***Official*** Sri Lanka in Australia 2012/2013

[NUFAN]

Big call. Don't mind it though.

I mind it a little because we are only picking four batsman who will (or should) lineup in the top 6 against India in our next Test. Giving another bat a chance at Test Cricket could potentially be more beneficial to the team.

In saying that, Starc, Johnson and Bird are bowling off for a spot in our strongest XI so that's something too I guess.

 

[uvelocity]

nah bad call. wade hasn't justified a promotion and one innings against a depleted minnow level attack doesn't make johnson a number 7. more bowling than we will need, usman should have come in.

 

[Tangles]

If its green Lyon wont be needed and if it turns of of the pace bowlers will be under bowled. Bad call indeed.

 

[Daemon]

Nah the pacers won't be underbowled because of Lyon, they'll be underbowled because SL will be rolled out for <250 twice.

Lyon will probably be used sparingly until SL is about 8 down before being brought in to grab the prized wickets of Shaminda Eranga and Nuwan Pradeep to end up with figures of 2-40.

 

[M0rphin3]

Dire call IMO. Should've gone for Uzzie (or even Maxwell FFS) really.

 

[stephen]

I don't mind us going in with this lineup. I think that it's the strongest test lineup we have at the moment. I'd like MJ to develop into a genuine batting option as well and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

 

[AlanJLegend]

I don't mind us going in with this lineup. I think that it's the strongest test lineup we have at the moment. I'd like MJ to develop into a genuine batting option as well and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

I would love to see MJ find some consistancy with both bat and ball. On any given day he can score a match-changing hundred, but tends to get an unnatural amount of first ball ducks too. Not sure if I can ever see him filling the Watson role as a genuine all-rounder or even batting at 7 with Wade at 6 (simply not enough batting to effectively combat a top opposition) but if he can consistently bowl well, having him at 8 with some combination of Starc/Patto/Siddle to following is a dream, depth-wise.

 

[howardj]

So batting is our weakness, and yet we weaken that aspect of our lineup?

Wade joins Cowan and Hughes as players who bat in our top six, with averages in the 30s

If they wanted to play the full battalion of quicks, then we should have gone for Maxwell over Lyon

 

[Top_Cat]

The series is over against a **** side, this line-up isn't the best to win in Sydney, it's an Ashes audition. Wade batting at 6 is in case they need to go with 5 bowlers over there.

 

[Daemon]

If it were an Ashes audition you'd think they'd audition the cause of the problem, aka batsmen.

 

[Top_Cat]

Khawaja's only in line for Clarke's spot as a back-up, they've made that fairly clear. Not to mention he's been ordinary in CC so I wonder how close he is to missing out on the tour entirely.

 

[howardj]

The series is over against a **** side, this line-up isn't the best to win in Sydney, it's an Ashes audition. Wade batting at 6 is in case they need to go with 5 bowlers over there.

As auditions go, we're more likely to need seven specialist batsmen over there, than five specialist bowlers

 

[Jayzamann]

Kinda like this. I think Clarke'll find being at 4 isn't all that bad. For some reason I don't like Maxwell in the test side, but seeing MJ up there brings out the frownyface.

If he does rock his way into an Ashes spot he better smash hands and take scalps otherwise shame on us.

 

[aussie tragic]

Can someone find a worse Aussie top 7 since the 1989 Ashes?

Warner - 44.68
Cowan - 34.10
Hughes - 34.82
Clarke - 52.74
Hussey - 51.52
Wade - 36.27
Johnson - 22.77

= 276.90

1989 Ashes tour 1st Test & (6th Test)

Marsh - 35.53 (34.77)
Taylor - 16.75 (64.71)
Boon - 38.87 (40.74)
Border - 52.55 (53.37)
Jones - 45.47 (50.28)
S.Waugh - 30.52 (40.14)
Healy - 17.66 (17.50)

= 237.35 (301.51)

 

[AlanJLegend]

Australia v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sydney : Injured Shaminda Eranga doubtful for third Test | Cricket News | Australia v Sri Lanka | ESPN Cricinfo

Oh dear...

 

[Spark]

He's already been ruled out.

 

[morgieb]

Haha, looks like going with 5 batsmen and 5 bowlers isn't a bad decision after all.

 

[Spikey]

Tony Greig's two families unite at SCG for touching tribute ahead of third Test

Super work, Glenn

 

[TT Boy]

Tony's eldest son looks a bit like Bobby Moore.

 

[benchmark00]

Clarkeh is going to wear a handkerchief around his neck tomorrow like Greig did in his playing days, what a man... What an athlete (Bill Lawry).