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

[Adelaide Hawk]

Not sure scoring 100 against this attack is considered getting back into form.

It does in a way. His feet were moving much better as the innings progressed, and he wasn't reaching for balls he should be letting go. Would be very good for his confidence.

 

[Gough]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

There's a mental side to things as well and having four batsmen hit tons, two of them for the first side must do a lot for them upstairs regardless of opposition. Be nice to see them take this form into the Shield and carry on there now.

 

[to1994]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

Mate, playing people like Burns and Labuschagne is the real meaning of papering over the cracks. Usman has had a tough summer but he's shown in the past that he belongs at Test level. None of Burns, Lab, Patterson have shown they can do anything against decent opponents.

I feel like people just love the idea of new players sometimes and want to see anyone with a reasonable record thrown out because it's not as exciting.

 

[Pykie]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

Won't matter when he retires and people certainly don't factor it for every other players test records.

I mean, Tendulkar has 5 test hundreds against Bangladesh, a Bangaldesh team that would get beaten by an innings to their current team.

 

[The Convert]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

I know at least a couple of batsman who would like that 100. Poor bowling makes it easier but if it was genuinely ever easy everyone would be able to say they had a ton and as we kn ow tney cannot

 

[Sausages]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

You can only do it against the opposition you're facing - he did what you'd expect of a number 3, got a hundred at a good scoring rate.

 

[Damon_3388]

Good thing for him.

Good test numbers = better FC record.

Fair enough, I'm just talking about his Shield record, not including other FC matches or Tests. I think it's odd for someone to end up with a significantly better Test record with the bat than in the Shield. Generally, you'd expect the returns to go down the higher level you go, which is why giving Test caps to guys who don't even average 40 in the Shield is seen as risky business and a potentially futile exercise.

Perhaps our Shield bowling attacks are better than some international bowling attacks?

From an armchair expert perspective, it gives credence to the "there's just something about him" "gut feel" "potential" selections from the Aussie selectors, which is generally a bit annoying for the Internet know-all.

 

[Joffaboy]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

Didn't seem like a road when the Lankans batted.
Funny that.

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[TennisPlayerAndy]

I'm not sure we should be too worried about England.

They just got fisted twice by the West Indies.

Absolutely fisted.

 

[Charlie_s123]

Crabs are crabs. If you get them get rid of them really fast.

I appreciate the reason and sensibility you’ve brought to the debate.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Tad gloomy at Manuka.

 

[Damon_3388]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

Well Usman has tonned up after a duck in the first innings, so it's an improvement and a confidence boost.

Harris has been dismissed twice in the teens in this match, and Labuschagne has gone twice for single figures, so there's no guaranteed runs, even against this attack on a road.

I don't get why people would rather see failure continue, instead of a player turn it around. Seen it with Starc and Usman in this match. Are people really that tied to being right and seeing their favourite selections in the side?

 

[Len Nicodemo]

Yes, I know when I played, I loved the new ball. Hold the seam up, aiming for top of off stump, making the batsman play. On occasion we had quicker bowlers in the team who really preferred the older ball. Different strokes for different folks.

Getting the new ball was great. The best. Run in hard, hit the deck hard and send it through. You’ve got to look after that ball all innings though.

 

[Woody15]

Yeah so what, well done on him for making a hundred but it was against one of the worst bowling attacks in test cricket on a road. Feel like it is going to paper over the cracks a little bit.

Time in the middle would have done him good.

Id like to see him go on with it though in the Shield against better attacks. First match against a strong Victorian lineup will be a much sterner test IMO.

 

[to1994]

Fair enough, I'm just talking about his Shield record, not including other FC matches or Tests. I think it's odd for someone to end up with a significantly better Test record with the bat than in the Shield. Generally, you'd expect the returns to go down the higher level you go, which is why giving Test caps to guys who don't even average 40 in the Shield is seen as risky business and a potentially futile exercise.

Perhaps our Shield bowling attacks are better than some international bowling attacks?

From an armchair expert perspective, it gives credence to the "there's just something about him" "gut feel" "potential" selections from the Aussie selectors, which is generally a bit annoying for the Internet know-all.

Agreed, you can make the case for people like Head and Bancroft who were thrown into state level cricket early and had to get through a couple of tough seasons but the guys approaching 30 don't have that excuse. People talk up Burns' shield runs but a best case scenario would be averaging around 37 in Tests long term you would think. At that point I'd rather back one of Bancroft or Renshaw if they can find form in the Shield season.

 

[Gough]

Getting the new ball was great. The best. Run in hard, hit the deck hard and send it through. You’ve got to look after that ball all innings though.

Even better than that was standing at slip and watching an idiot fast bowler doing it.

 

[Joffaboy]

With Warner, Smith, and Bancroft, set to return and the blooding of some kids this summer things don't look to thin for bats.
Bancroft for Harris and Smith for Lausacombe and the starting 11 is competitive

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[Kyptastic]

Doing it despite not having a good-but-not-great Shield record, too - 63 matches, 116 innings, 36.08 average (7 hundreds, 25 fifties, 12 ducks) - and never really having a monster (800+ runs total, or 50+ average) season.

It's similar to Michael Clarke's numbers at his test debut, although Pup had a better century conversion rate:

"His first-class record read 48 matches for 3065 runs at an average of 37.84, with 11 fifties and 11 centuries"

https://www.theroar.com.au/2012/05/08/clarke-made-test-debut-with-sub-40-average-whos-next/

 

[DamoESP]

Wouldn’t surprise me if the people who are saying Uzzie has done nothing and this innings doesn’t count, are probably the same people that are saying Burns should be in the ashes squad for making runs against the same bowling attack.

Go figure.


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[Howard Littlejohn]

Tad gloomy at Manuka.

The radar suggests what little there is for now will sweep west and south of Manuka. Maybe just a fraction could hit, even if so probably not enough to go off early.

 

[weetert]

Won't matter when he retires and people certainly don't factor it for every other players test records.

I mean, Tendulkar has 5 test hundreds against Bangladesh, a Bangaldesh team that would get beaten by an innings to their current team.

I feel stuff like that is always taken into account. You'll never hear Sangakarra in the goat conversation for example.

 

[Joffaboy]

Well Usman has tonned up after a duck in the first innings, so it's an improvement and a confidence boost.

Harris has been dismissed twice in the teens in this match, and Labuschagne has gone twice for single figures, so there's no guaranteed runs, even against this attack on a road.

I don't get why people would rather see failure continue, instead of a player turn it around. Seen it with Starc and Usman in this match. Are people really that tied to being right and seeing their favourite selections in the side?

Yes they are.

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[SportsCentre]

Khawaja's time in the middle, and the ton it resulted in, has released a lot of personal demons, make no mistake about that.

 

[Len Nicodemo]

Faaaaark I’ve just cooked up the most perfect crunchy potatoes..... this is great

 

[Len Nicodemo]

Even better than that was standing at slip and watching an idiot fast bowler doing it.

We were the idiots until one of you plebs dropped a soda....