Iain O'Brien's Cricket Blog

Just another day in the park, huh! The body is pretty tired, even my arms started to feel lethargic this afternoon; I could really do with a couple of days with my feet up watching our boys bat. We have a pretty damn good chance of that happening too, we need one more wicket tomorrow morning and then the boots come off, recovery continues, I'll eat plenty, drink lots, wear my compression tights and stretch lots. But that doesn't happen until we get that last wicket.

It's blog time...

I know this is a day late, for that you must forgive me, or not.

To call that a tough day at the office is an understatement.  We battled, we toiled, we slogged, and we did everything we could to take from dislodge the Indian batters; alas there was only three on view today. 

 

If yesterday was a near perfect day, then add that to today and together they combine to make the makings of a very special match.  That is two amazing days in the sun.

 

After some serious internet problems here at the Hotel, Day two blog is here... Day three will be posted in about 12 hours...

Is that the perfect day of Test cricket?  If it’s not, it has to be so damn close.  I have never clapped so much in one day’s play ever before; there was 50’s, 100’s, a 150 and a 200, not to mention partnerships and also the team score milestones.  That’s a special day!

Now, I don’t mind days of Test cricket like those. 

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I hate losing! It doesn’t matter who to, how big, or if the writing was on the wall, I just hate losing.

We set India 39 in their second innings to win the Test. A 10 wicket hiding we were served. Out played in all departments meant that we weren’t even close.

A tough day at the office is probably the best way to sum up today.  We bowled India out just on tea this afternoon, although I was already off the park with ice on my side.  I had walked off when they were eight down with a niggle, that was just starting to increase, in my left side.  I had already bowled a couple of overs with it and it wasn’t going away so I thought it best to get off and start some treatment before I did something really bad that would rule

And that’s why I love Test cricket.  A tough day in the field and I feel fantastic; well not fantastic like on top of the world, but it’s great to be out there competing with some of the best in the world.

 

Sixty one for six before lunch and I’m sitting in the changing room contemplating putting my pads on; that’s not how I envisaged this morning going.