Australia v Sri Lanka Tour Dec 14th- Jan 28th

This is the thread for the tour of AUS by Sri Lanka...

there is 3 tests, 5 odi's 2 t20's..


Aussies probably favorites in all 3 forms of the game, but Sri Lanka will be dangerous, but let's be honest Rangana Herath will have to play a key part for them, for them to have a chance in the test series.

1st T20: Australia v Sri Lanka at Stadium Australia, January 26, 2013
Start Time: 19:35 (local) 08:35 GMT

Australia:
David Warner [83], Aaron Finch [71], Shaun Marsh [74], George Bailey* [76], Adam Voges [65], Matthew Wade† [71],
Glenn Maxwell [68], Ben Cutting [72], Mitchell Starc [78], Xavier Doherty [69], Ben Laughlin [64]


Sri Lanka:
Kushal Perera [74], Tillakaratne Dilshan [86], Dinesh Chandimal† [85], Mahela Jayawardene [82], Angelo Mathews* [72],
Lahiru Thirimanne [68], Jeevan Mendis [82], Thisara Perera [73], Nuwan Kulasekara [82], Ajantha Mendis [72], Lasith Malinga [86]

* figure in brackets [..] is 2013 'Money Ball' Power Rating

Yeah, it should be close in all formats.

A few Sri Lankan players are getting used to conditions here having played the President's XI match and some BB.

yup, thought i would get the thread up, nice and early as its for the whole tour, and should attract some good debate

Just added the teams CF.

No MJ and Hilfenhaus back on his home patch.

The weather looks ominous on the west coast of Tassie... certainly a bit of rain tomorrow and Saturday, some showers also likely on Sunday/Monday according to weather channel here.

This will be Mahela Jaywardene's last series as Captain but he will keep playing with Angelo Mathews to be his successor.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/current/story/596903.html

Can't see SL making any impression on the Test series.

If the ball's moving around, they'll crumble like a deck of cards.

Look at their overall record vs Australia. Only 1 win in 23 Tests. That's home and away.

They can't even mix it with the Australians at home. Ominous signs...

Should be a fairly easy Test Series for Australia, 2-0 maybe even 3-0.

starts tonight, im off work tomorrow, so will hopefully catch some of this

Australia should win. SL are too reliant on a few players, but if Sanga and Mahela have good series then who knows?

Samaraweera might do OK?

I have a feeling Sri Lanka will want to make amends for their last tour when they came so close to pulling off a huge chase of 500 plus. Sangakkara was given out incorrectly (a 'catch' off his chest?) and that cost them the match.

So a few of them will have a point to prove and it will mean a lot to them to send Mahela out on a high note.
Australia better not be underestimating them (I don't think they are... or at least I hope and pray not) otherwise they will be soundly beaten by this talented SL side.

The young kid, Shaminda Eranga, who they plucked off the park in Colombo somewhere and gave him a Test spot - it will be interesting to watch him do his stuff.

Best of luck to both sides. Starts in just over an hour.

Shelsey93 wrote:Australia should win. SL are too reliant on a few players, but if Sanga and Mahela have good series then who knows?

When has Mahela ever had a good series outside the SC? Samaraweera far more likely IMO. Was great in SA last year.

"Caught" down the leg-side attempting a hook IIRC. A very poor decision, at the time it looked like he was nowhere near it, and all the replays confirmed it. To be fair though, I seem to remember SL needed still over 100 with only 2 wickets in hand. Brilliantly as Sangakara was playing, the odds were very much still in Aus's favour, so to say that the decision "cost them the match" is a bit of an exaggeration.

I like Eranga. Looks a good bowler, but can be erratic.

Australia have a clear edge in fast-bowling and lower-middle-order batting. Sri Lanka have the statistical edge in top-middle-order (with the caveat that Jayawardene is ordinary abroad) and a clear edge in the spin bowling front (although Lyon is decent). On paper Australia are favourites - their weaknesses are less pronounced than SL's, but cricket is not played on paper.

Remember Mahela's captaincy debut series in England in 2006, he was pretty good with the bat. But yes, his overseas record isn't as good as we should expect from a player of his ability.

anyone see Mahela's catch to remove watson?

fan-Frakkingtastic!

An absolute pearler!

299/4 at close of play. I hope we get a full day's play today. Rain expected.

Hughes has completely overhauled his technique, possibly too much so (he seems to fall over to the off-side if anything now). I've always been a fan, I think he's got incredible hand-eye and is a very hard worker (as seen by how he worked out his short ball issues, although that then introduced the nicking off issues). I've never really understood why Aus haven't tried him in the one-day arena at number 3 - he would seem a more natural number 3 than (amongst others) Clarke and Forrest.

Otherwise, Watson got in and got out again, but Australia will be relatively happy with the opening day, with the caveat that a lot of batsmen (all but Cowan in fact) have gotten in, but no one has scored a century yet. They'll be hoping for Clarke and/or Hussey to put that right tomorrow, and kick on towards 500 which would be an imposing 1st innings total.

Sri Lanka's seam attack looked a bit toothless on a slowish wicket but offering a bit of lateral movement.

It will be interesting to see how Sri Lanka go with the bat - you suspect Australia will provide more of a test with the ball, Hilfenhaus and Starc in particular should find some swing.

Agree with Mike on Hughes and one-dayers. Personally I'd have put Khawaja in at 5 for this Test, and moved Clarke up to 4. I'd then have given Hughes a chance to get in through one-day cricket first off. I find it bizarre that despite an aggressive style and a great one-day record his only internationals thus far have been Tests.

But I was impressed with him today. He seemed to have far more control over his always dangerous off-side strokes, which have often also been his downfall.

I thought the Lankan bowling was pretty woeful to be honest. Eranga was awful all day, and the others only exerted pressure from time-to-time. I don't think this is a great wicket and so Australia have probably already put themselves in a fantastic position to win this match.

Play to start then at 12:20 with lunch at 2:00. Crucial Sri Lanka dismiss Clarke otherwise he could be on for a big hundred and Australia a big 1st innings score. They'll be targeting 500+ if they can keep one of these two in at the end of the day and declare before lunch tomorrow.

And that's what I was talking about, huge wicket in the context of this first test, Clarke is taken at slip off the bowling of Eranga. Good ball in fairness, angling into off stump and just seaming away from Clarke to draw the edge. Another wicket and Australia could be out below par here.

Interesting from Clarke, Australia declared for 450. Surely keeping the weather in mind? A fine hundred for Mike Hussey and an important 68 not out for Matthew Wade. And Australia have nipped out Karunaratne and Sangakkara for not many.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Samaraweera might do OK?

But there again he might not.....

Very attacking declaration by Clarke but it came off brilliantly. Australia in the box seat, and the weather is meant to improve.

Let's hope so Duty. SL have an air of fragility about them.

Australia need to put the squeeze on and/or knock off more wickets early tomorrow. Go for the jugular. Get Dilsan out then try and also prevent any little cameos from Mathews, Kulasekera, etc and try to ensure a good lead if possible.

Good luck with your lads tomorrow. Been following it on and off during the afternoon/evening here. It may be even-stevens if the 1st innings totals are similar but I don't think they will even get there. England need to polish off those last 2 wickets then bat well again.
Keep the pressure on India by posting a good lead by the end of tomorrow.

msp83 wrote:Remember Mahela's captaincy debut series in England in 2006, he was pretty good with the bat. But yes, his overseas record isn't as good as we should expect from a player of his ability.

\
Put it simply, his overseas record is just poor for a specialist batsman. Not just by his standards but by any standards. He averages 34 in England (which is by no means great) but even in England, his record outside Lord's (which has mostly been a road) is distinctly ordinary.

Even in Asia, Mahela has a modest (not bad) record in Pakistan, a side which has produced some great fast bowlers. He has made merry in India and on roads such as the SSC where he has scored almost 1/3 of his career hundreds. Great player of spin, I agree but very ordinary against good quality seam bowling, sorry.

Bit of a Sri Lankan revival on here this morning...Dishan goes to 98 as I type , and he is enjoying great support from Matthews.
At 182/4 that follow on target looks a lot more attainable , though it is questionable whether Clarke would enforce it anyway. Pitch looks pretty easy right now , and perhaps bowling last is the best way to force a win here. Plenty of time left in the match , weather permitting , and Clarke has advanced the game quite quickly with that enterprising declaration yesterday. He continues to impress me as a captain.

...and a good hundred for Dilshan

Just in time too ...off early for rain , just before lunch...

Dilshan out for 147

Australia still well ahead in the game , but they will have some work to do to force a win unless the pitch starts offering the bowlers more. If they can mop up the Sri Lankan tail quickly today I will fancy their chances , but if the last four wickets resist well Clarke may be watching the weather carefully.

Fine hundred from Dilshan and a fine yet unconverted 50 from Angelo Mathews have put Sri Lanka in a fighting position in this match. Australia still hold the advantage, but Lanka showed they can challenge Australia in Australia.

good fight by SL today, let by Dilshan and Matthews, though they'll be disappointed with their late collapse. As it is, you still fancy Australia, but SL have given themselves a fighting chance of at least saving the test.

Michael Clarke has pulled a hammy and is out of the Boxing Day Test.

Will leave a massive hole. Hard to replace Mr 200!

Shane Watson will most likely captain.

Watson will captain, as he is the offical v-c..

so sri lanka need 328 more to win today...even without hilfy i cant see a sri lanka victory...If mahela and sanga bat long then IMO will be a draw, but if they are dismissed early then i can see aussies running through rest of the line up

Haven't been following this test, how's super Phil Hughes doing/done?

Hughes made 86 in the first innings

he should have been out early, but welegedra bowled a no-ball for the wicket ball!!!!!!

down to two of the greats of sri lankan cricket, Mahela and Sanga, to save sri lanka!

Cheers CF.

Glad he's in the runs, even if our chances of getting him back are slimmer by the day.

This is going down to the wire again.

SL hanging in there, 223/6 and only 27 overs remaining at 4:47pm.

Great field. There are 9 crouching close in fielders. Like seagulls around a table waiting for crumbs to fall...

Just over an hour later at 5:59pm and 4 quick wickets from Starc, SL are now teetering on 250/9 with a minimum 12 overs remaining.

Finally....

Sri Lanka All Out 255, Australia win by 137 runs.

I was a little worried late morning/early this afternoon when only 2 wickets had fallen.
Siddle worked his guts out and was rewarded with 4/50.
At one stage, Phil Hughes took the gloves and Matthew Wade bowled a decent maiden.
Lyons tried his hardest and always looked dangerous; unlucky on an ocassion or two.
I'm just glad they got there in the end. Great to see Starc get a 5fer.
Still problems with injured players but they showed a bit of ticker and perseverance right up until the end.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/story/597533.html

wtf?

let me guess? ball tampering?

I did see them discuss how ripped up the ball was. The umpires had to do some work on it and maybe he was 'adjusting' that?

I dunno really. Pretty serious allegations and they have footage of it. It may be an over-reaction too. We'll soon find out I'm sure.

Yeah - I hope they actually show the footage and clear it up.

Well theyve cleared him.

Phew...

We don't need any more controversies this close to Christmas.

Rejoice! test cricket is alive and kicking. I wonder though - as siddle got so many wickets - what would have been the punishment?

another rest?

poor baastard is probably on a saline drip as we speak...

Saline drips are brilliant. Navigated all over pakistan on the mountainous regions in kashmir - came back got on a saline drip had a few eggs and off again to explore the next day. Sadly and hilariously the the memory of the whole glorious trip was left in the wayside as we saw a black bird standing on the back of a goat facing the wrong way and getting knocked out by a low branch as the goat charged at us suddenly.

Your experience sounds reminiscent of that great book "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush". Gotta watch out for low branches and unpredictable wildlife!

The win makes it easier to watch the BB. Don't know if I would have felt like it if it was another draw.
Heat are 103/4 after 12 overs playing the Scorchers.

Domestic t20? god I hate that format.

Doesn't worry me. I don't take it too seriously. Nice evening here and a little more 'cricket' doesn't bother me too much.

The Test highlights are on afterwards and I'm feeling a bit lazy. Might have a flick around though.

I read that entirely wrong and was about to point out the unfairness of the mods overriding of the swear filter