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

[Jimthegreat]

Starc cashing in with late junktime wickets again.

At 3 out, or 2 as it was at the time, it's not exactly junk time. He's got a bit wiser and adjusted his length for the conditions.

 

[Wedge McManus]

Straightened up a bit. Great ball.

What a shame Topkent is missing this bounce and turn from Lyon and some seam movement from Cummins.

Yea it's a huge shame but I guess he's busy eating humble pie

 

[Admiral Byng]

‘Bloody Starc, can’t take a wicket to save himself’. Starc takes wicket. ‘What a shit wicket, so lucky’. FMD

You can't pretend that was a plan: "let's bowl a short one and see if we can get the batsman out shaping to hook one but then changing his mind and trying to pull out of the shot but too late, and glove one through to the keeper."

 

[Jimthegreat]

Lyon in the 4th innings will be a handful.

 

[red+black]

crowd 11,388, there have been 18 larger AFL crowds - https://afltables.com/afl/crowds/vn_manuka_oval.html

 

[Charlie_s123]

You can't pretend that was a plan: "let's bowl a short one and see if we can get the batsman out shaping to hook one but then changing his mind and trying to pull out of the shot but too late, and glove one through to the keeper."

Because every wicket is meticulously planned and executed. Give me a break.

 

[Doss]

You can't pretend that was a plan: "let's bowl a short one and see if we can get the batsman out shaping to hook one but then changing his mind and trying to pull out of the shot but too late, and glove one through to the keeper."

Good short balls can create indecision, which is entirely the point.

It was a decent ball and people could probably scope out from the incessant trashing of him (and I fully agree he's been crap of late) for one second to at least acknowledge that.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Better from Starc and he is bending his back but this around the wicket stuff is bull shit. Get over the wicket and bowl at off.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Bowling rubbish down leg. Making it easy for the batsman.

 

[Richard Pryor]

Because every wicket is meticulously planned and executed. Give me a break.

The flaw with Starc at the moment is that he bowls a lot of random tripe, so getting a wicket with a random short ball doesn't really remove the doubts around him. I do think it does show that he's still a lethal limited overs bowler though, where bowling variably and then pulling the wicket taker out of the back pocket works for an extended period of time.

 

[Bedi]

at least he made him play for one ball there.

 

[Jimthegreat]

We bowled alot better in that last hour. A bit smarter.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Because every wicket is meticulously planned and executed. Give me a break.

You can't pretend he has bowled with any consistent control over where he is landing them. It's a shotgun approach where he occasionally lands one in the right spot.

 

[Wedge McManus]

He was looking a lot better towards the end there. Just starting to get things going nicely

 

[Jimthegreat]

The flaw with Starc at the moment is that he bowls a lot of random tripe, so getting a wicket with a random short ball doesn't really remove the doubts around him. I do think it does show that he's still a lethal limited overs bowler though, where bowling variably and then pulling the wicket taker out of the back pocket works for an extended period of time.

A bit like Johnson during the first half of his career. Every so often an unplayable ball or unplayable spell mixed with plenty of shit.

 

[Jimthegreat]

You can't pretend he has bowled with any consistent control over where he is landing them. It's a shotgun approach where he occasionally lands one in the right spot.

Thought he was better when he adjusted his length for the conditions. He's needs to do that all the time rather spend alot of time bowling shit.

 

[Charlie_s123]

The flaw with Starc at the moment is that he bowls a lot of random tripe, so getting a wicket with a random short ball doesn't really remove the doubts around him. I do think it does show that he's still a lethal limited overs bowler though, where bowling variably and then pulling the wicket taker out of the back pocket works for an extended period of time.

Players have ups and downs. The way people carry on about him you’d think he was some sort of cricketing double agent working against Australia.

 

[OffTheBit]

Great plan from Starc, glad the captain backed his idea and its paid dividends. Credit to Starc for being able to execute with precision as well. Not a whole lot of bowlers around who can do that at this point in time

 

[swanssince2002]

Even though Starc has looked ok the least few overs... reckon he might need to be on the sidelines like Johnson did and come back an absolute beast.

 

[Nel_cats]

There is absolutely no way Starc is getting dropped. The only way I can see Richo starting in England is for Hazlewood

 

[Richard Pryor]

Players have ups and downs. The way people carry on about him you’d think he was some sort of cricketing double agent working against Australia.

He's been down for a while, averaging 37.75 at a 70 SR for his last eight Tests. Do think the hate is a bit enhanced by the commentary (except Warne) still carrying on about him like he's a bowling genius getting robbed though.

 

[Doss]

You can't pretend he has bowled with any consistent control over where he is landing them. It's a shotgun approach where he occasionally lands one in the right spot.

No one here (commentators are a different story) is actually pretending he's been consistent in his control though. All they're saying is that credit applies where it's due for a legitimately good short pitch ball. That is all.

And I'm sorry to say but it seems some people are currently so locked into giving it to him with both barrels that on the (admittedly rare at the moment) occasions where he gets it right, they still can't see beyond the red mist; it's just a lucky wicket or another Starc pie.

 

[Charlie_s123]

He's been down for a while, averaging 37.75 at a 70 SR for his last eight Tests. Do think the hate is a bit enhanced by the commentary (except Warne) still carrying on about him like he's a bowling genius getting robbed though.

Commentators have their agendas so I can’t really comment on that. But the whole team took a bit of a hit from the absolute shellacking they got from ‘Sandpapergate’, so I don’t think it’s justified throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[to1994]

Good ball and a better spell from Starc towards the end but can we at least plan smart going to England for once?

Starc has shown he's not very good over there as it is, he's not suited to it and given he's not at his best and averages nearly 30 with the ball he should not be a certain starter. Our only hope of winning is to out bowl them and put a few decent innings together with guys who aren't completely suspect in those conditions. Burns is one so he can't play, Head probably is but has earned the chance to at least have a shot, Patterson is probably the other who'll play at 6, all this pending on Shield form of course.

As for the bowlers, the starters should be Cummins, Hazlewood and Richardson with reserve options being Siddle, Starc and one other such as Sayers/Behrendorff/Tremain.

Starc can be an option if there's a flat wicket on offer like Lords/The Oval depending on how they shape up compared to last time.

 

[Doss]

Good ball and a better spell from Starc towards the end but can we at least plan smart going to England for once?

Starc has shown he's not very good over there as it is, he's not suited to it and given he's not at his best and averages nearly 30 with the ball he should not be a certain starter. Our only hope of winning is to out bowl them and put a few decent innings together with guys who aren't completely suspect in those conditions. Burns is one so he can't play, Head probably is but has earned the chance to at least have a shot, Patterson is probably the other who'll play at 6, all this pending on Shield form of course.

As for the bowlers, the starters should be Cummins, Hazlewood and Richardson with reserve options being Siddle, Starc and one other such as Sayers/Behrendorff/Tremain.

Starc can be an option if there's a flat wicket on offer like Lords/The Oval depending on how they shape up compared to last time.

Given the complete dearth of good batting this summer before this series, writing off Burns as a can't play when he's just made 180 seems a bit much.

I know Sri Lanka are rubbish and I know that his technique could well be found wanting there, but the cupboard is still pretty bare so it's not like we're blessed for ready made alternatives that are without doubt a better option.