Let me wind you back a day to Sunday 25th October 2009 ...
Setting: Vadodara
Time: 2nd last over of the first ODI - India vs. Australia
Somebody felt sorry for Watto and gave him the ball, he bowls a terrible one to Harbajan Singh and it gets smacked out of the park. Not good. Strategy? Bowl another 5 balls exactly the same, of course. Well, yes, unless you're a bowler who can ... you know ... bowl.
So now it's the last over. India have been hitting big and it is possible for them to win it from here. It's even a tiny bit likely.
And Ponting calls up Peter Siddle.
Now let's be fair: this is a terrifying moment for Sids. He knows that in a country in the far antipodes every single person has just gotten to their feet and simultaneously shouted "WHY THE #?!%# IS BRETT LEE NOT BOWLING?" at their televisions sets; he knows, too, that children in small towns across the country are beginning to make Ricky Ponting effigies to burn ceremoniously at the stake should he, Siddle, cock up here - or possibly they're just dragging out the effigies they didn't get around to burning after the Oval test in August, I don't know (personally, I always have a half dozen or so in my back room just in case, because you never know the desire to burn an effigy of Punter will pop up, right?).
But Sids gave us the goods in the end. Even he was surpirsed (or maybe that's just his face, he is pretty damn unattractive). Turns out Brett Lee was a little bit sore of elbow and chose not to risk serious injury.
So Punter survives yet again. We can all put our effigies away and bring them out another day - maybe Christmas, when the family is all gathered together. It's wholesome fun for all ages.
8 thoughts on this post:
Nothing shameful about that post :), Sid is actually pretty cool, he has improved heaps since the Ashes, imho, and is nice to listen to (and there are rumours that he is also a gnomenator... ts ts. Siddle The Riddle).
But I am worried about the Hilf, he hasn't played a single big match yet since the Hilfenfail in England :/ I think he needs to play.
They were coasting and shouldn't have even been in this position to save the game. Disappointed in them but it was good for cricket! Hope they maintain a good run!
You guys practically handed us the game......Screw siddle and his last over....(Sorry abt the language)......
Still....will my record ever get better???
LOL. I woud like to visit you for Christmas please.
I like Siddle with his unattractive face. He always tries hard. But I'm glad Watto's fairy tale run is over!
@ Poshin and Psych - it was just awful to see how the Aussies almost gift wrapped it for India, but it would have been a well deserved fight back for the Indian side. More bollocking of the bowling attack would have ensued though and that's never good. They're doing all right generally.
@wescored - I'm not writing it all - I think I might change my online pseudonym to "Siddlethegnome" instead, in honour of his ugliness. He did save our skins after all and I take the michael here, but it must have been a really high pressure over for him. He knew he would be a very unpopular man in Australia if things went bad.
Also, I'm sure Hilfy will get some play during the West Indies tour of Australia. Is he even in India? I don't think he is, is he?
@Purna - so glad to see you still here [[big hug]] - I actually hate Christmas, so burning one of my stockpile of Ponting effigies can only improve things.
I have a theory that Watto's bowling has been a bit iffy for a while and Australia have deliberately steered him toward batting instead. I do think he does well as an opening batsman.
Well according to cricinfo Hilf is in the squad, I've also read speculations (at CA iirc) that he might get the call, if they need a bowler... Hopes and Lee are definitely out for tomorrow's match, Henriques will arrive on Thursday to come in for Hopo. Sounds good to me, we don't have enough NSW-ers *ducks and covers* :p
Johnson is also uncertain because of ankle issues. :/
PS. In Sid's case beauty might actually not be in the eye of the beholder, but it is definitely aided a little by popularity, attractive pockets plus, his partner only has to deal with him for about 10 days/ year. Could be worse I reckon :D.
PPS: Brett Geeves... tosser or funny as hell? Can't decide... http://cricket.com.au/default.aspx?s=news-display&id=17528
PPPS: The Redbacks, my other favourite team, sign Afridi... I'm not putting the house on fire with excitement, but it's still better than their rumoured Flintoff talks *shudders* or NSW's desire for Pollard *uncontrolled twitches of the left eye*
I like Hilfy - I have him on my facebook friend list, actually - and hope he gets a bowl. I also hope they give Dougie Bollinger a go. He was good in the CLT20 for the Blues. We might lose Whinging Mitchy as well, so there's a place for Henriques.
They could do worse than the NSW bowling line up and a Tasmanian, right?
Afridi, huh? A fine replacement for Fergie you think? You had concerns about Flintoff? I am constantly torn over Flintoff, because I support Lancashire over here and when he is in form my god he is amazing ... but then he rips up the Aussie batsmen in the Ashes and I go sour again. I wouldn't say no if he was headed for the Warriors, I tell you right now. Perhaps he'd slap Mitchy into gear a bit.
Brett Geeves is not for me. He's a Tasmanian and so far Hilfy is the only normal Tasmanian I have ever come across (and that includes Punter and little Timmy, btw).
Sorry I can't stand Fred, he is so the total opposite of Him. It is impossible for me to find anything likeable about him. In fact, where I live he shares a rank with Graeme Binn. Look, even if NMH took 25 wickets in one over he wouldn't even think of making a Jesus pose. There's the difference, that's one of the main reasons why I like NMH.
And little Timmy is nice :p
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