Sri Lanka beat Australia by 106 runs in the 1st Test

[Nikhil_cric]

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat

 

[The Last Of The Stars]

Game over for Australia.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Game over for Australia.

Nonsense. There's a bit of green and Hazlewood and Starc are perfectly capable of running through this lineup.

 

[The Last Of The Stars]

Nonsense. There's a bit of green and Hazlewood and Starc are perfectly capable of running through this lineup.

Don't think so. Starc is not a good Test bowler.

 

[Convict]

Starc wouldn't get a game for Pakistan to be honest

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Australia team
DA Warner, JA Burns, UT Khawaja, SPD Smith*, AC Voges, MR Marsh, PM Nevill†, SNJ O'Keefe, MA Starc, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon

Sri Lanka Team
FDM Karunaratne, JK Silva, BKG Mendis, LD Chandimal†, AD Mathews*, DM de Silva, MDKJ Perera, MDK Perera, HMRKB Herath, PADLR Sandakan, N Pradeep

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Starc wouldn't get a game for Pakistan to be honest

) . Btw do you think the decision to play O'Keefe will backfire?

 

[Asim2Good]

) . Btw do you think the decision to play O'Keefe will backfire?

I think he took 10fer in practice match, so that might be reason

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Already 90 mph from Starc. He is consistently the fastest bowler in the world for the last 2 years. Sheer speed!

 

[Gilly]

Starc wouldn't get a game for Pakistan to be honest

Really

Starc 91 wickets @ 30
Ali 46 wickets @ 37
Riaz 31 wickets @ 35
Amir 57 wickets @ 30

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Broadcasting live on Willow TV and Fox Sports 4 Australia.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Really

Starc 91 wickets @ 30
Ali 46 wickets @ 37
Riaz 31 wickets @ 35
Amir 57 wickets @ 30

That was sarcasm.

 

[Convict]

Really

Starc 91 wickets @ 30
Ali 46 wickets @ 37
Riaz 31 wickets @ 35
Amir 57 wickets @ 30

It was sarcasm Gilly. Nikhil got it.

) . Btw do you think the decision to play O'Keefe will backfire?

Nope. Offers more than what a third (well fourth because Marsh) paceman would, is in great form and as an added bonus helps boost the batting which is a bit flimsy because of Marsh

 

[Asim2Good]

let's see what australian quick bowlers can do on pitches in SL

 

[Gilly]

That was sarcasm.

He would get in as a batsman no worries.

 

[The Last Of The Stars]

) . Btw do you think the decision to play O'Keefe will backfire?

O'Keefe is better than Lyon.

 

[Ab Fan]

It's a battle of SL spinners vs Aus batsmen.If Aussies batsmen fail vs SL spinners then only SL has a chance.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Starc strikes.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

It's a battle of SL spinners vs Aus batsmen.If Aussies batsmen fail vs SL spinners then only SL has a chance.

Looks like its more of a battle between SL batsmen and OZ seamers. Hazlewood gets his first.

 

[SL_Fan]

A good start except for those two early wickets.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

O'Keefe was rubbish in the UAE. Let's see if he can atleast keep one end tight here.

 

[SL_Fan]

Silva off to a flier.

 

[Slog]

Aus should win this

Even in SL good days and Aussie Asian nightmare days, the Ozzies used to win here

 

[SL_Fan]

Is it too late to bowl first.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

2nd wicket for Hazlewood. Persistent line and length pays off.

 

[RamLakhan]

Australia will annihilate Srilanka on this tour! Srilanka used to have a good backup in all departments (Fast Bowling, Spin, Batting, alrounders, fielding...) Hence collectively they always used to give good fight in all conditions and particularly strong at home. But now they are a weakened team in absolutely each department. They are a team now which can be termed as just better than a minnow!

 

[SL_Fan]

Who are you calling minnows buddy. You take that back.

 

[Pantani]

So everything on Mathews and Chandimal. Again.

 

[Pantani]

Bit of turn there

 

[Statsman]

A good start except for those two early wickets.

Make that 3. Good solid start nonetheless.

 

[Asim2Good]

good start by Australian pacers.
but worrying sign for them is, ball is already turning, and its 11th over of first morning.
Looks like somehow SL have to put 325-350 runs on board and things ll be very interesting

 

[street cricketer]

Hazelwood is such a beast.

 

[Pantani]

Russel Arnold talks incessantly.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

At least SL fans don't have to see Thirimanne anymore. Even I could feel your pain.

 

[street cricketer]

At least SL fans don't have to see Thirimanne anymore. Even I could feel your pain.

That lazy elegance my god!

 

[Pantani]

At least SL fans don't have to see Thirimanne anymore. Even I could feel your pain.

His persistent selection was absolutely infuriating.

 

[Pantani]

This is looking like a rout, all out for a two figure total, after winning the toss and batting. Shambles!

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Seriously Mathews?

 

[street cricketer]

Derek O'Keefe coming to India [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]

 

[Pantani]

Are the stump mics set too sensitive or something? The Aussie sledging is annoying! I'm not out in the middle, I don't need to hear that stuff.

 

[Gilly]

Are the stump mics set too sensitive or something? The Aussie sledging is annoying! I'm not out in the middle, I don't need to hear that stuff.

what are the saying?.

 

[Pantani]

what are the saying?.

Nothing offensive or untoward, it's all perfectly acceptable. It is however annoying for me as a spectator because I have never heard anything other than "Bowling, Shane" or "Shabash" when watching international. Now I'm hearing the whole conversation.

 

[Pantani]

[MENTION=732]Gilly[/MENTION]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlFF98dM8sA

It's basically this sort of thing, so it's just the usual chirping you get. The only thing that bothers me is that the stump mics are catching all of it, so it's ruining the broadcast for me. The issue is not with the sledging exactly, but with the TV broadcast.

 

[Gilly]

Hazelwood picks up his 3rd.

 

[leatherface58]

Lankan pitches have gotten better from those scary days when batsmen got 200s for fun.

Australia is gonna destroy this rookie side.

 

[SL_Fan]

Not all bad. Could have been 84/6 or something.

 

[SL_Fan]

Lankan pitches have gotten better from those scary days when batsmen got 200s for fun.

Australia is gonna destroy this rookie side.

SSC has given SL pitches a bad rep. Other than there rest have mostly been decent.

 

[Adijazz1706]

SL doing worse than Pak or WI, how the mighty have fallen!

 

[samplepiece]

SSC has given SL pitches a bad rep. Other than there rest have mostly been decent.

SSC and Premadasa to be honest. But pitches at Galle, Pallekele and P Sara have been very good in general.

 

[leatherface58]

SSC has given SL pitches a bad rep. Other than there rest have mostly been decent.

Brother Chow! How are you? Long time ese.

 

[Convict]

Let's bat this session

 

[SL_Fan]

SSC and Premadasa to be honest. But pitches at Galle, Pallekele and P Sara have been very good in general.

RPS hasn't hosted a Test against a top team since 98 tho.

Link

 

[Convict]

Keep them under 100 Gazza

 

[samplepiece]

RPS hasn't hosted a Test against a top team since 98 tho.

Link

yeah but that 900+ in reply to 500+ has left a scar forever

 

[SL_Fan]

Brother Chow! How are you? Long time ese.

No complaints boss hope all is well with you bruz. Don't see you much around here these days. Are we not good enough.

 

[SL_Fan]

Let's bat this session

Keep dreamin. We got this.

 

[LastManstanding]

Hazelwood is the true heir to McGrath.

 

[SL_Fan]

yeah but that 900+ in reply to 500+ has left a scar forever

Fair enough

Posted this sometime back

For instance these are the ground/overall averages of top visiting teams since 2000 in SL (excl WI, Bangla and Zim)

Overall bowling ave for top visiting teams in SL since 2000 is 35.3

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

That drops to 31.9 if you exclude SSC where the visiting bowling ave is a whopping 44.9.

SSC 44.9

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

Galle 33.6

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

P Sara 30.6

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

Asgiriya 30.4

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

Pallekele 30.6

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

Obviously these figures alone are not for direct comparisons since some batting units/teams at home are stronger than others, but in terms of offering something for all types of bowling and bowlers, I don’t think it’s too far off.

In NZ the overall bowling ave for top visiting teams since 2000 is 31.3

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;team=7;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

In SL it’s 35.3

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=7;template=results;type=bowling

In SA it's 35.5

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;team=7;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

In Eng it’s 35.6

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;team=7;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

In Pak/UAE it’s 38.5

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=6;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

In India it’s 39.6

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;team=7;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

In Aus it’s 45.1

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;team=7;team=8;template=results;type=bowling

 

[leatherface58]

No complaints boss hope all is well with you bruz. Don't see you much around here these days. Are we not good enough.

You are the best bro. I am a graduate student now. Do not have much time apart from summer to post. I do lurk from time to time.

 

[Convict]

Gazza is great

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lyon would have had a better career if he was bowling on slightly helpful wickets. Constantly bowling in OZ/ENG. Any orthodox finger spinner would struggle in such places.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Utter dominance by australia.

 

[Pantani]

I didn't think the total would cross 100 at 4/43, so I suppose this has been a good effort by the lower order.

 

[Convict]

I didn't think the total would cross 100 at 4/43, so I suppose this has been a good effort by the lower order.

still might not cross 100

 

[leatherface58]

Lyon would have had a better career if he was bowling on slightly helpful wickets. Constantly bowling in OZ/ENG. Any orthodox finger spinner would struggle in such places.

Very underrated spinner.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Very underrated spinner.

Yeah puts a lot of revs on the ball and turns up when people least expect him to. Very underrated.

 

[anuk]

wow this team has fallen off a cliff

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I don't understand why Lyon didn't perform as well in UAE though, considering that he gets a lot of help on spinning pitches.

I guess Pakistan team does play spinners incredibly well.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

wow this team has fallen off a cliff

Painful isn't it?

Sri Lanka always had world class players since 96 including Aravinda , Ranatunga, Jayasuriya, Sangers, Jayawardene, Vaas, Murlitharan etc.

Now Matthews is somewhat fighting a lone battle, with Chandimal having potential but throwing it away every time.

How long do you think it will take, if ever, for recovery?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I don't understand why Lyon didn't perform as well in UAE though, considering that he gets a lot of help on spinning pitches.

I guess Pakistan team does play spinners incredibly well.

Didn't do well in India either for that matter but he has the potential to become even better than he is. I suppose Australian batsmen didn't give him much runs to work with and their seamers struggled in both UAE and India.

 

[Convict]

So Australian lead by stumps

 

[SL_Fan]

You are the best bro. I am a graduate student now. Do not have much time apart from summer to post. I do lurk from time to time.

Npeo you are the best Congrats bro all the best with that.

If you do happen to have some free time do join our Test draft. Like the one we did last time but better

Link

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Aussies gonna show what brutality means in SL.

 

[Convict]

Australia have avoided the follow on

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Lyon carrying his good form.

O Keefe doing well too.

 

[samplepiece]

The voices for 2 tier test cricket grow louder.

 

[anuk]

Painful isn't it?

Sri Lanka always had world class players since 96 including Aravinda , Ranatunga, Jayasuriya, Sangers, Jayawardene, Vaas, Murlitharan etc.

Now Matthews is somewhat fighting a lone battle, with Chandimal having potential but throwing it away every time.

How long do you think it will take, if ever, for recovery?

i'd never say never but it's looking pretty bleak. it's just the gap between sl fc cricket and international cricket is getting wider every day. we might have a period like bangladesh is going through right now where stars all line up perfectly and we become somewhat competitive for a short period.

funnily enough i think tests might become our best format (comparatively) going forward. it's hard to see how we can ever compete again with the big hitters of other countries in shorter formats.

 

[SL_Fan]

It's alright. We'll kill it in the second tier. Put some respek on that.

 

[SL_Fan]

C'mon [MENTION=134867]Kiri[/MENTION] you can do it buddy.

 

[SL_Fan]

Bounce em out.