Showing posts with label Philip Hughes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philip Hughes. Show all posts

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Official bandwagon jump

Yes, he only got fifty. Yes, the shot that he got out to was hot-headed and a bit reckless considering the team situation. Yes, he's only 19 and has barely started his Test career. But I'm jumping onto the Umar Akmal bandwagon. Perhaps jumping isn't the correct -ing verb - more of a tentative step. However, here I am.

What really impressed me about this kid was the way he played the short ball once he'd been hit. Other nebulaic players lacking in stature like JP Duminy and Phil Hughes have been shown to be vulnerable to short-pitched bowling. Not Umar. Once he'd been clonked on the helmet by a ball that stayed down, he decided that he'd show off a few shots. Out came the pull, out came the hook, out came the hoick, out came the leg-glance and the glide to third man. And before the audience could blink, up came the half-century. Sadly he couldn't go on with it today, but there's always the second innings, and many more innings to follow with such obvious talent as this.

There, Samrain, are you happy now? Have I worshipped your hero enough? Or would you like a few more adjective-laden paragraphs?