***Official*** Sri Lanka in Australia

[Prince EWS]

If Australia didn't go to India or played an under strength side in South Africa you guys would be worried about the lack of match fitness of key players. Six months without any cricket is worse then having two back to back series. Two FC matches isn't enough cricket in the lead up to a Test Series.

I'd much rather Australia play Australia A in four first class matches before the Pura Cup started than play seven one dayers in India though. You don't have to play no cricket; just the right cricket.

 

[Richard]

Only one match that doesn't clash with State matches.

Really rather begs the question, I suppse, then, of why not try and schedule 3 or 4 state games before the opening Test of a summer.

Obviously, in the rare event of England finishing a winter tour in February, international players get a full pre-season and 3 or 4 Championship games before starting the Test season. Obviously, with less games in Australia that's not so easy to do.

And this season is clearly an unusual one ITFP.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Tharmi, any change of Malinga Bandara appearing in one of these test matches?. He's always really impressed me in the recent one day matches I've seen and I feel that he at least deserves another shot at test cricket, or would Herath and Lockurachi (sp) be ahead of him?

 

[chaminda_00]

I'd much rather Australia play Australia A in four first class matches before the Pura Cup started than play seven one dayers in India though. You don't have to play no cricket; just the right cricket.

Those fixtures would never realistically be considered by CA, no money in it. Having Sri Lanka play Australia A in a couple matches or even one would be realistic though. Having the likes of Jaques, Rogers, Voges, Symonds, Watson, MacGill, Tait, Johnson and Hilf play would give the Australians decent preparation.

 

[chaminda_00]

Really rather begs the question, I suppse, then, of why not try and schedule 3 or 4 state games before the opening Test of a summer.

Obviously, in the rare event of England finishing a winter tour in February, international players get a full pre-season and 3 or 4 Championship games before starting the Test season. Obviously, with less games in Australia that's not so easy to do.

And this season is clearly an unusual one ITFP.

It to do with the Australian fixtures and starting with a week of Grade Cricket, then 2 weeks of OD Cricket. Then a couple weeks of half FC fixtures. Basically in the two months they hardly play any FC Matches. Then once Test Cricket starts you get a flood FC matches. Also the Brisbane Test im pretty sure is at the same it always is. Its just the Indian Tests that have been put back.

 

[chaminda_00]

Tharmi, any change of Malinga Bandara appearing in one of these test matches?. He's always really impressed me in the recent one day matches I've seen and I feel that he at least deserves another shot at test cricket, or would Herath and Lockurachi (sp) be ahead of him?

If Murali is near 100% we may not even take a 2nd spinner on the tour. Most likely they will pick a 5th seamer over a 2nd spinner. If they pick a spinner Lokuarachchi is the favorite for the spot. Bandara's bowling gone really flat due to lack of game time. His basically turned into a net bowler.

 

[Matt79]

That's a pity, I thought he looked quite promising last time he was here.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Yeah, bowled very, very well in the VB 06 series if I remember.

 

[Richard]

Not really. Had 2 good games (both against South Africa) and 6 bad ones.

Always thought people went a bit OTT about his performances that series.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

It's more the fact that he was an accurate, aggressive leg spinner who turned the ball that excited people than his figures. Murali got pounded a few times in that series too, but if it had been his debut people certainly would have seen something in him. The same applies to Bandara. Australia just batted very well at times.

 

[Richard]

He didn't turn the ball extraordinarily, though - he never has. His accuracy was good but not extraordinary.

In any case, people have claimed that he actually bowled well, not that he demonstrated he had potential. And while there may be some claim on the former, the latter would be wholly inaccurate IMO.

 

[Perm]

In any case, people have claimed that he actually bowled well, not that he demonstrated he had potential. And while there may be some claim on the former, the latter would be wholly inaccurate IMO.

It was a combination of both IMO. I watched that series and thought he had a bit of potential, particularly given he was a handy batsman and fielder. He bowled well in games, as you said, and poorly in otheres, but a lot of the hype surrounding him was because of his potential, not because he bowling superbly.

 

[Matt79]

Yeah, just checked him on Cricinfo and was surprised to find he's nearly 28 - for some reason I thought he was about 23 when he was last here. I was going to say I thought he'd demonstrated a bit for such a young spinner, but that's not quite as true as I thought. I certainly didn't think he was Bill O'Reilly reborn, but he looked likely to be useful in the future, albeit still a bit raw and inconsistent. A young leggie must be about the most fragile commodity in cricket, so I hope he finds a bit of form sometime soon. As mentioned, he was certainly a useful bat down the order as well.

 

[JASON]

Bandara has gone useless since his last VB series appearance. Even then his fingures looked better than Murali's because , Murali was bowling then during power plays (which went for 20 overs then -with Murali bowling from Overs11 on wards) and because the batsmen did not want to take risks vs Murali , they chanced their arm against Bandara and ended up losing their wickets to him...so he appeared to have a few more wickets than Murali with fewer runs conceded for these reasons...

 

[JASON]

My selection for Sri Lankan Test squad-

Jayasuriya
Vandort
Tharanga
Warnapura
Samaraweera TT +/- MDK Perera
Sangakkara WK
Kaushal Silva WK
Jayawardene Mahela
Chamara Silva
Dilshan
Vaas
Malinga
Dilhara
Murali
? Amerasinghe
? WRS De Silva

I really don't think SL will fill the squad with another spinner provided Murali is fit.
I hope Kaushal Silva gets picked as Sangakkara's understudy...SL may take 2 or 3 seamers apart from the expected usual 4 (Murali, Vaas, Dilhara, Malinga).

 

[chaminda_00]

Pretty sure we will only pick a 13 or 14 man squad, its only a 2 Test series. If they pick the extra seamer it will be 14. Perera isn't really a Test option, he mainly just plays One Day matches for Sri Lanka A. I would like to see Silva get picked buts its unlikely. Maharoof will probably get a run in the squad, with De Silva as the extra seamers.

Most likely squad (not the one i want though):
- Jayasuriya, Tharanga, Vandort, Sangakkara (k), M Jayawardene (c), Silva, Muburak, P Jayawardene (k), Vaas, De Silva, Dilhara, Malinga, Murali

Muburak and P Jayawardene are pretty much automatic picks for various reasons. De Silva will probably get the reserve seamer spot after a half decent Test against Bangladesh and Maharoof having dire series against them.

Warnapura and K Silva should be choosen ahead of Muburak and Prassana but it wont happen. Hopefully they just play Vandort at 3 and let Sangakkara keep and bat down the order.

 

[JASON]

Pretty sure we will only pick a 13 or 14 man squad, its only a 2 Test series. If they pick the extra seamer it will be 14. Perera isn't really a Test option, he mainly just plays One Day matches for Sri Lanka A. I would like to see Silva get picked buts its unlikely. Maharoof will probably get a run in the squad, with De Silva as the extra seamers.

Most likely squad (not the one i want though):
- Jayasuriya, Tharanga, Vandort, Sangakkara (k), M Jayawardene (c), Silva, Muburak, P Jayawardene (k), Vaas, De Silva, Dilhara, Malinga, Murali

Muburak and P Jayawardene are pretty much automatic picks for various reasons. De Silva will probably get the reserve seamer spot after a half decent Test against Bangladesh and Maharoof having dire series against them.

Warnapura and K Silva should be choosen ahead of Muburak and Prassana but it wont happen. Hopefully they just play Vandort at 3 and let Sangakkara keep and bat down the order.

There are 2 practice games as well, I think 15 man squad is minimum requirement even if it was only 2 Tests.

If Mubarak and Jayawardene get picked and SL lose which is a possible scenario, then the selectors who pick those 2 guys will need to be publicly shamed and whipped.

Maharoof is definitely not a Test quality bowler as he has shown time and again, so it would be expected that he is not picked for the Test leg of the tour.

This series IMHO is the best opportunity to bring Kaushal Silva in..even if he doesn't end up playing in the tests...just to see how he performs in tour matches...as part of the squad... Picking Prasanna J into the final Test XI is like SL giving the Aussies an early advantage even before the game gets going ...

 

[James]

Hussey looks towards first Test

 

[JASON]

SL bowlers will definitely be pleased if Hussey does not make it in time, but good luck to him. I hope he makes it though...a nice guy and great to watch when he gets going...usually maximises Australia's advantage that has been establish by the top order...and makes it impossible for the oppositions to come back...


As far as Murali injury goes ....I am starting to think Murali may only play in Hobart ....and quite likely to miss Brisbane... and with that extremely unlikely to break Warne's record in Australia...

Predictions for the Series...

I wish SL could win 1-0

But I suspect Australia will win 2-0 with or without Murali...

 

[Lostman]

Predictions for the Series...

I wish SL could win 1-0

But I suspect Australia will win 2-0 with or without Murali...

much much better, so happy to see you back to your pessimistic self, was a bit worried when you said that SL will beat Aus about a month ago.