Australia might be forgiven for expecting the Bangla tail to fold relatively quickly. Aside from Mehidy Hasan Miraz none has any pretensions to batting ability. What they do have is an implacable thirst for the struggle. Have you brought a front-end loader? they appeared to be asking. Do you seriously expect us to give our hands away? Not in these nor any other trousers. From the fall of the sixth wicket till the innings’ close occupied more than 52 overs, and four hours’ worth of torture. 426 was the final bill, and the scoreboard told its own tale of dread. For Australia the beginning and end of the story was Josh Hazlewood, who brought up his 300th Test wicket on his journey. He took the final four to finish with six, and nobody else even looked like breaking through. The truth is that the laconic Hazlewood is always at his best when the tide has turned against his team. He thrives on adversity. It is considered an essential virtue in Tamworth.
This pitch has flattened out into an autobahn. Only the new ball offers anything to the bowlers. And so it was that Wetherald lasted precisely three deliveries. He essayed a diagonal bat against Hasan and chopped on. It is possible that he might survive the disapproving eyes of the selectors, but it would appear that his successful summer of county cricket must be regarded as fairy gold which evaporates under the harsh, unrelenting sun. Labuschagne survived a massive shout for leg before from his first delivery. The phrase ‘under the pump’ – whatever that means – applies just as much to Marnus. He must move his feet or perish.
His response was to bat out of his crease and lunge forward. Inevitaby, he edged one behind. But Litton Das has had a forgettable match thus far and muffed the catch horribly, as if he were trying to snatch at a rock expelled from the mouth of a volcano. One thing Marnus did do was look for runs at every opportunity. Anything on his pads was whacked through leg. Anything overpitched he drove. And this was all good. Head meanwhile took his time, scoreless from his first 14 balls. He settled into his work and looked set for a trademark quick hundred. But on 17 he inexplicaby repeated Wetherald’s blunder: a diagonal bat slash at a ball too close for the stroke.
Smith meanwhile came out looking for runs from the outset. When inexplicably given out caught behind he appealed with a suddenness that surprised everyone, and had it reversed. Enter Taijul, whose quicker ball deceived Labuschagne and took leg stump. He ought to have played forward; but his 31 gave promise of self-improvement. As did Green. His stiff-armed refusal to try softening his grip remains, but he used his feet and looked for runs. He edged the hard-working Taskin into his leg bail; but for no readily apparent reason the woodwork remained undisturbed, and he picked up four runs through fine leg. Taskin’s grimace of anguish spoke eloquent suffering. Truth to tell, Green is owed a little good fortune.
It seemed a surprise when Taijul was replaced by Miraz. It turned out a moment of genius by Shanto. Smith had motored his way to 44 when Miraz held back an off-break the tiniest fraction. Smith’s battle computers failed to detect the difference, and he spooned back a return catch. Thereafter Australia defended grimly until stumps, with Carey an uncharacteristically subdued 19no. Green meanwhile had rediscovered himself. Of late he appeared as though he has been holding his bat upside-down. Batting seemed an insoluble conundrum to the giant all-rounder. By the close he was unbeaten on 43, and seemingly mindful of the skills that brought him such acclaim in his early youth.
The Bangla bowling attack had been persistent, accurate, and vengeful. Hasan could not add to his opening two wickets, but Miraz’ 13/4/20/1 on a perfect batting track? He varied his flight and pace enough to command respect from everyone. Only in the day’s final over did he lapse and was punished by Carey. At stumps the home side were holding on by their fingernails at 4/161. The deficit is still 67. And with a strong lower order (at least on paper) still to come, hope has not perished in the dressing room. The Strangeness referred to in the title resides in the fact that for the third day running Australia has been outplayed.