It almost rains at lunch, and almost rain in England means the groundsmen rush around like speed afflicted monkeys and by the time they cover the wicket it has passed.
Shoaib is back on, having swapped ends straight after lunch.
He strays down the legside again, and another 4, fine leg has come way finer, Butcher is obviously expecting more, experienced cricketer that he is.
There was a very quick one in there, it almost took batty out.
There is harldy a better waste of 20 seconds than Ahktar’s run up.
5-0-20
Bowlers who have out bowled Shoaib so far:
Pedro Collins, by a long, long way.
Alex Tudor, by a considerable margin.
And Jade Dernbach, by a few yards.
First ball of the 6th was straight outta hell, and almost took Carberry’s throat out.
This is his best over, he is finally on line to Carberry, and looks venounmess.
With that Carberry is out. Caught behind, and Shoaib did the whole aeroplane celebration as well, you could hear the scream of delight from the press box, and in the oval press box you usually can’t hear much.
He is glowing now, Butcher has 3 slips, a floater, a gully, a short leg, and a silly mid off.
Smell blood they do.
Suddenly his run up looks fluent, and he even chased one off his own bowling, which I suppose he had to as everyone else is in close.
Still finishes with a slower ball though, that is the third time he has finished with a slower ball.
6-1-22
He looks like a new man now, I will resist the urge to make a joke about what he snorted for lunch, as that would be unfair.
But he does look like a force now.
Benham does not look comfortable, had to dig one out of his adams apple.
Big appeal for an LB, probably not out, but Shoaib didn’t seem to share my opinion as he ended up past the batsman, and then had a 30 second strop.
He has his prance on now. Mind you he is 3 overs into his spell, so how long will this last.
Having said that, now he is bowling venom, he will probably bowl more than 4 overs.
7-1-1-22
His first ball is met with the middle of the bat, and still ends with a gasp from Shoaib, the second ball is left alone and gets a head to the sky followed by a hand on the chin.
Right at the moment his facial expressions and dramatics are more exciting than his balls.
The loudest non Shahadat hossain over ever.
8-1-1-23
And he is off, the ground even.
He has limped his way off the ground and then walked gingerly up the stairs looking for love and comfort.
Then play was suspended for light, and then rain, which meant Shoaib could have a more leisurely rub down.
Play resumed and he came back on one over later.
12, the number of times Shoaib has been the last player in his position for the next over.
And they are off.
First for bad light, then the covers come out.
There is nothing like covers at the oval, hopefully one day I will be allowed on to use it as the longest slippery dip ever.
I suppose they have called tea.
EDIT: Shoaib went off with a blister on his foot according to the gaurdian's correspondent. I have no reason to doubt him, the correspondent, not Shoaib.www.cricketwithballs.com... fighting the war on tony greig
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