***Official*** South Africa in Sri Lanka

[honestbharani]

I do have to say this, though.... I can see that it is not often that a guy makes 300 and that too, as briskly as Mahela did... But really, had RSA batted with a bit more application (Gibbs and Boucher threw their wickets away, really), RSA could well have saved the test. And had that happened, I wonder whether Mahela's innings wouldn't have been called selfish? It is one thing batting on for the record when u have 20 wickets to get on a flat track (odds of bowling out a decent batting side in anything less than 3 sessions at the ARG or at the SSC this time should have been very low).... But with Murali in the side and having the better bowling attack, I think Sri Lanka and Mahela himself would have been terribly disappointed had they not been able to bowl out RSA in the second dig. Certainly felt that they could have declared once Mahela was on 300... Not really taking a dig at Mahela because even I felt that with Murali in their ranks, they would have needed a maximum of 4 sessions to bowl out RSA in the second dig, but sometimes when u are so close to victory, it is better to give yourself the best shot of that and if that means neglecting a chance to create a world record, then so be it. I feel really happy that SL won this test though, because from what I have seen of Mahela, he seems to be a very likeable person who will put his team before self all the time and he certainly wouldn't have remembered this innings with too much fondness had it not ended up winning the match for Sri Lanka.

 

[Langeveldt]

A guy scores 374 in a Test , a chanceless knock at that , and you called him a mediocre cricketer !!

As if that wasn't the stupidest statement made, you now dare to call him an Anonymous batsman !!
By SA standards of Match fixing (of Hansie Cronje and others) and ball tampering he may not be Notorious , but anonymous he is not . If you have a problem with your vocabuulary (I suspect Africaaner being your native tongue and English an alien language to you ) , its better you check the words you use before posting .

Suggest you do the same

1) Its Afrikaans
2) Its spelt Vocabulary

Calm down, read what I said, and ask around to see how many World XI's Jayawardene would have featured in before this knock.. I wasn't calling him a mediocre cricketer, I was calling him more mediocre than a bunch of the greatest players around..

 

[JASON]

Suggest you do the same

1) Its Afrikaans
2) Its spelt Vocabulary

Calm down, read what I said, and ask around to see how many World XI's Jayawardene would have featured in before this knock.. I wasn't calling him a mediocre cricketer, I was calling him more mediocre than a bunch of the greatest players around..

Pretty smart of you to pick up a typo , as opposed to your gross misuse of words !!

You excell in this sort of thing I suspect .

Calm down, read what I said, and ask around to see how many World XI's Jayawardene would have featured in before this knock.. I wasn't calling him a mediocre cricketer, I was calling him more mediocre than a bunch of the greatest players around..

I guess in future before any batsman breaks any record or does anything exemplary , they will need to get your permission and approval as to whether they are indeed eligible to break the record ie do they fit it into your (Langeveldt alias Richard Hingston) criteria for being among the exemplary elite group worthy enough to break such a record !!

What absolute BS !!

 

[Craig]

What was wit hthe deal of opening the batting with Andrew Hall? To protect Herschelle Gibbs? really if that is a sign of no-confidence, then I don't know what is?

 

[marc71178]

Gibbs wasn't allowed to bat up the order as he'd been off the field ill for a fairly long time.

And Jason, what is it with you? You're the only one who dare criticise Sri Lankans?

All Langeveldt did was make a very valid point about Jayawardene's standing in the world game and you go well OTT in reply.

 

[dinu23]

Suggest you do the same

1) Its Afrikaans
2) Its spelt Vocabulary

Calm down, read what I said, and ask around to see how many World XI's Jayawardene would have featured in before this knock.. I wasn't calling him a mediocre cricketer, I was calling him more mediocre than a bunch of the greatest players around..

some of them weren't great when they made those records.

 

[jot1]

As I've repeatedly said, if 2 of your 7 best batsmen are keepers then its fine however Boucher is not one of the top batsmen and SA ARE playing an extra keeper that is not needed therefore weakening the batting.

Although Boucher isn't a "specialist " batsman, I think he showed us why he is still in the team.
I think Boje batted a bit recklessly seeing the position we were in. Less runs and more caution might have saved the day. (I know, hindsight and all that! But still...)

 

[Craig]

Gibbs wasn't allowed to bat up the order as he'd been off the field ill for a fairly long time.

And Jason, what is it with you? You're the only one who dare criticise Sri Lankans?

All Langeveldt did was make a very valid point about Jayawardene's standing in the world game and you go well OTT in reply.

What was the matter with Gibbs? Heat exhausten (would imagine so if Sri Lanka is pretty humid at this time of the year) or lack of fluid?

 

[Nate]

Jase mate, easy. All Rich did was make a valid point, Jayawardene isn`t quite one the the great players of the game just yet.

EDIT: Freakishly similiar to Marc...

 

[Langeveldt]

Pretty smart of you to pick up a typo , as opposed to your gross misuse of words !!

You excell in this sort of thing I suspect .



I guess in future before any batsman breaks any record or does anything exemplary , they will need to get your permission and approval as to whether they are indeed eligible to break the record ie do they fit it into your (Langeveldt alias Richard Hingston) criteria for being among the exemplary elite group worthy enough to break such a record !!

What absolute BS !!

 

[JASON]

Jayawardene -pre match indicates only 1 change Vaas in place of Maharoof.

I think given SA are likely to come back hard in the second Test, it would be silly to play Prasanna as specialist wicket keeper .Sanga can do the job equally well. Another spinner - Bandara in the line up could be useful . Otherwise Vandort should come in, IMO.

Nel expected to give way to Polly , I would be surprised if Boeta does not come in , replacing Gibbs.

 

[chipmonk]

Murali has 2 got more ...now Gibbs gone, off a full toss. Wont help gibbs's Average that! his Average against Sri Lanka is woeful.

SA now 2 wickets down for 4 runs ..... pretty sorry stuff. Gibbs is such a bunny. Vass again gets him 1 st ball. His average against SL is pathetic!

 

[JASON]

5.6 Malinga to Amla, 2 runs, Dropped! this one reared off a good length and the edge is produced, ball clipped the shoulder of the bat on the forward prod, Prasana Jayawardene fails to hold on to an easy chance - what a let off


What's the point in picking this guy as a specialist keeper if he drops catches - according to Cricinfo an easy one at that !!

looks like Rudolph's out 3/31 now.

 

[Nate]

Vaas and Malinga dominating. LOL @ Hall`s innings.

 

[adharcric]

I'm pretty sure Sangakarra does damn well as a batsmen even when he's keeping, so this Jayawardene keeper seems like a waste to me. Sanath and Upul are fine up top, as are Sanga, Mahela, Dilshan and Kapu to follow. Next, they should either have Maharoof, Bandara or an untried middle-order batsman (not sure about Samaraweera and Arnold). Then Vaas, Malinga, Fernando and Murali look perfect.

 

[marc71178]

I'm pretty sure Sangakarra does damn well as a batsmen even when he's keeping, so this Jayawardene keeper seems like a waste to me.

But how long can he be the key batsman in the side (although Jayawardene is beginning to help there) as well as keep wicket?

It makes sense to lessen his load if possible.

 

[JASON]

Amla touch unlucky to be adjudged LBW according to Cricinfo. hit just outside the line of Off stump !

De Villiers looks to be in good touch. 26 off 22 balls. Murali getting the stick , a la KP style in the last series V England.

 

[adharcric]

But how long can he be the key batsman in the side (although Jayawardene is beginning to help there) as well as keep wicket?

It makes sense to lessen his load if possible.

I guess it makes sense as long as Jayawardene keeps well and contributes enough with the bat. Otherwise, they'll sacrifice their standard of keeping just to lessen the load on Sangakarra, which may not be such a problem now with Jayasuriya back, Mahela in top form and Tharanga and Kapugudera looking good.

 

[TT Boy]

Gibbs to score a bucket load.

LOL.

Three innings, three failures, needs to score a triple ton in the second innings to save face (for me).

 

[TT Boy]

Decent resistance from captain Prince and AB, both scoring fifties and scoring at a decent rate to boot.