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

[Wedge McManus]

Poor old Michael Vaughan. Spent the early part of the summer smirking at the Australian batting ..... and then the Poms went to the West Indies

Lmao that wiped that smug look straight off his face

 

[Wedge McManus]

This is some mark Taylor pressure building on ussie for the next innings. Pretty much make or break you'd think

 

[Kram]

Did Brett make some sort of pact with the devil to slow down the aging process?? I've seen blokes in high school look ten years older than binga

Was just thinking the same thing, he's 42 looks about late 30s.

 

[Tiger Toffee]

Poor old Michael Vaughan. Spent the early part of the summer smirking at the Australian batting ..... and then the Poms went to the West Indies

This aussie team would be getting their arses kicked in the West Indies as well.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

That's am amazing statistic from Vaughan. Bairstow bats 3 for England, and he's been bowled 29 times.

 

[Kram]

You ready to apologise yet 'champ'
This wicket is terrible and it's not at all a contest between bat an ball.

The wicket is probably a bit too flat for my liking but your repetitive ranting about was pretty silly.

 

[Kram]

That was actually pretty funny from Howie.

 

[Blue1980]

The wicket is probably a bit too flat for my liking but your repetitive ranting about was pretty silly.

I’m not a fan of batting friendly wickets but this one seems like it’s changing, which is what a test wicket is supposed to do.

End of the day we have far less draws and much more entertaining test cricket than the 80s

 

[Topkent]

The wicket is probably a bit too flat for my liking but your repetitive ranting about was pretty silly.

I was responding to people who had qouted me.

 

[Topkent]

I’m not a fan of batting friendly wickets but this one seems like it’s changing, which is what a test wicket is supposed to do.

End of the day we have far less draws and much more entertaining test cricket than the 80s

It's too late now though the test is already over

 

[Blue1980]

That's am amazing statistic from Vaughan. Bairstow bats 3 for England, and he's been bowled 29 times.

Vaughan is right, their too reliant on cameos and hitting their way out of trouble.

They got away with it against India, but get some of their all rounder/keeper batsmen out of form we are a big show.

We have a world class spinner and they do not, so we need to be able to apply ourselves and bat long periods, like the windies just did in the 2nd test.

 

[eddiesmith]

With an Ashes series coming up, it’s great to see Starc cementing himself as Australia’s best bowler

 

[Some Idiot]

Can see potential in Marnus as an allrounder, I guess that's why he's been fast tracked.

 

[Wolfs]

Surely follow on?

Nope

 

[Wedge McManus]

I was responding to people who had qouted me.

No you weren't you posted about the wicket for hours before you were called out on it

 

[Kram]

If they made it too good for bowling the organisers were probably worried about a SL side that is traditionally poor in Australia getting bowled out for <100 first up and the match being over by lunch on day 3.

It's batting friendly but hardly impossible to get wickets if the bowlers bowl well. Also ranting about a wicket on the 1st couple of days is pretty stupid.

 

[Richard Pryor]

Nice to see a genuine no. 11 in Test Cricket.

Congrats to Starc on the five-for, is comparable to Burns 180 in all respects but still an achievement.

 

[Woody15]

Is the weather average the next 2 days?

 

[Chaisa]

Excellent work. Obviously this Lankan batting isn't great, but on this deck bowling them out for 215 is excellent.

 

[OffTheBit]

Hold that ball up high Mitch, this one has been brewing for a while. You cant keep a champion down, what a bowling display

 

[Blue1980]

Can see potential in Marnus as an allrounder, I guess that's why he's been fast tracked.

He’s a batsmen who bowls some leggies. If he’s going to make it, it will be for his batting

 

[Stax on the mill]

Alyssa pounding away on Twitter right at this moment. Well done, 5 for.

 

[Wedge McManus]

Hold that ball up high Mitch, this one has been brewing for a while. You cant keep a champion down, what a bowling display

Too right he was much better this innings

 

[The Passenger]

Young bloke probably needs more pressure on him Brett.

Injuries have always been part and parcel of quick bowling, but ever since the sports scientist guys have got their hands on the game we've never had more injuries, even though they constantly tell us their number one priority is injury management.... Go figure.

As for that youngster they had bowling - he looks pretty handy and has taken a stack of wickets in second grade wicket in his first year out of Green Shield (u/16's). That's no mean feat. There's only a handful of u/17 quick bowlers playing Sydney second grade in any given season and the majority of those do sweet heck all.

But yeah - as you say, no pressure at all. 3 first grade wickets to your name and lets stick you on national TV. Not the way I'd nurture talent, but hey ho.

Will be interesting to watch his progress as he's clearly been given the seal of approval from above.

(Not to denigrate the youngster or anything. Just the process they go through doesn't sit so well with me)

 

[The Casey Cat]

He bowled some good deliveries back of a length, with a vast majority still wide s**t or down leg side.

He went at over 4 an over against the worst batting lineup in world cricket.

You don’t need to be a strike bowler in England. You build pressure, put it in good area’s and the pitch will do the rest. McGrath has one of the best records there of all time for that reason, you don’t need to bowl jaffers, you just need to bowl consistently tight.

Is why we should pick Siddle.