***Official*** Sri Lanka Tour of West Indies 2018

[flibbertyjibber]

I find that hard to believe. Just months after the biggest ball-tampering scandal in the history of the game and you're stupid enough to risk it already? Surely not

1-0 down and struggling makes you do stupid things.

 

[vcs]

The test seems fairly even at the moment. Even if they don't throw their toys out of the pram as they traditionally do I wonder if this might take the wind out of their sails.

They had that "refusing to play due to the pollution" controversy last year and it seemed to spur them on to save the Test. They've clawed their way back to a fairly decent position here.

 

[Starfighter]

They had that "refusing to play due to the pollution" controversy last year and it seemed to spur them on to save the Test. They've clawed their way back to a fairly decent position here.

That would be annoying. I want the West Indies to win.

 

[Jack1]

I agree with the discussion about 5 run penalty being pointless. 50 runs or maybe even 100 runs would be more appropriate.

I also think that refusing to take the field should result in either immediate forfeit or a 5 run penalty for every over lost in the match. They have effectively cheated by ball tampering and then wasted time in the match.

The biggest thing here is Sri Lanka have effectively disrespected their opponent by wasting time in the match. Whether they agree with the ball tampering accusation or not, they should have continued to play. They have flown over to play the West Indies, not row with umpires.

I believe the umpires to be honest. They have no reason to lie.

 

[Migara]

Too risky move, and stupid if it is the case. However the changed ball swung, seamed and bounced more, so what ever they allegedly apply was not doing the job.

Still I think some vital piece of information is missing.

 

[Burgey]

Yea guys, good job taking the field after first tampering the ball* and then protesting that you did it for 2 hours. Really upholding the spirit of the game there

Also great to see that SLC's default stance is 'We didn't do anything!' instead of, y'know, being concerned that their players have been called up for ball tampering.


*in all fairness this still has to be proven

As always, Australia deals with these things best, despite having so little experience with its players doing anything wrong.

Unlike Sri Lanka, who have clearly #crossedtheline

 

[Burgey]

Too risky move, and stupid if it is the case. However the changed ball swung, seamed and bounced more, so what ever they allegedly apply was not doing the job.

Still I think some vital piece of information is missing.

Yeah, a ****ing apology.

 

[Migara]

1-0 down and struggling makes you do stupid things.

The issue is, other than for Lakmal, other two pacemen have no experience in bowling reverse swing. Why tamper is the real question. And we never had a history or a pedigree for tampering.

 

[Migara]

Yeah, a ****ing apology.

It's the aussie way

 

[flibbertyjibber]

They had that "refusing to play due to the pollution" controversy last year and it seemed to spur them on to save the Test. They've clawed their way back to a fairly decent position here.

In fairness I think the pollution is one where most sides would have refused to play if it was so bad. Can't blame them on that one.

Will feel hollow if they win this test though after cheating.

 

[cnerd123]

The issue is, other than for Lakmal, other two pacemen have no experience in bowling reverse swing. Why tamper is the real question. And we never had a history or a pedigree for tampering.

This is a bold statement to make without having actually been a part of the SL dressing room.

Every team ball tampers. Across the board you'll have former players for every nation, and umpires all throughout history admitting this. If you're not tampering you're not playing hard enough.

 

[vcs]

Yeah, I'm not really blaming them for that one. It's well known that the air quality in Delhi is absolutely horrible. It's just that the timing of it was a bit dodgy - they were getting flayed at that point and they got what they wanted out of it, which was the merciful declaration.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

The issue is, other than for Lakmal, other two pacemen have no experience in bowling reverse swing. Why tamper is the real question. And we never had a history or a pedigree for tampering.

Never been caught more like, all sides do it/have done it. Some are better at keeping it concealed than others.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, I'm not really blaming them for that one. It's well known that the air quality in Delhi is absolutely horrible. It's just that the timing of it was a bit dodgy - they were getting flayed at that point and they got what they wanted out of it, which was the merciful declaration.

Was that Delhi? It looked terrible tbf. Can’t blame them for not playing in that.

 

[Burgey]

Never been caught more like, all sides do it/have done it. Some are better at keeping it concealed than others.

As you would well know, following a team which was getting reverse swing after 12 overs on the green swards of England in 2005.

 

[Migara]

Lets see how it unravels. Brings back memories of the dope ban handed to Kusal Perera.

 

[cnerd123]

Lets see how it unravels. Brings back memories of the dope ban handed to Kusal Perera.

If I understand correctly, that happened because someone within the SL cricket community swapped out Perara's sample for a tainted one to get him to fail the test?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

As you would well know, following a team which was getting reverse swing after 12 overs on the green swards of England in 2005.

Still moaning about that I see yet we are the whingers apparently.

 

[Migara]

Was that Delhi? It looked terrible tbf. Can’t blame them for not playing in that.

Actually Suranga Lakmal was throwing up on the field. Few others were ill too. Keep the players perspective aside, the data on pollution parameters looked horrible.

 

[Migara]

If I understand correctly, that happened because someone within the SL cricket community swapped out Perara's sample for a tainted one to get him to fail the test?

I think it had to do something with the standards of the lab ICC used to test samples.