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Both Hussey and Katich are playing in their 55th test. They’re both left-handed batsmen. They’re both very quiet too. I’ve seen a few Hussey interviews, volume on, but as Floyd says, “your lips move, but I can’t hear what you’re saying”. Katich, I’m convinced, doesn’t give interviews. I have never heard his lips move. If they do, they move sideways.
It’s wonderful that Cricket Australia has stuck with such strong silent types, they add backbone to the side. Through the many crisis that Ponting has captained them, these two have been an inspiration. Post match, game lost, to either India or England, abuse and socks being hurled, and these two, arms folded, looking blankly into the mid-distance.
And that’s when Ponting stops pulling at his freshly planted hair and says, “Look at Huss…will you take a look at him”. Which is when, pokerfaced Katich, sitting alongside Hussey, slides his head ever so slightly, in Hussey’s direction and looks at him.
And Ponting continues, “and will you take a look at Kat..”. And Hussey nods, without looking at Kat.
And then Clarke jumps up, nodding, smiling, wagging his finger, standing alongside his captain. And Haddin, as always, jumps in front. And Watson barges in with his misplaced bonhomie. And Johnson sings on in the corner, “When i was little bitty baby my Mama would lock me in the closet…
And that’s why Australia need Huss and Kat. Though of course they would prefer to be referred to as Mr. Simon Mathew Katich and Mr. Michael Edward Killeen Hussey. Australian for bear.
(Oh look, Hussey + Katich chat each other up here)
Thanks to Wes of Play for country not for self for the video.
Who needs Hussey and Katich
A night to remember
A thought came to my mind yesterday... that the two best Test series I have seen in my lifetime have been the 2001 India v Australia series and the 2005 Ashes in England.
As it turned out.. I saw one-hour specials on both these series today.
The rerun of the India-Australia series today... brought back some old memories.
I vividly remember that I passed out for the first and last time in my life (due to excessive alcohol) just the night before India won the 2001 series against Australia.. sometime in mid-March. My flatmate had asked me to drink like a fish that night since it was to be his last birthday as a college student.
So some 14 pegs later... I think I made some gyrations (Govinda-style) on the dance floor and was finally thrown out (by the Bouncer at the Pub) into the bushes just outside the pub. This version was given to me by some of my friends as I don't remember much after I had hit the dance floor.
What I do remember, was smelling some leaves while in the bushes, though very vaguely, and also waking up about 10 hours later at home and being the laughing stock for all my friends.
I then sat down to watch India's nervous chase on the final day at Chennai (third Test)... they needed to get 154. I wasn't tense for a change as the alcohol from the previous night was still making me feel pretty light.
As luck would have it... there was a power failure in Amchi Pune (Oxford of the East) when India needed 8 with three wickets remaining. I missed the winning runs struck by the Turbanator.
When the electricity supply resumed after about 15 minutes, me and my flatmates switched on the TV without wasting a second and saw Ganguly jumping up and down like a kid in the dressing room.
Another party followed that night to celebrate the glorious win... but I had to detox and stick to lemonade.
Still can't forget the day India won that match, one for the classic run-chase and also because the experience from the previous night taught me the lesson of my life.... TO CONTROL THE INTAKE OF ALCOHOL AT ALL TIMES
mint you own business...
By straight point
since trescothic 'minted' that he used mint laced saliva to shine off the ball and oz during 2005 series...we are seeing reactions being reverse swinging in every direction...i still dont know whether they are shocked or in awe of this 'nobel' method...
but the thoughts which has been crossing my mind since i heard this is why...
why now?
what was the compulsion?
and more importantly why we are believing him?
are we believing coz it suits us...?
oh never 'mint' what it can do to the sales of his autobiography...a la flethcher's?
PS: only if england had good selectors they would not have selected this mentally fragile intellectual...so don't repeat the same mistake take things in control... 'fix the qualification of selectors' here...or go ahead be selector yourself...here at BCCI...
