***Official*** Sri Lanka in Australia

[JASON]

What about Fernando? At least Maharoof bowled well in the Second Test...from what I can see Fernando is being given a thousand opportunities to prove he isn't rubbish and isn't intent on taking them at the moment.

I know what you are saying, but Fernando despite leaking runs always gets a few wickets ...Maharoof can't buy wickets for a million dollars...thats the difference..

Sri Lanka really doesn't have too many others but there really was a need to play the best 3 bowlers together ...which didn't happen in any of these 2 tests...

Sri Lanka really has a shortage of quality seamers...and thats the underlying problem..selections are controlled by Politics..there were chaps like Sujeewa De Silva etc..who probably could've been brought along and wouldn't have done any worse than Maharoof.. Maharoof IMO has a powerful group backing him and these type of selections to justify quotas are ruining Sri Lanka Cricket..

 

[JASON]

All 5 of Sri Lanka's bowlers (Vaas, Malinga, Murali, Fernando, Maharoof) averaged over 100! Only Sanath was at 48 with his part time spin.

Is this also some sort of a record? Reads like it.

Wonder how (Kumble, Zaheer, Sreesanth, RP, Pathan, Harbhajan) will fare next month!

They will fare a lot better if the Captain reads the pitch correctly and manages to win the Toss more often than not and makes the right call...

I think Test Cricket is getting predictable and the ICC needs to seriously look at abolishing the Toss and giving the benefit to the visiting Captain (Team) as Gavaskar suggested. Home Teams derive huge advantage without the Toss and by allowing the Visiting Captain the right to choose there is at least a small amount of neutralising of this advantage..

 

[Son Of Coco]

How does he have it wrapped up if he is making runs when the pressure is slightly of? Would be different if Australia were 4/136 for example when he strides to the crease, not when he comes in at 4/442 after Hussey and Clarke have made a massive stand in between.

Mind you with Shane Watson more injury prone then a New Zealand cricketer I can see otherwise.

You can't really belittle a bloke for scoring as many runs as he could when given the chance and not getting out. He did all he could given the situation. Speculating whether he'll perform under pressure or not is pretty pointless...we won't know until it happens, and then if he doesn't he'll have a problem.

 

[andyc]

In South Africa's current form, and without McGrath and Warne I will bet a million dollars that result in SA will never be repeated and if anything it could be 3-0 the other way or at least 2-1 to SA if it were played today.

Another one of your well thought out predictions, I see Jason.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I know what you are saying, but Fernando despite leaking runs always gets a few wickets ...Maharoof can't buy wickets for a million dollars...thats the difference..

Sri Lanka really doesn't have too many others but there really was a need to play the best 3 bowlers together ...which didn't happen in any of these 2 tests...

Sri Lanka really has a shortage of quality seamers...and thats the underlying problem..selections are controlled by Politics..there were chaps like Sujeewa De Silva etc..who probably could've been brought along and wouldn't have done any worse than Maharoof.. Maharoof IMO has a powerful group backing him and these type of selections to justify quotas are ruining Sri Lanka Cricket..

I agree re: the selectors...although I though it may have been Fernando who had them in his pocket. And you're right, Maharoof hasn't been able to buy a wicket on this tour. He did bowl a very good spell on the first day in Tassie though, and if he got a bit of luck he could have picked up a few. He moves the ball around a bit, and seems to keep it pretty tight. Unfortunately, the same can't always be said for Fernando.

If it was my team to choose I'd have had:

Vass, Malinga, Maharoof...and Fernando bowling off-spin (Murali would be 12th man) - What can I say, when it comes to the crunch even I can't leave out Fernando

 

[Son Of Coco]

Another one of your well thought out predictions, I see Jason.

 

[Matt79]

I think teams actually playing some warm up games to acclimitize and bringing match fit bowlers is a much more pertinent issue. Already anticipating India will reproduce similar idiocy by coming straight from a series in the subcontinent onto Australia pitches, where they'll look at sea and only produce decent cricket in the last two tests. <sigh>

Selecting your best attack rather than fiddling around with fringe players also helps.

Sri Lanka did really well in the 2nd innings. Jeez, Sangakkara played well and who knows what might have been had he not got such a terrible decision. Odds on Australia probably would have won, but we might have been denied something very special because of Rudi. I don't rate Rudi - he perhaps doesn't make any more mistakes than most umpires, but he seems to have a habit of making his mistakes big mistakes. Despite that, Kumar's innings was a classic as it stands - virtually error free and almost chanceless - it deserved a 200. P. Jayawardena needs to get a few more runs, because the Sri Lankans can't afford to have Sangakkara lumbered with the gloves in tests - he's too valuable a specialist batsman.

I think MacGill needs to go. He deserved the first shot, but he hasn't produced anything convincing in two tests, and looks to be badly lacking match-fitness. He was a liability in this match where he should have been, in reality, Australia's trump. Give Hogg a shot against India and if he doesn't do any good, and MacGill hasn't discovered some kind of form with NSW, give Hilfenhaus a go in a four prong pace attack. Clark bowled poorly today for perhaps the first time since breaking into the team - hopefully he'll come back better in Boxing Day.

Can't believe there's no more international cricket for five weeks now.

 

[JASON]

I agree re: the selectors...although I though it may have been Fernando who had them in his pocket. And you're right, Maharoof hasn't been able to buy a wicket on this tour. He did bowl a very good spell on the first day in Tassie though, and if he got a bit of luck he could have picked up a few. He moves the ball around a bit, and seems to keep it pretty tight. Unfortunately, the same can't always be said for Fernando.

If it was my team to choose I'd have had:

Vass, Malinga, Maharoof...and Fernando bowling off-spin (Murali would be 12th man) - What can I say, when it comes to the crunch even I can't leave out Fernando

I would have Murali keeping wickets..

 

[JASON]

Another one of your well thought out predictions, I see Jason.

Yeah.

Steyn/Nel/Ntini / Harris / Kallis >>>> Lee + Johnson and Clarke

Kallis + Amla + others = Australian batting line up in SA (SA at home)

 

[Prince EWS]

Kallis + Amla + others = Australian batting line up in SA (SA at home)

Amla may have had a good series against a depleted New Zealand bowling attack but he is no way anywhere near as good as any of the Australian top five in any way, shape or form.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Yeah.

Steyn/Nel/Ntini / Harris / Kallis >>>> Lee + Johnson and Clarke

Kallis + Amla + others = Australian batting line up in SA (SA at home)

Is that the Clark that tore them apart in SA last time?

Kallis + anyone + others hasn't helped at any stage in the past. Given that Australia's bowling line up is now weaker without McGrath and Warne (in particular) they might perform better.

 

[Johnners]

Yeah.

Steyn/Nel/Ntini / Harris / Kallis >>>> Lee + Johnson and Clarke

Kallis + Amla + others = Australian batting line up in SA (SA at home)

Haha sorry but no chance re: Batting lineup. The only place I'd have another teams batting lineup in any conditions would be India in India, and even then it would be a very close call.

As for the Bowling lineup, Clark killed SA in SA last time, and Lee (who is in awesome form atm) also bowled well, so i would call them even at this stage.

 

[JASON]

Amla may have had a good series against a depleted New Zealand bowling attack but he is no way anywhere near as good as any of the Australian top five in any way, shape or form.

Definitely not better ...but at home in SA ...Kallis/Amla/Gibbs+ others..= Australian batting line up ...You can't tell me in SA the Aussie line up will get 500 Plus for 5 wickets every time...especially against that quality bowling side (which can keep Pollock out of the Team)..it will be like 200 for 5 or 250 for 5 ...if you're lucky..

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha sorry but no chance re: Batting lineup. The only place I'd have another teams batting lineup in any conditions would be India in India, and even then it would be a very close call.

The fact that he listed Amla specifically made me literally LOL.

 

[pasag]

Jason providing quality post-match entertainment as usual

 

[Prince EWS]

Definitely not better ...but at home in SA ...Kallis/Amla/Gibbs+ others..= Australian batting line up ...You can't tell me in SA the Aussie line up will get 500 Plus for 5 wickets every time...especially against that quality bowling side (which can keep Pollock out of the Team)..it will be like 200 for 5 or 250 for 5 ...if you're lucky..

Amla barely holds on to his place in the South African batting lineup. He was averaging less than 30 in test cricket before he belted a injury-plagued and poorly performed NZ attack around and people were calling for his head before the series. Gibbs has serious technical issues and doesn't have his place secured either. You have neglected to mention Ashwell Prince who is actually their second best test batsman, which says a lot for the rest of their batting lineup.

I think South Africa would give Australia a run for their money as well but there's no way in hell Amla holds a candle to any of the Australian batsman. He's only barely test standard.

 

[JASON]

The fact that he listed Amla specifically made me literally LOL.

Why ? The guy just made 2 centuries IIRC against the quality of Bond , Martin and co..

Is that rubbish but Hussey's 2 centuries or Jacques 2 against Maharoof, Dilhara, Malinga and Murali much greater is it ? FFs...

 

[JASON]

Jason providing quality post-match entertainment as usual

I am glad you are not warning me or cautioning me for saying something that might upset the Aussies here....let me know ok...I don't want to upset them poor souls..

 

[Craig]

Why ? The guy just made 2 centuries IIRC against the quality of Bond , Martin and co..

Is that rubbish but Hussey's 2 centuries or Jacques 2 against Maharoof, Dilhara, Malinga and Murali much greater is it ? FFs...

That was probably one of the best comebacks...

 

[Dasa]

Can't believe there's no more international cricket for five weeks now.

Isn't the Chappell-Hadlee Series sometime between now and Boxing Day?