib giving Hayden the send off. I can’t believe he might be fined for this, though I guess it makes his performance all the more aberrant & dramatic if he is.

& I did find this little haiku poem on the Age website:

He hobbled off
the ground with
three balls left

& there’s this spectacular new book of cricket poetry available now from… somewhere. (Can I make this a pop-up ad – one that you just can’t close down, that just keeps popping back up?)