*Official* Sri Lanka in Australia 2010

[andyc]

Sigh. What can you say? I wish that seeing us stutter along at 4-5 an over for pretty much the whole game was a surprise, but when you've got Michael ****ing Clarke putting himself in to open in front of Watson, what do you expect? Yes, it might be the best way to optimise his results, but the best way to optimise Australia's results is if he's nowhere near the ****ing team. The whole top order played poorly, but a slow start like that is always going to put them under pressure.


Was also absolutely staggered to hear one of the commentators question the team selection by pointing that Brad Hodge is Australia's best limited over batsmen and yet nowhere near the team. Can't see Channel 9 looking too fondly on semi-insightful cricket comments, itbt. Lowest common denominator only, thank you.

 

[Redbacks]

Wow, we really suck at this T20 stuff don't we?

We made the final of the last T20WC ....?

Early wickets killed us in this one, was a poor performance with the Sri Lanka too good on the night. Would be expecting us to bounce back next game and be a lot more competitive

 

[Migara]

Good win for us. It's evident is Murali is finished now. May pose a threat on a spinning wicket, but on plumb wickets, nothing much.

Randiv doing very well. It looks like that you need tall finger spinners to ball in Aus conditions. That's why FFS we ask to bring in Senanayake who is 6' 2" and spins it twice as Randiv ASAP.

Dilshan, Jaya and Sanga all played well. But SL should look at their lineup little carefully IMO. Dilshan, Mahela, Sanga and Mathews are in top 5, who are the best players of pace in the side. Chandimal, Kapugedara or all rounders cannot be relied upon to face an Aussie quick attack and score heavily. It was a gigantic mistake to rest Samaraweera. At the most critical time when the series going to get decided I think his value will be felt.

 

[Spark]

We made the final of the last T20WC ....?

Early wickets killed us in this one, was a poor performance with the Sri Lanka too good on the night. Would be expecting us to bounce back next game and be a lot more competitive

I'll have you note that we've lost 4 in a row now. With ease, too.

 

[Himannv]

Fairly comprehensive victory I'd say. Good performance by almost all involved and Randiv was fantastic with the ball. Were pretty sharp in the field as well which is always a good thing.

 

[Oscillatingmind]

Completely outplayed, hopefully in ODI land things aren't as one-sided.

 

[social]

Even Ian Healy's biggest critic would have to agree with the statement he made tonight

"An Australian cap should have meaning

This team wasnt Australia's best and that's the first time it has happened in my time watching cricket

And even though it was selected from only Victorian and NSW players, they couldnt even get that right as Brad Hodge is Victorian and the best T20 and ODI player in Australia and he wasnt picked

The Australian selectors should provide the cricket watching public with an explanation"

A - ****ing - Men

 

[Jono]

This team wasnt Australia's best and that's the first time it has happened in my time watching cricket

You are kidding right? Happens all the time. Australia have rested players time and time again, and they got selections wrong time and time again.

So whether they do it on purpose or accidentally, Australia have not played their best team plenty of times.

So have other teams as well.

 

[social]

You are kidding right? Happens all the time. Australia have rested players time and time again, and they got selections wrong time and time again.

So whether they do it on purpose or accidentally, Australia have not played their best team plenty of times.

So have other teams as well.

How many times has Oz intentionally ignored cricketers from 6 states plus those who will never be picked again for political reasons?

Answer: NEVER

 

[Jayzamann]

One thing the selectors should purge from their minds is that t20i stands next to odi's as a stepping stone to test captaincy. That is the only reason I can see that Clarke is, and continues to be, in this t20i lineup. He's only going to get his goose cooked getting spanked in these games and having the media almost instantly point the finger at him.

t20 ideally would require a specialist captain (yhey! White!), unless you have someone like Dhoni or Sangakkara. What RSA have done with Smith being pragmatic and stepping down should be interesting to see how it pans out.

 

[Kensashi]

Great way to finish off the game by Perera, a 123m six!

 

[Jarquis]

Smith

 

[Jono]

How many times has Oz intentionally ignored cricketers from 6 states plus those who will never be picked again for political reasons?

Answer: NEVER

I don't see how that is any better or worse than intentionally resting your superstars plus not picking players again for political reasons.

You know, like just happened in India in the ODIs.

They rested Ponting, Watson, Mitch etc. plus didn't pick Hodge.

That's just as bad as this.

 

[social]

Smith

Arsenal goalkeepers

At least Smith has potential

What's their excuse?

 

[social]

I don't see how that is any better or worse than intentionally resting your superstars plus not picking players again for political reasons.

You know, like just happened in India in the ODIs.

They rested Ponting, Watson, Mitch etc. plus didn't pick Hodge.

That's just as bad as this.

Teensie weensie bit different in that Australia decided to send players home from India to prepare for the home summer whereas in this case, they decided they'd be better off down the road

 

[Jono]

Yes, and here they made a decision that Mike Hussey would be better off playing Sheffield Shield than T20 cricket.

You're saying that the Australian cap must mean something. I'm not disagreeing, but you pretending like that match was the first time that Australia haven't picked the best XI available on purpose (not due to selection error) is plain wrong.

So either clarify your point more, or don't make vague statements that are incredibly inaccurate.

 

[Jarquis]

Arsenal goalkeepers

At least Smith has potential

What's their excuse?

Yeah because Arsenal's goalkeepers have been horrific as of late.
Besides, Arsenal goalkeepers are criticised when they play badly, same goes for Smith, he's not immune.

Don't really care for potential either, I never said he was destined to be the pie chucker he currently is. So I'll laugh when he gets carted around the park for 13 an over, it's funny.
There's no way he's one of Australia's best 15 T20 bowlers, so when he bowls and inevitably gets tonked, I'll laugh.

But seriously, has he given you a blowie or something? Seem to be getting a bit defensive of the guy.

 

[robelinda]

Well that was a crap match. So how many international matches have we lost in a row now?? Not looking too flash lately in all forms!

Just love to hate Clarke! Dan Christian not there, love that guy.


EDIT, we have lost the last 5 international matches and won only 1 in the last 8 matches (all formats). Not good.

 

[Sylvester]

Don't see any problem in not valuing the T20 cap, when it is being valued then we got problems as it would have overtaken Test cricket for importance.

 

[Top_Cat]

Was also absolutely staggered to hear one of the commentators question the team selection by pointing that Brad Hodge is Australia's best limited over batsmen and yet nowhere near the team. Can't see Channel 9 looking too fondly on semi-insightful cricket comments, itbt. Lowest common denominator only, thank you.

Indeed. Channel nine to introduce their latest innovation this summer where they measure ballsweat levels.

"Michael Clarke in at 2/12, facing Swan and he's almost literally pissing himself. Just look at the humidity reading!"