Trash, treasure and trauma: inside the Manhari juggernaut
Cricket superstars Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins were supposed to be the biggest names at last year's Boxing Day Test, but when a record crowd packed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground, they found there was another name up in lights.
For long periods of the blockbuster match between Australia and India, every centimetre of advertising space on every tier of every grandstand was emblazoned with the name Manhari.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Five quick hits: Josh Hazlewood snares five and Shamar Joseph goes long with the bat
Australia completed a massive 159-run first Test victory over the West Indies on an action-packed third day. A wearing pitch, another terrible West Indies drop in the slips and Josh Hazlewood's rapid-fire "five-fa" all combined for a memorable day's cricket. Here are five quick hits from day three in Barbados. Although the West Indies had dropped seven catches over the first two days in Barbados, none of them had proved to be too consequential. Sooner or later, however, one was bound to come back to bite them. And when, during just the fourth over of the day, Justin Greaves shelled yet another chance in the cordon, that moment had finally come. Travis Head hung his bat out to a wide Alzarri Joseph delivery, looping one in the direction of a diving Greaves at a comfortable speed and height. The ball went in, and then out, and Head was given a life on 21. From there he went on to score 61 as part of a 102-run partnership with Beau Webster, Australia's lead 157 and well on the way to being enough to secure victory on a pitch showing increasingly variable bounce. Joseph has had rotten luck this Test. A questionable third umpire call robbing him of a five-fa in the first innings, and five dropped catches off his bowling costing both him and the West Indies plenty more. He's had to do it all himself at times, as was the case when Head eventually fell for 61. Joseph's delivery was a peach but, crucially, virtually unplayable, barely bouncing and cleaning up Australia's best batter. It was far from the only time the pitch played a role in taking a wicket. Mitch Starc was cleaned up by a ball that jagged in a huge distance from outside off, again Joseph the bowler. Yes, it was a crucial breakthrough that the West Indies desperately needed. But it made Australia's bowlers sit up a little straighter as they contemplated bowling on a wearing and cracking pitch. Batting at number seven, you often have to be everything to everyone. Joining an established upper-order player in the middle, your role is to sit quietly and make sure your partner is confident they won't have to worry about farming the strike, and just continue to bat as they were. Batting with the tail, you have to show composure with one hand to farm the strike and extend the innings as long as possible, while also flashing any loose deliveries away to keep the scoreboard ticking over. It's Jekyll and Hyde. Alex Carey showed he was perfectly adapted to it. Starting with Webster, Carey made 10 runs in 25 balls. After his dismissal he scored 40 in 15, blasting the ball to all corners of the ground to record his fastest ever Test half century. As Pat Cummins and Starc fell, Carey went back into his shell, masterfully steering the ball around the field, selecting his running options and shielding Nathan Lyon as much as possible — while also ramping Joseph for a one-bounce four. The game was very much gone. But Joseph sure wasn't going to go quietly. At one stage he was on track to score the fastest ever Test half century as he smashed Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon to all corners of the famous Kensington Oval. Having already taken 9-133 in the match with the ball, Shamar's fireworks were astonishing — especially given the West Indies were 8-86 and facing a monster defeat. He hit four 4s and four 6s in his 22-ball innings but ultimately fell just short of a maiden Test half century. But it was fun while it lasted. All it took was two Hazlewood deliveries. The West Indies, a first over Starc strike aside, had made a promising start to their run chase. John Campbell had played expressively for his 23, but he took things a step too far when he got down to scoop Hazlewood over the slips on one knee in the 11th over. The ball glanced off the glove, looping high into the air but, crucially, not far. Carey cantered back a couple paces and took an easy catch. Then, the very next ball, Brandon King edged onto his pads only to see the ball balloon to Cameron Green at gully.
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Josh Hazlewood destroys West Indies as Australia win first Test in Bridgetown
Australian quick Josh Hazlewood has ripped through the West Indies' batting line-up to set up a 1-0 lead in the Frank Worrell Trophy series. It was a day of pure dominance from the Aussies with Hazlewood leading the way in Bridgetown and unlucky not to have more wickets. Hazlewood finished the day with five wickets but a dropped catch by Sam Konstas late in the game robbed him of a sixth. Even dumped veteran Marnus Labuschagne got in on the action, with a superb direct hit — while he was on the ground as a substitute fielder — to inflict the run-out of Alzarri Joseph for a duck. Nathan Lyon chipped in late with two wickets to close out the innings with Australia winning by 159 runs. Earlier, Australia set the West Indies a target of 301 to win the first Test after a second-innings of defiance frustrated the hosts. Having resumed on Day 3 on a perilous-looking 4-92, and a lead of just 82, the tourists dug deep to put themselves in a strong position. After Travis Head led the morning fightback with his second half-century of the Test, Beau Webster and Alex Carey built on his good work to push Australia into the ascendancy. Head made 61 before falling to a straight one from Shamar Joseph that kept low and thundered into his pads. There was no doubting that and Head departed with a rueful smile without considering a review. Despite a reputation built on aggressive batting, here he went about his work with great patience, testament to his quality and character. Head had earlier had a moment of good fortune when dropped at second slip by Justin Greaves when on 21. He took full advantage of that reprieve to put on a crucial 102-run partnership with Webster That was Australia's only loss before lunch and with Webster going on to make 63 and Carey adding 65, the visitors piled on the frustration for the home attack. Webster fell to an unfortunate tickle down the leg side as Shamar Joseph picked up his third wicket. Carey, displaying some exciting stroke-making, fell when trying a shot over cover from Roston Chase, the West Indies captain, and was caught in the deep by Greaves. When Australia No.11 Hazlewood swung at one outside the off-stump and got a massive edge, the ball fizzed back on to the stumps and Australia were finally all out for 310. Perhaps most telling was the sight of Shamar Joseph who, rather than celebrating his fifth wicket, was crouching down and beating the pitch with his hand as the players headed off for tea.
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Beau Webster's DRS pain, Travis Head unlucky on day three
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia have fought their way back into the first Test in Barbados with a trio of half-centuries to Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head. But, as has been the case throughout this Test, there was plenty happening at Bridgetown. Here's what you missed while you were sleeping. FOLLOW LIVE: Australia hunt wickets late on day three SEVENTH HELL West Indies coach Daren Sammy said after day two that his team needed a 'bollocking' after dropping six catches over the first two days of the Test. The hosts practised work in the cordon before play. And yet Justin Greaves still couldn't hang onto a chance gifted by Travis Head on 21, denying Alzarri Joseph a wicket and continuing the pain for the Windies. AS PLUMB AS IT GETS The Kensington Oval pitch had been playing tricks since day one, and balls had started to keep low. Sensing that a ball would have his name on it, Head sought to attack, and did successfully, getting to 62. It was a sensible call, because that ball duly arrived, with Shamar Joseph shooting one through that trapped the left-hander stone cold in front as he lost his balance. Joseph didn't need to appeal, with Head walking off before the finger was raised. HOLDING COURT Third umpire Adrian Holdstock had been in Sammy's sights at the end of day two following a string of contentious calls that went the way of the tourists. Well there was finally some good news for the Windies on an UltraEdge front when Beau Webster departed on review with a spike showing he had nicked one down the leg side on 63. HIT THE ROOF Alex Carey played a classic punchy wicketkeeper's innings at No.7, blasting his way to 50 from just 40 balls including two sixes. The second six brought up his half-century as he danced down the wicket and launched Justin Greaves over deep mid-off and onto the roof of the Cricket West Indies hospitality building. Originally published as What you missed overnight: Travis Head undone by day three pitch, Beau Webster's DRS pain
