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

[Adelaide Hawk]

He really can't do anything right for some posters can he?

One thing I've learned from this summer is if a wicketkeeper spends all day yapping away, apparently that's entertaining, but the moment an Australian fast bowler says anything, apparently that's unacceptable.

 

[Park cricketer]

For all the shit India (used to) England and Pakistan cop at least they have had some wins and been competitive at times. Sri Lanka just offer f all every time they come here.

All be it rocking up once every 6 years for a scratch match and 2 tests does make it hard.

Pakistan's bogey country has been Australia actually in the last two decades.

They always perform at their best in England but they've hugely underperformed in Australia. They were competitive during the heydays of Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz but it has been all one way traffic for them since them late 90s. They have been whitewashed on four tours ever since and it's been more than 20+ years since they won a test match in Australia. It's a bit funny because they always seem to play their best in England but struggle whenever they come to Australia and South Africa. It's bit of a southern hemisphere problem for them.

 

[Swanny69]

Well done to Australia, good to see the smiles back. It's a very likeable team actually and this is going to be a good personal boost for a lot of players. I thought Head was the standout performer with the bat during the entire summer, I'm still not yet entirely convinced about his technique, still feel he plays a lot with his hands more than his feet and is prone to playing across the line but what he lacks with his technique, he makes up with his mental strength and he has a very strong temperament. If he is scoring runs, then who am I to doubt him and legends like Steve Waugh probably didn't have the best of techniques, but he still was hugely successful with his strong temperament and mental fortitude. And test cricket is anyway more a 80% mental game and 20% technical game imo, so Head starts in the Ashes line up for me.

Well done to Starc, like I always said, he is a bowler who is hugely effective on flat wickets and unhelpful tracks far more than a juicy wicket with a lot of moisture in it. If the Australian team management were clever, they would play Starc in the matches at London where wickets tend to be on the flatter side (although Lords has offered help to bowlers in the past few matches) and be replaced by Richardson at Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, etc., where bowlers who genuinely swing the ball and accurate seam bowlers do well. However I don't think this will happen and Starc will most likely share the new ball with Hazlewood at Edgbaston. Cummins was a superstar throughout the entire summer and I've been hugely impressed with the young Richardson and if it were upto me, I'll have both sharing the new cherry at Edgbaston.

As for Sri Lanka, they have had tough tours to NZ and Australia now and then head to South Africa where it's not going to be easy at all. They are yet to win a test match in either Australia or India and while the team is probably lacking in experience and missing Mathews, I'm not sure how long one can use the excuse of a young team since Sanga and Mahela retired long ago and the likes of Chandimal, Karunaratne, Thirimanne are fairly experienced as well. Their administration is mired in controversies and their sports minister apparently is going to sack their coach and has the final power to give okay to the selected team before any tour which is ridiculous. I don't see any reason for a government official to interfere with the cricket administration but that's the way it has always been in Sri Lanka and unless they address these core issues, they will continue in their slump which is a bit unfortunate frankly.

Nice write up mate

 

[PhatBoy]

One thing I've learned from this summer is if a wicketkeeper spends all day yapping away, apparently that's entertaining, but the moment an Australian fast bowler says anything, apparently that's unacceptable.

From who?
No one says they can’t do it.

The point is, with half of them, it’s a complete act because someone - be it Shane Warne or someone else - has usually said ‘they need to be more aggressive.’

 

[Tiger Toffee]

Type of series that needs to be dumped in the middle of winter up in Darwin, that way no one will notice and won't be on tv due to AFL.

Worst test team in the world and anyone getting carried away with this series and thinking the aussies are back in town are deluded.

A 5th eleven would have won this series 2-0, that's how shit Sri Lanka are at test cricket at the moment.

 

[Wedge McManus]

Type of series that needs to be dumped in the middle of winter up in Darwin, that way no one will notice and won't be on tv due to AFL.

Worst test team in the world and anyone getting carried away with this series and thinking the aussies are back in town are deluded.

A 5th eleven would have won this series 2-0, that's how shit Sri Lanka are at test cricket at the moment.

Mere words can't describe how utterly shit Sri Lanka are right now. Or how bad ussies fielding is

 

[Doss]

Only defeat Australia suffered to someone other than India between 92-93 and the 05 Ashes iirc

Not quite; they lost to Pakistan in 1994-95.

 

[PhatBoy]

Not quite; they lost to Pakistan in 1994-95.

Ah true. Malik 237 series

 

[Doss]

Ah true. Malik 237 series

Well, among other things!

 

[Len Nicodemo]

Well done to Australia, good to see the smiles back. It's a very likeable team actually and this is going to be a good personal boost for a lot of players. I thought Head was the standout performer with the bat during the entire summer, I'm still not yet entirely convinced about his technique, still feel he plays a lot with his hands more than his feet and is prone to playing across the line but what he lacks with his technique, he makes up with his mental strength and he has a very strong temperament. If he is scoring runs, then who am I to doubt him and legends like Steve Waugh probably didn't have the best of techniques, but he still was hugely successful with his strong temperament and mental fortitude. And test cricket is anyway more a 80% mental game and 20% technical game imo, so Head starts in the Ashes line up for me.

Well done to Starc, like I always said, he is a bowler who is hugely effective on flat wickets and unhelpful tracks far more than a juicy wicket with a lot of moisture in it. If the Australian team management were clever, they would play Starc in the matches at London where wickets tend to be on the flatter side (although Lords has offered help to bowlers in the past few matches) and be replaced by Richardson at Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, etc., where bowlers who genuinely swing the ball and accurate seam bowlers do well. However I don't think this will happen and Starc will most likely share the new ball with Hazlewood at Edgbaston. Cummins was a superstar throughout the entire summer and I've been hugely impressed with the young Richardson and if it were upto me, I'll have both sharing the new cherry at Edgbaston.

As for Sri Lanka, they have had tough tours to NZ and Australia now and then head to South Africa where it's not going to be easy at all. They are yet to win a test match in either Australia or India and while the team is probably lacking in experience and missing Mathews, I'm not sure how long one can use the excuse of a young team since Sanga and Mahela retired long ago and the likes of Chandimal, Karunaratne, Thirimanne are fairly experienced as well. Their administration is mired in controversies and their sports minister apparently is going to sack their coach and has the final power to give okay to the selected team before any tour which is ridiculous. I don't see any reason for a government official to interfere with the cricket administration but that's the way it has always been in Sri Lanka and unless they address these core issues, they will continue in their slump which is a bit unfortunate frankly.

Strong mate.

Head has done well this summer overall. Initially I was sceptical of him as you say, with his footwork and playing across the line and not through it. But I guess there’s been plenty of unconventional techniques that have succeeded.

England will be a different beast. Even more so over there. Starc I see as being a destroyer. I’d like him to be used as an intimidator. Blokes that bowl 150 and can put it around the grill are pretty handy. This could almost be a Johnson type renaissance for him.

Richardson gets in over Hazelwood for me. Hazelwood just doesn’t convince me. I haven’t been thrilled with him for a while. His action falls away and once the new ball wears away he just bowls to full. I’d really like to see Worrall get a go over there, but that’s only if Richardson is struggling. Then if course Pattinson if fit. So many players to fit in, so hard. Would love to see us start with Starc, Pattinson and Cummins if Pattinson can get fit and hit the second half of the shield season properly.

 

[PhatBoy]

Well, among other things!

Haha indeed. Ironic that the acknowledged birth of modern match throwing took place during a series in which the architect hit two hindreds in three matches

 

[Leeda]

One thing I've learned from this summer is if a wicketkeeper spends all day yapping away, apparently that's entertaining, but the moment an Australian fast bowler says anything, apparently that's unacceptable.

Fast class to crunch time
No that dwells on borderline crunch time..

 

[worbod]

What lasted longer? Fernando at the crease, or the Sri Lankan national anthem?

Perhaps next time Fernando needs to tune in to the Sri Lankan crowd members who are singing and playing instruments in order to help him relax. Then we could ask him, "Can you hear the drums Fernando?"

 

[PhatBoy]

Perhaps next time Fernando needs to tune in to the Sri Lankan crowd members who are singing and playing instruments in order to help him relax. Then we could ask him, "Can you hear the drums Fernando?"

Reported

 

[worbod]

Reported

Mamma mia!

 

[Chaisa]

Only defeat Australia suffered to someone other than India between 92-93 and the 05 Ashes iirc

Pakistan 1994-95. Though Australia were probably still the better team despite the result, lol.

 

[PhatBoy]

Pakistan 1994-95. Though Australia were probably still the better team despite the result, lol.

Yeah Doss corrected me earlier - the series win cake courtesy of 4 byes down the leg side off Warne (?) possibly in a one wicket win for Pakistan?

 

[Cleavy]

Perhaps next time Fernando needs to tune in to the Sri Lankan crowd members who are singing and playing instruments in order to help him relax. Then we could ask him, "Can you hear the drums Fernando?"

*insert Kerry O'Keeffe laughter*

 

[Leeda]

Mamma mia!

No there ain't mammas or Mia'ss so what is your point..?

 

[Leeda]

*insert Kerry O'Keeffe laughter*

and you're a disgrace.. no comment... dude...

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Absolutely pathetic once again from Sri Lanka. Really don't want to see them out here again. Let's give NZ more tests here. If teams don't have the guts to compete they can piss off

Turn it up, that could be said about the Aussies on tour at times.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

To continue the Starc bashing despite him finding his feet, it's incredible how different his body language is when he's taking wickets compared to when he's struggling. If he was a chess player he'd resign as soon as he lost a piece.

That is the thing that is most discouraging about him... Apart from how foul he can be with the new ball.

James Anderson used to be appalling for body language, head down around his toes when things weren't going his way. He has grown up in that department so hopefully Starc can too.

 

[Leeda]

Turn it up, that could be said about the Aussies on tour at times.

sucking lemons.. dude these are so easy to overturn and crush in my 'tiny' fingers....

 

[Doodlesweaver]

They’ve had their moments individually but never had the team to succeed here.
They drew a test at the Gabba in 1990 on the back of a big hundred from Aravinda, from memory Asanka Gurusinha (Melbourne) and Jayasuriya (Adelaide) both hit hundreds during the Murali no-ball tour in 95-96 but they got beaten pretty comfortably.

They drew a test in Cairns during the top end series 12 or 13 years back when Attapattu hit a ton but they were probably lucky to get it.

Sanga hit that hundred in Bellerive when they were chasing a million before he was given out caught behind when he may as well have picked the ball up and thrown it to the fielder for all the bat that was on it.

They still needed nearly 100 at that point though.

Most of australia’s wins have been by more than 100 runs or a heap of wickets.
They simply haven’t ever had an attack capable of taking 20 wickets here.

Unless you count the likes of Ratnayake from their 89-90 tour (and he was pants) the only decent quicks they’ve ever had are Malinga and Vaasy and Malinga wasn’t even that good.

That Sanga innings was a marvel, jeebus, even he must have kicked a locker or two in the change room over that decision.

 

[PhatBoy]

That Sanga innings was a marvel, jeebus, even he must have kicked a locker or two in the change room over that decision.

Just from the memory I have of watching it at the time, he was actually so miffed at just how bad it was that he walked off laughing.

That innings was ridiculous, went from a ‘wow the Macgill full-toss assembly line is sure working well today’ cameo into a no f***s given smashathon