***Official** Sri Lanka in New Zealand

[Bahnz]

Another woeful batting effort by New Zealand. Why is it that every time we manage to compile a decent bowling line-up, our batsmen start playing like kindergarden reps? If Vettori and Franklin can score runs so comfortably, why on earth do the likes of Astle, Oram, Sinclair, McCullum and Fleming keep struggling to put runs on the board? I'm not sure whether wholesale changes will help either. Still, the time has come to blood the next generation and give the likes of Broom, Ryder and Taylor a go. Papps should probably come back into the side, provided he can stay fit, and Sinclair will have to play well in first class cricket to stay ahead of Hamish Marshall (who is now the second highest run scorer in domestic cricket this season). Daniel Vettori can't carry this side on his own, and he needs some support from the top order, when it comes to batting.

Sri Lanka now probably have a team strong enough to seriously threaten the world cup next year. I'm a bit nervous about what will happen to them after Vaas and Murali retire, but at the present, they have a perfectly balanced side, with some classy batsmen (who were clearly the difference in this match), and some unorthodox, but devastating bowlers. Malinga looks much faster and more aggressive than when he toured New Zealand a couple of years ago (I think his pace back then was only 135-140 km/h then), Murali is bowling as well as at any time in his career, and it is only a matter of time before he overtakes Warne again. Sangakkara is one of the best batsmen in the world, and Silva looks very promising.

All in all, they were undoubtedly the better of the two sides, and a drawn series seriously flattens a New Zealand which probably has its weakest batting lineup since the mid-90's.

 

[Natman20]

I watched a replay of Muralis ball in the highlights of the game yesterday. It was in slow-mo. If thats not a chuck then im a dead donkey. That cannot be called a legitimate delivery and im sure more analysis would prove it to be a chuck norris.

 

[JBH001]

Man, there are suddenly some mean little minds on this thread.

 

[Natman20]

I wan't cndemning Sri Lankans perfromance because it was dominant and a far better side in this match with the brilliance of Malinga and the emergence of Silva. I was just stating what I saw on the television. It looked a definate chuck to me no doubt about it.

 

[Isolator]

That means nothing, EVERY ball of Murali's looks like a chuck. "Looks like" is not good enough.

On another note, in the last four years (since Dec 2002), Vettori's been averaging 38+ with the bat.

 

[silentstriker]

I watched a replay of Muralis ball in the highlights of the game yesterday. It was in slow-mo. If thats not a chuck then im a dead donkey. That cannot be called a legitimate delivery and im sure more analysis would prove it to be a chuck norris.

The University in Australia which conducted tests on his action disagrees with you. Of course, you being the biomechanics expert can spot a chuck right from your TV set. You should try out for the elite panel umpiring, with an eye like that.

Face it, under the 15 degree rule, his action is legal. Time to get over it.

 

[chipmonk]

Harry Potter should be playing for the one dayers .... surely

 

[Anil]

Man, there are suddenly some mean little minds on this thread.

murali will never get his due recognition...we just have to accept that and move on...no point getting upset about closed minds...

 

[chipmonk]

What an excellant 2 match series ...... Cudos to both teams. However I was really dissapointed with the commentary team ..... They were totally unproffessional IMO. For Ex-:on day 3 when Sanga took over the gloves they totally missed it. they were only interested in the home team. And Crows increadibly ignorant comment on Murali's actioned was uncalled for.

 

[JASON]

One advantage of not playing another Test until next year is not having to think about the huge problems we have in that form of the game. NZ (hopefully) playing well in these ODIs, in Australia and maybe even in the World Cup might take my mind off it for now.

I guess SL don't have any more Tests in the near future either? A shame, with Sangakkara and Silva in such good form with the bat and Malinga and Murali bowling so well they'd be a handful for any opposition at the moment.

I think NZ's failure to play International Cricket for some time combined with playing Test series in early season whem most batsman have hardly got into any reasonable form were largely contributory to NZ 's loss in this Test and poor batting.

SL did poorly in the first Test too remember, so both teams have similar problems.

By the Time SL play their next Test after the World Cup, I suspect Jayasuriya may have finally retired and Vaas may be heading that way too (and possibly into Roman Catholic Clergy ) . Atapattu may have a difficult decision to make . I suspect NZ may also have one retirement in the form of Astle, post World Cup.

Getting back to this Test absolutely brilliant bowling by M&M (Murali and Malinga) ,
Chamara Silva deservedly the Man of the Match.

 

[Perm]

Well played Sri Lanka, no wonder test match cricket is a dying thing in New Zealand, when our team full of some very good players can't even continue on with the good work from the 1st test. Pathetic, and now we have so many limited overs games to look forward to. I'm dying for them to start. *sarcasm off*

 

[Ikki]

That survey that found that "all bowlers were chuckers" was absolute poppy-****. It just takes common-sense and the naked eye to see that a bowler is chucking, and Murali is caught red-handed every ball, Akthar is a serial offender and so is Brett Lee.

That action was made to chuck. It was luck that they screwed the rules - from before - so he could continue bowling. Back in 92-93 where we didn't apply biomechanics you want to tell me the Sri-Lankans, the rest of the world and Murali didn't know his action was outrageous? 'Bullshyte' is what I think of it. If he grew up in Australia bowling with that action he'd get a smack to the back of his head bowling like that in the juniors.

 

[shankar]

How on earth can you tell the flexion from watching on TV without the highly sophisticated cameras?

There are some special rose-tinted glasses available, which help you do that.

 

[dinu23]

some of these guys must be living in caves. they must think the earth is flat as well because it's so obvious.

 

[Ikki]

some of these guys must be living in caves. they must think the earth is flat as well because it's so obvious.

The argument of it being an illusion has come later on. Pray tell how any coach let him continue bowling like that, because surely U-15 cricket coaches aren't using scientific methods to discern the matter.

 

[Anil]

The argument of it being an illusion has come later on. Pray tell how any coach let him continue bowling like that, because surely U-15 cricket coaches aren't using scientific methods to discern the matter.

it has been proven to be an illusion and is not really open to argument....yeah continue spouting all the biased crap you want, doesn't make him any less great that he is....

 

[pasag]

Far out not this again, as SS said, time to get over it.

 

[Ikki]

it has been proven to be an illusion and is not really open to argument....yeah continue spouting all the biased crap you want, doesn't make him any less great that he is....

But your reply is just a testament to your inability to refute that logic. If illusion/biochemical evidence is what it has taken just to clear his name, how did he go through junior ranks with that shocking action? Therefore, this is why I have a big ? on the intent of the Sri Lankans in defending it.

Out of the respect for the fans of both these teams I'm not going to continue this argument.

 

[silentstriker]

But your reply is just a testament to your inability to refute that logic. If illusion/biochemical evidence is what it has taken just to clear his name, how did he go through junior ranks with that shocking action? Therefore, this is why I have a big ? on the intent of the Sri Lankans in defending it.

Out of the respect for the fans of both these teams I'm not going to continue this argument.

Maybe because they saw the deformity in his hand?

 

[Jono]

But your reply is just a testament to your inability to refute that logic. If illusion/biochemical evidence is what it has taken just to clear his name, how did he go through junior ranks with that shocking action? Therefore, this is why I have a big ? on the intent of the Sri Lankans in defending it.

Out of the respect for the fans of both these teams I'm not going to continue this argument.

The same reason why Alec Stewart doesn't think he chucks.

He can spin his wrist/hand like a helicopter.