Johnson's butterfingers
Plays of the day from the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in Chennai
George Binoy
25-Apr-2015
Mitchel Johnson dropped two catches in what was a forgettable day on the field for Kings XI Punjab • PTI
The failed footwork
Brendon McCullum charged at Anureet Singh's first delivery and aimed for six over long-off. He hit it high, but not far. Mitchell Johnson was pedaling back from mid-off, trying to get under the catch. He got into an awkward side-on position as the ball dropped into his hands, before popping out again. The rebound was too far away for Johnson to get to it with his hands, and so he flicked his foot out to try and pop the ball up for another go. He made contact with his boot, but the ball lobbed and fell out of his reach. Johnson later dropped a more straightforward chance off Suresh Raina at deep square leg.
Brendon McCullum charged at Anureet Singh's first delivery and aimed for six over long-off. He hit it high, but not far. Mitchell Johnson was pedaling back from mid-off, trying to get under the catch. He got into an awkward side-on position as the ball dropped into his hands, before popping out again. The rebound was too far away for Johnson to get to it with his hands, and so he flicked his foot out to try and pop the ball up for another go. He made contact with his boot, but the ball lobbed and fell out of his reach. Johnson later dropped a more straightforward chance off Suresh Raina at deep square leg.
The improvisation
McCullum had premeditated to play the scoop down leg side against Sandeep Sharma and so he moved across his stumps and squared up his stance. Sharma, however, bowled full outside off stump, not giving McCullum the line he wanted. He improvised. McCullum's body remained positioned for the scoop down leg but he now opened the face of his bat towards point and shoveled the ball past the wicketkeeper to the third-man boundary.
McCullum had premeditated to play the scoop down leg side against Sandeep Sharma and so he moved across his stumps and squared up his stance. Sharma, however, bowled full outside off stump, not giving McCullum the line he wanted. He improvised. McCullum's body remained positioned for the scoop down leg but he now opened the face of his bat towards point and shoveled the ball past the wicketkeeper to the third-man boundary.
The lapses
Some of Kings XI's senior players were an embarrassment in the field. Virender Sehwag charged in from short third man to attack a ball that was coming at him off Raina's outside edge. He ran at it without anticipating the ball would spin away from him and then looked silly as it eluded him comfortably. He turned slowly and gave chase but it was in vain. Later in the piece, Shaun Marsh was slow in bending down to his right at point and let a cut shot from Ravindra Jadeja speed to the boundary.
Some of Kings XI's senior players were an embarrassment in the field. Virender Sehwag charged in from short third man to attack a ball that was coming at him off Raina's outside edge. He ran at it without anticipating the ball would spin away from him and then looked silly as it eluded him comfortably. He turned slowly and gave chase but it was in vain. Later in the piece, Shaun Marsh was slow in bending down to his right at point and let a cut shot from Ravindra Jadeja speed to the boundary.
The catch
Suresh Raina's catch to dismiss David Miller was everything Kings XI's fielding wasn't. Stationed at leg slip, Raina saw Miller shaping to leg glance Ravindra Jadeja and moved a couple of steps to his left just in case. Sure enough, Miller glanced and the ball flew flow and fast towards Raina. Had he not moved, the ball would have passed by his right hand, but now all he had to do was stoop low and grab the ball inches from the turf.
Suresh Raina's catch to dismiss David Miller was everything Kings XI's fielding wasn't. Stationed at leg slip, Raina saw Miller shaping to leg glance Ravindra Jadeja and moved a couple of steps to his left just in case. Sure enough, Miller glanced and the ball flew flow and fast towards Raina. Had he not moved, the ball would have passed by his right hand, but now all he had to do was stoop low and grab the ball inches from the turf.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo