Is it actually possible.....?

[PhatBoy]

I think everyone has acknowledged that with the three guys suspended, Australia is a bit vulnerable to India next summer.

Not much mention however has been given to the fact that Sri Lanka come here as well.

Is there any remote possibility (and I realise that Herath aside, their attack is decidedly average) that they could do any damage?

 

[Belnakor]

Sri Lanka haven't played outside the sub continent for quite sometime, i would be surprised if we don't thrash them even with essentially our A side.

FWIW I think its unlikely Smith will still be suspended in the summer in any case.

 

[Doss]

No.

 

[KBLT]

If we lose the series to India and/or Sri Lanka here, relegate us to affiliate status.

 

[The Speaker]

If we lose the series to India and/or Sri Lanka here, relegate us to affiliate status.

Affiliates don't even exist anymore.

But if Australia loses to Sri Lanka, it may be worth re-creating it just for Australia.

 

[Marshland]

Folks panicking a wee bit here.

We'll demolish both India and Sri Lanka with zero sweat. There is simply no question of our standard at home.

 

[Doss]

Folks panicking a wee bit here.

We'll demolish both India and Sri Lanka with zero sweat. There is simply no question of our standard at home.

When shorn of three of our best bats, it’s a valid question.

India will be a struggle.

Sri Lanka however, not so much.

 

[The_Reaper]

Sri Lanka don't have the batting for our wickets and Herath is not going to be as dangerous here.

Genuinely worried about the India series.

 

[PhatBoy]

Folks panicking a wee bit here.

We'll demolish both India and Sri Lanka with zero sweat. There is simply no question of our standard at home.

A team that actually pushed SA harder than Australia did is touring here next summer. And Australia is now short of its two best batsmen, and probably its 4th/5th best. I would think that until the summer is over, there is a very big question over australia’s Home standard. Especially considering they lost there 18 months ago.

 

[Bradesmaen]

When shorn of three of our best bats, it’s a valid question.

India will be a struggle.

Sri Lanka however, not so much.

Bancroft one of our best bats? I suppose it is a home series so Warner counts due to his FTB nature on Australian pitches.

 

[Doss]

Bancroft one of our best bats? I suppose it is a home series so Warner counts due to his FTB nature on Australian pitches.

He was in the Test side and actually doing okay on that tour, so in most immediate form, yes one of our better performed.

 

[Bradesmaen]

He was in the Test side and actually doing okay on that tour, so in most immediate form, yes one of our better performed.

While that is true, that doesnt make him one of our best bats. Renshaw is a better bat, but obviously was out of the side.

 

[Taylor]

Two top ten batsmen in the world are missing from our side, one of them was our usual savior.

 

[Doss]

While that is true, that doesnt make him one of our best bats. Renshaw is a better bat, but obviously was out of the side.

I think we’re just arguing over use of term here. I’d rate Renshaw higher too, but Bancroft would have started the summer in the side if available, based on SA form.

 

[Wolfs]

I think everyone has acknowledged that with the three guys suspended, Australia is a bit vulnerable to India next summer.

Not much mention however has been given to the fact that Sri Lanka come here as well.

Is there any remote possibility (and I realise that Herath aside, their attack is decidedly average) that they could do any damage?

Sri Lanka has their own issues to sort out.

India I can see winning but SL nah

 

[The Passenger]

Even in the current situation losing the series to Sri Lanka on home soil would be unacceptable.

 

[golions]

Sri Lanka are rabble.

Khawaja to cash in I reckon

 

[DaRick]

Highly unlikely, even in this situation.

Herath actually has a fairly good record in Australia, but their pace attack is not really much to write home about and will struggle to take 20 wickets in Australian conditions.

India is the real worry for mine. They're as well placed as any Indian side to win here.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

If Australia has three of the best four quicks available and in moderate-to-good form, Sri Lanka shouldn't be a problem. Even India with their superior batting should struggle against the bounce in Australia. CA won't want green decks or there will be a few three day Tests.

 

[010203]

I think Australia will still have enough to beat Sri Lanka. India is a different story. Gut feel at the moment has India retaining the Border Gavaskar trophy on the back of a drawn series. The great thing for Australia is they'll still have, all going well, an excellent bowling attack that will hopefully cause some carnage to India's batting order. Probably have at accept the fact that Kohli will score 2-3 centuries though. India's bowling attack is none too shabby and will fancy itself to bowl well against a vulnerable Aussie batting lineup.

 

[PhatBoy]

If Australia has three of the best four quicks available and in moderate-to-good form, Sri Lanka shouldn't be a problem. Even India with their superior batting should struggle against the bounce in Australia. CA won't want green decks or there will be a few three day Tests.

Based on what they did in SA, India’s best chance would be if the decks actually were green. Kohli recently played one of the best tough-condition knocks this century. Rahane is proven away from home.

Australia’s advantage comes from the fact that two of their fast bowlers get decent life out of Australian pitches and the other relies on pace and movement in the air. India doesn’t have that, really. When put on a green top, that advantage is suddenly negated a lot - Shami and Kumar are both excellent seamers when the conditions are good, and even Sharma is a handful.

 

[Blue1980]

We would have to be playing at the standard we were in the 4th test to lose to Sri Lanka at home. Even then probably still not.

 

[frankrizzo]

It's unlikely although a two test series always gives the best shot at an upset, no way Sri Lanka win a longer series in England but they nicked that one a few years back.

 

[Doss]

Highly unlikely, even in this situation.

Herath actually has a fairly good record in Australia, but their pace attack is not really much to write home about and will struggle to take 20 wickets in Australian conditions.

India is the real worry for mine. They're as well placed as any Indian side to win here.

Then again, I thought the same before the 2011/12 series here. On paper at least, they seemed to have the edge.

It turned out to be as appallingly one-sided a series as any in Australia's heyday.

 

[archibald]

On Australian decks it's really all about comparing bowlers as the quality of bats is almost rendered meaningless due to the conditions in their favour. India will be a real challenge, although i can't see the Sri Lankan bowlers causing too much damage due to their lack of pace.