Australia v Sri Lanka; 2nd Test @ Manuka Oval Feb 1-5.

[to1994]

In a way, this is good for Australia.

I can see Finch, Handscomb, SMarsh and even Mitch Marsh filling their boots against this attack and booking their tickets for the Ashes. And it would have been deja vu once again. Even if these guys fail in the Ashes, they're fairly young and will gain experience from that rather than say Finch or Shaun Marsh failing over there.

P.S.: I know it's a highly unpopular opinion but I get the feeling that Shaun Marsh may have been one of the more successful bats over in England if he hypothetically gets picked in the Ashes squad. Can't explain why but I feel he's good at hitting pretty 40s and 50s which will be valuable in the low scoring matches in England and atleast theoretically, he doesn't have any major flaw in his technique.

That's why I wouldn't mind Harris. Has a good technique and I'd back him to hit 40s-50s and prevent the collapses that lost us the Ashes back in 2015. Shaun Marsh should be capable but he's just way too prone to going for nothing that it's not worth it. Shane Watson is another who you could back for a reasonable score in all conditions and I'd expect Harris to be the same.

 

[swanssince2002]

I’d be jumping for joy if we did what the Australian cricket team did to England 30 years ago! Winning while developing baby. Would be amazing to see...

 

[PT Bar None]

... I've always liked Ussie but I fear his time may be up.

Same, and I fear how much toll the off field has taken on him this Summer




Oooh, declaration

 

[imperial_oz]

Declared earlier than I thought

I would have batted at least until tea and get them when they're tired

 

[Jimthegreat]

This is eerily similar to a few years ago when we replaced half the side and Handscomb and Renshaw were smashing Pakistan. It was hailed as the turn around Australian Cricket needed but it didn't take long for reality to set in.

I'm happy for Patterson, Head and Burns but it does need to be accepted that a hundred against this attack is worth less then a Sheffield Shield hundred (obviously not to them but it should be seen that way by the selectors).

The four remaining Shield games should be the biggest factor in selection of who takes the second openers spot and who bats at 6. I think Head has done enough over the whole summer to be a lock regardless of his Shield output but Bancroft and Renshaw should be in with just as much of a shot as Burns/Harris.

It's a start and it will be help by the return of Smith and Warner, which is the next Test actually, which might take some pressure off them

 

[Damon_3388]

It’s pretty much an identical record to Maxwells, great he is making runs here but the hyperbole is ridiculous.

If he played v India he may not even be in the team now

Well, you could argue that both should be in the side right now.

Ashes First Test side please:

Harris
Warner
Smith (Nut up and bat here!)
Head OR Wade
Patterson
Maxwell OR Head
Paine (+) (C)
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood
12th - Wade OR Maxwell

Not convinced on Labuschagne, and not picking him as an "all-rounder", either.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Arrhhhh stuff that

Boring now

Now watch Starc bowl pies

 

[BACCS]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

 

[Damon_3388]

Declared earlier than I thought

Soft. Should have let everyone have a bat and completely buried them.

 

[Richard Pryor]

Not a fan of this declaration, maybe rain on the forecast? Would have at least gone for 5 sessions before thinking about the declaration.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

Robbed himself of a ton

Couldn’t we have got 700+ jeez

 

[swanssince2002]

Get yer whips out for Starc. Doesn’t help that it looks like a road but stranger things have happened.

 

[Damon_3388]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

Why wouldn't he want to set records and crush the opposition with an innings victory?

There's ego-less leadership, then there's just soft boring wank.

 

[SportsCentre]

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[Woody15]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

Team player.

 

[Topkent]

That tells me Paine is worried about how much time we need for 20 wickets. We could have made 800 on that wicket

 

[Richard Pryor]

Why wouldn't he want to set records and crush the opposition with an innings victory?

There's ego-less leadership, then there's just soft boring wank.

This was my thoughts on Clarke declaring on his big 300 score. Declaring to look selfless more than to be selfless.

 

[Gough]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

He's only 16 off 1000 runs too.

 

[archibald]

Australian cricket looks back in business again. Should spank England.

Front dogging a state level attack. All is well with the world again and all our deficiencies can be forgotten until Jimmy's farewell tour of carnage

 

[to1994]

Why wouldn’t Paine want a 50?

Not everyone cares about padding their stats against a worse attack then they'll face at state level.

 

[Chaisa]

Not a fan of this declaration, maybe rain on the forecast? Would have at least gone for 5 sessions before thinking about the declaration.

Apparently some rain on Monday. Still the scoring rate is quick enough that there were runs left on the board. And while 534 is a big score, it's not quite "only two possible results left" either.

 

[The 4th Horseman]

Should have just made his 50 and then bailed haha. Ah well, Cummins and Jhye to wreck the top order again

 

[Damon_3388]

Front dogging a state level attack. All is well with the world again and all our deficiencies can be forgotten until Jimmy's farewell tour of carnage

State level is generous. Some batsmen here are doing better here than they do in Shield cricket.

Could have something to do with roads like this never being offered up in Shield cricket these days, too.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

Front dogging a state level attack. All is well with the world again and all our deficiencies can be forgotten until Jimmy's farewell tour of carnage

Shhhhhh...........Cricket Aus don't want the public thinking that way.

 

[Tassieboy]

Why would Paine bat like that only to declare? Silly.