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

[Magrat Garlick]

1000 overs or so as well?

Just 966.

 

[aussie]

Murali is just superb, dont want to start up the infamous argument but these days i'm starting to feel maybe Murali is better than Warne slightly, his record is just unbelievable, more than 6 wickets per test geez..

 

[silentstriker]

Murali is just superb, dont want to start up the infamous argument but these days i'm starting to feel maybe Murali is better than Warne slightly, his record is just unbelievable, more than 6 wickets per test geez..

Its close IMO. Warne comes in when more wickets have been taken. That means the side is already under pressure, but it also means he has less wickets to aim at. But then again, Aus has a better overall attack so the batsman could be under pressure from both ends. But on the days he doesn't have support, he still takes wickets....so its hard to judge. I think it evens out in the end. I'm not sure if I can pick between the two ATM. We will have to wait until they both retire.

 

[JBH001]

What a test this has been - a constant see saw between both sides.
Kudos to SA for having played so well and come back strong from their first test defeat.

They really have a good chance to win this and draw the series - though SL may still be in with a chance depending on how they open their innings. Imo Jaya and Tharanga are due for some runs. Still, so far it has been a very good test match.

In regards to Murali and Warne, let me just say that I like and admire Murali more than Warne - but I believe Warne to be the better bowler by a shade. This is because I believe Warne to have greater cricketing nous and be more resilient and tough under pressure.

 

[JBH001]

Speaking of 100 wickets against SA here is his record against SA upto (and not including) the current test match.

Career vs South Africa.

T O R M B/Bi B/Bm Avge Econ S/R 5wi 10wm
14 904 2086 92 7/84 13/171 22.67 2.30 58.9 9 3

In Sri Lanka

T O R M B/Bi B/Bm Avge Econ S/R 5wi 10wm
8 550.5 1175 57 7/84 13/171 20.61 2.13 57.9 6 2

In South Africa

T O R M B/Bi B/Bm Avge Econ S/R 5wi 10wm
6 353.1 911 35 6/39 11/161 26.02 2.57 60.5 3 1

Interestingly, his overall figures against SA are slightly worse than his career figures.

Career against all countries, home and away.

T O R M B/Bi B/Bm Avge Econ S/R 5wi 10wm
107 5942.3 14207 645 9/51 16/220 22.02 2.39 55.2 54 17

It seems South Africa make Murali work hard for his wickets - relatively speaking of course.

 

[JASON]

I want to do this to Muralitharan so badly

I so badly want the RSPCA to do the same to you .

I guess in SA there must be no RSPCA .

 

[JASON]

What are you on?

Another lean patch and serious questions would have been raised as to whether he should really be in the SA team let alone be Captain. That's what I am on about.

 

[JASON]

God knows

You certainly wouldn't , even if it were written in Big Red letters and shown to you a few hundred times, you would still be pretending ignorance.... You certainly cannot be colour blind ... I hope.

 

[JASON]

Its hard to tore anything when all you do all day is g33k behind your computer monitor

Thats part of my job as a Doctor , to spend a fare amount of time writing medical notes on patients into Computer records.(that and examining patients)

You have a problem with that ..

 

[JASON]

SL will need to break all records to win this Test given the lead is 300 ATM.

9/300 -last pair at the crease.

The pitch having slowed considerably , SL Batsman will have to play grafting long innings to have any chance . Highest scores At P Sara -all innings

9/541 SL v Bangladesh (second innigs)
7/515 NZ v SL (First innings)
483 SL V NZ (second innings)
467 Australia v Pakistan (First Innings)
446 India v SL (second innings)
390 Pakistan V SL (First innings)

 

[JASON]

All out 311 Target 352 . A very difficult proposition on any ground on the 4th Innings.

 

[Xuhaib]

I am starting to wonder is Murali the most prolific international cricketer (stats wise) after the Don.

 

[marc71178]

Murali is just superb, dont want to start up the infamous argument but these days i'm starting to feel maybe Murali is better than Warne slightly, his record is just unbelievable, more than 6 wickets per test geez..

But that can be more than partially tempered by him bowling pretty much half the overs.

In this current game he bowled 33.5 out of the 89.5 overs in the first innings, and 46.5 out of the 107.5 overs in the second innings.

That means that in each innings he bowled for all but 10 overs from one end.

That is one thing Warne hasn't had to do (except for last summer and we all saw how many wickets he got when he did that)

 

[marc71178]

Another lean patch and serious questions would have been raised as to whether he should really be in the SA team let alone be Captain. That's what I am on about.

So that fact he had a nasty injury is suddenly "convenient" then?

 

[TazzX]

So that fact he had a nasty injury is suddenly "convenient" then?

JASON is talking out of his *** :| nothing wrong with Smith being the captain or in the team

 

[JASON]

JASON is talking out of his *** :| nothing wrong with Smith being the captain or in the team

We shall see , won't we when he finally makes his return to the Team .... May I recommend he do that in a series against Bangladesh at home in SA ..

 

[a massive zebra]

This is because I believe Warne to have greater cricketing nous and be more resilient and tough under pressure.

This is simply not true and easily disproven by facts. Murali has been humiliated far less often than Warne...

Warne
45 7 150 1 3.33 3rd Test v Ind in Aus 1991/92 at Sydney
22 2 107 0 4.86 1st Test v SL in SL 1992 at Colombo (SSC)
30 2 104 3 3.47 3rd Test v Pak in Pak 1994/95 at Lahore
30 7 122 1 4.07 1st Test v Ind in Ind 1997/98 at Chennai
42 4 147 0 3.50 2nd Test v Ind in Ind 1997/98 at Kolkata
15.5 2 70 1 4.42 3rd Test v WI in WI 1998/99 at Bridgetown
13 1 60 0 4.62 3rd Test v Ind in Aus 1999/00 at Sydney
34 3 152 1 4.47 2nd Test v Ind in Ind 2000/01 at Kolkata
42 7 140 2 3.33 3rd Test v Ind in Ind 2000/01 at Chennai
30 6 108 2 3.60 3rd Test v SA in SA 2001/02 at Durban
38 7 129 3 3.39 2nd Test v SL in Aus 2004 at Cairns
32 4 115 2 3.59 1st Test v Ind in Ind 2004/2005 at Nagpur
24 4 84 1 3.50 3rd Test v Pak in Aus 2004/05 at Sydney
19.2 2 77 1 3.98 3rd Test v WI in Aus 2005/06 at Adelaide
20 1 112 0 5.60 1st Test v BD in BD 2005/06 at Fatullah

Murali
36 6 123 1 3.42 1st Test v Pak in SL 1994 at Colombo
20 2 83 2 4.15 2nd Test v Pak in Pak 1995/96 at Faisalabad
54 3 224 2 4.15 1st Test v Aus in Aus 1995/96 at Perth
33 6 136 0 4.12 1st Test v NZ in NZ 1996/97 at Dunedin
25 2 96 2 3.84 2nd Test v Ind in SL 2001 at Kandy
30 3 102 2 3.40 Only Test v Aus in Aus 2005/06 at Sydney
36 4 128 3 3.56 3rd Test v Ind in Ind 2005/06 at Ahmedabad

and has a good record against all teams whereas Warne has failed dismally against India (43 wickets at 47.18).

 

[Craig]

How well did Dale Steyn bowl? Excluding that he took five wickets, because I know and see that, did he look pretty impressive with the ball or did the Sri Lankans get themselves out with poor shot selections?

 

[TT Boy]

Sri Lanka batsman going like a train.

Anyone know what’s up with Ntini, injured?

 

[oz_fan]

Sangakarra out to Pollock for 39.