| |
It's a shame. A real shame. Even the most ardent England supporter
said before the fifth and deciding Ashes Test at The Oval that
they did not want weather to play a role in who won this series.
But the gloomy conditions and the light meters in the back pockets
of the umpires have, unfortunately. It's how both sides - among
others - have responded to it that has been the truly intriguing
aside to this most absorbing game of cricket.
The bad light has been a bugger. It has probably cost Australia
the chance to retain the urn as much as they have cost themselves
an opportunity to seize it. For two days in a row, Australia's
batsmen opted to leave the field, afraid that the poor light might
cost them wickets when Australia's best chance of victory was
occupying the crease as long as possible. As it has turned out,
Andrew Flintoff and his five-wicket haul last night is what has
cruelled us. When Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer left the field
in that final session on day two, you could hear the universal
roar of disapproval around the country. With it all on the line,
you thought they would chance their arm - or at least their eyes.
Instead, they ran off like two schoolgirls lying in bed in the
dark, looking at the half-opened wardrobe, wondering if the boogie
man was inside.
At the end of the day four, the dark played right into the hands
of the Poms. Merely needing a draw to win the series, captain
Michael Vaughan pranced off like his mother had called him home
for supper. Commentators and experts howled at his decision. For
chrissakes, even former England opener Geoff Boycott was outraged,
questioning if it was in the spirit of the game. There's a few
things to come out of this predicament, this situation that has
Australia relying solely on Shane Warne to bowl as he never has
before on the final day of the series. First, when is it dangerous
to stay in the middle? When you have two spinners in operation,
bowling as fast as one's grandmother? Surely not. South African
umpire Rudi Koertzen appeared to have no idea what the law actually
was when asked on Channel 4 to explain how, when and why they
weren't on the field, and when they would return. Surely the ICC
must put in place a definitive law, stating exactly what constitutes
"bad light". This grey area in a rule about grey conditions
will - probably has - decided an Ashes series.
Point is, Vaughan should not cop it in the neck for leaving the
field. Australia's batsmen left the field because they did not
want to lose wickets; England left the field because it does not
want to lose the match. It's hard to tell the difference, except
the obvious: that Australia will probably lose.
And will that make be so wrong? Let's face it. England has outplayed
Australia in three Tests, and dominated completely yesterday.
Flintoff has been the man of the series, probably elevating himself
to the status of world's best player. That Australia has performed
so poorly yet remain in this game up to their eyeballs is testament
to their doggedness. You sense we're in for a grandstand finish
tonight. Let's hope so, with no batsmen retreating to the grandstand
because of bad light.
What do you think? Click your way to
our Comebacks
page and tell us.
|
|
