‘Shocking look’: Archer’s pillow raises ire of Hayden
Joel Gould |
Jofra Archer has been slammed for bringing a pillow to the Gabba but of more concern for England would be the way Australia’s tail made the pitch appear to be a featherbed.
Paceman Archer was filmed making his way to the team area with a pillow in his hands before play began on the third day of the second Test.
That was a red rag to a bull for former Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich, in commentary for the Seven Network.
“I’m sorry but that is a shocking look,” Hayden said.
“If I was a batsman I tell you what I’d be doing. I would be digging in forever. It would be exactly what you need as a batsman I can tell you.
“You’d be looking over at that and going, ‘you are never going to sleep with that. Not any part of this day are you going to see that … not even in the night’.”
Katich was of the same mind.
“I agree, I don’t think it’s a great look, bringing a pillow to a Test. He had plenty of chances to sleep last night,” he fired.
“This will be a big challenge for him. His durability was questioned before the series … the 15 tests in six years.”
England’s attack bowled too short on day two and the trend continued after Australia resumed at 6-378, a lead of 44 after England had posted 334.
Archer, Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse faced sterling resistance from Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland in a ninth-wicket stand that had breached 50 after the tea break.
Of great concern was the ease with which they handled the pace quartet.
Starc opened up once passing his half-century.
Archer was unable to make any headway and Hayden’s sledge was proving to be prophetic as the shadows crept across the ground.
The 30-year-old would not be the first cricketer to have a nap in the dressing room but Starc and Boland ensured he would have to wait longer than he was bargaining for.
AAP
