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

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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

Just my poor spelling.

Fairly routine in the end for Australia, but just one more partnership would have saved SL.

Khawaja and Bird in the squad for the next Test.

Confident win that for Australia Put simply, they are far better than the Sri Lankans in all departments.

I wonder what Ben Cutting has to do to get back into the Test squad. Over the last 2 seasons he's taken more wickets than anyone in Shield cricket.

Whilst Bird is a good bowler, he plays at the lively Bellerive Oval. Cutting plays at the Gabba - which isn't as friendly for bowling.

for some stupid ridiclous reason, aussies are resting the in-form Mitch Starc, so he can play some pointless odi's, instead of a meaninful test! Jackson Brid will debut..

Can't believe it CF. Inverarity said today it was because he was "too young"! I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that.

I believe Australia is now paranoid about all these injuries (which is sort of understandable) but it's as though from now on we are going to have 5,6,7,8,... bowlers on rotation. It could soon be a "jack of all trades; master of none" approach if it isn't already.

Maybe the batsmen are next? It's a very unpredictable situation and I don't think it will provide the players themselves or the fans too much confidence.

What happens in the Ashes say, if Starc takes a 5fer (for example) and then gets rested the next match and in comes MJ who bowls 19 wides or something and we lose by 2 runs again? Jeez... we make it hard for ourselves. It never used to be like this. Very un-Australian if you ask me. I hope I'm awfully wrong on this one but it seems everyone here is saying the same thing. "Huh... you're joking aren't you?"

i find it an absolute joke, and this is taking rotation too far!

CF wrote:i find it an absolute joke, and this is taking rotation too far!

Maybe it is some kind of ironic protest at the fixture list? The moment you find a player who is any good you instantly drop them to help manage their workload?

THey need to stop weight training and all this other crap training and just bowl bowl bowl in the nets. So their body can adjust to the bloody workload. If you give them a break every 5 minutes how the hell are they fulfil even half their potential.

The heavier weights have been stopped (I think that was only Watson mainly), it's only light weights and aerobic type fitness training off the pitch now, Shah.

The (traditional) Australian obsession with trying to find the 'next Thommo' took about 20 years to fade away. I believe there was a period when this 'need for speed' made a resurgence about 5 years ago or so when the speed guns were out and Brett Lee, Tait, etc, were busting themselves to try and break Shaoib's speed record. It was quite silly and unnecessary really.

They still have youngsters here in the lunch breaks vying for the fastest delivery... encouraged by the likes of Slater, Healy and sometimes Brett Lee.

Some of the fast bowling techniques look awful... some end up sprawled on their faces trying to get over 137 km/h.

All we had to do was look at McGrath, Gillespie even decent bowlers like Kaspa and Bichel - they all dropped between 10-15 km/hr through either injuries or realising that the speed obsession wasn't worth the risk and accuracy, guile and control was far more important.

My theory is that all this stop/start resting isn't that good for them. They need to get used to bowling all the time, else they come in to a Test Match and strain that bit too hard (because they're not used to it) and get injured.

Whether its that or not, something is wrong. When was the last time an England or SA bowler got injured mid-match? Its happened to the Aussies almost every Test lately.

I think you're right. They are trying too hard after being rested. I can't believe someone (being paid a lot of money to manage the players) hasn't noticed this... or hasn't come up with a sensible, workable solution.

Linebreaker wrote:The heavier weights have been stopped (I think that was only Watson mainly), it's only light weights and aerobic type fitness training off the pitch now, Shah.

The (traditional) Australian obsession with trying to find the 'next Thommo' took about 20 years to fade away. I believe there was a period when this 'need for speed' made a resurgence about 5 years ago or so when the speed guns were out and Brett Lee, Tait, etc, were busting themselves to try and break Shaoib's speed record. It was quite silly and unnecessary really.

They still have youngsters here in the lunch breaks vying for the fastest delivery... encouraged by the likes of Slater, Healy and sometimes Brett Lee.

Some of the fast bowling techniques look awful... some end up sprawled on their faces trying to get over 137 km/h.

All we had to do was look at McGrath, Gillespie even decent bowlers like Kaspa and Bichel - they all dropped between 10-15 km/hr through either injuries or realising that the speed obsession wasn't worth the risk and accuracy, guile and control was far more important.

Shaun tait almost managed it didnt he? he was like .7 off the pace

Something like that... and it nearly wrecked him.
I was always a little skeptical with those speed gun readings. Slightly dodgy readings perhaps?

Might have been - Was skeptical of shoaibs, then he did it again - convinced me. Did Tait do it again??

Not sure. Lee had a spell in a CL or BB match with mid-high 150's I seem to recall. After that I have only noticed a few of his around 150 and a bit recently. Mostly around mid 140s nowadays.
Tait has probably reeled himself in too.

They should use the near 100mph as a quicker ball to avoid breakdown. 85 is perfectly fine for accurate and penetratrive bowling. Bit like Afridis quicker ball against blewett or nz.

Michael Clarke will play... it has just been announced.

He didn't look so good running around doing his fitness test this morning.
A real mess this whole selection issue.

Around 65,000 spectators are expected today; with 15,000 Sri Lankan fans.
It should be a decent atmosphere at the G.

We all love a good snap judgement, and it might make me look very stupid, but Jackson Bird's first over looked very gentle! Not much swing so far, hopefully when the lacquer comes off a bit Bird and Johnson will get it going.

Looks a good toss for SL to win.

Bird gets his first Test wicket.
Karunaratne caught by Wade for 5.

SL 40-3 and in trouble. Need a big effort from Kumar to get anything near respectable from here. A wicket a piece for Siddle, Bird and Mitch.

Still in trouble at 134/5...

Would have been worse but for drs just then , but ...

...but now it doesn't matter as P Jayawardene goes first ball after drinks !

134/6 and I suspect they'll now do well to make it to the tea break.

...and now MJ gets another one...on a hat trick...

Typical Johnson ...he bowls a no ball

Johnson getting some wicked bounce in this over. Don't think Herath will be hanging around long.

Time for Sangakkara to play a few shots while he has partners , I think. Sri Lanka will be disappointed with this. Has been some good bowling , and catching , but one or two batsmen won't be too proud of the shots they got out playing.

And Johnson gets his 200th Test wicket with the aid of a remarkable catch by Wade !
End of Sangakkara ...just about end of Sri Lanka too. 150/8

That was desperately poor from Sri Lanka, well though Australia bowled, with the notable obvious exception of Sangakara.

Dilshan looked very edgy. Tried to overhit the ball and regularly lost all his shape, before eventually getting out to a very "Dilshan dismissal", dragging on a ball too close to him for the shot.
Jayawardene's weakness against the moving ball again exposed.
Matthews was a frenetic innings, as was P. Jayawardene (the latter got out to a good ball, but could have been out half a dozen times before).
Prasad fairly blameless, but Herath and Weledegara soft dismissals.

Thought Bird looked promising, good understanding of his game and nice repeatable action - doubt he'll have the injury issues some of his colleagues are experiencing.
Johnson bowled as he will.
Australia's catching was outstanding, their ground-fielding mixed (a couple of misfields and some brilliant stops).

Pitch looks excellent (a bit of sideways movement with the new ball, good consistent bounce so edges will carry but ok to hit through the line as Sangakara showed), but as usual I will reserve judgement until both sides have batted.

Sri Lanka need to find a good session with the ball: 3 or 4 wickets at least, even that might not be enough.

Australia still well on top , but some rather careless batting has presented Sri Lanka with a hint of a way back into the match at 117/3. Dreadful run out Hughes !

Standing in the way of any Sri Lankan comeback , though , M Clarke will be looking to finish the year with another big innings...will be interesting to watch Herath against Clarke and Watson now there is a bit of pressure back on the new partnership.

And the pressure nearly gets a result !

Excellent field placing and bowling from Herath draws the error from Clarke , but alas for Sri Lanka the (hard) chance goes down ...big moment perhaps.

Those wickets have certainly revitalized Sri Lanka. Purpose has replaced what had been looking like resignation , and suddenly batting doesn't look so easy...

Watson dropped now too ! Sangakkara will be rueing that one.

Had those two chances stuck this game would have been wide open. But I wonder if that sound was the window of opportunity closing ...

The Hughes run out was totally unnecessary. Cowan hit it straight to Dilshan who fumbled initially fielding at a shortish mid wicket. Cowan made sure he was safe running to the non-strikers end but he sure did put pressure on Hughes who was neither here nor there.... and gone!

Congratulations to Sangakkara on his 10,000 Test runs. The poor guy had no support from the rest of the batting. That was a freakish and spectacular catch from Wade to dismiss him.

no comments on day 2..

Aussies reach 440-8...clarke made 104, waston made 80 and Johnson 73*

Complete domination again by Australia, series should be wrapped up on Day 4.

Yup Oz in control with some fine batting from captain Clarke and Watson. Watson just can't seem to convert these starts into hundreds can he? seems to be a complete mental block because I think he's a fine batsmen. Plays the ball straight, get's a good stride in, has a solid forward defence and is strong on the pull.

That being said, I don't know why when on 83, he tried to pull a ball when there was a man at deep square leg waiting for the shot.

Johnson batted well with a bit of luck. He'll be eyeing three figures tonight.

In fairness, I've been really impressed with Sri Lanka. They've stuck at their job well and really showed some fight being a bowler down. They took some superb catches and maybe with a bit of luck, they would still be in this game. Eranga and Prasad look good seam bowlers which is nice to see in the Sri Lanka game.

Ox should look to get to around 550 in quick time then declare. I imagine Sri Lanka will be around 6/7 down at the end of play, with Oz wrapping up an innings victory on day 4.

Watson's left calf is injured again... so he won't be bowling... again.

Linebreaker wrote:Watson's left calf is injured again... so he won't be bowling... again.

You might just get away with it in this innings. Although this partnership is looking ominous... That boundary makes it 7*. 10/3.

I think you may be right JD.

Johnson batted beautifully. Shame he was stranded on 92*

A horror run of injuries for SL.

Welegedara - hamstring
P. Jayawardene - fractured thumb
Sangakkara - fractured thumb/hand
Prasad - severely bruised thumb?

Sri Lanka all out (well 7 down; 3 absent/retired hurt) for 103.

Australia win by an innings and 201 runs.

MJ - Man of the Match. 6/79 and 92*... plus a brilliant run out early in SL's 2nd dig.

A completely devastating team performance there.
It was a great debut for Jackson Bird, yet another ton for Clarke, Johnson on fire, Siddle and Lyon 3 wickets each.

Waston out of the Sydney Test. Khawaja to come in for him most likely.

So who gets "rested" for Sydney to let Starc back in ? Peter Siddle , you have the short straw

Pretty overwhelming win for Australia. Some sympathy for Sri Lankan's rotten luck with injuries , but in truth after that awful first innings they were always going to lose , just a question of when and by how much. Unfortunately the loss of Sangakkara on top of the others just about kills the Sydney Test as any sort of a contest ...

Bird an impressive debut. Does this put him in front of Hilfenhaus for the into-wind bowling spot for the Ashes tour , I wonder ? Of course he'll be injured by then , though

Seriously good performance from Johnson. Bowled with pace and hostility in each innings , and made the most of some early luck to play a really impressive innings as well. When he plays like this you think he's a world beater. Will surely get a chance to demonstrate some consistency now next week in Sydney , against a depleted Sri Lankan lineup. Might make himself hard to drop...

Was pondering on which five fast bowlers might be on the plane in mid 2013 : obviously fitness will be an issue , but I would assume Siddle Pattinson Bird or Hilfenhaus and Johnson or Starc would likely fill four spots ...all very competitive , and I wonder how much light a tour of India will throw on things , if the pitches are anything like those served up for the England tour ?
Selectors will have to earn their corn.

Brilliant insight from some deluded SL fan on Cricinfo...

"This Australian team is still a weak team even though they robbed the match by making 3 bests of 3 departments (bowling, batting and fileding) injured. If you remember the boxing day test last year where SL thumbed SA in SA you'll know how Welegedara played a key role there by taking a bunch of wickets. Australia were just lucky that Welegedara was injured. Since Prasanna Jayawardena is the best wicket keeper in the world in terms of wicket keeping Mitchell Johnson took a finger of him. Johnson tried to take Prasad's finger in the very next ball but he's unsuccessful at that time. Then he knew that Sangakkara is the world's best batsman so he took a finger of Sanga as well. We know our lions are heroes and they have never lost 8-0 concecutive away tests since they got test status. We expect lions to come back strongly in the next game and pull it off. Congrats SL! "

Well, that looks horrific for SL. They have very quickly become a very poor Test side.

Australia fully exploiting weakness in the opposition as ever, which is why England fans would be well advised not to jump into 5-0 predictions and the like.

Can't wait for the Ashes now!

Shelsey93 wrote:Well, that looks horrific for SL. They have very quickly become a very poor Test side.

Australia fully exploiting weakness in the opposition as ever, which is why England fans would be well advised not to jump into 5-0 predictions and the like.

No, don't curse yourselves like Pigeon did to our side... twice.

Australia simply better in all 3 compartments at the MCG making for a very one-sided affair. In truth Sri Lanka never recovered from day 1.

Sangakara's injury is a massive blow to SL's chances of avoiding a whitewash at Sydney.

The rotation policy worked for this match. The jury is still out, I don't claim to understand the science, but those who do claim it works - it is certainly silly to dismiss it out of hand as some commentators and pundits have been doing. Siddle may well be rested for the next test, but then again he doesn't play the shorter formats, and didn't bowl much at the MCG.

Thought Bird looked impressive, and Johnson bowled well on a pitch tailor-made for him.

I'm not convinced by Watson at 4: he still struggles to rotate the strike too much for my liking, and will surely have a tough time against the Indian spinners if he allows himself to be bogged down as he did against Herath (in fact this is a concern all around for Australia, Cowan, Warner and Wade have similar issues, so that in India they really will again be reliant on Clarke and Hussey). I think he has to open if he plays (and his bowling does give Australia a crucial balance) but Australia seem to like the Cowan-Warner combination (for good reason). A tough one.

Hughes has certainly tightened up his technique, and is worth a run in the side at 3. He has a bit of something about him, I've always been a fan, so wish him well.

Bowling wise they have a lot of options. I suspect England will target Lyon, but their fast-bowling stocks look pretty good. Pattinson has the potential to be a superstar, Starc is probably the most improved cricketer of this year, Siddle's fuller length is really working. I would say those 3 are currently the first choice attack if all fit.

Somehow Glenn Maxwell has been called up for thr 3rd test!!

Is there a specialist batsman who has played over a hundred test matches with an overseas record more appalling than that of SL skipper, Mahela J? Simply, the man can't score outside Asia.

M Jayawardene's averages:
in Australia - 26
in England - 34
in New Zealand - 28
in South Africa - 28

with all the aussie seamers being 'rested', notice no one suggesting they rotate Nathan lyon...

More bad luck for Sri Lanka today.

Shaminda Eranga sprained an ankle during training. Suranga Lakmal has been flown in and will most likely play tomorrow. The final decision is to be made tomorrow morning but Eranga needed to be helped off the field and it didn't look too good.

Dinesh Chandimal is set to play as the wicketkeeper-batsman in Prasanna Jayawardene's absence and will bat in the middle order.

Lahiru Thirimanne has also been flown in from Sri Lanka as cover for Kumar Sangakkara and will bat in the top order.

Tharanga Paranavitana could also be in contention for Sanga's place.

Offspinner Suraj Randiv may also be considered for the final XI.

With the test series won by Australia, shouldn't they try experimenting using Mitchell Johnson as a bowling all-rounder at number 6 and rest one of the top 3 batsmen thus allowing Mike Hussey to get a game as an opener or a number 3 batsman in his final test match appearance.