**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Gaijin-san]

Is it just me or is anyone else really glad to see pitch conditions really favaourable for bowling?

I love seeing tests in conditions like this. It really sorts out the good batsmen from the flat track bullies.

I was just thinking that, mate... It's great to watch. Plus it's a change from seeing batsmen cause carnage; watch the bowlers have some fun. I think run-fests are good for the OD game, but tests should be exactly that. A test.

Vaas seems to be about to top score for the innings.

Murali is playing the way he only can. Back away from leg every ball, looking to hit through leg if possible, through off if it's too wide. As I say that he skies the ball and misses being caught by a metre. With Murali backing away, a yorker would do him nicely.

Next ball Vaas pulls pretty nicely.

Well, this is genuine tail end batting.

 

[Slow Love™]

I was just thinking that, mate... It's great to watch. Plus it's a change from seeing batsmen cause carnage; watch the bowlers have some fun. I think run-fests are good for the OD game, but tests should be exactly that. A test.

Couldn't agree more, and the wicket's supposed to improve for batting as the game goes on, so it might get even more interesting yet. And I couldn't see why people were complaining about the pitch at Galle - it was a relief after the flat, featureless wickets in the Aussie summer this season.

Pretty nervous now though - Vaas could be single-handedly taking the game right away from the Aussies here. Need to stop him real soon.

 

[Ferd]

Is it just me or does anybody else think these pitches(the 1st and 2nd test grounds) aren't up to Test Cricket standard? Who checks these things? In Australia and England the pitches might not be exiting but at least they are consistant.

 

[Cactus]

Vaas and Murali are making quite a stand!!!!...murali is smashing 4s all around the park!

good on 'em for rising to the occasion and taking the aussie attack on!!!!

 

[Craig]

Murali loves MacGill's and Kaspa's bowling.

And Ponting has done his back. If it is disc related we may see him playing for Australia for some time...

 

[bennyr]

Is it just me or does anybody else think these pitches(the 1st and 2nd test grounds) aren't up to Test Cricket standard? Who checks these things? In Australia and England the pitches might not be exiting but at least they are consistant.

Consistent and boring.

Different pitch conditions are a better test of players abilities to handle whatever comes their way, and in turn leads to better Test cricket IMHO.

As I type Murali is taking the Aussie batting to pieces. This is becoming another great match.

 

[Slow Love™]

Another sizeable first innings deficit for the Aussies (times sure have changed). I know they did it last test, but if anything, it's going to require even more of a herculean effort for the Aussies to take this match - Sri Lanka are absolutely in the box seat, and it's all down to an incredible tenth wicket partnership.

 

[Jimmy]

Another sizeable first innings deficit for the Aussies (times sure have changed). I know they did it last test, but if anything, it's going to require even more of a herculean effort for the Aussies to take this match - Sri Lanka are absolutely in the box seat, and it's all down to an incredible tenth wicket partnership.

i dont think that 91 runs will take a herculean effort to beat.

 

[Craig]

Not if Australia bat like their 1st innings.

 

[Slow Love™]

i dont think that 91 runs will take a herculean effort to beat.

Maybe not (or maybe it will), but we don't just have to beat 91 runs - we need to pass it and then set a reasonable target to defend. I think it's a very big lead in a match where the highest innings score so far is 211 (80 runs of which was scored by the tenth wicket pair).

Not saying the game is over, but yeah, I think it'll take a huge effort to win it. The Aussies did it the last test, so if anybody can, they can, but it's going to be really difficult.

 

[Ferd]

Consistent and boring.

Different pitch conditions are a better test of players abilities to handle whatever comes their way, and in turn leads to better Test cricket IMHO.

Pitches turning from 30 cm outside leg to past off are not up to International standard. Especially when its an offie bowling.

 

[Cactus]

i dont think that 91 runs will take a herculean effort to beat.

i wouldn't be so sure if i were u......you only need to take a quick glance of the scoreboard to know that wickets have been falling in quick succession and the trend may repeat itself!

 

[Ferd]

Why would anybody in their right mind bring in an average form Gilchrist at 3 with a session to go on the 2nd day. Hayden ruins his work in the 1st innings by hitting one back to the bowler.

 

[Mister Wright]

And much more suited to that form of the game.

You really think Katich would have done that well in an innings of 120?

 

[Mister Wright]

Pitches turning from 30 cm outside leg to past off are not up to International standard. Especially when its an offie bowling.

You would rather 450 runs in a day where bowlers are merely bowling machines?

I was thinking on Day 1 I would love for these pitches to be prepared every day I turned up to the cricket to watch...it is far more exciting than watching batathons!

 

[Slow Love™]

Why would anybody in their right mind bring in an average form Gilchrist at 3 with a session to go on the 2nd day. Hayden ruins his work in the 1st innings by hitting one back to the bowler.

It may not come off, but it's not a bad move by Ponting. The idea behind it is sound - get him in when the fast bowlers are on, so he doesn't have to immediately face spin on arrival to the wicket. It's been a major problem for him.

Of course, Murali has already bowled a couple of overs, so I'm not sure that Gilchrist will have very long away from him. But if he gets a start, who knows? I'm in favor of a bit of experimenting to shake Gilly into some form. And if he gets going, that deficit will get wiped pretty quickly...

 

[Slow Love™]

26/2. Not the best start, and a lousy match for Langer.

Does anybody know if Ponting's going to bat? I can't see him doing a lot of damage (uh, on the scoreboard at least) with a sprained back.

 

[Hero_Don]

Gilchrist is finally making some runs, which is good to see

 

[Ferd]

They seem to be cruising at 2/62. Martyn is now back in form. The question now is how long can the parntership last.

 

[marc71178]

Why would anybody in their right mind bring in an average form Gilchrist at 3 with a session to go on the 2nd day.

Ponting injured - Gilchrist struggling a bit against the spinners, s bring him in when seamers are on - if he then gets a few runs, he might play the spinners with more confidence...