*Official* Sri Lanka Tour of Australia 2019

[Cow]

I think Sri Lanka have better technical surfers, but the Aussies tend to charge pretty hard. I bet Stoinis has a 9"6 gun for the big swells.

 

[Victor Ian]

9'6"

 

[Victor Ian]

Did I do tedious right?

 

[Maximas]

The really scary prospect is this SL team heading to SA without any of these first choice quicks, one more injury and we've got Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Gamage back in the fold. There aren't even any old pros we can fly in to try and use as a stop-gap (like they were considering doing with Malinga back in 2012/13) except for possibly Dhammika Prasad - who has been playing FC cricket recently but not at a level closely matching his 2015 form.

It's a shame, because these fast bowlers honestly had something to offer against a delicate Aussie batting line-up with the pink ball under lights, looks like all we'll get is the obligitory Lakmal 5fer, the batting was always going to be a shambles once Matthews did his hammy back in NZ

 

[Starfighter]

I fear that Sri Lanka are setting up for an enormous thrashing in South Africa. Cricinfo doesn't even list a scheduled warmup, I can't see a timeline on Mathew's return anywhere, and two of the three leading pace bowlers are injured. It'll be a disaster if they have to go back to Gamage, considering he struggled enough on that Calcutta wicket that SL were 7/75 on.

 

[Andy1993]

When does the 2nd test start? Feels like a long time between tests..

 

[NotMcKenzie]

You'll be waiting another day yet

 

[stephen]

When does the 2nd test start? Feels like a long time between tests..

That's because the previous test only lasted 3 days.

 

[trundler]

Khwaja needs a kick up his bankside. Awful dismissal in the first match. Seems to have regressed a lot.

 

[Shady Slim]

crap khawaja is still one of the six best batsman in a smithless australian setup tbf
then again i think they were wrong to drop smarsh so don’t listen to me

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

then again i think they were wrong to drop smarsh so don’t listen to me

ok

 

[mr_mister]

How long can Smarshs test average continue to taper off before everyone admits he's not test worthy. He's nearly reached Hicks average who's known as the ultimate 'talented but not test calibre' player ever

 

[Starfighter]

Apparently there's now doubts over Lakmal's fitness.

 

[stephen]

Perhaps he got injured at the thought of how much of a road Manuka is going to have to be to stretch out to five days.

 

[Maximas]

I seem to recall this happened last time SL toured Aus too, we started with Kulesakara, Welegedera and Eranga and ended up with Pradeep, Lakmal and Prasad, but at least had phatty wheeling away. If you go back to the NZ tests Rajitha was actually the incumbent 3rd seamer so if he and Lakmal play that's still fairly close to a first choice opening combination, but damn, I reckon best bet is play the all-rounder they've flown in at 8 to bolster the batting, rely on DdS for some offspin and just hope the batting turns up and the bowlers manage to find something under lights to keep the contest somewhat engaging. If the pitch looks like it might turn a bit I reckon Sandakan should come in, Dilruwan Perera is not batting at anywhere near his 2017 peak (where he was almost a legit no. 7) and contributes very little with the ball, even against England at home he made little impact against the left-handed heavy line-up they brought. He's also like 35 so I see no future, he should be gone by the time SL does another world tour

 

[Top_Cat]

Ideal time to clear the dead wood and they go with an unchanged XI. Geez.

 

[morgieb]

I seem to recall this happened last time SL toured Aus too, we started with Kulesakara, Welegedera and Eranga and ended up with Pradeep, Lakmal and Prasad, but at least had phatty wheeling away. If you go back to the NZ tests Rajitha was actually the incumbent 3rd seamer so if he and Lakmal play that's still fairly close to a first choice opening combination, but damn, I reckon best bet is play the all-rounder they've flown in at 8 to bolster the batting, rely on DdS for some offspin and just hope the batting turns up and the bowlers manage to find something under lights to keep the contest somewhat engaging. If the pitch looks like it might turn a bit I reckon Sandakan should come in, Dilruwan Perera is not batting at anywhere near his 2017 peak (where he was almost a legit no. 7) and contributes very little with the ball, even against England at home he made little impact against the left-handed heavy line-up they brought. He's also like 35 so I see no future, he should be gone by the time SL does another world tour

This one is a pure day Test.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Thanks for the details you should get the match prediction tips to know who will win the game

oh cool. Is that a good website to use? Maybe I'll get all my friends to use it

 

[Andy1993]

Lakmal apparently has a stiff back, i think im right in saying that the 3 fast bowlers left in this squad, have 3 test caps between them, if Lakmal isn't passed fit?...

 

[Burgey]

Lakmal bowled so well last test. Well worth his five fer. They’ll get boned so hard if he doesn’t play.