**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Andre]

Like I said, Clarke doesn't run everyone out. Harvey should be sharper, and obviously he isn't up to scratch.

I think you mean thanks Bevo. It was actually him getting out that started the collapse.

Just out of curiosity Andre, had you seen Harvey's running before he was runout? You could see it coming a mile away.

If we are going to be picky, the turning point was Punter's dismissal and the start of the collapse was Symonds'.

And yes, I did see Harvey's running - infact, I saw his whole innings, and it looked rather promising untill someone pushed him for the cleary impossible single.

Don't get me wrong - I think Clarke has got the goods for the future, but just turn it around and imagine the way you would be carrying on if it was a Katich or Bevan who ran out Harvey - then the battle lines would be draw.

It's naive and stupid to suggest it was completely Harvey's fault, it's not. There was no run there - I don't care if Linford Christie was running it, but it was Clarke's call for the run and therefore he must take responability for his actions. Simple as that, and the look on his face after the dismissal suggest 'uh-oh, me did big boo-boo!'. Some sense, please.

 

[Gaijin-san]

Mate, if they end up a few short then it's a close game we wouldn't have had if Clarke hadn't played well for a 10th wicket partnership of around 30. He hit 36 off 32 and I don't think you can really criticize him for that. Sure they missed 2 and a half overs but things could have been much worse.

 

[Eclipse]

indeed he should have batted out the 50.

having said that I am really impressed with his ability to come out stright away on a slow turing wicket with a soft ball and start picking the gaps and hitting 1s and two's easly.

 

[Swervy]

having not watched the game..do you think Australias total will be enough to win

 

[Gaijin-san]

imagine the way you would be carrying on if it was a Katich or Bevan who ran out Harvey - then the battle lines would be draw.

Hahaha too good mate, too good. You know me much too well.

Still, Katich and Bevan, like Clarke, are very quick men. Harvey is not. That's his shortcoming. Turn it around and if Katich or Bevan were batting with Clarke it would have been an easy single!! :P

 

[Andre]

Hahaha too good mate, too good. You know me much too well.

We've been arguing over Clarke for way too long for me to let that one slip As far as I'm concerned, it's all friendly unless it gets personal.

Still, Katich and Bevan, like Clarke, are very quick men. Harvey is not. That's his shortcoming. Turn it around and if Katich or Bevan were batting with Clarke it would have been an easy single!! :P

Fair point - Harvey isn't the quickest, but he's most certainly not the slowest going around. I think even Bevan, Katich or Clarke would have struggled to make that - they're not half a pitch quicker than Hars, and thats how much he was out by.

 

[Eclipse]

having not watched the game..do you think Australias total will be enough to win

50:50 IMO.

Australia usualy do deffend these totals and win but you cant deny 234 is very getable if Sri Lank bat well.

It's all up to how the Sri Lankn's start IMO. they dont have a strong middle order so they will want a solid start.

 

[Gaijin-san]

having not watched the game..do you think Australias total will be enough to win

That pitch was probably asking for 250. Having said that, if they had lasted out the overs it is doubtful they would have got there. Either way, it's tough enough batting on a subcontinental pitch second for Australia let alone Sri Lanka.

In one word:
Yes.

I think it's enough.

 

[Andre]

having not watched the game..do you think Australias total will be enough to win

3 key things will decide this game:

1. Sanath Jayasuriya
2. Jason Gillespie
3. The great GB Hogg.

Upul Chandana will also hold the key towards the end - he's a far, far better cricketer than he gets credit for.

 

[Swervy]

from what i have read, the pitch is taking a lot of spin and is quite slow....bit tricky for pushing the score along

 

[Gaijin-san]

I think even Bevan, Katich or Clarke would have struggled to make that - they're not half a pitch quicker than Hars, and thats how much he was out by.

They would have struggled yeah, but Harvey was not out by half a pitch (:P). He was slow off the mark and made no effort at all to make the crease. Any of those 3 would have been closer than Harvey and therefore had a reasonable chance of making their ground with a dive which probably would have come

I believe in a word called karma. Bevan ran out Clarke. The way it stands now I believe Harvey owes Bevo one

 

[Jono]

Clarke has so much natural talent and potential but he so often does stupid things like that. There was no need for that, Gillespie was having very little trouble and Murali and Vaas were bowled out. The window was open for 250 and that would of put a lot of pressure on SL. He does it so often you have to think what goes through his mind. I'm sure he'll mature with more experience but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise batting out the 50 overs is the way to go.

Symonds wicket caused the collapse, but Bevan slowing Symonds down didn't help. Once Bevan got out you knew the window was open for SL, but I won't even bother discussing Harvey's run out. There wasn't a run there, and even if there was there was no need for such a risk with Hogg, Kaps and Gillespie to come.

 

[Eclipse]

from what i have read, the pitch is taking a lot of spin and is quite slow....bit tricky for pushing the score along

Thats why wickets in hand are vital.

once the run rate required gets up over 6 an over it is very hard to win on these wickets unless you have well set batsman.

 

[Gaijin-san]

The great GB Hogg.

I hope he's a much better bowler than batsman, because anyone with 5 ODI ducks in 15 ODI dismissals is hardly great!! :P

 

[Andre]

They would have struggled yeah, but Harvey was not out by half a pitch (:P). He was slow off the mark and made no effort at all to make the crease. Any of those 3 would have been closer than Harvey and therefore had a reasonable chance of making their ground with a dive which probably would have come

And all to no avail methinks In all seriousness, Harvey didn't push for the single because he knew it wasn't there - simple as that. It mightn'y have been half a pitch, but it certainly wasn't far off. Good throw though - we seem to be forgetting that. I've seen people get away with those suicidal runs before because of crap fielding, so hats off there. But that's no excuse for pushing the single (just incase you get all confident )

I believe in a word called karma. Bevan ran out Clarke. The way it stands now I believe Harvey owes Bevo one

We all believe in the word Karma - look up the dictionary, and believe it or not it's there. We have to It's whether we subsribe to the belief of karma - trivial point I just made but important none the less.

In all seriousness though, I don't see how Bevan and Harvey have a system going. By my count, Harvey owes Clarke 2 :P

 

[Eclipse]

I hate hogg as a batsman.

IMO he seem's to bat selfishly ether that or he just has no confidence with the bat at all.

I hate it when he come's in with 1-2 overs to bat Lee or Bichel while's there not as good batsman as Hogg they will show much more intent to score and with say only 3-4 overs to go the chances are ether one of Bichel or Lee will come off.

 

[Andre]

I hope he's a much better bowler than batsman, because anyone with 5 ODI ducks in 15 ODI dismissals is hardly great!! :P

Hence why he's picked as a bowler :P Mind you, his 2 ODI 50's came at crucial times, so he can bat - it was a very good ball to get first up, you must admit!

I just think he's bowling that well at the moment that they'll either block him out like in game 2 or get out to him. Here's hoping he takes another bag - he need you Hoggy!!! Stay for the Tests!!!

 

[Gaijin-san]

IMO he seem's to bat selfishly ether that or he just has no confidence with the bat at all.

Yeah I was thinking about that earlier with the whole duck thing. Many people are edgy before they have scored but I think Hoggy is just much worse. If you can't get that first run you're really in trouble then.

Originally posted by Andre
In all seriousness though, I don't see how Bevan and Harvey have a system going. By my count, Harvey owes Clarke 2

I don't care, just as long as someone gets Bevan for what he did to Clarke!

 

[Gaijin-san]

I see Simon Katich on the field. Wonder who is off...?

And I also see Marvan Atapattu with an enormous piece of luck. Hit the stumps, bails didn't come off. Marvan, keep the chewie in your mouth mate!

 

[Gaijin-san]

Bye Jayasuriya! 'Nother duck. Huge edge!

BOWLIN' KASPER!!

The Aussies are all over the field. It's great to see, they are so hyped up, confident and ready to go.