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Mulder explains why he declared SA’s innings when he was unbeaten on 367 at lunch on day two

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2025

Wiaan Mulder brought up the second-fastest triple-century in Test cricket•Zimbabwe Cricket

Wiaan Mulder had a shot at overhauling Brian Lara’s world-record 400* when he went to lunch at 367* on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Mulder, the stand-in captain, though, declared the innings at the break, and stopped short of the record because he felt “Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be”.”Well, first things first, I thought we’ve got enough, we need to bowl. And secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder told Shaun Pollock during the post-day interview with SuperSport. “He got 401 [400*] or whatever it was against England. And for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing. I know I was speaking to Shuks [coach Shukri Conrad].”He kind of said to me as well, like ‘listen, let the legends keep the really big scores’. You never know what’s my fate or whatever you want to call it, what’s destined for me. But I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”Related

• Mulder: Lara told me I should have gone for the record

• Gayle on Mulder's 367* declaration: He 'panicked and blundered'

• Dominant South Africa wrap up 2-0 sweep inside three days

• Stats – Wiaan Mulder breaks records and Zimbabwe with 367*

• Mulder's 367* headlines SA's day of domination

Mulder, though, broke a number of other records and Zimbabwe’s attack on the day. He became only the second South Africa player after Hashim Amla to score a triple-hundred went on to surpass Amla’s 311*. And he did it while humming away to himself.”I mean, there was a lot of thoughts,” Mulder said. “In the end, it’s just singing my song between balls and trying to keep myself natural and trying to keep myself present. Kept feeling my shoes, that type of thing, to make sure I’m in the moment and not too far ahead.”And, to be honest, when I went past Hash’s score, I didn’t really notice what actually happened until I looked up. I was on 312. I was like, ‘oh, wow! I was just on 300’. I don’t know how I got there, but yeah, it was truly special.”In Bangladesh, it was an Afrikaans song that I got to my hundred with and I lost it a little bit along the way. And in this song, in this game, it was by The Cranberries. So I just sing .”Mulder had made his international debut for South Africa in an ODI in 2017, when he felt that he wasn’t well-equipped to deal with the pressure and ruthlessness of top-flight cricket. He has since evolved as an allrounder, thanks to playing three seasons of county cricket at Leicestershire.”I think when I started playing with South Africa, I was nowhere near good enough, to be honest with you,” Mulder told Pollock. “It did offer me a lot of opportunities to learn from great players who have retired now, and some guys are still playing. But going to England really gave me a chance to understand what type of batter I want to be as well and figure out some technical things.”I think I came across the ball for a very large portion of my career. And in England, if your front pad’s in the way, you kind of get exposed quickly. So those were lessons. I mean, there’s many more I can name, but those were lessons that I continuously kept learning in England as well as in South Africa.”Batting at the Wanderers is pretty difficult. So, yeah, I think it’s all put me in a good place. The head coach, Justin Sammons of Zimbabwe, played a massive role in my batting. In particular, playing the short ball. So, I mean, there’s a lot of growth that’s happened over the last couple of years.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

All of those lessons helped Mulder dictate terms against Zimbabwe in the second Test and put South Africa on the path to an innings win. In response to South Africa’s 626 for 5 declared, Zimbabwe folded for 170 in their first innings and went to stumps on 51 for 1 in their second after being asked to follow-on.”Yeah, it’s pretty special,” Mulder said. “I’ve never even dreamt of getting a double-hundred, never mind a triple hundred, but super special. The most important thing is to put the team in a good position to hopefully win this Test.”South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad was full of praise for Mulder’s knock.”Wiaan’s innings was nothing short of extraordinary,” Conrad said in a CSA statement. “Being the captain, then batting at No. 3, where he had to absorb early pressure and face the new ball, which he did with immense composure and control – it was unbelievable.”The way he constructed his innings, session by session, was a masterclass in temperament and shot selection. It’s the kind of performance that anchors a team and sets the tone for the entire match. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s achieved today.”

Team Abu Dhabi fell short by four runs in pursuit of 116; de Kock, Charles and Powell made a mockery of Gladiators’ total

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2023A 20-ball 50 from Kusal Perera combined with the efforts of bowlers gave New York Strikers their first win of the season as they beat Bangla Tigers by eight wickets.Having been put in, Tigers lost opener Chris Lynn third ball of the innings to left-arm quick Muhammad Jawadullah. Kusal Mendis then joined Jordan Cox to plunder 59 runs off the next 24 balls before Jawadullah struck again in the fifth over to remove the latter. In the next over, Sunil Narine had Mendis caught at deep midwicket. Tigers’ innings never took off after that, as Chamika Karunaratne and Akeal Hosein struck to restrict them to 101 for 7.In return, Strikers lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, but Muhammad Waseem and Perera struck a strong partnership, making 58 runs together off 28 deliveries. Benny Howell removed Waseem in the seventh over for the breakthrough, but Perera launched him for 4, 6, 4 in the same over to take Strikers closer to win. With 11 runs needed off 18 balls, Perera then hit a four off the first ball of the eighth over and then launched a six fourth ball to hand Strikers a comfortable win.Jason Roy scored 84 off 39 balls•Abu Dhabi T10

Leus du Plooy and Colin Ingram combined to smash 17 off the last over, but Team Abu Dhabi still fell short by four runs in a thrilling finish against Chennai Braves. Abu Dhabi needed five to win off the last ball, but du Plooy was beaten by Obed McCoy, who bowled a dot ball to end the game.Abu Dhabi were set 116 by Braves on the back of Jason Roy’s unbeaten 84 from 39 balls, which featured six fours and seven sixes; the next best score by a Braves batter was Kobe Herft’s 14. Roy led the way by helping clobber 48 in the last three overs to take Braves up to 115, even as Abu Dhabi’s captain Dwaine Pretorius removed Stephen Eskinazi on the fourth ball of the eighth over, before running Charith Asalanka for a duck next ball.But Abu Dhabi couldn’t keep pace with the run chase during the middle overs, leaving themselves with another 61 to get from the final four overs. That is when du Plooy and Ingram joined hands. Although they took 32 off the next two overs, Sam Cook allowed just seven runs in the ninth to leave Abu Dhabi with 22 required in the final over. Eventually, du Plooy cracked 47 not out off just 18 balls, but missed the final delivery as Braves scraped through.Quinton de Kock scored a half-century•Abu Dhabi T10

Delhi Bulls’ top three thrashed their way to the target of 121 in just 8.3 overs, stunning Deccan Gladiators by nine wickets to start their Abu Dhabi T10 season with a victory. Opening batters Quinton de Kock and Johnson Charles bashed 73 in five overs to set the tone for Bulls, for whom captain Rovman Powell then completed the chase in a hurry.Powell finished unbeaten on 31 off only 12 balls, smashing five fours and a six on the way, after Charles fell for 36 from 13 deliveries, with as many fours but one more six. Those rapid cameos all but sidelined de Kock’s innings of 50 not out – his strike rate of 192 felt pretty inferior to that of Charles’ 276 and Powell’s 258 – and put the efforts of Gladiators’ batters in vain.Gladiators had opted to bat, and were led by Tom Kohler-Cadmore for the second successive night, as he followed up an undefeated 68 against New York Strikers with 42 against Bulls at double the pace. Andre Fletcher hit 34 off 20 balls, while Andre Russell’s cameo of 19 from only five deliveries provided the finishing touches. But all that wouldn’t prove to be enough in the end.

Umran Malik, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sarfaraz Khan also make the cut for the three four-day games

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Aug-2022Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna have been named among a contingent of international players in the India A squad to face New Zealand A over the course of three unofficial Tests starting on September 1.A majority of the 16-member squad consists of up-and-comers such as Umran Malik, the Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler, who lit up IPL 2022 with his ability to bowl at 150kph, and Tilak Varma, the Hyderabad batter who earned high praise from Mahela Jayawardene while playing for Mumbai Indians.A couple of India A mainstays – Priyank Panchal, who will captain the side, and Abhimanyu Easwaran – are to shoulder most of the batting burden in the long-form matches. Both players have an enviable record in first-class cricket as well as the experience of being around India’s Test squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Also part of the squad are Rajat Patidar, who scored a century in an IPL knockout match this year; Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been travelling with India’s white-ball teams as back-up opener; KS Bharat, widely regarded as Rishabh Pant’s understudy in Test cricket; and Sarfaraz Khan, the top run-getter in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy with 982 from nine innings.India A and New Zealand A will play each other across three first-class matches to be held in Bengaluru and Hubli between September 1 and 18, and three 50-over matches to be held in Chennai between September 22 and 27. New Zealand A have named a strong squad for the tour.

The opening batter’s 82 helped Netherlands recover from 59 from 5

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2021Discipline from their bowlers after an anchoring knock by opener Max O’Dowd lifted Netherlands to victory in a rain-hit first ODI against Scotland in Rotterdam on Wednesday.The wet weather and outfield meant the game was reduced to 33 overs a side. Netherlands, batting first, were in deep trouble at 59 for 5 in the 16th over, with five of their top six out for 10 or fewer. But O’Dowd held firm at his end, steadying things with 82 off 102 balls. Logan van Beek provided some late thrust with 24 off 21. Pacer Gavin Main, who’d struck twice during Netherlands’ early slide, produced the best of the figures for Scotland: 7-2-16-2.In reply, Scotland seemed on track while Richie Berrington was around. They, too, had an early wobble – they fell to 31 for 3 in the 11th – but then Berrington took charge, scoring 41 off 43 with three sixes as Scotland rattled up 69 in the next 11 overs. George Munsey was accompanying him, but Netherlands struck a big double-blow when they got rid of both set batters within one run of each other. The score went from 100 for 3 to 101 for 5, and Scotland faltered from there, despite the best efforts of their lower order. They finished on 149 for 8, 15 runs short of their target.van Beek and Vivian Kingma, Netherlands opening duo, took four wickets between them, allowing only 46 runs in 14 overs. They also accounted for the key wickets of Munsey and Berrington between them.The two teams will play another ODI at the same venue on Thursday.

Batsman added 118 in 19.5 overs alongside James Bracey as Lions rack up mammoth first-innings total

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2020Dan Lawrence made 190 to put continue his stellar form and put England Lions into a commanding position on the second day of their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart.Resuming on 103 not out overnight, Lawrence put his foot down on the second morning, adding 118 in just 19.5 overs for the sixth wicket alongside James Bracey, taking him to 190 before he was eventually dismissed by Jake Lehmann’s part-time spin. Lawrence has been the standout player across the tour, his innings in this game following scores of 50*, 35 and 41 as well as six wickets in the one-day leg of the tour.Bracey made 58 before becoming Brendan Doggett’s fourth victim, while Lewis Gregory put on 78 in 13.3 overs with Craig Overton before declaring at the fall of his wicket. The total of 613 for 8 declared was the second-highest in the history of England Lions and England A sides, behind only a score of 624 for 8 declared against South Africa A in 2015.Gregory struck almost immediately with the new ball, having Caleb Jewell caught behind with the third delivery of the reply, before Sam Whiteman and Jason Sangha provided some resistance. Richard Gleeson, the Lancashire fast bowler, made the breakthrough by bowling Whiteman, but Sangha continued to frustrate the Lions with an unbroken stand of 79 with Lehmann.”I’m really proud of the boys who’ve helped us rack up this formidable total to put us in a strong position to win this match,” said Gregory. “Dom [Sibley] and Keaton [Jennings] batted beautifully yesterday, with Dan carrying on his day-one form to propel us even further today with great support from James.”I enjoyed my partnership at the end with Craig to push past the 600 mark and we’ve started well in the tough task of taking 20 Australian wickets. The next two days will be a great test for us.”

Jasprit Bumrah had Australia’s batsmen, especially the left handers, in all sorts of trouble

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Dec-2018ESPNcricinfo Ltd

1.6 Bumrah to Harris, no run, that’s a ripper which angles in towards off stump then straightens to beat the outside edge3.1 Bumrah to Harris, no run, beaten by a cracker! This is an incredible delivery. Around the wicket, angled in it hit the seam and took off, miles past the edge and Pant had to climb high to take it3.4 Bumrah to Harris, no run, beats the edge again! 144kph, good length, angled in, nipping away, he presses forward to defend and it blows by the edge at high speed.7.5 Bumrah to Harris, no run, he gets hit flush on the badge of the helmet! He’s knocked over backwards. He’s OK. he’s bounced back up. What a brute of a ball. Short, lifting, it following him, he ducked late and it hit the helmet flush. It ricocheted away to point9.1 Bumrah to Harris, no run, 140kph beats him again, this pitched on middle and nipped across him, he pushed forward and it swerved past the edge11.1 Bumrah to Harris, no run, 137kph, beats him again! Wow. Shorter length, pitching leg stump, it climbed up and across him as he tried to defend, it flew to Pant11.4 Bumrah to Harris, no run, 142kph, gets a bottom edge that rolls to second. It was a good length outside off, he prodded at it and runs off the bottom of the bat to RahulMarcus Harris takes a tumble after being struck on the helmet by Jasprit Bumrah•Getty Images

17.2 Bumrah to Harris, OUT, left alone and he’s bowled! Good length from round the wicket, Harris thought this would shape away (or he just got it badly wrong) lifts the bat out of the line and off stump is clipped17.4 Bumrah to Marsh, no run, don’t think he had a clue there! A full delivery, just outside off, Marsh is shuffling all over the crease, starts to leave, then starts to play, then eventually leaves it alone17.6 Bumrah to Marsh, no run, pads up to this one but it’s too high for lbw, and may have pitched outside leg…a short of a length delivery. Marsh all over the shop23.1 Bumrah to Khawaja, no run, what a ripper, there’s no playing that, good length from round the wicket, leaps as it straightens and beats the outside edge23.5 Bumrah to Khawaja, no run, beats the edge again, Khawaja just pushing away from his body, another one which nips off the seam34.2 Bumrah to Head, no run, 132kph, leaps off a length and beats the edge! Goodness. This is unplayable. Angled in, climbing away. Past the edge34.4 Bumrah to Head, no run, 136kph, another play and miss trying to force square off the back foot, it bounces over the edge and swings after it passes34.6 Bumrah to Head, no run, 139kph another freakish off cutter beats the edge! This hit a crack and shot sharply away from the bat! Wow.36.4 Bumrah to Khawaja, no run, 139kph beats the edge again. Angled in, just nipping away, he’s forced to defend and it nips past the edge once more. Amazing bowling38.6 Bumrah to Head, no run, 140kph, flash and miss away from his body. Back of a length, it nips away, he tries to force off the back foot and it beats the edge and flies through to Pant

Pandurang Salgaoncar was allegedly caught in a sting operation promising to manipulate the Pune pitch, which was hosting the second ODI between India and New Zealand

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Oct-20172:33

Agarkar: Would have been sad for fans if match was cancelled

The BCCI has “dismissed” Pandurang Salgaoncar, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) curator, for “malpractice” that was captured on camera by undercover reporters. The controversy did not affect the start of the second ODI between India and New Zealand, which began as scheduled after a routine pre-match pitch inspection by ICC match officials. Ramesh Mhamunkar, a member of the BCCI’s grounds and pitches committee, was put in charge of the pitch.The nature of what the BCCI called “malpractice” emerged in a sting operation video carried out by reporters from . In the released footage, which has been edited, Salgaoncar is shown interacting with the reporters and talking to them about the pitch for the ODI – the voiceover says the reporters are posing as bookies though the released footage does not show them introducing themselves to Salgaoncar as such.The conversations in the released video are centred on the pitch. Shot over Monday and Tuesday, Salgaoncar said in the video that the pitch – No. 8 of the 15 strips – would have runs. “It is very good. It will garner 337 runs. And 337 will be chaseable.”The ground is a new one and before Wednesday’s game had only hosted two ODIs. First innings scores in those two were 304-8 and 350-7 (an average of 327); the latter score was chased down.In a different clip, at the stadium, Salgaoncar alerts the reporters to the presence of Mhamunkar at the ground. He tells them that as per regulations no outsider is allowed to be at the pitch. Nonetheless one of the reporters is shown tapping a pitch. In another exchange, in a car, the reporter asks whether two fast bowlers could be given some help from the match’s pitch. Salgaoncar replies that the pitch always helps fast bowlers.And in another, the reporter asks that either a player or a team – the identity has been bleeped out – be dealt a “favor” for the game. Salgaoncar says: “I told you, this will be a 340-run wicket, either way.”The reporter replies, “You’ve already said that. We will do betting on that. But the ****** [name of player or team] we want a favour for tomorrow’s match…”Salcaongar interrupts and says: “That will be done good. I told you.”In response, the BCCI immediately “dismissed” Salgaoncar. Though the acting board president CK Khanna had earlier told ESPNcricinfo that Salgaoncar would be “suspended” and “barred” from entering the ground, a BCCI release left no doubt that the curator had been sacked.”After reports stating an alleged malpractice from the MCA (Maharashtra State Cricket Association) pitch curator, Mr Pandurang Salgaoncar, the MCA has dismissed Mr Salgaoncar from the position of Curator with immediate effect,” the board said.”A strict action has been taken against the pitch curator and the employment relationship between Mr Pandurang Salgaonkar and MCA stands terminated,” the CEO Rahul Johri said. An inquiry will now take place into the events.As the incident concerns an international match the ICC will also be involved. “We are investigating the allegations from Pune this morning, as with all international cricket, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit has an ICC ACU Manager on the ground in India and we are in close contact with him,” an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “We are now looking to establish the facts and will make no further comment whilst this is ongoing.”MCA president Abhay Apte said: “The MCA will be making a detailed enquiry on what has happened or what has appeared on the television. But before we have our urgent meeting, in the capacity of the MCA president, I have taken Mr Salgaoncar under immediate suspension with immediate effect and all his work has been withdrawn.”Salgaoncar, a long-time curator and former fast bowler, was involved in another pitch controversy earlier this year, after the surface for the first Test between India and Australia in March was rated poor by the ICC match referee Chris Broad.

Alastair Cook has dismissed allegations of ball tampering against his England side as “a load of rubbish”, adding his voice to Pakistan’s dismissive response

George Dobell10-Aug-20161:48

Dobell: Ball-tampering story regrettable

Alastair Cook has dismissed allegations of ball tampering against his England side as “a load of rubbish.”England’s seamers used reverse swing to cut through the Pakistan batting on the final day of the Edgbaston Test, claiming, at one stage, four wickets for one run. It left England leading the four-match series 2-1 with only the Oval Test left to play.Some news organisations in Pakistan have subsequently broadcast footage of England in the field at Edgbaston and suggested that they tampered with the ball in order to gain reverse swing.Although that footage, particularly footage showing Joe Root vigorously shining the ball, looked innocuous and the Pakistan camp have dismissed the allegations, the story has rumbled on for a couple of days.”It’s a load of rubbish,” Cook replied when asked about the allegations. “Someone showed me the clip on Twitter of Rooty shining the ball. It’s just shining the ball, isn’t it?”Let’s be honest. It’s shining the shiny side of the ball on his trousers. It’s an absolute load of rubbish as far as I’m concerned. It’s so far-fetched that it’s just nonsense. I don’t think it will affect anyone, it certainly hasn’t affected our changing room.”Cook also expressed disappointment that the story might overshadow what has been, until now, a good quality series played in fine spirit between two well-matched sides. While previous encounters between the sides have been tainted by various controversies – not least when some in the British media made similar allegations against Pakistan players – this one has been notably free of such issues.”We’ve been talking about cricket for three Test matches – for the first time in a series I’ve played against Pakistan,” Cook said. “And hopefully we’ll be talking about the cricket – good or bad – at the end of this next game.”It’s a little sideshow and hopefully it stays there. Both sides should be commended for the way they’ve played so far.”Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach, confirmed that there had been no complaints from his team to the match officials at the time or subsequently and Misbah-ul-Haq also played down the allegations. Indeed, the Pakistan captain suggested his bowlers could learn from the way in which England cared for the ball.”We don’t just want to get into those things,” he said. “The game is over and credit should be given to the England team for the way they bowled and got us out.Alastair Cook praised the spirit in which the series has been played•Getty Images

“That was a super spell by all their bowlers, especially after lunch. That happened, it’s gone and we have to focus on the coming game. We should have played better.”Reverse happens and sometimes on the last day it happens because the pitch is so dry. There are right ways to roughen the ball. You bowl cross seam, throw the ball from the boundary on the ground, you shine it from one end and these are legal ways to roughen the ball. You care for the ball and the team which does better it achieves reverse swing. This is an art, a science and whole time you have to care for the ball.”We have to carefully look at it so that our bowlers can also achieve that. We have to take care of the ball and these days one or two bowlers bowl cross seam so that you hit one side of the ball on the pitch, we have to do that.”England bowlers are experienced like Anderson and Broad and know how to utilize that, they know the conditions. Our seam bowlers have played less cricket so they have to learn that and care for the ball. We have to gain that experience and concentrate on that.”We were a little bit concerned, the way it just happened just after the lunch, because it was not doing anything until the fourth day and suddenly it started. But obviously the fifth day is different and it could happen. The umpires are there, the match referees are there and I am not there to check those things.”I think they are very good bowlers and a very good side. Especially Anderson and Broad. These bowlers know what to do especially how to take care of the ball day, how to reverse it specially. There was concern the way it just swung in that hour, but we are not taking anything ahead of that.”The on-field umpires check the condition of the ball at the end of each over and when a wicket falls. The TV umpire can also advice on the basis of what they see on their screens. The ICC have confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that no complaints were made by the umpires and that there is no on-going investigation.

Former South Australia U-19 Steven Crook made an unbeaten 142 against his countrymen as Northamptonshire racked up 396 after put in to bat

Daniel Brettig in Northampton15-Aug-2015
ScorecardSteven Crook thrashed an unbeaten hundred against his increasingly frazzled countrymen•Getty Images

Last week Australia were sent in to bat and were bowled out for 60. This week the tourists sent in a modest Northamptonshire side at Wantage Road and found themselves humbled again, this time by a rollicking effort from Steven Crook, a former South Australia Under-19s player who has latterly found the knack for hundreds in his adopted country.A contemporary of Mark Cosgrove and Shaun Tait among others, this was Crook’s third century in two seasons after waiting more than a decade for his first. Through a combination of intelligent placement and plain old thumping he gave a grateful crowd something to cheer about and Australia’s new captain Steven Smith something to think about. Crook ended a memorable day by snaffling a catch at third slip, as David Warner pushed out stiffly at a Maurice Chambers ball angled across him.Doubtless the Australians would not have been delighted with the day’s proceedings, which saw them play untidily between occasional patches of strong cricket. Adam Voges dropped a slips catch, there were several misfields and, late in the day, Peter Nevill fumbled a stumping that would have ended Crook’s innings at 119.

‘To be part of that generation is pretty cool’

Steven Crook reflected on the generation of Australian cricketers with which he shared Under-19s dressing rooms before striking out as a county cricketer more than a decade ago.
“I left quite a long time ago so it’s obviously looking out from quite a long way away to see how things are going over there,” he said. “They’ve got a good team, a good attack, and against Australia is quality, so I really enjoyed it.
“My Under-19s year had Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, Mark Cosgrove, Cameron White, Xavier Doherty, George Bailey, so we had quite a good crop of players. It’s interesting to see how those guys have developed and gone on to play all over the world. To be part of that generation of players is really cool.”
Crook arrived in 2002 to play league cricket then Lancashire offered him a deal as a local player – both his parents were British born.
“I’m not sure how well it went down in South Australia,” he said of the move, “but if somebody says ‘here’s a professional contract’ it’s pretty hard to turn down. I always wanted to be a cricketer and that was my ticket.”

Duly reprieved, he hammered Nathan Lyon’s next two balls beyond the long-off and long-on ropes to go to his highest first-class score. Northants’ last three wickets tallied 123. Traditionally a wrist spinner would have been called on to mop up the tail, but Smith did not dare to use Fawad Ahmed, who gave up 48 runs in six confidence-sapped overs.Smith would have hoped for better when he sent the hosts in to bat, on a pitch that was tinged with green but quickly showed less sign of life than had been witnessed in the Tests at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. This may have had something to do with the bowlers concerned, for Peter Siddle and Pat Cummins were unable to threaten in the same way James Anderson and Stuart Broad had done.Siddle was economical to begin with, but was unable to break through an opening stand that reached as far as 68 before Ben Duckett’s impish contribution was ended by Mitchell Marsh’s inswinging first ball. It was Marsh who actually looked most threatening of all the pacemen, moving the ball at a brisk pace to bowl Rob Keogh playing down the wrong line and then have Josh Cobb taken at slip next ball.The hat-trick was averted confidently by the 17-year-old Saif Zaib, who showed plenty of poise before his cameo was ended by Lyon’s offbreak. Kyle Coetzer’s dogged stay ended soon after when his patience finally flagged and he was bowled trying to swing Lyon into the Northampton town centre, and at 273 for 7 Warner and Shaun Marsh were starting to think about a few evening overs.Instead they were put on hold by Crook’s brazen hitting, which featured shots all round the ground and a temperament unfazed by the fall of Northamptonshire’s ninth wicket when he still required three for a century. A nifty pull shot through backward square leg took him there, the milestone taking just 77 balls to reach. The entertainment continued against increasingly flustered Australian bowling, with Crook and last man Richard Gleeson adding 52 in a mere 46 balls. Crook hurtled comfortably past a century in the session, ultimately making 123 after tea.When Gleeson was finally out, lbw to be Cummins’ third wicket, the Wantage Road faithful stood to applaud Crook’s boldness. Many of the attendees then promptly left their seats and the ground, leaving Australia’s openers to see out the day’s final five overs in front of a much reduced gathering. They had started the day hoping to be the prime attractions, but ended it as extras in the star turn of a little-known countryman.