***Official*** South Africa in Sri Lanka 2014

[Maximas]

Yeah Chandiguns has been out of form all year and obviously has a short ball issue he needs to address before he plays test cricket again, is a quality player though, he'll be back.

Decent day in the end, I'd call it pretty much even, 500 is probably what you would want batting first here, 420 odd is probably par, Phlegm is right though, without enough fast bowlers to hunt as a pack like we've had all year an individual needs to stand up with the ball, whether Herath finally gets some reward or Mendis does that thing where he picks up a bag of wickets somehow we need something a little special to win this one.

 

[91Jmay]

300 on the first day two bats still there and useful players to come, I will say Sri Lanka's day but I expect it to be 500 plays 500.

 

[Maximas]

The reason I say even day is because our tail is known to be a little weak, plus this is an awesome batting strip, and 200 is a lot of runs, you can never be sure you're gonna get them 5 down, but 500 v 500 sounds about right IMO as well

 

[viriya]

I think it's definitely SL's day considering how it was 16/2 before 10 overs with the best batsman out for a golden duck.. It's true though I don't trust this lower order to hang around while Mahela makes merry and gets another triple hundred, but I think 400+ is most likely going to happen so at the least SL have batted themselves close to safety..

Mendis might not run through the line-up but bowling last with 3 spinners seems a much better proposition for SL.. Prasad can consider himself unlucky but to be fair he was unlikely to trouble SA on this pitch especially.. Mendis is more likely to bag a few here and there imo.

 

[CricAddict]

The only two teams with 3 batsmen currently averaging 50+ playing each other.

Ha, the arrogance. Now I understand why the teams are full of dicks and kocks..

 

[ajdude]

It's been a good response from us,

Geelong, Victoria isn't playing maximas

 

[YorksLanka]

Chandimal has been a walking wicket to the short ball in recent times.. Compulsive hooker with no control.. I think Jayasuriya made the right call although its risky..

I feed on maximus + phlegm tears over the mendis selection... It nourishes me

have to disagree with his exclusion tbh for the simple reason that as Flem said, he has been scoring a few runs- i agree that sometimes he doesnt engage his brain when he bats and gets out to silly shots but i think he has been hard done by. The other point is that in order to have someone dropped, most teams would have someone filling their boots/taking a bucket load of wickets or catches from the A team to replace them?I dont think that this is the case. The only positive from this is that I hope that Chandi fills his boots in the A team and comes back stronger to stick it to our selectors..

 

[karan316]

Mendis is rubbish, and I'm not going to bother making that entire argument again. Not a Test bowler -- never has been (debut aside), never will be.

Lakmal, on the other hand, is also rubbish -- but far more endearingly so. Phlegm's hatred of him reaching Dan-and-Vijay or Blocky-and-Sodhi proportions IMO.

 

[karan316]

People who don't like Mendis might get another opportunity to take a go at him, the SSC wicket is generally a road, its not going to be easy for any bowler to make an impact here. Having said that, it'll depend on the way Mathews uses him, if he gives him longer spells, he'll surely pick wickets regardless of the pitch. Even in the last test game he played(in Feb 2014), Mendis was the only one to take a six wicket haul on an absolute road(and Mathews said "we could start another Test match on the same wicket")

 

[viriya]

Don't want to jinx it but liking what I've seen of Dickwella so far.. Doesn't look fazed facing Steyn at 21 on debut.

 

[Riggins]

sensational name too.

 

[viriya]

Sublime stuff from Mahela.. looking good for a double.

 

[Bahnz]

de Kock and Dickwella playing in the same test...what a time to be alive.

 

[viriya]

It's actually supposed to be pronounced Dhickwella.. not that it matters.

 

[hendrix]

It's actually supposed to be pronounced Dhickwella.. not that it matters.

Us white people can't really say aspirated consonants other than T's.

The 'h' in Bhaji or is for silent for all intents and purposes when we vocalise it. Similarly, the 'h' in Dharma is pretty much like the 'k' in knife when we read it; we don't use those aspirations so it's difficult to pronounce them.

I'm working on it but I'm finding it difficult.

Aspirated D's are especially difficult.

 

[auditor]

how much time is to play Sri Lanka if (all out) does not happen?

 

[viriya]

It's like pronouncing v and w differently for South Asians.. only one letter equivalent in South Asian languages so most pronounce words with a "v" regardless.

 

[Riggins]

I didn't even know that was a pronunciation.

edit- the bh/dh shiz.

 

[viriya]

how much time is to play Sri Lanka if (all out) does not happen?

They'll probably bat through till midway through the tea session and get 500+ before declaring..

 

[auditor]

They'll probably bat through till midway through the tea session and get 500+ before declaring..

from site espncricinfo.com/

Hours of play (local time) 10am start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00

1 Inn Sri Lanka when the close, if (all out) does not happen?