Australia vs Sri Lanka at Darwin

[MRobbo]

I am looking forward to test series starting on Thursday at Marrara Oval. It would great to see the Aussies again.

LIVE TV Coverage on Channel Nine on Days 1,2,3 and 5 from 10am (AEST)
ABC TV providing live coverage of Day 4(Sunday) from 9:55 am(AEST), no ads during coverage fantastic.

[vicpride99]

Could have put it on last week when there was no footy. Ah well will proberly watch a bit of it.

[Lidge]

Will definitely be watching this one now that Herb has earned a recall to the team.

Now to get Hodge a game, followed by Cam White.

Looking forward to the Victorian mafia dominating the selections in the years to come!

[piefan2002]

ICC Referee:

Chris Broad (ENG)

Umpires:

Billy Bowden(NZ)
Aleem Dar (PAK)

[ViperV10]

Woohoo!!! Mr Eccentric (tm) is umpiring.

[MRobbo]

Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bowl

Teams, for the match which starts at 9.30am (10am AEST):
Australia: Adam Gilchrist (capt), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Matthew Elliott, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Simon Katich, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath. Stuart MacGill 12th man.
Sri Lanka (likely): Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Lasith Malinga. Rangana Herath 12th man.
Umpires: Brent Bowden (Nzl), Aleem Dar (Pak).
Match referee: Chris Broad (Eng).

Earlier today, the last part of the bowlers' run-ups had to be repaired with turf culled from a nearby golf course after the Australians complained the sand-based surface was too loose.

[JUBJUB]

Langers been caught in slips ...... but he's not out.It hit the back of the bat,but the only one that appealed was the catcher.
Even he didn't seem sure what happened.

Aus 0/14

[rizzo]

0/36

Elliot is looking edgy in the change rooms. langer would of been run out a couple of overs ago if it was a direct hit

[Fall Out Boy]

Rather slow first hour.

Hope Herb gets a bat soon. If these two happen to put together an excellent partnership, it would leave Matty on a hiding to nothing.

[MRobbo]

SCORES AT DRINKS 1ST SESSION

AUSTRALIA 0 FOR 38 AFTER 14 OVERS
LANGER 13 not out from 43 balls (2x4)
HAYDEN 18 not out from 42 balls (2x4)

BOWLING
VAAS 0/11 from 6 overs
MALINGA 0/16 from 3 overs
ZOYSA 0/6 from 4 overs
SAMARAWEERA 0/0 from 1 over

[MRobbo]

0/62 AFTER 20 OVERS

LANGER 23 NO
HAYDEN 32 NO

Just going along nicely

[MRobbo]

LANGER c.CHANDANA b.SAMARAWEERA 30 FOW 1/72

Matthew Elliott has come in

[thewhippersnapper]

Elliot out for 1.

[Barry Schneider]

Elliott out for 1.

[MRobbo]

ELLOITT c.ARNOLD b.VAAS 1 OFF 8 BALLS FOW 2/73

[MRobbo]

SCORES AT LUNCH ON DAY 1
AUSTRALIA 2 FOR 75 AFTER 27 OVERS
HAYDEN 36 not out from 80 balls (4x4)
MARTYN 1 not out from 5 balls

BOWLING
VAAS 1/14 from 9 overs
MALINGA 0/18 from 4 overs
ZOYSA 0/12 from 7 overs
SAMARAWEERA 1/26 from 7 overs

[llosis]

"Thanks for coming up and filling in for us, Matthew"

Now back to domestic cricket for you...

[MRobbo]

Matthew Hayden OUT

3/82

[Dunlop Volleys]

Boof time

[GOALden Hawk]

Is the pitch playing any tricks? Not the start we were looking for (apart from Martin Love).

[goaldrush]

He really needs to fix that bowling action up of his because it is all over the shop.

It looks untidy.

[Jars458]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
Is the pitch playing any tricks? Not the start we were looking for (apart from Martin Love).

Vass is getting a bit of outswing to the left handers

Its playing a bit low and slow though Zoysa has got a couple to lift on Lehmann

Its a pitch where you have to be pretty patient and watchful

Fingers crossed for another Boof special.

[Jars458]

3 for 177 close to tea

Lehmann on 48 and Martyn on 47

[MRobbo]

MARTYN OUT FOR 47

TEA TAKEN AUSTRALIA 4 FOR 177 off 54.4 Overs

[Port01]

Martyn out in the 40's

And people say cricket is unpredictable

[MRobbo]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
Is the pitch playing any tricks? Not the start we were looking for (apart from Martin Love).

It is not really plying any tricks but the outfield is a little slow, Caminda Vaas bowling well as usual 2/26 off 15 overs

[Bomberfan00]

Hayden and Elliot were unlucky...both got good balls from Vaas that moved away off the pitch, finding the edge into the slips cordon...not much both of them could do about that. Langer and Martyn were both out to stupid loose shots

[MRobbo]

LEHMANN OUT FOR 57
GILCHRIST OUT FOR 0
MALINGA 2 WICKETS
AUSTRALIA 6/189
IN BIG TROUBLE

COME ON WARNIE!

[JUBJUB]

Originally posted by llosis
"Thanks for coming up and filling in for us, Matthew"

Now back to domestic cricket for you...

He outscored and outlasted Gilchrist. :D

[TigerCraig]

Lehmann looked a pretty rough decision - although I haven't seen a slow mo replay.

I think we are in big trouble

[Bombers_Forever]

We are in HUGE trouble. Boof looked like the only one who was scoring freely but even he has patches when he was shaky. Would not be surprised if we are 8 or 9 down by stumps.

[MRobbo]

WARNE RUN OUT 2 FOW 7/201

Gillespie in now. It looks like Sri Lanka will be batting before the day is finished.

[MRobbo]

SCORES AT DRINKS IN THE FINAL SESSION
AUSTRALIA 8 FOR 202 AFTER 69.1 OVERS
KATICH 9 out from 42 balls
GILLESPIE 1 not out from 7 balls

BOWLING
VAAS 3/29 from 17.1 overs
MALINGA 2/50 from 14 overs
ZOYSA 0/24 from 13 overs
SAMARAWEERA 1/43 from 9 overs
CHANDANA 0/30 off 6 overs
JAYSURIYA 1/18 off 10 overs

[MRobbo]

GILLESPIE LBW VAAS 4 FOW 9/207

250 TEST WICKETS FOR VAAS

come on pidgeon!!!!!!!!!!!

[MRobbo]

GLENN MCGRATH OUT FOR GOLDEN DUCK

ALL OUT 207

Chaminda Vaas 5/31

Sri Lanka will have 16 overs to face before stumps tonight.

[Ray Nolan]

Well done boys, great bowling performance all 'round and nice to hold our catches and get a run out too:) In particular to Chaminda for taking up the spearhead role in the absence of Murali and kudos to Lasith on an impressive debut performance.

Nothing has been achieved yet because we need to back it up with the bat though, we did OK with the ball in SL in the last series but never backed it up with the bat. Hopefully our form from the lead up game will continue ... (I've gone & jinxed it now!)

[llosis]

Originally posted by JUBJUB
He outscored and outlasted Gilchrist. :D

let's drop him then and bring in Berry :rolleyes:

[TigerCraig]

Well done SL, but there was some pretty ordinary batting too.

Good to see Vaas do so well - class bowler who has never got the wraps he deserves

[MRobbo]

ATAPATTU BOWLED MCGRATH 4 FOW 1/10

WELL DONE PIDGEON!!!!!!!!

[DemonWilly]

Sri Lanka all out 150-170????

Any Takers?

[llosis]

Originally posted by DemonWilly
Sri Lanka all out 150-170????

Any Takers?

lets hope so.

don't know how many overs Warney might get if they do

[JUBJUB]

Sangakarra out LBW to Dizzy

SL 2/20

[MRobbo]

SANGARAKKARA LBW GILLESPIE 2 FOW 2/20

PLUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

200 TEST WICKETS. WELL DONE DIZZY.

[MRobbo]

SRI LANKA 2 FOR 30
TRAIL BY 177
JAYASURIYA 7 NOT OUT
JAYAWARDENE 8 NOT OUT
8.5 OVERS LEFT
As Channel Nine leaves for price is right how typical.

[Santos L Helper]

Originally posted by JUBJUB
He outscored and outlasted Gilchrist. :D

I guess we should drop Gilchrist now you tool.

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by MRobbo
LEHMANN OUT FOR 57
GILCHRIST OUT FOR 0
MALINGA 2 WICKETS
AUSTRALIA 6/189
IN BIG TROUBLE

COME ON WARNIE! No need to shout. We can hear quite ok if you type in lower case.

[Thewlis Dish]

Looks like they've temporarily suspended the "Can't be out LBW if it pitches outside leg" rule.

[JUBJUB]

3/33 with 5 overs to go

Sanath LBW McGrath

[MRobbo]

Scores at Stumps on Day 1
Sri Lanka 3 for 43 from 16 overs
Trail by 165 runs
Jayawardene 12 not out
Zoysa 8 not out

Bowling
McGrath 2/28 from 7 overs
Gillespie 1/8 from 6 overs
Kasprowicz 0/1 from 2 overs
Warne 0/1 from 1 over

From Damien Martyns Wicket the last ball before tea
both teams combined lost 10/73 from 32.5 overs

[Russian]

Originally posted by goaldrush
He really needs to fix that bowling action up of his because it is all over the shop.

It looks untidy. :D

[Mog]

Originally posted by MRobbo
SRI LANKA 2 FOR 30
TRAIL BY 177
JAYASURIYA 7 NOT OUT
JAYAWARDENE 8 NOT OUT
8.5 OVERS LEFT
As Channel Nine leaves for price is right how typical.

They turfed Eddie out of that timeslot, so there is no way in hell they'll let cricket interfere with TPIR.

[Russian]

Originally posted by Mog
They turfed Eddie out of that timeslot, so there is no way in hell they'll let cricket interfere with TPIR. Did the same in Adelaide but only 9.5 balls before the end (the WWOS logo appeared as Warnie's delivery hit the pitch)

[Johnson#26]

The start was very 'unHaydon&Langerlike'. Very slow and careful.

Good to see McGrath back to his best. The team lifted with him after the 1st wicket.

[DKA]

Originally posted by DemonWilly
Sri Lanka all out 150-170????

Any Takers?

I'll take those odds my good man!

Lanka is reknowned for their collapses and failures under pressure.

[Pedro]

Originally posted by MRobbo
SANGARAKKARA LBW GILLESPIE 2 FOW 2/20

PLUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

200 TEST WICKETS. WELL DONE DIZZY.

Didn't see much of the cricket today, except the last hour or so. But if that was plumb, I'll give up watching the game. When are these so called best international umpires going to learn that when the ball pitches outside leg stump, it cannot be given out LBW. Only saw 1 replay of Lehman's, but it looked a bit ordinary as well.

[scmods]

Originally posted by Pedro
Didn't see much of the cricket today, except the last hour or so. But if that was plumb, I'll give up watching the game. When are these so called best international umpires going to learn that when the ball pitches outside leg stump, it cannot be given out LBW. Only saw 1 replay of Lehman's, but it looked a bit ordinary as well.
I didn't see the Gillespie one.

McGrath's pitched just outside leg, but there's no way you could have picked it with the naked eye.

The Lehmann wicket I thought was pretty clear on first viewing, but then on replay seems to have pitched right on the edge of off and been swinging slightly out. But again, no way you could pick that without the replay. I certainly would have given both of them.

[DIG]

Lankans are 7/83 now. McGrath's got 5.

[DemonWilly]

Originally posted by DemonWilly
Sri Lanka all out 150-170????

Any Takers?


I reckon the Lankans might take this right about now.

[goaldrush]

Originally posted by DIG
Lankans are 7/83 now. McGrath's got 5. Good to see that Pidgeon has got 5 wickets. GO Glenn!

[likka]

If our top order shows a bit more discipline today we should be 300 or more in front by the end of the day.

Vaas is the one bloke that could put a spanner in the works. He is a good bat and has a habit of wagging SL's tail against us. Also, with so many LHB in our top 7 the amount of swing he's been getting could make life difficult.

[likka]

Originally posted by likka
Vaas is the one bloke that could put a spanner in the works. He is a good bat and has a habit of wagging SL's tail against us.

So much for that, Warnie got him driving with the slider...

[DemonWilly]

9 for 91 off 40 overs. Quality side under pressure these Lankans.

Can I smell A 3 Day test coming on???

[Jars458]

Makes Boof's 57 look like a big hundred

Dare I say he would be leading the Alan Border medal at this stage!!;)

[goaldrush]

Go Aussies

[Rough_Edges]

Vaas bowls 4 consistent length bowls and gets the outside edge on Langer....Sangakarra taeks a beauty of a catch

1/12

[Rough_Edges]

Haydens gone after Zoysa bowls almost a identicall bowls to Vaas's except it went up to Sangakarra for a easy catch. Great bowling by Zoysa.

2/12

[goaldrush]

Bugger!

[Rough_Edges]

Martyn and Elliot are now at the creese and they need to slow the match down. It would be good if we got another 220 or so.

[Rough_Edges]

Another beautiful bowl by Vaas takes Elliot for a duck, 3/14

[TigerCraig]

See you in another 5 years Matty

[Cooldude]

Originally posted by GoSainters10
Martyn and Elliot are now at the creese and they need to slow the match down. It would be good if we got another 220 or so.

So much for that, Elliot's gawn

Identical dismissal to his first innings one.

Won't be getting another Test Match for a long while...

[dilz]

I think we should ease up on the criticism a bit. He's had it hard, 1st dig had to bat with less that 10 minutes to go and 2nd dig they just lost wickets with the ball doing zig-zags. Its not an excuse and he would have loved some runs and more time in the middle but its a hard way of coming back to the top level again

[TigerCraig]

True, it looks a bugger of a place to bat.

Anything over 200 should be tough to chase.

[Spiritsof82]

Originally posted by dilz
I think we should ease up on the criticism a bit. He's had it hard, 1st dig had to bat with less that 10 minutes to go and 2nd dig they just lost wickets with the ball doing zig-zags. Its not an excuse and he would have loved some runs and more time in the middle but its a hard way of coming back to the top level again

Elliott is a professional cricketer who should be able to at least score against a second rate team such as SL in any situation, he has enough experience. In this game he has again shown that he may be a fine domestic and county player but he's way below the standard required to play test cricket.

[Rough_Edges]

Lehamans on fire out there jumped out to 18, batting really well along with Martyn who just hit a ripping 4.

Need a good partnership even if it takes them 40 overs to get 100 or so.

[Bombers_Forever]

Originally posted by TigerCraig
See you in another 5 years Matty

Spot on. 1 and a duck........he won't be back in the side. He was only going to get one chance and now I can't see him returning.

As for Boof, he looks like the only batsmen who can save us. Go Boof! :D

[Jars458]

Originally posted by Spiritsof82
Elliott is a professional cricketer who should be able to at least score against a second rate team such as SL in any situation, he has enough experience. In this game he has again shown that he may be a fine domestic and county player but he's way below the standard required to play test cricket.

Look at the three socrecards so far

This match is no real indicaion of how good Matty Elliot is.

People calling for Lagners head should pull their own head in as well. This match means nothing for batsmen as the ball is up and down and swinging everyhwere.

The Curator needs to be sacked

Bring in Les Burdett. He is a green god.

[bluechampion]

Martyn gone for 7. 4/64

This pitch is a powder keg. Just shows how bloody good Boof is.

[Cooldude]

You can't expect too much from a drop-in pitch

Langer's technique on the pitch's been shocking

I don't think he should be dropped, but everytime he comes up against the new ball when it's nipping or swinging around a bit, he really, really struggles.

[Bombers_Forever]

50 for Boof. Go Darren! :D :D :D

[mattyc2422]

How good is that McGrath bloke...

[bluechampion]

And then he's gone for 51... Good innings, considering his team's efforts.

84/5 at tea. Our lead is 194, which, given the pitch, is probably enough.

[dannyboy]

Originally posted by Cooldude
You can't expect too much from a drop-in pitch

Langer's technique on the pitch's been shocking

I don't think he should be dropped, but everytime he comes up against the new ball when it's nipping or swinging around a bit, he really, really struggles.

to be fair, looking at this test, the whole top order has had no hope whatsoever!

[Cooldude]

Not just this test, go right back to Feburary in Sri Lanka, or even India in Aus last year, Langer looked like a bunny against swing bowlers.

[catattack]

Aussies looking all right now on the susceptible pitch; Gilly putting in a Captain’s knock.

5/114 with a lead of 224.

[Barry Schneider]

Katich out 6/116.Diabolical decision.Bat pad when it was obviously only pad.Great con job by the Sri Lankans.

[Fall Out Boy]

Will Tony Greig go on about that decision for the next few days?

[catattack]

Originally posted by Barry Schneider
Katich out 6/116.Diabolical decision.Bat pad when it was obviously only pad.Great con job by the Sri Lankans. Yeah I thought a Bat Pad catch required the ball actually hitting the bat! :o

Shameful decision.

[Russian]

Originally posted by catattack
Yeah I thought a Bat Pad catch required the ball actually hitting the bat! :o

Shameful decision. Must've thought it was glove but still not good enough. Either that or he gave it lbw :confused:

[Barry Schneider]

Should be fun with Gilly amongst the tail enders.It should be a slogathon.Warne won't be blocking too many either.

[Russian]

Warne gone lbw Malinga

7/127

[catattack]

My initial reaction was “not out”. Going down leg side, IMO. Lets see what the replays say.

[catattack]

Originally posted by Russian
Must've thought it was glove but still not good enough. Either that or he gave it lbw :confused: Nah, gave it out caught. :confused:

[Barry Schneider]

Originally posted by catattack
My initial reaction was “not out”. Going down leg side, IMO. Lets see what the replays say.

"Could have clipped leg stump.."mmmm.Hardly the plumbest LBW you will ever see.

[Cooldude]

Gilly needs to open his shoulders now, if he faces 24-30 balls, the lead can be 50 runs bigger...

[Rough_Edges]

Dizzie and Gilly putting together a handy partnership about 20 runs now. Gillepsie hitting well, and Gilchrist looking well today, Gillespie on 10 or so and Gilchrist on 43.

256 run lead another 50 runs would be nice

7/146

[Barry Schneider]

Dizzy's out we are effectively 8/264

[MRobbo]

Australia 8/179 lead by 289
Gilchrist 63 no
Kasprowicz 11 no

10 overs left today

300 lead is getting close now

[MRobbo]

Australia 8/190 lead by 300
Gilchrist 72 no
Kasprowicz 13 no

5 overs left today

I think the lead should be enough

[MRobbo]

Gilchrist Run Out 80 FOW 9/201
Lead by 311
1.2 overs left in the day