***Official*** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Jayzamann]

Don't go chasing that you muppet.

 

[SamSawnoff]

Crazy amount of spin 6 overs in on day one.

Excellent catch by the wickie. The backstop wouldn't have got near that.

Dear oh dear, that was slightly pathetic by Hughes.

 

[Prince EWS]

Don't go chasing that you muppet.

Was there for the shot IMO; he just missed it. More concerned with him defending on fifth stump to an off cutter the next ball.


... and now he's out.

 

[Spark]

Sigh.

 

[NasserFan207]

Beauty!

 

[Jacknife]

Wel that took off a bit but same old same old. Both openers back in the hutch, that ball literally bounced twice as high as any other delivery.

 

[ajdude]

I kinda wish we bowled first now, copeland would have 7 by now

 

[GotSpin]

Sigh.

 

[Ruckus]

I like Hughes, but with every failure I'm starting to think maybe he just doesn't have what it takes.

 

[TT Boy]

That's one way to counter your popgun attack.

 

[Prince EWS]

Clarke comes out at four. Here is his overally record there in two stints at completely different points of his career:

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
14	24	1	467	80	20.30	978	47.75	0	2	0	54	0

It's no doubt at least partly a coincidence - that record will improve if he keeps batting there - but I do think there are over-riding technical issues relating to his off-stump judgement and his weight transfer. Just don't think he belongs in the top order tbh. Shouldn't be as much of an issue here in Sri Lanka though so hopefully he can score big.

 

[NasserFan207]

Tbf to Watson and Hughes both these wickets have been good deliveries.

 

[Spark]

Clarke comes out at four. Here is his overally record there in two stints at completely different points of his career:

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
14	24	1	467	80	20.30	978	47.75	0	2	0	54	0

It's no doubt at least partly a coincidence - that record will improve if he keeps batting there - but I do think there are over-riding technical issues relating to his off-stump judgement and his weight transfer. Just don't think he belongs in the top order tbh. Shouldn't be as much of an issue here in Sri Lanka though so hopefully he can score big.

Expand? I know doesn't have much.

 

[SamSawnoff]

Tbf to Watson and Hughes both these wickets have been good deliveries.

Yeah, they were but Phil Hughes plays at stuff he doesn't have to as a general rule.

Having bowlers with averages in the 50's opening your bowling, I guess it's best to duff up the pitch. It looks like a desert out there.

 

[NasserFan207]

Yeah, they were but Phil Hughes plays at stuff he doesn't have to as a general rule.

Having bowlers with averages in the 50's opening your bowling, I guess it's best to duff up the pitch. It looks like a desert out there.

No real evidence for that, bowler friendly though for sure, which is a good thing

 

[Son Of Coco]

When I caught a glimpse of Hughes' dismissal first time around I thought, "Hughes out to a short ball again"...but it really took off. Difficult one to play.

 

[SamSawnoff]

No real evidence for that, bowler friendly though for sure, which is a good thing

I'm saying it's about a fourth day pitch and quite frankly, I don't blame them. When you don't have a strong seam attack it's best to give the spin bowlers every chance. It's no different to an English or Aussie groundskeeper providing a green top.

 

[Jayzamann]

Sugar free Red Bull. Metro as feck, Hughes.

Was there for the shot IMO; he just missed it. More concerned with him defending on fifth stump to an off cutter the next ball.

Think he was more muppetish in the way he was reaching for it with his feet planted. Not pretty.

 

[Spark]

I'm saying it's about a fourth day pitch and quite frankly, I don't blame them. When you don't have a strong seam attack it's best to give the spin bowlers every chance. It's no different to an English or Aussie groundskeeper providing a green top.

Wait and see. Might flatten out after lunch.

 

[Jayzamann]

If it doesn't, it makes a result ever more likely.