1 hour ago
2
Wicketkeepers are said to be no good without the gloves. Josh Inglis must be the exception.
A day that appeared to belong to England changed in four minutes in the evening session when the visitors were again their own worst enemy.
Josh Inglis turned the day with his run out of Ben Stokes.Credit: Getty Images
With more than 325 on the board in a pink-ball game, and the possibility of more to come on Friday, England are in the game – but they should be bossing it.
England won the toss again and batted in ideal conditions, got themselves into a strong position and avoided facing the new pink ball under lights yet are not in a dominant position – even with a drought-breaking century on Australian soil to Joe Root.
That they are not is due in no small part to Inglis, whose run out of England captain Ben Stokes changed the complexion of the second Test.
Playing as if the backyard cricket rule of tippity was in play, Stokes hit and ran, and was almost halfway down the track when Joe Root’s call had come, giving him next to no chance to turn around and make his ground.
Though Root had taken a few strides before sending his partner back, Stokes was completely at fault, a point he appeared to concede with his consolatory tap on Root’s waist on his way off.
Ben Stokes and Joe Root console each other after Stokes was run out.Credit: Getty Images
Inglis is trained to do his best work in the field behind the wicket, not pouncing from cover like a cheetah hunting prey and throwing down the pegs with only one stump to aim at.
Loading
The work of Australia’s English-born Test newcomer earned a nod of approval from Ricky Ponting, one of the country’s greatest fielders of all time.
“What a piece of fielding from Inglis,” Ponting said on Channel 7. “Wicketkeeper by trade, has been dynamic in the field for the Aussies all day today, a couple of great diving saves, and bang one stump, side on, Stokes you’re on your way. Great fielding.”
The exhilaration in the Australian team was evident in the vigour with which Marnus Labuschagne repeatedly slapped Inglis on the backside.
Stokes’s calamity summed up a day of misadventure for England, who failed to make the most of the generous hand they were dealt.
His dismissal sparked a run of 5/54 in 72 balls for England, who had suffered collapses of 5/12 and 9/99 in Perth.
Eight years ago at this venue, England’s innings took a turn for the worse after James Vince had the stumps thrown down by Nathan Lyon.
“The one today was probably a better run out but don’t tell Nathan that,” Starc said. “It was a nice one to change the momentum of where the game was at.”
Energised by Inglis’s brilliance, the crowd of 37,117 whipped itself into a frenzy minutes later when Scott Boland bowled Jamie Smith with an off-cutter that jagged back through the England gloveman’s gate worryingly wide gate.
Apart from two hot chances to Steve Smith diving to his left at second slip, and Scott Boland in his follow through, the Australians were close to flawless in the field.
Alex Carey claimed one of the catches of the season, overcoming the distraction of Marnus Labuschagne chasing the same ball to take a diving catch running back with the flight.
Alex Carey takes the catch despite pressure from Marnus Labuschagne.Credit: Getty Images
It was the sort of take synonymous with the former GWS captain’s namesake Wayne Carey in his other professional sporting pursuit.
“Lucky, Alex has played a bit of AFL and won the hard ball,” Starc said. “It was a fantastic catch. We know how good Alex is behind the stumps. He probably made it look a little easier than it probably was.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
Loading
