***Official*** Sri Lanka in Australia

[silentstriker]

I wonder if people were saying the same thing about the Windies when you could feel safe betting your house on them in the 80s. Did people not want to watch their game?

I don't know about people - but I wouldn't really want to watch a 5-0 series against England. Sometimes, due to the fast bowling, its fun watching in spurts - but you can watch that later and fast forward through the not-as-high-quality spells. The game as a whole wouldn't be fun for me to watch. And the bowling of this Aussie team is nowhere near the 80s Windies anyway, so even that is no fun.

SS, surely you at least get joy out of watching some of the finest cricketers of this era ply their trade?

Not when the 'finest' cricketers on one side are clearly vastly superior to those on the other. It's like watching professionals play amateurs. It loses its novelty real quick and you just want to see some good cricket between evenly matched teams - or at least teams close enough so that the result is in doubt.

 

[Prince EWS]

Being a bit generous. I would say 'it will require divine intervention'.

I could definitely see South Africa doing it, TBH, as much as you hate South Africa.

 

[silentstriker]

I could definitely see South Africa doing it, TBH, as much as you hate South Africa.

Not anymore - I'm actually starting to like Graeme Smith. Which scares the hell out of me.

 

[silentstriker]

And no, South Africa will not win a Test in Australia soon. I still rate England as the better overall team.

 

[Prince EWS]

And no, South Africa will not win a Test in Australia soon. I still rate England as the better overall team.

Well they aren't actually touring any time soon. I'd be quietly backing them if they came over next summer though, especially if they could get their selectorial issues sorted. Their batsmen are the most technically equipped to deal with Australian pitches (other than Australia's, obviously) and their attack has improved quite a bit since the last time they were here. Steyn is really starting to become a rounded bowler and if they realised Pollock added much more than Nel to the team and managed to get Rudolph back from Yorkshire, I really think they'd give Australia a run for their money.

 

[sideshowtim]

Neil Harvey. What a legend. Well spoken bloke.

 

[silentstriker]

Well they aren't actually touring any time soon. I'd be quietly backing them if they came over next summer though, especially if they could get their selectorial issues sorted. Their batsmen are the most technically equipped to deal with Australian pitches (other than Australia's, obviously) and their attack has improved quite a bit since the last time they were here. Steyn is really starting to become a rounded bowler and if they realised Pollock added much more than Nel to the team and managed to get Rudolph back from Yorkshire, I really think they'd give Australia a run for their money.

The batting is still too reliant on 1-2 people. And while their bowling is improving, I can't see them taking 20 Aussie wickets.

 

[sideshowtim]

The batting is still too reliant on 1-2 people. And while their bowling is improving, I can't see them taking 20 Aussie wickets.

And I believe one of those people, Kallis, doesn't have a tremendous record down here.

 

[silentstriker]

And I believe one of those people, Kallis, doesn't have a tremendous record down here.

It's below his standard but still averages almost 50. And he fixed that up a bit last time he came over when he averaged 64.33.

And in fact, in his four series down under, he averages 34.50, 49.0, 83.0 (only one match), 64.33.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

                     Mat  Runs  HS   BatAv 100  50   W    BB  BowlAv 5w  Ct St
unfiltered           109  8851 189*  57.10  27  45 216  6/54   31.64  4 107  0
filtered               9   728 111   48.53   2   3  12  3/45   47.00  0   9  0

Not so suss, imo. Bowling sub par, though.

 

[Prince EWS]

The batting is still too reliant on 1-2 people. And while their bowling is improving, I can't see them taking 20 Aussie wickets.

Of all the teams though, I think they'd be the least effected by Australian conditions. They may not be as good as Australia, but I don't think the conditions will effect them as they do every other team.

 

[Johnners]

Stuey!!

Lee for Man of the Match imo. Sure Clarke, Hussey & Jaques made tons on a belter, but it was Lee's bowling performance that won us the match.

 

[Dark Hunter]

And it's all over. Completely agree with SS. Would much rather watch an exciting test/series than Australia just dominating over and over.

 

[silentstriker]

The slaughter ends. When is the next slaughter?

 

[sideshowtim]

Excellent victory! Very impressed with that performance, especially considering we've just lost 2 of the best to ever play the game. Lee really stood up and was the pick of the bowlers easily. He was very impressive and seems to be relishing taking a lead role. Good on him.

 

[sideshowtim]

13 in a row too which is even more impressive. 19 consecutive undefeated too.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Of all the teams though, I think they'd be the least effected by Australian conditions. They may not be as good as Australia, but I don't think the conditions will effect them as they do every other team.

Possibly, but then they've come over here before with big wraps on them and been flogged.

 

[sideshowtim]

So we've got the trophy secured now? Because we won the last series against SL?

Or is the W-M trophy a 'whole new start' thing?

 

[Prince EWS]

Possibly, but then they've come over here before with big wraps on them and been flogged.

The Australian side isn't quite as strong anymore though, and they really didn't embarress themselves at all last time they were here despite the final scoreline. They competed well.

 

[Son Of Coco]

...and the cricket leads into the Coalition launch, I nearly threw up my recently eaten sandwich 10 seconds into the opening address.