**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Craig]

So hitting the captain is probably a good thing?

 

[Andre]

And let's not forget that Andre Nel was first selected for South Africa because he felled Allan Donald in a first-class match, while Aaron Bird was offered a NSW Rookie contract after collecting Michael Slater in a grade match...

 

[Craig]

And let's not forget that Andre Nel was first selected for South Africa because he felled Allan Donald in a first-class match, while Aaron Bird was offered a NSW Rookie contract after collecting Michael Slater in a grade match...

So the moral of the story if your a fast bowler is to hit a big name player (grade, FC etc) you get picked in FC cricket then Tests.

 

[Andre]

So the moral of the story if your a fast bowler is to hit a big name player (grade, FC etc) you get picked in FC cricket then Tests.

Not nessesarially - it just helps get your name out into the spotlight more.

 

[Craig]

And thus it can help you get into teams. As in the case with Nel, McGrath, Bird, Tait etc.

 

[Andre]

And thus it can help you get into teams. As in the case with Nel, McGrath, Bird, Tait etc.

Yes, but you were saying that it does get you picked in teams on that alone, which is completely untrue!

 

[Andre]

As expected - Katich and Williams for Symonds and MacGill.

 

[Craig]

And Ricky Ponting wins his third toss in a row and bats first. Not bad luck eh?

 

[Cactus]

not bad luck at all..........ponting and haydos seem to be recovering well after the initial hiccup of losing langer.

hopefully Murali will come on soon!

 

[Tim]

Looks like Australia might be playing out their mandatory poor first innings once again...

 

[Cactus]

must have been my mental vibes or something coz Murali just came on and started off with a maiden!!!

and as for the above post by Tim..........ponting and marto are pretty settled....but then again that's what i said about ponting and hayden sooo.......u never know.

 

[SquidAU]

I am hoping Ponting makes some runs this test. He's due some.
A better first innings in this test though.....but does that mean a bad second innings?:P

 

[marc71178]

If it continues like this, there might not even be a second innings!

 

[Linda]

Awww bugger it, Ponting out for 92 to Vaas.

To be honest, I dont even care much whether the Aussies win this one or not, I just want 9 wickets from Warnie

 

[luckyeddie]

217-4 at tea - and (shock horror) Murali yet to take a wicket.

 

[Linda]

4-217 :P

 

[PY]

Err......NO!! 231/4 is the way forward. (But I won't start an argument about it :P)

Is Lehmann looking good? Been on good form since his return. 2 fifties and a hundred in 4 innings.

 

[Craig]

Australia currantly at 263-5 with Lehmann not on 74* and Gilchrist on 8*.

 

[Andre]

Looks like Australia might be playing out their mandatory poor first innings once again...

Yup - that's right. Complete garbage - don't know how they've won so many Test matches in the last 5 years with such continued poor first innings...

New Zealand, of course, would have a better first innings side than Australia?

 

[Tim]

Could you not figure it out that I was referring to this series alone?

It would be ridiculous to say that Australia perform poorly in every 1st innings they've played over the last 5 years when it's obvious they haven't.

Infact the statement had no malice intended because I was then about to go on & say it was turning out to be a good thing for Australia because Sri Lanka were certainly faring no better in their 1st innings.