So what’s the purpose of side screen then ? If a player is standing infront of screen and moving his hands so batsman will not disturb ?
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Clarke used a radical semicircle formation after lunch with seven fielders in front of the batsman in a desperate attempt to break the Abu Dhabi deadlock against Pakistan.
However the stationing of fielders directly behind the bowler’s arm, which Pakistan batsmen found ‘distracting’, was seen as below the belt by former Australian skipper Allan Border.
“Where he (Johnson) is there (behind the bowler’s arm), I don’t think it’s in the spirit of the game,” Border told Fox Sports.
“That’s the way I’d see that. When he moves to the mid-on side of straight, I’m a bit more relaxed about that. When he’s right behind the bowler’s arm, I don’t know.”
Mitchell Johnson can be seen fielding directly behind Peter Siddle.Source: FoxSports
Clark claimed he was simply seeking to turn off the tap as runs leaked on a productive opening day for Pakistan, which was 2-304 at stumps with Younis Khan undefeated with 111 and Azhar Ali on 101.
“It seemed that was where the ball was going at the time so I tried a fielder there,” said Clarke, who had employed Mitchell Johnson behind Peter Siddle’s bowling arm.
Was Michael Clarke’s funky field setting against the spirit of cricket?
Pakistan century maker Azhar Ali was charitable when asked about Clarke’s tactics but admitted he was distracted with a fielder in his vision when facing the bowler.
“No, I didn’t complain to the umpire. I didn’t have an idea that you could have one behind the bowler. So I was a little distracted but the umpire told me if he doesn’t move then there is no problem,” said Ali, who figured in an unconquered 280 run stand with Younis
Some of Clarke’s field placements had to be seen to be believed.Source: FoxSports
Clarke churned eight bowlers including himself in the first 60 overs yesterday while Younis Khan and Azhar starred in cricket’s version of the never ending story.
“Tough day, no doubt about it,” said Clarke who watched Younis become the first batsman since Herbert Sutcliffe to record three tons in succession against Australia.
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“By the end of the day I didn’t have too many ideas left, I think I tried everything, I think I tried guys in extremely unorthodox positions to try and make something happen, but unfortunately we didn’t get as many wickets as we would have liked.”
Australia compiled its tour misery with sloppy catching and two bungled reviews, hoping cameras would do the job its bowlers couldn’t.
The most costly error came when Ali 34 was grassed 34 by Steve Smith at short leg off luckless off-spinner Nathan Lyon.e tells Smith to zip it
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“We probably missed a few chances once again which was disappointing, our bowlers tried everything, they fought hard,” said Clarke
Smith would have been designated pad even if batsman Alex Doolan hadn’t been axed for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell against the preference of Clarke.
“Smithy’s one of our best fielders and we know how important that position is. He’s been working exceptionally hard in that position,” said Clarke.
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Another unforgiving day in the field looms unless Peter Siddle (0-39), recalled Mitchell Starc (0-37) and Maxwell (0-36) can impact in support of Mitchell Johnson (1-50) and Nathan Lyon (1-86).
“It’s the type of wicket where you’ve got to bat for long periods to make runs as well,” said Clarke, with Australia needing an incredible fightback to avoid a first series loss in 20 years to Pakistan.
“First and foremost we’ve got to take some more wickets and when we get the opportunity to bat in our first innings we’ve got to make it a big one, make it count.”