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

H

halba

International Debutant
Qlder said:
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.
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SL have their version of Bradman this time though! Kamindu mendis
 
TimAngas

TimAngas

State Vice-Captain
My feeling is that Connolly will play. Otherwise I don't think they would have given up an opportunity for Konstas.
 
centurymaker

centurymaker

Cricketer Of The Year
govinda indian fan said:
If it is turner would be interesting to see if smith is still good enough to replicate 17 bgt performance
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He will have to win both the tosses then and bat first (like that 2017 BGT)

IMG_0352.jpeg

Well written article:
www.theguardian.com

Steve Smith stands out as different to the rest as he takes place among the greats | Geoff Lemon

The Australian batter will enter the 10,000 Club for Test runs to less fanfare in Sri Lanka but with a career record that is as unique as his style
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Starfighter

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Qlder said:
"The entire strip was scoured by broom to ensure all the grass was stood up, at which point it underwent more than half an hour of forensic mowing to ensure it presented the sort of bare appearance normally associated with the subcontinent"
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Once again showing that a bare turner is an artificial construct compared to a green top.
 
Qlder

Qlder

International Regular
TheJediBrah said:
I'm thinking Webster/Carey/Connolly from 5 to 7, with McSweeney and Inglis to miss out
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That doesn't fit with Smith's comments though

"Trav will go to the top, outside of that I think it will be pretty stable"..."I don't see it being a great deal of change from that"

Webster and Carey both moving up a spot with Connolly at 7 is a huge change. From what I've read it's likely Inglis at 5 as a similar aggressive bat to Head
 
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Gob

Gob

International Coach
Qlder said:
Aussie selectors really churning through the debutant openers. McSweeney dropped after 3 tests and now Konstas dropped after 2.

What I don't get about the Head move to open is that everyone knows it's so he can start against pace instead of spin. But in Sri Lanka's last test in Galle they opened with spin in both innings
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Yeah but that's one odd occurrence. I take it that chances of it happening here is higher than it would at Brisbane but still, we'll see few overs from pacers. Also think it's easier to face spinners when the ball is hard and new in most cases.

With Head, it's all about him surviving the first few overs. Plus he averages about 30 runs more when he opens in the subcontinent
 
G

govinda indian fan

International 12th Man
centurymaker said:
He will have to win both the tosses then and bat first (like that 2017 BGT)

View attachment 44932

Well written article:
www.theguardian.com

Steve Smith stands out as different to the rest as he takes place among the greats | Geoff Lemon

The Australian batter will enter the 10,000 Club for Test runs to less fanfare in Sri Lanka but with a career record that is as unique as his style
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
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This article seriously rises a question to me that did i overate smith. Smith after 2019 ashes looked set to be best after bradman but has declined big time. Since that ashes series smith avereges below 50 in bowling friendly era whereas sachin lara and waugh averaged 50 plus in similar era vs atg bowlers with sachin averaging 58 in 90s
 
Molehill

Molehill

Cricketer Of The Year
govinda indian fan said:
This article seriously rises a question to me that did i overate smith. Smith after 2019 ashes looked set to be best after bradman but has declined big time. Since that ashes series smith avereges below 50 in bowling friendly era whereas sachin lara and waugh averaged 50 plus in similar era vs atg bowlers with sachin averaging 58 in 90s
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Why not compare him to a contemporary? In the last 4 years his average is more than 10 runs less than Root's. He averages less than 40 against both England and India (Root is 40 v Aus and 59 v India).
 
G

govinda indian fan

International 12th Man
Molehill said:
Why not compare him to a contemporary? In the last 4 years his average is more than 10 runs less than Root's. He averages less than 40 against both England and India (Root is 40 v Aus and 59 v India).
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Thats what iam saying we tend to underate previous greats and overate active players. I used rate smith to be better then tendulkar lara punter and viv but smith has shown he is human too. anway i dobut root averages 59 vs india in last four years. Had atg series vs us in england but failed in tour of india by becoming bumrah s bunny.only hundred he scored was when bumrah was rested but hope to see another fascinating battle between root and bumrah this june/july
 
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