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

[Starfighter]

huh i didn't know mendis was pronounced mendez but it makes sense

Not sure who was saying that on the coverage (sound off), but I'd be surprised it that's right. Mendes isn't pronounced 'ez' in any Portugese dialect (though the vowel could've changed in 400 years) and it wouldn't be consistent with attempting to transcribe Sinhala within the limitations of the Latin script. And in videos I can find native speakers pronounce it 'Mendis'.

 

[the big bambino]

Perhaps some of our SL posters could clarify.

 

[trundler]

Brilliant player. Not far behind Ross Taylor imo.
Better than Misbah and MUCH better than Shafiq.

Nah not better than Misbah. He's done well against NZ but hasn't done much of note in the last few years. Mostly been a getter of soft runs

 

[quincywagstaff]

Starc with the new ball in Tests in Sri Lanka has been remarkable over the years.

 

[trundler]

huh i didn't know mendis was pronounced mendez but it makes sense

Think these 2 can Mendis collapse.

That's all I've got

Edit: nup

 

[Shady Slim]

sl opting for peiris somehow only the second worst selection of this test given that we dropped murphy and brought connolly in

great work by starc here

 

[Burgey]

Really good reward for Starc this. Bowled well all day

 

[Spark]

That would have been a near guaranteed hattrick had he got that on off stump

 

[Qlder]

Starc now has 35 wkts @ 16.08 in his 7th test in Sri Lanka, amazing stuff

 

[halba]

Starc now has 35 wkts @ 16.08 in his 7th test in Sri Lanka, amazing stuff

so basically hes the Wasim Akram of SL pitches? Genuine ATG in certain conditions -pink ball and SL it seems.

 

[Burgey]

Why was there just an ad after five balls of an over?

 

[the big bambino]

Yeah so missed those two deliveries from Starc. Nvm.

 

[Starfighter]

I wouldn't be surprised if 250-ish is competitive on this pitch as there's already significantly more turn now than the first session. That said 'don't judge until both teams have batted' blah blah.

 

[halba]

I wouldn't be surprised if 250-ish is competitive on this pitch as there's already significantly more turn now than the first session. That said 'don't judge until both teams have batted' blah blah.

STarc getting the two wickets, means its game on, as its a bit pacey not spinny , strangely enough, but Starc is ATG in SL conditions. hard to know what other pacers would do. SL pacer is not good.

 

[Qlder]

so basically hes the Wasim Akram of SL pitches?

No, Starc is better than Akram in Sri Lanka as Akram only took 30 wkts @ 20.43 in 8 Tests (only 3.75 wpm). Starc 35 wkts @ 16.08 at > 5 wpm much better

 

[halba]

No, Starc is better than Akram in Sri Lanka as Akram only took 30 wkts @ 20.43 in 8 Tests (only 3.75 wpm). Starc 35 wkts @ 16.08 at > 5 wpm much better

yep i meant stylistically at least. Both left arm fast(Akram was quick early on) and with good figures in subcontinent play.

 

[cascade]

Did Inglis ever return to the field?

 

[Burgey]

Credit to Starc there for denying Mendis a single at the back end of the previous over

 

[ashley bach]

No, Starc is better than Akram in Sri Lanka as Akram only took 30 wkts @ 20.43 in 8 Tests (only 3.75 wpm). Starc 35 wkts @ 16.08 at > 5 wpm much better

Different eras mate

Akram > Starc

Any time any place

 

[Qlder]

Different eras mate

Akram > Starc

Any time any place

Except apparently not in Sri Lanka