**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[mavric41]

But would that not be a backward step?

I don't see how dropping Langer for Elliott would have been the correct decision.

You just asked for a replacement - I gave you one. I wouldn't drop Langer after just a couple of failures. He is one of the reasons that Hayden does so well.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Must have been very poor 5th-day cricket to watch. Of course 370 was always going to be a difficult target, but I don't at all agree with Tillakaratne's approach. It's a dead rubber - nothing in it all - why play for the draw? Why not risk a bit, have some fun out there, and get whipped by 150 runs if need be?

 

[luckyeddie]

I think if they'd taken an aggressive approach it would have been all over by now....

64.3 Warne to Sangakkara, OUT: lands in the rough on the enge of the pitch and it spins in sharply and collects the stumps. Warne moves ahead of Muralitharan once again

Seems it's going sideways.

 

[Gaijin-san]

From what I've seen, I wouldn't like to be trying to get established and save the match on that pitch. Sri Lanka did well to stop themselves losing any wickets for most of the day.

Credit where credits due though, with the wickets in hand they still had the most remote outside chance of winning it.

 

[Slow Love™]

This was TIC, right?

TKP actually (but the same thing, essentially). But remember, you're only as good as your last innings. :P

 

[Linda]

TKP actually (but the same thing, essentially). But remember, you're only as good as your last innings. :P

I beg to differ.:P

 

[Slow Love™]

Must have been very poor 5th-day cricket to watch. Of course 370 was always going to be a difficult target, but I don't at all agree with Tillakaratne's approach. It's a dead rubber - nothing in it all - why play for the draw? Why not risk a bit, have some fun out there, and get whipped by 150 runs if need be?

There's plenty to play for in terms of drawing the match - the Sri Lankans are trying to avoid the ignominy of being whitewashed for the first time ever on home soil.

Can't say I blame them. The target was very steep, and the risk was high they'd go down very quickly swinging away.

Right now, it looks like it's gonna come off - with 5 wickets needed in 20 overs (some of which we may not get, depending on light), our chances of taking the series 3-0 are getting slimmer and slimmer.

 

[Slow Love™]

Whoops, that should have read "TTP", rather than "TKP"... (I'm sure it would have provided hours of confusion trying to work out the acronym.) One too many Carlton Colds today.

 

[Gaijin-san]

Right now, it looks like it's gonna come off - with 5 wickets needed in 20 overs (some of which we may not get, depending on light), our chances of taking the series 3-0 are getting slimmer and slimmer.

Spoke too soon, buddy. 6/232 now. Just because they want to shut up shop doesn't mean that they can. It's not the greatest pitch. Furthermore, you are forgetting an important factor: The new ball.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

There's plenty to play for in terms of drawing the match - the Sri Lankans are trying to avoid the ignominy of being whitewashed for the first time ever on home soil.

Can't say I blame them. The target was very steep, and the risk was high they'd go down very quickly swinging away.

Right now, it looks like it's gonna come off - with 5 wickets needed in 20 overs (some of which we may not get, depending on light), our chances of taking the series 3-0 are getting slimmer and slimmer.

That was written before Lehmann's heriocs, and without any knowledge of the pitch Think the score was 109/2 or something, off about 40-45 overs. The fact that they've added a lot in the last 30 or so suggests to me that they tried to attack too late...

Actually I don't think the new ball is going to do much on that pitch - number of wickets gone to seamers in this test is 11 of 36, and the number of wickets to fall inside ten overs with the new ball is 1 (Langer).

 

[Slow Love™]

Spoke too soon, buddy. 6/232 now. Just because they want to shut up shop doesn't mean that they can. It's not the greatest pitch. Furthermore, you are forgetting an important factor: The new ball.

How is the light?

Still don't think they'll do it though - and I'm not even sure when/if they'll take the new ball. It's not as if we've consistently mowed through their tail this series. Be happy to be wrong, however.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

New ball taken at 81 overs.

4 wickets left, 13 overs to go - Kaspa and Gillespie with the ball.

 

[Slow Love™]

That was written before Lehmann's heriocs, and without any knowledge of the pitch Think the score was 109/2 or something, off about 40-45 overs. The fact that they've added a lot in the last 30 or so suggests to me that they tried to attack too late...

Actually I don't think the new ball is going to do much on that pitch - number of wickets gone to seamers in this test is 11 of 36, and the number of wickets to fall inside ten overs with the new ball is 1 (Langer).

I'm not sure it's a good call to take the new ball either - but in any case, they've taken it. I'd have been tempted to give Lehmann another crack.

And if anybody can give me some idea of how the light is, I'd appreciate it, 'cause I'm just watching the text commentary at cricinfo.

 

[Gaijin-san]

I'm not watching right now, but I'd say giving Kasper and Dizzy the last 13 overs with the new ball is as good a move as any.

 

[Slow Love™]

Gillespie just got Tillakaratne, LBW!

9 overs to go, 3 wickets - you naysayers need to have some faith.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Gillespie gets a wicket and the captain takes him off. Warne coming on.

One has to ask why on earth they took the new ball, if they were going to use Warne after six overs anyway.

 

[luckyeddie]

New ball = more bounce for Warney

 

[Adamc]

= wicket for Warney. SL 247/8, 6 overs left.

248/9, 2 overs left...

 

[Gaijin-san]

And one more to go.

Come on fellas, this would be one helluva win.

 

[Adamc]

All over, Herath lbw to Kasprowicz, SL all out for 248, losing 5/16, Australia sweep the series.