the seats are perfect i am sitting in the george headley stand directly above the bowlers arm

PLEASE DO NOT MOVE BEHIND THE BOWLERS ARM

there is a huge inflatable mascot thing on the west side of the ground. I cant work out if its a crab or some kind of bean but of course i realise its an anagram – crabibean

theres an australian tour group just to my left – they all have the same shirt and same hat. late in the day merv hughes visits and he gets a big cheer – earlier in the day extinct pm howard and janette leant over the balcony and waved at the group who applauded politely.

there were no histrionics before play, 10 oclock sharp the players walked onto the ground and commenced play. i dont think they even tossed the coin, the windies wanted to bowl the aussies wanted to bat so they just went with that.

The highlight of the day came early – Katich’s innings (i think he scored 12) was by far the best knock of the day. His bat hung loosely to the off, like a salacious tongue waiting to feed

easy livin no hassle – a kingston taxi driver taught me this phrase, it sounds better when he says it

katich was lookin to live easy, the few blows he struck were savage and exhilirating he was batting like a guy with a taste for it (as you would if youd had katich’s bradman summer)

it was promising but at the same time it was clear to see just how loose that bat was hanging out there… he was always going to be caught in the gully for 12.

good ponting innings have become so clinical lately that i barely notice them, sure he’s been out of form (he still is, he was dismissed trying to pull, ponting never miscues the pull) but that didnt effect todays execution. he was patient but scored quickly, he hit one ball in the air late in the day off the spinner, a six over square leg. other than this the entire day was anti 2020. hussey batted very carefully, he battled with sammy who was bowling a patient line. no one’s patience broke. the west indies need to amalgamate some of their bowlers together, to get a bowler who might be able to threaten. edwards and powell both bowled occassional vampiric deliveries, but mixed em in with too many loose balls. sammy bowled a good line and length but has no killer delivery. jaggernath bowled ok for a first go – he was getting a lot of advice from the crowd. it was friendly. the crowd comment was a revelation – they actually knew their cricket. basically they would sit there shouting advice to the players, kindly. no wonder i struggle on this new planet when my background is moronic.

hodge is a clone of ponting – they batted exactly the same. compared to the casual but immense desire displayed by katichs bat they were completely indinstinguished. some pretty shots sure, but no feeling. a walk in the park.

when ponting scored the century two of the australian moronics group ran on the field and danced around a bit. a third was dressed in a canary yellow and green lycra suit with a lot of hair bursting out everywhere and he got over the fence but then bailed out and a comic scene ensued as he attempted to return to the crowd.