*Official* Match 20 - Sri Lanka v Australia

[TumTum]

SL saved by the rain

 

[Woodster]

Pretty big stretch to say that Watson is a better bowler than Krezja on this surface, and I'm a big Watson fan. Ball is turning and spin was looking fairly threatening.

There's also the over rate issue but that takes a back seat in this case since Krezja was definitely the best choice.

Yes think that Krejza is a better option that a couple of the quicks in these conditions, flexible approach from Ponting not just bowling his quicks their full allotment just because they're generally the better options, the pitch is turning and looks difficult to dominate the slower bowlers, therefore give them more overs.

 

[Crazy Sam]

If I were Australia I'd be thanking my lucky stars if this turns out to be rained out.

I think they'd struggle to chase anything beyond 200-210 batting second on that pitch.

If it's rained out then I guess it comes down to the Australia-Pakistan game for 1st place?

 

[Spark]

My concern now is that we go into the quarters with some of our blokes having barely had a hit in weeks and weeks because of the gigantic breaks in between games.

 

[social]

Pretty big stretch to say that Watson is a better bowler than Krezja on this surface, and I'm a big Watson fan. Ball is turning and spin was looking fairly threatening.

There's also the over rate issue but that takes a back seat in this case since Krezja was definitely the best choice.

Disagree

Even allowing for the fact that it's debateable as to whether we actually need a specialist spinner (I personally dont see the point), the batsmen have been been allowed to rebuild with minimal pressure

Get the decent bowlers back on, thank your lucky stars that the spinners werent belted in their 10 overs and stop falling into the trap of saying "it's the subcontinent, we must bowl a spinner"

 

[Daemon]

wow the entire ground is covered, never seen that before

 

[Spark]

Eh? Social, you come up with some weiiiiiird stuff at times. The pitch is turning heaps, the spinners have kept the run rate down and the pacers haven't looked very threatening, and you're saying don't bowl more than 10 overs of spin?

 

[Lostman]

Rain will win probably. 100mm of rain fall in just two odd hours yesterday. One of those today, will end the game in a NR.

got up a 4am in on a Saturday for this.

ok back to bed now.

 

[Lostman]

seems like SL v Aus in a WC is guaranteed bad weather. Semi-final in 03, final in 07.

 

[TumTum]

Andy Zaltzman (ZaltzCricket) on Twitter

 

[Prad100w]

His posts are hilarious.

 

[Blaze 18]

How long before they call it off ?

 

[Spark]

We only need another hour and a half of play possible for it to be a match, remember.

"Only".

 

[Ausage]

Andy Zaltzman (ZaltzCricket) on Twitter

 

[xanderbiscuits]

bbc radio said that it will be a little over 3 hours from now until they call it off. They only need 20 overs more of play to complete the match

no ton for sangakkara

 

[blahblahblah]

Rain update: rain.

other tweets also

pure gold !!

 

[social]

Eh? Social, you come up with some weiiiiiird stuff at times. The pitch is turning heaps, the spinners have kept the run rate down and the pacers haven't looked very threatening, and you're saying don't bowl more than 10 overs of spin?

Hold the press, a spinner has turned it in SL!

Our spinners have not, as expected, taken any wickets.

What's more, they have only been marginally more economical than the guys who have and less than the others despite having the benefit of a turning pitch and more boundary cover

Face it, there is no rule that says you must play a spinner and we've seen ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to suggest that Krezja could do a job with the ball (let alone bat) that a Hastings, Siddle or Hopes couldnt

 

[vcs]

CRICKETERS' ARK UPDATE: Garfield Sobers, Wasim Akram and Mike Yardy arguing over who should take the two left-handed all-rounder spots.

 

[Woodster]

Hold the press, a spinner has turned it in SL!

Our spinners have not, as expected, taken any wickets.

What's more, they have only been marginally more economical than the guys who have and less than the others despite having the benefit of a turning pitch and more boundary cover

Face it, there is no rule that says you must play a spinner and we've seen ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to suggest that Krezja could do a job with the ball (let alone bat) that a Hastings, Siddle or Hopes couldnt

Would suggest Krejza has caused slightly more trouble than some of the quicker options. The pacers come on to the bat and are the SL batsmen look to be able to play them much easier, would think before the break that SL were waiting for the pacers to return to help improve their run rate.

 

[Migara]

The 4 best bowlers in the Oz team are not spinners, so why bother bowling Krezja and Smith for more than 10 overs between them?

Because those two are the best against Sanga. His wicket is very important.