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***Official*** Australia in Sri Lanka
- Thread starter Spark
- Start date
benchmark00
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yeah because they obv represent the majority of people watching the game.
GotSpin
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah he's so awesome. If Tony doesn't cark it soon I'm gonna have to disable the audio on my tv this summer
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Why are you ignoring my point?
They're quite influential to determine if the ICC reports the pitch.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
What are you talking about?
I think you're arguing a totally different point to me.
BlazeDragon
Banned
The reason people were complaining about the 1st test pitch because it was spin friendly not bowler friendly. Sri Lanka tried to use the pitch completely to their advantage and people didn't like that.
But it back fired on them and they lost.
But it back fired on them and they lost.
GotSpin
Hall of Fame Member
Really?
uvelocity
International Coach
test over in 2.5 days due to pitch = fail
test could last 7 days due to pitch = fail
just a lack of balance. A result could have happened on that pitch though.
A) Aus scores 450 1st dig, that puts a lot more pressure on SL, perhaps they score less and opportunity for an aus declaration.
B) SL actually had a bit of a dig at the end of the 3rd day/4th morning instead of playing like turtles.
test could last 7 days due to pitch = fail
just a lack of balance. A result could have happened on that pitch though.
A) Aus scores 450 1st dig, that puts a lot more pressure on SL, perhaps they score less and opportunity for an aus declaration.
B) SL actually had a bit of a dig at the end of the 3rd day/4th morning instead of playing like turtles.
Spark
Global Moderator
This is basically what Clarke said at the presser.
This pitch wasn't as bad as some I've seen at the SSC but it still wasn't great.
uvelocity
International Coach
Haha noice, great minds think alike
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
awta
adub
International Captain
My post tour wrap is that we should be pretty pleased with that effort. We didn't go to SL to prove that the Ashes were an aberration and that we'd be No. by November. We went there to try and put a floor under the damage and maybe even start a little rebuilding. We were going in a the 5th best side in the game and a drawn series would have been a pass mark.
We well and truly exceeded that.
Selections: I don't think there was a selection error to be honest (not counting the original squad selection - just the teams picked from what was available). Hughes and Usman performed in the warm up and Marsh didn't, but when Marsh got his chance he took it. You could make an argument that perhaps Uzi should have played 3 in the 2nd test (or even the 1st) but that's a minor matter. Moving the order all down one to keep Marsh at 3 worked and looks like a good move going forward. Having a hungry Muss at 6 getting the most out of the lower order is something we'll appreciate. Hopefully Punter finds 4 a bit more productive and Clarke at 5 means runs - it's stupid, it shouldn't matter, but if it works who the **** cares?
On the bowling side Siddle deserved to miss out the first two matches and Beer is for after stumps not before. We had the best balanced attack we've fielded in years. In the last match Siddle also performed and will put pressure on Johnson, which is great, but an argument for November.
Captaincy: Oh how wonderful to have a proactive skipper! Ponting may be an all time great with the bat, but his Captaincy relied very heavily on individual brilliance from himself and other champion players rather than any strategic or tactical brilliance. Clarke is obviously a guy who can get performances out of his team in the field, and can analyse a situation to come up with a way of taking a wicket. I was critical of him not showing patience at times, but if he is going to err then better to try something rather than letting the opposition get the upper hand. Anyone who had seen his work filling in knew he would bring a lot to the team by his leadership, but it was so pleasing to see that come to pass.
Pitches: Mixed bag but none too far away from being good. Galle was too dry, but it did make for fascinating cricket, and produced the only result. Columbo was too flat, but was probably made to look far worse than it was by some pretty stolid Sri Lankan batting. Australia's 2nd innings showed what could be achieved on that deck with a bit of enterprise and that was against the best spin bowling performance of the series and some reverse. Might not have been enough to get a result though. Pallekele was a great pitch, just a shame it's in Kandy so rain and bad light cruelled the game.
Home side: They have big problems. The collapses in the first two tests were dire and spoke of a team that didn't care too much. Mahela showed his class, and Sanga made some scores without going on. Mathews came of age, but didn't always serve the teams best interests. None of the other bats will want to remember much of the series. The bowling was even less commendable despite having Australia in trouble on a few occasions. Herath looked far and away the best for them, but none of the other spinners really took the eye. It would have been interesting to see Mendis. Eranga showed enough to give hope that he could be a find and whilst Lakmal and Welegedera were tidy and bowled some good spells neither will cause good batsmen sleepless nights. They were tidy as a unit, but rarely threatening. Dilshan is Captain by default because the real leaders don't want the job and it shows. It's very disheartening that Mahela and Sanga don't step up to the plate and take responsibility to take the side forward as C and VC. Mathews is a long way from ready.
Batting: The good, the bad and the ugly really. Hussey stepped up even beyond his Ashes efforts, just brilliant. Marsh stepped in and served me up a nice big humble pie, Clarke played two gems, and 4 nothing innings. Hughes played himself out of the side and then at the last chance saloon played himself right back in. Ponting at times looked like he was getting into shape, then played a shocking shot to get out. Uzi did little wrong, but not quite enough right to hold his spot. Watson and Haddin were the disappointments, but both contributed in their other discipline.
Bowling: Where we really won the series. In recent years we've had an attack that when the stars align could run through a side, but would invariably have sessions where they would lose control and let the opposition side get away into a match winning position. That was something the new look line up didn't do. Copeland and Watson especially were able to put the screws on and keep the runs down and the more frugal performances always kept the opposition in sight, if not subdued. Both chipped in with important wickets and Watson looked very dangerous when he could get it reversing. Lyon started with a bang on pitch that was custom made, but struggled for penetration from then on. May come under pressure from Hauritz, but has probably done enough to hold his spot for SA. Certainly looks the best of 2010/11s spin gambles by a long way. Johnson was strangely for him neither here nor there. Usually its rocks and diamonds with Mitch, but here he was generally reasonably tight (for M Johnson) but also failed to really get any of the batsmen worried. This is actually not good for him, because his consistent is actually pretty mediocre. Will come under pressure soon. Probably from Siddle, who when he did come into the side seems to have listened to everyone telling him he's not some West Indian death merchant and just to pitch it up. He got good results from that and certainly didn't do his chances of more test cricket any harm. Harris - nothing needs to be said about him other than please take care of him. Best quick we've had since McGrath retired.
Overall: We're now up to 4th on the rankings and that sounds about right to me. We've got a way to go to move up, and there will be personnel changes on the way both on and off the field, but we're heading in the right direction at last I reckon.
We well and truly exceeded that.
Selections: I don't think there was a selection error to be honest (not counting the original squad selection - just the teams picked from what was available). Hughes and Usman performed in the warm up and Marsh didn't, but when Marsh got his chance he took it. You could make an argument that perhaps Uzi should have played 3 in the 2nd test (or even the 1st) but that's a minor matter. Moving the order all down one to keep Marsh at 3 worked and looks like a good move going forward. Having a hungry Muss at 6 getting the most out of the lower order is something we'll appreciate. Hopefully Punter finds 4 a bit more productive and Clarke at 5 means runs - it's stupid, it shouldn't matter, but if it works who the **** cares?
On the bowling side Siddle deserved to miss out the first two matches and Beer is for after stumps not before. We had the best balanced attack we've fielded in years. In the last match Siddle also performed and will put pressure on Johnson, which is great, but an argument for November.
Captaincy: Oh how wonderful to have a proactive skipper! Ponting may be an all time great with the bat, but his Captaincy relied very heavily on individual brilliance from himself and other champion players rather than any strategic or tactical brilliance. Clarke is obviously a guy who can get performances out of his team in the field, and can analyse a situation to come up with a way of taking a wicket. I was critical of him not showing patience at times, but if he is going to err then better to try something rather than letting the opposition get the upper hand. Anyone who had seen his work filling in knew he would bring a lot to the team by his leadership, but it was so pleasing to see that come to pass.
Pitches: Mixed bag but none too far away from being good. Galle was too dry, but it did make for fascinating cricket, and produced the only result. Columbo was too flat, but was probably made to look far worse than it was by some pretty stolid Sri Lankan batting. Australia's 2nd innings showed what could be achieved on that deck with a bit of enterprise and that was against the best spin bowling performance of the series and some reverse. Might not have been enough to get a result though. Pallekele was a great pitch, just a shame it's in Kandy so rain and bad light cruelled the game.
Home side: They have big problems. The collapses in the first two tests were dire and spoke of a team that didn't care too much. Mahela showed his class, and Sanga made some scores without going on. Mathews came of age, but didn't always serve the teams best interests. None of the other bats will want to remember much of the series. The bowling was even less commendable despite having Australia in trouble on a few occasions. Herath looked far and away the best for them, but none of the other spinners really took the eye. It would have been interesting to see Mendis. Eranga showed enough to give hope that he could be a find and whilst Lakmal and Welegedera were tidy and bowled some good spells neither will cause good batsmen sleepless nights. They were tidy as a unit, but rarely threatening. Dilshan is Captain by default because the real leaders don't want the job and it shows. It's very disheartening that Mahela and Sanga don't step up to the plate and take responsibility to take the side forward as C and VC. Mathews is a long way from ready.
Batting: The good, the bad and the ugly really. Hussey stepped up even beyond his Ashes efforts, just brilliant. Marsh stepped in and served me up a nice big humble pie, Clarke played two gems, and 4 nothing innings. Hughes played himself out of the side and then at the last chance saloon played himself right back in. Ponting at times looked like he was getting into shape, then played a shocking shot to get out. Uzi did little wrong, but not quite enough right to hold his spot. Watson and Haddin were the disappointments, but both contributed in their other discipline.
Bowling: Where we really won the series. In recent years we've had an attack that when the stars align could run through a side, but would invariably have sessions where they would lose control and let the opposition side get away into a match winning position. That was something the new look line up didn't do. Copeland and Watson especially were able to put the screws on and keep the runs down and the more frugal performances always kept the opposition in sight, if not subdued. Both chipped in with important wickets and Watson looked very dangerous when he could get it reversing. Lyon started with a bang on pitch that was custom made, but struggled for penetration from then on. May come under pressure from Hauritz, but has probably done enough to hold his spot for SA. Certainly looks the best of 2010/11s spin gambles by a long way. Johnson was strangely for him neither here nor there. Usually its rocks and diamonds with Mitch, but here he was generally reasonably tight (for M Johnson) but also failed to really get any of the batsmen worried. This is actually not good for him, because his consistent is actually pretty mediocre. Will come under pressure soon. Probably from Siddle, who when he did come into the side seems to have listened to everyone telling him he's not some West Indian death merchant and just to pitch it up. He got good results from that and certainly didn't do his chances of more test cricket any harm. Harris - nothing needs to be said about him other than please take care of him. Best quick we've had since McGrath retired.
Overall: We're now up to 4th on the rankings and that sounds about right to me. We've got a way to go to move up, and there will be personnel changes on the way both on and off the field, but we're heading in the right direction at last I reckon.
Redbacks
International Captain
Nice Summary
I wonder how much of this stems from our last tour of RSA. He was absolutely ruthless in the lower altitude and had them on the back foot with some hostile chin music. Not such a great strategy elsewhere though.
I wonder how much of this stems from our last tour of RSA. He was absolutely ruthless in the lower altitude and had them on the back foot with some hostile chin music. Not such a great strategy elsewhere though.
benchmark00
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Exactly.
benchmark00
Request Your Custom Title Now!
You are the one who has clearly missed the point.
You've tried to make out that the only time someone criticises a pitch is because it's too bowler friendly. It's actually the opposite, if anything.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Looking back at my posts, I made it sounds like casual fans (i.e. people you talk to), but I meant people who actually have influence in the game.
The Gabba test in the Ashes was a disgrace, as was the Dubai tests between Pakistan and SA, and the first two tests of India vs. NZ. This was all at a similar time. We were having bore draws galore. Nothing was done about it, very little said by the captains.
Then the first test of SL vs. Aust happened and the match referee made a complaint.
Wtf?
The Gabba test in the Ashes was a disgrace, as was the Dubai tests between Pakistan and SA, and the first two tests of India vs. NZ. This was all at a similar time. We were having bore draws galore. Nothing was done about it, very little said by the captains.
Then the first test of SL vs. Aust happened and the match referee made a complaint.
Wtf?