Philip Hughes displays his "Homespun" way of playing the short ball
"Homespun" is the phrase you most hear used to described the technique of Australia's new batting sensation, Philip Hughes. Out of all the possible ways to describe a new opening batsman, I am sure homespun is the last one any young man making his way in the world of international cricket would want to have associated with him. Homespun means uneducated, dodgy and weird. It evokes images of something sold from a dirty old rug on a card table, at the car boot sale which operates down the end of the road in the park each Saturday. Homespun is how you might describe the quilt that Granny made you, the one comprising of random bits of Granddad's underpants and singlets / vests, tied together with used dental floss. Amy Winehouse has a homespun ideas on a good night out and George W Bush had some homespun ideas on Iraq. Homespun is almost never good
Philip and his technique were on show yesterday at Worcester in the first day of the final warm up match before the Ashes begin. This didn't start so well with big Steve Harmison, having dragged himself to the ground after finding out that there was no football on the television that day, bouncing the first ball off Phil's helmet; not a good start. Steve bowled a spell to young Hughes that I am sure will have the entire cricket world pressing rewind on the video a great many times. He was short and fast, right at the ribs of Hughes and Phil looked nothing like the run machine that he has been in Australian domestic cricket or, more recently, for Middlesex
The problem for Hughes is, as well documented, he takes a step to leg as the bowler delivers the ball to make room for himself on the off side. This is wonderful when they are short and ripe for cutting but not so good when they are about to lodge in your rib cage. Stepping back twists you around a little and puts your front shoulder more towards mid off. This lets Phil crash ball after ball through point but closes him off to the leg side. Stand up and try it and home or in the office. It does twist you doesn't it ? Keep standing
Now imagine a juicy half tracker outside off coming down. Try to cut it. Wow ! 4 runs and didn't it feel good. You bet. Go back to your stance. Now push your back foot out a little and twist again. Look forward. Now imagine a ball pitching outside leg and heading for your arm pit. How does it feel ? Let me guess: scary ? Probably.
Closing yourself off in this manner is the reason why most knocks to the head happen to tail-enders (i.e. the people not trying to hook but to evade). It is next to impossible to do anything with a short ball when you have done the twist except either
a. duck; OR
b. get hit
So, often after the twist comes a shout. Let's call this technique the "Twist and Shout"
I worry about Philip Hughes. I fear his homespun technique has never really been tested. As we all know, this is not uncommon with people very new to big time cricket with an odd technique. Some make it (think Chanderpaul and Katich now) but most don't.
If it hadn't been tested before, the old twist and shout sure will now because anyone who bowls to him forever is going to be aiming at his right arm pit. For Australia's sake, lets hope the shouting is being done by the bowlers, not by poor little Phil.
Lastly, I wonder if Harmison will get picked ? He bowled well on day one. For attitude alone, I wouldn't pick him in the Test team but if I was English I would sure want him in this game, bashing up the Australians
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Well, after all the talk about Thommo in the last posting, it is great to see that he has been reading not only this blog but the 2005 one as well. I hate to say I told you so but 4 years ago I had quite a long rant about the poor quality of Ricky Ponting's captaincy. Let's all reminisce by going here and look at the section under the heading "3. Captaincy".
Thommo seems to have summarised all of these thoughts into one word: "Crap", or "----" as the Telegraph called it. Ahhh Thommo, no wonder we love you so. Let's bath in some of the oratory brilliance that the great man provided us with
"I thought Ricky was crap when he was first captain in 2004 and nothing much has improved since then"
Concise yet insightful.
"everyone at home thinks he's shit "
Honest and to the point
"The choices he makes, his field settings and the things he does are never right"
Well, I guess if he's shit the chances of his field settings being brilliant are relatively low
"I couldn't believe it when he'd been picked as captain"
Clearly Thommo is a man of the people as neither could the rest of us
Let's bear in mind that the great man is 58 with nothing left to prove and without a doubt in the most relaxed from of mind he has ever been in. Imagine him in 1974 !
Not content with the 2005 blog, he clearly also read the previous posting's thoughts on Nathan Hauritz as Thommo had a word or two to say about Nathan also
"he's got a bloke in there who can't even spin a ball [Nathan Hauritz]. Simon Katich and Michael Clarke have more chance of taking a wicket than Hauritz. Why go for a guy like that? I don't rate Hauritz"
Yes well, I sort of picked up your lack of rating before you finished the sentence Thommo but I happen to agree with you; not many people do rate Nathan in fact
We are also in agreement on Brett Lee
"I don't see a place for Brett Lee in this side. He hasn't played for such a long time"
I am especially in awe of a man who goes against group think because he obviously doesn't rate Mitchell Johnson either
"Mitchell Johnson is a handy bowler but ... he's a really good batsman"
Let's remember Mitchell opens the bowling and bats 9
Thommo, don't ever change. We love you just the way you are and all look forward to some more insights as the series progresses. Not long to go now !
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