1st ODI: Australia vs Sri Lanka (Wednesday)

[HSSB]

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/boxy_09/cricket.png
The first ODI of the summer, between Australia and Sri-Lanka, and not too far from the long awaited return of the Ashes series in Australia. This will be world record holding wicket taker, Muttiah Muralitharan’s last series in Australia before retiring from cricket, he has also been in great form in a few warm up games.

These two teams participated in the 2007 World Cup final, which Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis system, although this time, Australia won’t have superstar Adam Gilchrist to help them out, he scored 149 runs in the final.

The squad for this series is an interesting one with Callum Ferguson, David Warner, Tim Paine, James Hopes and the injured cult-hero Doug Bollinger being omitted from the squad, the inclusions being Brad Haddin, captain Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Peter Siddle and newcomer, Xavier Doherty. All the other usuals are in the squad but young guns Steve Smith, John Hastings being the only moderate surprises.

This series doesn’t look to be the most exciting one of the summer, however it should be good to see how everyone is looking for an Ashes selection, and also a World Cup selection which is held in Sri Lanka next year.

Now onto Sri Lanka, they have looked impressive and beat New South Wales in a warm up game which was damaged by rain. The game was crazy though, Sri Lanka got to the game 15 minutes late after getting held up in traffic and both teams batted for 34 overs together. Mahela Jayawardene was a standout for Sri Lanka in this tour game, slogging 59 off 35 balls. Sri Lanka’s last ODI series in Australia didn’t go to well either, with the Australian’s winning the series 3-1.

Hopefully Sunday night wasn’t a sign of things to come for the Australian’s as they went down to the Sri Lankan’s in a Twenty20 and played horribly, very few positives could have been taken out of that game heading into this clash.

The weather is okay for Wednesday, and it looks like there will be cricket played at the G, with the forecast being 16 and mostly sunny.

Australian Squad:
Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Ricky Ponting (capt)
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
Michael Hussey
Brad Haddin (wk),
Steve Smith
John Hastings
Nathan Hauritz
Mitchell Johnson
Clint McKay
Peter Siddle
Xavier Doherty (debut)
Mitchell Starc.

In: Watson
Ponting
Johnson
Siddle
Haddin
Doherty

Out: Bollinger (inj)
Paine
Warner
Ferguson
Hopes


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/boxy_09/9.jpg 2PM-6PM Session 1 6:30PM-10PM EDT Session 2 - HD on GEM same times

Cricinfo and Cricket Australia will both provide Live Scores/Scorecards

Don't hate on me I'm new, would love feedback

[thorne89]

Don't be surprised if Mike Hussey is left out of the series so that he can play for WA in the 3 day warm up match against England at the WACA starting Friday. Would be better for him than a few one dayers, coming out to have a slog with few overs left in each.

[eddiesmith]

Marsh, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, White, Hussey, Haddin, Hastings, McKay, Hauritz/Doherty, Siddle

Strong side :thumbsu:

I do hope they give up on Haddin opening, is much better down the order but the selectors will probably leave out Marsh, play Smith at 7 and have Johnson ahead of McKay

[BarneyBent]

Ferguson should be in this squad. Clearly they want him playing FC cricket though. :(

From that team:

Clarke/Haddin
Watson
Ponting
White
Clarke/Haddin
Hussey
Smith
Johnson
Doherty
McKay
Siddle

I know, I know, Clarke opening, wtf? But he actually has a very decent record opening in ODIs (from memory), and I've always thought that was an option we should explore. Not in T20s (as I've argued in the other thread, I didn't think he was bad at all, but it's ultimately not his best position, if he's to be in the side at all), but he has the game to do it in ODIs, with the likes of Watson, Ponting and White at 2, 3 and 4. Haddin is the other option, but as Eddiesmith said, he is probably better down the order a bit.

Having said that, Shaun Marsh is stiff, but I've never totally warmed to him. I don't know why, I'm just never confident when he's in. I'd love him to prove me wrong if he gets a run though.

As for Smith, he's not ready to be the first choice spinner, but I like him in the same role James Hopes plays; roll the arm over for 5-6 overs (more if he's going well), come in down the order and ideally blast a quickfire 30 towards the end. He's not consistent enough yet to keep it tight, but he has that knack of picking up wickets in the shorter forms. From what I've seen, he's a bit of a partnership breaker, even if he gets taken for a few. That's a useful thing to have, especially in those slow middle-overs where things can stagnate for both teams.

Quicks pick themselves from that squad. Can't see Starc or Hastings getting a game ahead of Johnson, McKay and Siddle.

As for Doherty, he is the premier OD bowler in Australia. Doherty in one-dayers and Steve O'Keefe in Tests will be putting a great deal of pressure on Hauritz in the coming months.

[Belnakor]

Its amazing that Katich was dropped from the ODI for exactly why people want Clarke up the top of the order. Scores too slow.

[Axel.]

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
Brad Haddin
Steve Smith
John Hastings
Clint McKay
Xavier Doherty
Mitchell Starc

[thorne89]

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
Brad Haddin
Steve Smith
John Hastings
Clint McKay
Xavier Doherty
Mitchell Starc

Do you agree with me about Hussey playing the tour match rather than the ODIs?

And Starc? Really?

[Axel.]

Yep. He needs to get into some kind of form in tests. If he can't do anything in the tour match then my guess is that he won't be playing in the Ashes.

Starc is just in there for the experience. Let Johnson play in the tour match and Siddle isn't great in ODIs. IMO i'd rather Starc play.

[thorne89]

Yep. He needs to get into some kind of form in tests. If he can't do anything in the tour match then my guess is that he won't be playing in the Ashes.

Starc is just in there for the experience. Let Johnson play in the tour match and Siddle isn't great in ODIs. IMO i'd rather Starc play.

Yeah fair enough agree with you then :thumbsu:

Haven't seen much of Starc so I guess I should keep an open mind there

[Bomber Bears]

Ponting isnt playing, has his grandmothers funeral to attend

[BarneyBent]

Its amazing that Katich was dropped from the ODI for exactly why people want Clarke up the top of the order. Scores too slow.

I wasn't convinced Katich should have been dropped from the ODI team. Wasn't it partially to do with not getting on with Gilchrist as well? I remember something vague about that.

Anyway, I maintain, we can afford to have Clarke opening when 2, 3, and 4 are Watson, Ponting and White. Also, probably unlike Katich, Clarke is capable of going over the field and hitting boundaries when he's set, it's just early in the innings that he's not great.

Having said that, Haddin might be a better option. I just don't think we quite have room for Marsh, which means being a bit make-shift with the opening pair.

[dare]

Don't be surprised if Mike Hussey is left out of the series so that he can play for WA in the 3 day warm up match against England at the WACA starting Friday. Would be better for him than a few one dayers, coming out to have a slog with few overs left in each.

I am a relative newcomer to the game of cricket and admittedly have very limited knowledge of its intricacies. Below is a quote from the online version of a national newspaper

"But the importance of the Sri Lanka series is trifling compared to the Ashes."

It is in an article relating to Mike Hussey's best preparation for Ashes. What bothers me about it is the disrespect that is being shown by the Aussies to the Sri Lankan and before that the Indian teams. As I recall some players were sent home early fronm the India tour apparently to help them prepare better for the Ashes. During the 20-20 match against the Sri Lankans the commentators said at least once that the Aussie team wasn't its best (ie that some players were deliberately left out - presumably to let them prepare better for the Ashes). Just think of the ways this is a slight to the other teams, the paying public and the notion of the best representing the country.

Any views?

[Phone]

everyone loves kat.

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh (so reluctantly)
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
Michael Hussey
Brad Haddin (+)
Steve Smith
John Hastings
Xavier Doherty
Mitchell Johnson
Clint McKay


ideally I could drop Marsh and open with Haddin. fun fact: in the 21 innings haddin has opened since 2008/he became the full time keeper, he averages 41.

[Phone]

no way they'll drop Mike Hussey...if he plays the fc game he'll fail and they'll have to drop him for the test, while if he plays the OD he'll go decently and they can pick him for the test.

[BarneyBent]

everyone loves kat.

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh (so reluctantly)
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
Michael Hussey
Brad Haddin (+)
Steve Smith
John Hastings
Xavier Doherty
Mitchell Johnson
Clint McKay


ideally I could drop Marsh and open with Haddin. fun fact: in the 21 innings haddin has opened since 2008/he became the full time keeper, he averages 41.

No Ponting?

And wow on Haddin. OK, Haddin definitely opens for me.

[BarneyBent]

I am a relative newcomer to the game of cricket and admittedly have very limited knowledge of its intricacies. Below is a quote from the online version of a national newspaper

"But the importance of the Sri Lanka series is trifling compared to the Ashes."

It is in an article relating to Mike Hussey's best preparation for Ashes. What bothers me about it is the disrespect that is being shown by the Aussies to the Sri Lankan and before that the Indian teams. As I recall some players were sent home early fronm the India tour apparently to help them prepare better for the Ashes. During the 20-20 match against the Sri Lankans the commentators said at least once that the Aussie team wasn't its best (ie that some players were deliberately left out - presumably to let them prepare better for the Ashes). Just think of the ways this is a slight to the other teams, the paying public and the notion of the best representing the country.

Any views?

You are completely correct, but that's just the way it is. The Ashes > all for the players, selectors, CA board, and the general public.

[Phone]

ponting's missing the first match to attend his grandmother's funeral

[thorne89]

I am a relative newcomer to the game of cricket and admittedly have very limited knowledge of its intricacies. Below is a quote from the online version of a national newspaper

"But the importance of the Sri Lanka series is trifling compared to the Ashes."

It is in an article relating to Mike Hussey's best preparation for Ashes. What bothers me about it is the disrespect that is being shown by the Aussies to the Sri Lankan and before that the Indian teams. As I recall some players were sent home early fronm the India tour apparently to help them prepare better for the Ashes. During the 20-20 match against the Sri Lankans the commentators said at least once that the Aussie team wasn't its best (ie that some players were deliberately left out - presumably to let them prepare better for the Ashes). Just think of the ways this is a slight to the other teams, the paying public and the notion of the best representing the country.

Any views?

Completely disagree.

It's showing disrespect to the form of the game rather than our opponents. We rate an important Test series over an essentially meaningless T20 and a few ODIs, which is fair enough I reckon.

[BarneyBent]

It's showing disrespect to the form of the game rather than our opponents. We rate an important Test series over an essentially meaningless T20 and a few ODIs, which is fair enough I reckon.

There's certainly an element of that, but even if it was a 2 Test series against Sri Lanka, our thoughts would still be looking ahead to the Ashes.

[thorne89]

There's certainly an element of that, but even if it was a 2 Test series against Sri Lanka, our thoughts would still be looking ahead to the Ashes.

We'd certainly be playing our best team in that hypothetical series though. Though it would give a good chance to blood one or two players in preperation for the Ashes, like a Khawaja or a Ferguson, it's not like those guys coming in would lessen our chances of winning said series.

[Phone]

cricket australia doesn't actually care about any team bar india, south africa and england.

[dare]

Completely disagree.

It's showing disrespect to the form of the game rather than our opponents. We rate an important Test series over an essentially meaningless T20 and a few ODIs, which is fair enough I reckon.

You addressed one of three elements which I thought was being 'disrespected' ie the opponents . What about the paying public? Isn't it entitled to watch the best team which the country can put up?

And what about the very notion having to be the best to be able to represent the country.

Blooding younger players with an eye on the futuer is one thing but in fact signalling to your opponent that we are not putting out our best team because playing you is actually unimportant to us is quite different - begs the question why play them in the first place? And if indeed the "form of the game' is the one that deserves disdain why play at all? Is that therefore collecting gate money and television income and advertising income under false pretences?

[Admiral Afterworld]

Wrong time zone in the OP is wrong.

[HSSB]

Wrong time zone in the OP is wrong.
What should it be haha?

[Admiral Afterworld]

EDT in some states.

[eddiesmith]

So with Ponting out that guarantees Marsh and Smith a run, hopefully means no Haddin at opener unless they try Watson at 3 again...Doherty also confirmed so Hauritz getting a rest, then hopefully Johnson also rested and the Vic attack can play

Marsh, Watson, Clarke, White, Hussey, Haddin, Smith, Hastings, McKay, Siddle

As for the disrespect argument, its hard not to look forward to a major test series, it is still the main form of the game. For the T20 there was only 2-3 players maybe different, but really why rob a player of 4 days of cricket for a 3 hour game on 1 day? It just doesnt make sense and is a problem with the packed schedules these day. Atleast this week there is no Shield matches clashing with the ODI series I dont think, just the WA tour game

[Cousin Jed]

Any views?

In 5 years time will you remember if we won or lost a 1 off T20 game against Sri Lanka? Will you remember if we won or lost the Ashes?

[HSSB]

EDT in some states.
okay so what do i change it to?

[Phone]

western australians :rolleyes:

[Pinitchio]

@HSSB

Don't want to sound too harsh, but the picture in the OP is probably the worst picture I've seen.

Try do it more like: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19469896#post19469896

Also change the title to 1st ODI

[OzBomber]

Was planning on going to this, but with quite a few outcomes at school soon and a fair bit of homework, I think I'm gonna have to stay home. And I think most of Melbourne will stay home as well.

Doubt there'll be more than 25,000 at the ground. Should've had the game on Monday with the T20 last Friday or Saturday.

[legend166]

I can't see our bowling attack fairing too well. Jayawardene and Sangakkara will eat them for breakfast.

[Phone]

hope sl bat second 'cause i'm gonna miss the first innings.

[Kahuna]

Sri Lanka are a massive show here, clint mckay ffs.

[BarneyBent]

Sri Lanka are a massive show here, clint mckay ffs.

McKay is a very decent OD bowler. Bowls tight lines and lengths with just enough movement to fool batsmen playing shots. Doesn't do enough to be a dominant Test bowler, he's just a McGrath-lite, and that sort of bowler needs a threshold of "specialness" to take them from being a predictable, vanilla bowler which can be blocked all day long to a line-and-length machine which is impossible to last against. McKay doesn't quite reach this threshold, Clark did for a while but succumbed to niggling injuries which pulled him below the threshold (no coincidence his performances dropped markedly, from being statistically the best bowler in the world to barely able to grab a wicket).

McKay almost certainly won't make it as a Test bowler, but he's very effective in ODIs.

[jonesy86]

i'm guessing there will be 18000 there today

[mattymac]

hussey will play for sure. i'd guess they'll be trying to hide him from the red ball:D

[beez]

Fingers crossed for a nice batting strip, always plenty of runs to be had with the wide spaces of the MCG.

[Cousin Jed]

hope sl bat second 'cause i'm gonna miss the first innings.

Australia have won the toss and batting first.

[Selective Retention]

LOL at the crowd. They would want a lot of people heading down after work.

[Selective Retention]

Nicholas is soft. It's t shirt and shorts weather and he is sooking about the cold wearing a suit.

[eddiesmith]

Nicholas is soft. It's t shirt and shorts weather and he is sooking about the cold wearing a suit.
Indeed, a beautiful summers day in Melbourne and its only Spring, going to be a wonderful, warm summer :)

Anyway interesting batting order, Haddin opening and Marsh at 6...

Haddin, Watson, Clarke, Hussey, White, Marsh, Smith, Hastings, Johnson, Siddle, Doherty

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (c)(w/k), Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasakera, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.

[Funkalicous]

Has anyone found an audio streaming for those of us at work? :)

[Drummond]

Nicholas and Healy talking about Mike Hussey's spot for the 1st Ashes Test:

"He's not seriously under the gun is he?"

"I don't think he's seriously under the gun, that's probably just media speculation not coming from the selectors".

England will smash us, we're so in denial. :rolleyes:

[The Falcon Strike]

Ok - so which selector has Siddle been giving speical attention to?

Siddle ahead of McKay is just ludicrous

[pinkus maximus]

fair enough having Marsh at 6. I think he has the ability to be a great opener for us in this form of the game but clearly the pressure of building an innings has got to him. Hopefully he'll be able to swing his arms lower in the order

[Johnson#26]

What's the crowd looking like? Will try and make it +1 in the SL innings.

[FRUMPY]

Ok - so which selector has Siddle been giving speical attention to?

Siddle ahead of McKay is just ludicrous

Listening to greg chappel on foxtel cricket, he was saying how siddle will probably be a big part of the ashes. I think Siddle has been picked for the 20/20 and the ODI series to get him as much cricket as possible at the highest level before the ashes.

[The Falcon Strike]

Listening to greg chappel on foxtel cricket, he was saying how siddle will probably be a big part of the ashes. I think Siddle has been picked for the 20/20 and the ODI series to get him as much cricket as possible at the highest level before the ashes.

What's he done? He was dropped from the test team - haven't exactly seend bundles of wickets.

[beez]

Has anyone found an audio streaming for those of us at work? :)
If you haven't found one yet, although I'm sure you have coz it's not that hard...

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/stories/2010/10/31/3053153.htm?site=sport&section=all

[Cousin Jed]

Good slower ball that one.

[maryjames]

What's the crowd looking like? Will try and make it +1 in the SL innings.
Looks like MCG has been moved to Sri Lanka.;)

[OzBomber]

Decided to go. Shit house crowd. About 500 Aussies here.

[Cotchin 9]

Was gonna go after my exam, decided to watch it at home.

Haddin in great touch and more Lankans in the crowd than Aussies :D.

[FRUMPY]

always was going to be a terrible crowd when you place a ODI in the middle of the spring carnival. Barely anyone knows it is on or could care less. Melbourne is in Racing mode att he moment. Melbourne cup yesterday, oaks day tommorrow.

Stupid programming by cricket australia

[rhaz]

Most people today either at work, at school, doing an exam, or studying for exams. No surprise at all that the crowd is average.

[GreekLunatic]

Wow that crowd looks like a ryobi cup crowd. Thank god for the Sri lankans for going to the game.

[krusden]

always was going to be a terrible crowd when you place a ODI in the middle of the spring carnival. Barely anyone knows it is on or could care less. Melbourne is in Racing mode att he moment. Melbourne cup yesterday, oaks day tommorrow.

Stupid programming by cricket australia

this.

should have been played in hobart or adelaide as opposed to melbs.

[stmookeyj]

I'm hoping I'm doing letter sorting today so I can listen to it. I always knew Sri Lanka had great support in Melbourne but crikey this is the biggest contingent of Sri Lankans I've seen (and heard).

[Selective Retention]

I wonder if Clarke will have the balls to open the bowling with Doherty tonight after their top order tore the pie chucking quicks apart the other night.

[legend166]

ABC commentary says Mendis is playing but that's not what cricinfo says. Anyone know?

[Cousin Jed]

He's not playing.

The guy doing the cricinfo commentary is coming across as a complete knob.

[rhaz]

Damn :( Clarke looked to be in good form again. Time for the Huss to strut his stuff, if Haddin continues this could be the partnership that sets up the game for us.

[rhaz]

Geez, unusual for Sanga to miss a stumping like that. Huss very lucky to get away with it.

[djrossie]

Tough stumping i thought

[djrossie]

Sri Lanka doing well now

[beez]

Catches win matches!

[legend166]

Steve Smith will save the day.

[djrossie]

Wow right on top now :D

[lemmon]

Lulz didnt know we collapsed in one dayers as well. Same old, same old

*edit- and im not sure Hussey has hit one yet, sloooooooow death

[Cotchin 9]

How's the crowd...haha.

[djrossie]

This is a great atmosphere for a small crowd

[jackster83]

Cameron White lol :o

[legend166]

Hussey is going to get runs and everyone will be all "Hussey is back!!" all the while forgetting he's never stopped dominating in ODIs whilst he kept sucking in Tests.

[Cousin Jed]

Perfect example of White's big weakness, has a really strange technique to those balls just hitting top of off.

[John Dorian]

Hate the uniforms.

We look like Pakistan FFS.

[beez]

Perfect example of White's big weakness, has a really strange technique to those balls just hitting top of off.
It really is amazing how often he gets bowled by a ball hitting the top of off stump.

[Kahuna]

Its all about the Commonwealth Bank.

[OzBomber]

Why did I go? This is ridiculously boring. Wish I was at home tbh.

[Rough_Edges]

How good was the Sri Lanka crowd when White got cleaned balled, they went mental!

Geez, Hussey looks rough, but battling away OK.

[beez]

Damn that trivia, atleast give us a bit of time to think about it :rolleyes:

[Badesumofu]

Geez, that commentator said that Australia occasionally collapse these days, and I thought to myself: occasionally?? you can almost rely upon it now... and then we did. Partially, at least.

Going to play Fallout: NV instead of watching this rubbish.

[BIGDAZR]

good to see alot of sri lanka supporters there shame they don't get to play on boxing day

[Eth]

Whenever I see Lasith Malinga I immediately think of lamingtons...

[Phone]

i don't think cameron white could have timed that golden duck any worse.

[Phone]

no way they'll drop Mike Hussey...if he plays the fc game he'll fail and they'll have to drop him for the test, while if he plays the OD he'll go decently and they can pick him for the test.

ladies and gentleman i am wizard.

[BarneyBent]

Damn, Smith was looking alright.

And Johnson in before Hastings? :confused:

[Hawks1523]

Boy am I glad I turned the cricket on. First time I checked we were 1/61. I leave for a few come back and see the next 3 wickets fall. :eek:

[lemmon]

Ahhh ffs, guess that guarantees no changes for the first test then

[Cotchin 9]

Perfect example of White's big weakness, has a really strange technique to those balls just hitting top of off.

This baffles me everytime aswell. Like it was a pretty good ball, but everytime he just hangs his bat on off stump. Hard to explain but yeah.

[Selective Retention]

There's like 5 whole bays of Sri Lankan supporters. I used to work with an Indian guy and I know they have massive ex-pat networks on facebook and whatever. They must have put the word out to get along to the G on a Sri Lankan one. Great effort :thumbsu:

[Underdog]

And Johnson in before Hastings? :confused:

Why not?

Johnson's average of 16.1 at a SR of 93.21 is very handy.

EDIT: I'm probably going to be proven wrong here...

[Cousin Jed]

An international cricketer capable of bowling yorkers. Well I'll be damned.

[BarneyBent]

Why not?

Johnson's average of 16.1 at a SR of 93.21 is very handy.

EDIT: I'm probably going to be proven wrong here...

Hastings is an allrounder, FC average of 30, List A average of 23. Johnson is a handy tailender, little more.

[Phone]

Why not?

Johnson's average of 16.1 at a SR of 93.21 is very handy.

EDIT: I'm probably going to be proven wrong here...

because johnson plays one good innings out of 10.



hussey showing why this innings is in fact not good. handy yes but one 4. If this was Clarke....!

[Cousin Jed]

If Hastings is considered an allrounder, then so is Johnson.

[Phone]

loving the sl crowd.

[magic_johnson!]

Is this a Sri Lankan home game or what?

[lemmon]

I guess we're also calling Doherty an allrounder after that display? :rolleyes:

[Phone]

the english guys are gonna be so happy with this Hussey innings. He's still having trouble getting the ball off the square, it's just that in ODers that can get you a single. In tests it won't.