** Official ** Sri Lanka in New Zealand tour

[anzac]

apart from his score card - how has Hamish been handling the spin bowling - his known main weakness - or has the pitch been flat enough to not offer anything as yet?????

 

[marc71178]

Yes, but with one at 7 and one at 8, it evens itself out.

They are both baiscally number 7.5 batsmen...

If Vaas ever batted at 7, SL would be in all sorts of trouble.

Just look at some of the other number 7s around the world.

I wouldn't personally want Vaas anything above 9 in my line up

 

[marc71178]

Out of the 3 (Oram, Vettori & Fleming), you'd think that Fleming is the one most likely to suffer. Which I guess is a bit harsh because he was in reasonable form before Australia arrived.

I can't see the captain not having one of the top contracts.

Maybe they'll have to extend to 4?

 

[_Ed_]

apart from his score card - how has Hamish been handling the spin bowling - his known main weakness - or has the pitch been flat enough to not offer anything as yet?????

From the limited amount of play I saw he seemed to be charging and hitting the spin bowling straight down the ground, saw 2 fours and a six hit that way.

 

[Legglancer]

Astle Riding his luck .... New Zealand now on 286 for 3 wickets

 

[Cam7]

Can snicko be adjusted or altered to manufacture a graph? And who controls the snicko?

"Snicko", "the zoomer", and the speed-ball radar are all operated/monitored by the same person, who's from an Australian company who have been sub-contracted to Sky Sport for the entire summer (for international matches only).

In theory, yes, snicko could be altered to "manufacture" a graph. It's a computer-based system, and we all know that pretty much anything can be done with computers these days! In reality, though, it would require too much time to set up in such a way that it would be convincing. And besides, it just would NOT happen!

Snicko could be altered by the TV production crew - though it would be difficult to time it with the TV footage.

Exactly.

What is the possibility that the TV crew AND the third umpire were in the payroll of aliens

If aliens pay peanuts, I think it's a real possibility!

 

[marc71178]

Have to say, I'm sure glad Marshall didn't come to England last summer!

 

[Kumar_42]

Marshall finally out for 160. Terrific innings against a lacklustre bowling attack.
....Vincent follows suit for a duck of 2 balls. Well done Kulasekera for a well deserved first test wicket.

NZ now 317/5

 

[Kumar_42]

surely we must have some more effective/penetrative bowlers?

I personally think that the two talented spinners Bandara and M. Suraj should have been brought on tour, a leggie and and offie respectively. For the moment, perhaps understandably on a batting paradise and our lack of match practice, our attack looks a bit lacklustre. Lets hope vaas isn't carrying an injury as the commentators have speculated.

Murali we miss you

 

[Kumar_42]

aaarggghh!!!

Mahela just dropped a dolly from McCullum (6) of Vaas!
Simple 1st slip catch goes down.
That could be a very costly miss. Thats two 1st slip catches dropped now. You can't afford to drop sitters like that on flat, batsmen friendly tracks like this.

 

[chipmonk]

I am losing my patience with Mahela ........

 

[Zinzan]

Have to say, I'm sure glad Marshall didn't come to England last summer!

He was in England , but unfortunately only in the onedayers

 

[cbuts]

surely we must have some more effective/penetrative bowlers?

I personally think that the two talented spinners Bandara and M. Suraj should have been brought on tour, a leggie and and offie respectively. For the moment, perhaps understandably on a batting paradise and our lack of match practice, our attack looks a bit lacklustre. Lets hope vaas isn't carrying an injury as the commentators have speculated.

Murali we miss you

god how much cricket have they played recently? 1 warm up game that got rained off. i dont think u can blamethem for being rusty

 

[cbuts]

apart from his score card - how has Hamish been handling the spin bowling - his known main weakness - or has the pitch been flat enough to not offer anything as yet?????

i think its a weakness because there aint no spinners in nz - of any quality anyway. i doubt vettori could turn the ball in india, let alone india. marshall will be better for the experience against warne, and i dare say therewill be a bit of coaching done on that part

 

[shaka]

I think that Chandana gave Marshall a few troubles yesterday, was not able to see Hamish continue today, as i only just got home from Uni.

 

[cbuts]

hmmm i got a hard question for everyone, uni or cricket? we at vic r on holidays so im sweet. but when the aussies were on, just stayed home. not much point to classes anyway, most lecturers read out of the text book anyway

 

[Kumar_42]

god how much cricket have they played recently? 1 warm up game that got rained off. i dont think u can blamethem for being rusty

Yeah you're right. I guess I was overreacting at the time-its inevitable they'd be a bit rusty and still adjusting back to test cricket after a long break. The point I was trying to make was whether there was a possibly more potent and effective bowling combination to perhaps trouble/challenge the kiwis more. Anyone got any news of Dilhara Fernando or Prabath Nissanka? Zoysa's probably injured

 

[JASON]

SL are going to struggle to save this Test from here on !! Unless it rains out a couple of days or the batsmen play themselves in !

500 is a solid match winning score IMO. And Batting 4th can be difficult (or even 3rd if they don't get over the follow on target ). Kiwis will push for the follow on ! (and possibly assisted by Trigger happy Umps)

 

[JASON]

Am I the only one who thinks Darrell Hair has been assigned for this Test (going by his past record ) against Sri Lanka with the intention of getting Malinga Reported ?

 

[meatspx]

Astle was plumb to the leggie before he posted his hundred.

NZ will be looking to bat the rest of the day, to post about 600, leaving a follow-on of around 400.
Bad light will be taken by Sri Lanka if they bat this afternoon, leaving a decleration pointless.

Good six by McCullum. If these bat to tea, then there will be fireworks in the final session.