**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka Jan - Feb 2025

[Burgey]

I sometimes wonder why halba inspires so much negative passion. I mean you have to wonder what road his mind travels to reach some of his conclusions. Maybe he upsets people by dumping on fans’ favourites even if he doesn’t attack or argue with posters directly.

I think it’s just the sheer reactionary nature of so many of the posts tbh

 

[Shady Slim]

joe root is playing for australia apparently

 

[halba]

Im predicting 2-0 for SL here fairly comfortably.
SL spinners are better than last time.

 

[the big bambino]

Halba maybe be right here but hopefully I'm not over estimating our spin options which are the best since Warne and McGill retired.

 

[halba]

Halba maybe be right here but hopefully I'm not over estimating our spin options which are the best since Warne and McGill retired.

thats correct. got a proper A grade Left armer finally , and two A grade right arm spinners for the conditions.

the batters cant play spin is the main issue, they are all bad for the conditions.

 

[Spark]

We're underdogs, but I'm quietly hopeful that they'll be able to pull out a result here. Mostly because I really think this team finally "gets" how subcontinental cricket works, unlike the teams of the past, even the great teams, who kept trying to play exactly the same way as back home and getting baffled by it not working.

 

[Qlder]

Wait what, people are worried about the #1 ranked side Australia losing to #6 ranked Sri Lanka? In 7 tours to Sri Lanka Australia have only ever lost two series (1999 and 2016)

 

[Burgey]

Aus should win comfortably, as they should every series everywhere. Superior in every facet of the game, even with a few outs.

 

[Gob]

Wait what, people are worried about the #1 ranked side Australia losing to #6 ranked Sri Lanka? In 7 tours to Sri Lanka Australia have only ever lost two series (1999 and 2016)

Well Australia have lost 4 of their last 5 tests in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka also has a very good test side which is underrated. They are like the opposite of England as far as overrated/underrated thing is concerned and should start as favourites

But I don't want to fuel that blithering idiot halba just in case he read the first bit of this post and decides to quote me

 

[brandon]

I am 100% here for whinging about the pitches before the series even starts.

I think a lot of the time, I actually get more enjoyment from talking about (and worrying about) a pitch before a ball has been bowled than actually discussing its merits as the game progresses

 

[Burgey]

Sri Lanka also has a very good test side

m8 pls

 

[slcricfan1]

Wait what, people are worried about the #1 ranked side Australia losing to #6 ranked Sri Lanka? In 7 tours to Sri Lanka Australia have only ever lost two series (1999 and 2016)

did you watch the last 2 series lol?

 

[Qlder]

did you watch the last 2 series lol?

I watched the last series in '22 and I see this as worst case another 1-1 draw (Halba was saying 0-2 loss for Australia)

Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Carey, Lyon and Starc did well last tour, so the core experience is still there. Kuhnemann and Murphy also did well on spinning Indian decks as did Head when he opened. With Konstas and Webster being added to the mix there's a lot to like.

 

[slcricfan1]

I watched the last series in '22 and I see this as worst case another 1-1 draw (Halba was saying 0-2 loss for Australia)

Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Carey, Lyon and Starc did well last tour, so the core experience is still there. Kuhnemann and Murphy also did well on spinning Indian decks as did Head when he opened. With Konstas and Webster being added to the mix there's a lot to like.

oh yeah aus is certainly in the game. But I think 2-0 our way is still possible. This series could go either way. Both teams are prone to awful collapses. Last time the test match aus won was against a couple of real novice spinners though. Embula and Ramesh are both dropped

 

[Qlder]

I see the Sri Lanka squad has 3 Fernando and 2 Mendis...could get confusing on here come match time

 

[Qlder]

If pitch is in the middle of the roped off area, then it seems to have a lot of grass?

 

[TheJediBrah]

I see the Sri Lanka squad has 3 Fernando and 2 Mendis...could get confusing on here come match time

Australia v Portugal

 

[Himannv]

If pitch is in the middle of the roped off area, then it seems to have a lot of grass?

View attachment 44889

More pace bowlers in the squad than Australia as well.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Wouldn't be the worst idea to throw out lottery greentops tbh. Helps bridge the gap between the teams just as much as a dustbowl that rips from ball 1, and it would be the last thing Australia are expecting. Probably mess with their preparation a lot

 

[Qlder]

With that green pitch, could Sri Lanka have pulled off the biggest bluff in history and will hit Australia with pace knowing Cummins and Hazlewood are missing?