Sri Lanka beat Australia by 229 runs in the 2nd Test

[#GreenRoars]

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

Australia Team
JA Burns, DA Warner, SPD Smith*, UT Khawaja, AC Voges, MR Marsh, PM Nevill†, MA Starc, NM Lyon, JM Holland, JR Hazlewood

 

[#GreenRoars]

Starc strikes on a very first ball, Karunaratne

 

[SL_Fan]

So off to another great start. Just the usual two early wickets no biggie.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Gunathilaka should replace Karunaratne soon.

 

[rooster]

Are we in for another good innings from Mendis?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Adijazz1706]

Sl need openers, they can have Shehzad

 

[anuk]

Sl need openers, they can have Shehzad

i'd say pakistan will have some use for one of the top young openers when inevitably this stupid inzi experiment fails.

yeah we'll have him if u don't want him for sure tho.

 

[SLCric]

Sri Lanka 109/2 (29.0 ov)
Lunch - Day 1

Kusal Mendis 52*
Kusal Perera 47*

 

[street cricketer]

And the stock of Mendis keeps on rising..

 

[#GreenRoars]

Amazing recovery by SL.

 

[leatherface58]

Matthews hitting reverse sweeps on day 1 on a square Turner.

 

[leatherface58]

Mathews or McCullum? )

 

[Smbhayi]

Finally Mathews wins the DRS!

 

[Pantani]

Pile 'em on, boys!

 

[Executioner]

Mendis's Perera's people need to be more creative when giving name to children. How many pereras can there be in a team?

Anyways, good performance by Lankans

 

[Adijazz1706]

Aussies proving [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] right

 

[aroor]

100th test wicket for Starc

 

[Adijazz1706]

Aussies finally get Mendis, relief

 

[street cricketer]

Wait, is it a rank turner?

 

[Hawkeye]

Aussies proving [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] right

It's only a matter of time before people see the light.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Galle is usually a good hunting ground for SL so they will be looking to maybe sneak a series win here.

 

[leatherface58]

Wait, is it a rank turner?

Yes. Lyon and Holland are turning it square and Hazlewood and Starc are getting reverse.

300+ would be a nice score.

 

[JibranAnsari]

SL might win by an inning on this pitch.

 

[street cricketer]

Yes. Lyon and Holland are turning it square and Hazlewood and Starc are getting reverse.

300+ would be a nice score.

Then 300 is more than enough on this track. Looks like Lanka might get away with a series victory here.

No complaints from anyone for the rank turner from day 1?

 

[Convict]

Isn't it amazing that the very few overs an innings that Smith deems to let Marsh bowl he genuinely bowls quite well?

 

[aroor]

Smith dropped a sitter

 

[aroor]

Galle pitch was once rated as poor by the match referee, even when 800 runs were scored on that.
Don't see anyone will report our rank turners [MENTION=139664]street cricketer[/MENTION]

 

[aroor]

First 5fer for Starc in the subcontinent.

 

[Adijazz1706]

The pitch is deteriorating already, Aus to be in trouble in the 4th dig.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Then 300 is more than enough on this track. Looks like Lanka might get away with a series victory here.

No complaints from anyone for the rank turner from day 1?

SL have looked close to minnow status for a while, we can let them get away with it

 

[aroor]

Burnt 0/1

 

[Adijazz1706]

1 down but going for their shots, may lose another soon

 

[Convict]

Burns is gone

 

[Pantani]

Poor effort to not even cross the 300 mark. When Mendis and Mathews were together 350+ looked assured.

Warner is looking really dangerous.

 

[Pantani]

Mendis's Perera's people need to be more creative when giving name to children. How many pereras can there be in a team?

Anyways, good performance by Lankans

There are usually a lot of Fernandos, too. Like Nuwan Pradeep's actual surname, according to cricinfo, is actually Fernando. And Akila Dananjaya's actual surname is Perera...

 

[Mamoon]

Sri Lanka might be the third country where Warner doesn't end up failing.

Looking good indeed, seems like he's batting on an Australian or South African pitch.

 

[street cricketer]

Galle pitch was once rated as poor by the match referee, even when 800 runs were scored on that.
Don't see anyone will report our rank turners [MENTION=139664]street cricketer[/MENTION]

Forgot Nagpur eh?.

 

[Pantani]

Isn't it amazing that the very few overs an innings that Smith deems to let Marsh bowl he genuinely bowls quite well?

He was edging into the 140s today, I saw a few that were 143. No longer a trundler. And he's tall also. I think he could be a real find for Australia as a third/fourth seamer.

 

[Pantani]

Sri Lanka might be the third country where Warner doesn't end up failing.

Looking good indeed, seems like he's batting on an Australian or South African pitch.

England too, he made five fifties from nine innings in the last Ashes series, which although not quite outstanding (if they'd been five hundreds on the other hand...) is still certainly not a failure by any means. For me a failure is if you endure a horror series, like Ponting in India 2001, or Kohli in England 2014. If you pass the fifty mark five times out of nine that's pretty good!

I think he is well suited to opening the batting on these dry, spinning pitches. His aggressive approach allows him to get to a score quickly before the ball starts to turn consistently, while it's still new.

Khawaja on the other hand still looks utterly unconvincing against off spin.

 

[Mamoon]

England too, he made five fifties from nine innings in the last Ashes series, which although not quite outstanding (if they'd been five hundreds on the other hand...) is still certainly not a failure by any means. For me a failure is if you endure a horror series, like Ponting in India 2001, or Kohli in England 2014. If you pass the fifty mark five times out of nine that's pretty good!

I think he is well suited to opening the batting on these dry, spinning pitches. His aggressive approach allows him to get to a score quickly before the ball starts to turn consistently, while it's still new.

Khawaja on the other hand still looks utterly unconvincing against off spin.

Opening in England is also about occupying the crease for long periods of time.

Although he scored in the 2015 series, he generally did not last long enough to prevent Australia from collapsing.

 

[Pantani]

Gone! Warner's thrown away his excellent start. A wicket in the final over is always great

 

[Pantani]

Opening in England is also about occupying the crease for long periods of time.

Although he scored in the 2015 series, he generally did not last long enough to prevent Australia from collapsing.

Yeah, he has done so again here. That is a very valid criticism to make. He gets runs quickly but doesn't occupy the crease.

 

[anuk]

Yeah, he has done so again here. That is a very valid criticism to make. He gets runs quickly but doesn't occupy the crease.

rather a guy who scores quickly than somebody like kaushal silva who can barely score at 30 sr

 

[Convict]

I swear every time the Australian batsmen and team go on about how they learned their lessons and proceed to do the same thing.

It's entirely obvious that Warner needs a new partner and someone who will just drop anchor.

 

[Adijazz1706]

As expected, Warner goes. He lasted longer than I thought he would tho

 

[Hasan123]

Opening in England is also about occupying the crease for long periods of time.

Although he scored in the 2015 series, he generally did not last long enough to prevent Australia from collapsing.

1 hundred out of south Africa and Australia. That tells you the full story about Warner.

 

[Convict]

He was edging into the 140s today, I saw a few that were 143. No longer a trundler. And he's tall also. I think he could be a real find for Australia as a third/fourth seamer.

Mitch has been edging into the 140s for a few years now. Slowed down for a bit a couple of years ago due to consistent injuries but he's more confident in his body now and is bowling much better because of it

 

[Mamoon]

And this is why Warner will never be as good as Cook.

Rubbish cricket this.

 

[Pantani]

rather a guy who scores quickly than somebody like kaushal silva who can barely score at 30 sr

Me too, I think Warner is the best opener in the world today, I narrowly prefer him over Cook. But he's not a perfect player by any means.

If you could somehow fuse his dynamism with Cook's watchfulness you would probably get the best batsman since Bradman!

 

[Mamoon]

1 hundred out of south Africa and Australia. That tells you the full story about Warner.

Simply doesn't have the temparement to grind it out.

 

[Mamoon]

rather a guy who scores quickly than somebody like kaushal silva who can barely score at 30 sr

What you need is an opener who can bat at a SR of ~50 and also play a long inning.

Silva is another extreme, who doesn't validate Warner's approach.

 

[Hasan123]

Simply doesn't have the temparement to grind it out.

Agreed bhai. Should never be considered with the best openers of all time.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Australia need an opener who is neither Warner nor Cowan but somewhere in between.

 

[Pantani]

Simply doesn't have the temparement to grind it out.

Well it depends what you want from your opening batsmen doesn't it? I like mine to be in the Jayasuriya/Sehwag/Hayden mould, destructive players who score big hundreds rapidly; although I am happy to concede more traditional openers can be vital to a team's makeup as well. This is like a tactical debate, similar to a football debate on what sort of striker is better - the big, strong lone forward who can hold up the ball and is strong in the air, or the small fast forward who can run with the ball and terrorise defenders one-on-one. There's no correct answer. In some situations the small forward will be better, in others the big forward will be. I think the same sort of thing applies with opening batsmen too.

 

[Mamoon]

In my opinion, not only Cook but Vijay also is a better Test opener than Warner.

 

[Mamoon]

Well it depends what you want from your opening batsmen doesn't it? I like mine to be in the Jayasuriya/Sehwag/Hayden mould, destructive players who score big hundreds rapidly; although I am happy to concede more traditional openers can be vital to a team's makeup as well. This is like a tactical debate, similar to a football debate on what sort of striker is better - the big, strong lone forward who can hold up the ball and is strong in the air, or the small fast forward who can run with the ball and terrorise defenders one-on-one. There's no correct answer. In some situations the small forward will be better, in others the big forward will be. I think the same sort of thing applies with opening batsmen too.

Yep, personal preference I would say.

For me, the fundamental quality of a high class Test opener is to occupy the crease for long periods of time.

 

[Pantani]

What you need is an opener who can bat at a SR of ~50 and also play a long inning.

Silva is another extreme, who doesn't validate Warner's approach.

No, the ideal is to have a dasher at one end and a blocker at the other. Slater and Taylor, Jayasuriya and Atapattu. It's too much to look for the unicorn opening batsman who can both occupy the crease and unleash a furious assault on the bowlers. Such players do exist but they are rare, if one comes along, you make sure he stays in the team for a long time. It's not sound to base your strategy on there being a constant supply of there being such gifted openers though. Better to go for the aggressive/defensive opening combination.

 

[anuk]

What you need is an opener who can bat at a SR of ~50 and also play a long inning.

Silva is another extreme, who doesn't validate Warner's approach.

true, one does not validate the other; but i'll take warner everytime.

i think u are being a bit harsh on warner. okay he's not an ATG like cook but he's still a bloody good player. u can be a good player and not be an ATG.

 

[Convict]

Cook has failed everytime he has come across a quality test pace attack. Wouldn't call him an ATG.

 

[Thivagar]

Mendis's Perera's people need to be more creative when giving name to children. How many pereras can there be in a team?

Anyways, good performance by Lankans

You forgot Kusal/Kaushals and Silvas. You have Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Chaturanga De Silva, and Roshen Silva. These are just the guys who have all either represented SL, except for Roshen Silva, who is not far away from making his debut.

 

[anuk]

Cook has failed everytime he has come across a quality test pace attack. Wouldn't call him an ATG.

the man will cross 10000 runs very soon and will either be the top run getter of all time or the second. be serious now.

 

[Thivagar]

I read an article about how grade cricket imposes dominance of bowlers by the batsmen and hence you have batsmen like Finch and Warner trying to dominate bowlers.

 

[JibranAnsari]

the man will cross 10000 runs very soon and will either be the top run getter of all time or the second. be serious now.

He has crossed 10000 marks already and yes he usually struggles against quality pace.

 

[anuk]

He has crossed 10000 marks already and yes he usually struggles against quality pace.

yeah i forgot that he crossed 10000.

name an opener who doesn't struggle against quality pace.

 

[Mamoon]

No, the ideal is to have a dasher at one end and a blocker at the other. Slater and Taylor, Jayasuriya and Atapattu. It's too much to look for the unicorn opening batsman who can both occupy the crease and unleash a furious assault on the bowlers. Such players do exist but they are rare, if one comes along, you make sure he stays in the team for a long time. It's not sound to base your strategy on there being a constant supply of there being such gifted openers though. Better to go for the aggressive/defensive opening combination.

You don't need either to bat at an acceptable rate and occupy the crease.

Cook and Vijay are two openers playing today who occupy the crease and don't bat at a SR of 30 most of the time either.

Attacking openers who are not walking wickets are actually more difficult to find, Warner is the only relatively successful one today.

England are tying to replicate that with Hales but to no avail so far.

 

[Mamoon]

true, one does not validate the other; but i'll take warner everytime.

i think u are being a bit harsh on warner. okay he's not an ATG like cook but he's still a bloody good player. u can be a good player and not be an ATG.

Warner is good but he's overrated. Calling him better than Cook is a bit ridiculous in my opinion, Cook is definitely ATG.

 

[Convict]

the man will cross 10000 runs very soon and will either be the top run getter of all time or the second. be serious now.

And?

He's substandard against quality fast bowling.

Michael Clarke is the 4th highest test run scorer for Australia but wouldn't make an Australian all time second XI

 

[Convict]

Alastair Cook's Record when both Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris are playing
Mat  Inns  No  Runs  HS  Ave   100  50  0
  7    13   0   348  82  28.69   0   4  1

Alastair Cook's Record when Glenn McGrath was playing
Mat  Inns  No  Runs  HS  Ave   100  50  0
  5    10   0   276 116  27.60   1   0  0

The only times Cook has scored against Australia were when the Australian pace attack was led by bog ordinary bowlers like Siddle and Hilfenhaus

 

[Ab Fan]

If Cook is ATG, so is Clarke and Pietersen and then there are 10 more names who can be ATG.

 

[hadi123]

My friends who also live in England are Sri Lankan so are on holiday there and were at the game today

 

[anuk]

I personally prefer cook to any opener the world has seen in the last 30 years. You would think his best is yet to come as well considering he's only 31 and batsmen seem to peak in their early 30s

 

[Suleiman]

Lankan victory in this series is much needed for ulterior motives.

 

[Hasan123]

Cook has failed everytime he has come across a quality test pace attack. Wouldn't call him an ATG.

Warner fails most of the time when there is a bit of spin, seam, or swing.

1 test century outside of Australia and South Africa is a disgrace

 

[MMHS]

My hunch is, SRL has already done enough to win the Test.

I watched prior to lunch session & last session (3 hours sleep in between) - this wicket is actually twice difficult than Kandy one with lots of bounce & sharp turn. AUS raced with the bat as long as the ball was hard & shiny; once it loses it's hardness & spinners start to grip; it'll be tough for Aussies. SRL already has 281 at hand & 2 wickets without many overs from Herath & Sandakan; I won't be surprised if they take close to 3 digit lead by tea tomorrow & bat Australia out of the Test by mid point of day 3.

Unless it rains, I think it's going to be a bigger margin than Kandy.

 

[Convict]

Warner fails most of the time when there is a bit of spin, seam, or swing.

1 test century outside of Australia and South Africa is a disgrace

nobody is calling warner an atg

 

[MMHS]

nobody is calling warner an atg

Why they called this guy holland? A nothing spinner to be honest & probably 'll bat at 11. Why they didn't call Zampa?

 

[Hasan123]

nobody is calling warner an atg

So? People go crazy over his test record when it's mostly centuries on wickets that suit him.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Why they called this guy holland? A nothing spinner to be honest & probably 'll bat at 11. Why they didn't call Zampa?

Zampa is more of a LOI bowler but I havent even seen this Holland guy bowl

 

[MMHS]

Zampa is more of a LOI bowler but I havent even seen this Holland guy bowl

On this wicket, Afridi or Babar/Jadeja would take more wickets than Yasir or Ashwin. It's a squire turner with bounce & pace - only thing you need is to dart the ball on spot.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

On this wicket, Afridi or Babar/Jadeja would take more wickets than Yasir or Ashwin. It's a squire turner with bounce & pace - only thing you need is to dart the ball on spot.

Oh ok. I havent seen this match at all though I saw almost the whole first Test and the ball wasnt turning too much. If its turning more than that Test then I say Sri Lanka have already won.