Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => World Cricket => Sri Lanka => Topic started by: Felix Tito on July 26, 2016, 12:55:40 PM
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So after getting destroyed in England, Sri Lanka's next task was facing the number 1 ranked Test nation Australia. Anyone would've thought Sri Lanka would've produced a much better showing in home conditions, but sadly they'd have been wrong.
First Test in Pallekele, followed up by Tests in Galle and Colombo.
Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Kusal Perera, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Steve O'Keefe, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
Sri Lanka's bowling resources are seriously depleted, aside from Pradeep and Herath, I've actually got no idea who the others are.
Australia brought back Warner, Starc and O'Keefe.
Australia's power packed bowling unit blew the host away in under 35 overs for a pathetic 118. Hazlewood and Lyon bagged 3 wickets each. O'Keefe and Starc bagging 2 wickets apiece. Sri Lanka's batsmen didn't show technique and mental ability to try and fight it out.
Warner and Burns didn't offer much in Australia's innings. But Khawaja and Smith steadied the ship to guide them to 66/2 when rain brought an early close.
No disrespect to Australia but they are awful in sub-continent so it just shows how dreadful Sri Lanka have become.
The match in on Eurosport 2 if anyone wants to watch a one sided beat down...
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Another pointless stats bolstering series. Nothing to be learnt about anyone playing in that series
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Least the Aussies can break their losing record on the sub continent. 7 tests in a row? Or is it 1 win in 15 tests
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Interesting that England have followed "the Aussie way" by moving Root to 3, which is where your best batsmen supposedly bats, when Steve Smith bats number 4
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Interesting that England have followed "the Aussie way" by moving Root to 3, which is where your best batsmen supposedly bats, when Steve Smith bats number 4
Khawaja is better at 3, than anywhere else in the middle order. Smith's a better player of spin as well, so batting at 4 won't hamper him as much as it would hamper Khawaja
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Khawaja is better at 3, than anywhere else in the middle order. Smith's a better player of spin as well, so batting at 4 won't hamper him as much as it would hamper Khawaja
Don't get me wrong I'm not questioning the decision of the aus batting line up at all, just interesting that the justification for moving root to 3 doesn't apply to the likes of Smith, Kohli and de Villiers who are mentioned as peers in test cricket
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Don't get me wrong I'm not questioning the decision of the aus batting line up at all, just interesting that the justification for moving root to 3 doesn't apply to the likes of Smith, Kohli and de Villiers who are mentioned as peers in test cricket
I think for us Root at three makes the best sense as the second best player bats at 1. Aside from Trott, 3 has been an issue for a while.
India for example have Pujara at 3, a fairly boring nuggety type of player who's best suited to the top order. I don't think Kohli would have any issue batting at 3 TBH either.
de Villiers could bat at 3, but the bearded fella is pretty awesome in his own right as well.
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Khawaja was also using Kookaburra bat/equipment for those of you that way inclined.
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Aussies 203 all out. Not an individual 50 in there.
Lead is only 86. But could be too much on this pitch. But Sri Lanka still well in it.
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Aussies 203 all out. Not an individual 50 in there.
Lead is only 86. But could be too much on this pitch. But Sri Lanka still well in it.
Yes - a great little tussle. If Angelo and Chandimal can get some support, a lead of 100 could be interesting.
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Inept batting from Australia, but in those conditions its par for the course. Steven Smith was batting well until he charged Herath for no apparent reason and was stumped. Adam Voges also looked fairly comfortable until he was done by the highly impressive Pradeep. Those two aside Australia's batting didn't have much clue. If Sri Lanka can get a lead of 150/170 they could easily win this match.
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Brilliant innings by Kusal Mendis a maiden Test hundred. Turning the game back towards Sri Lanka
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Probably a match winning knock that on this pitch! 100 more and the aussies have no chance
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Another pointless stats bolstering series. Nothing to be learnt about anyone playing in that series
Still so sure? That was some knock from Mendis.
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Test cricket's oldest record is in real danger of falling. The highest proportion of runs in a completed innings coming from one player is a record held by Charles Bannerman with 165 out of 245 (67.34%) in Australia's 1st innings in the very first test in 1877. Currently Mendis has 67.93% of SL's runs in this innings.
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Come on Sri Lanka! Huge innings from Mendis
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Penny for Steven Smith's thoughts. Wasted both his reviews on a whim, yet didn't review when Mendis was plumb LBW LOL.
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For someone with 199 Test wickets Nathan Lyon looks incredibly average when the batsmen go after him...no change of pace. Just bowling the same speed again and again
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People said the same of Monty and will say the same of Moeen (not that moeen is remotely in the same class as Lyon and Monty)
Nathan Lyon is a fine bowler
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Penny for Steven Smith's thoughts. Wasted both his reviews on a whim, yet didn't review when Mendis was plumb LBW LOL.
IMO, Steve Smith is very over rated as a batsman and Captain. On a flat track he is tremendous but bowlers are starting to suss out his technique, and I am not sure with the talent he has available to him that results are as good as they should have been. However time will tell.. lol.
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IMO, Steve Smith is very over rated as a batsman and Captain. On a flat track he is tremendous but bowlers are starting to suss out his technique, and I am not sure with the talent he has available to him that results are as good as they should have been. However time will tell.. lol.
Yep number 1 in test and odi cricket is certainly underachieving.
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People said the same of Monty and will say the same of Moeen (not that moeen is remotely in the same class as Lyon and Monty)
Nathan Lyon is a fine bowler
It's almost like people expect these players to be automatons... 200 Test wickets is some achievement, particularly for an Aussie offie.
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Nathan Lyon is a fine bowler
Not a bad bowler for someone with a poor record on the subcontinent. odd that!
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IMO, Steve Smith is very over rated as a batsman and Captain. On a flat track he is tremendous but bowlers are starting to suss out his technique, and I am not sure with the talent he has available to him that results are as good as they should have been. However time will tell.. lol.
What technique?
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Come on Sri Lanka!
I've said it for a while Steve smith is the biggest flat track bully since bell!! Was proven in the ashes, hit hundreds on flat decks made to look a mug when the ball moved!
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Not a bad bowler for someone with a poor record on the subcontinent. odd that!
It may be because he relies on bounce rather than turn?
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Yep number 1 in test and odi cricket is certainly underachieving.
Lol... like those stats are really a pointer to a class player... Just like India being high up in the test rankings... completely depends on where your cricket is being played.. Flat tracks/Poor bowling attacks = Steve Smith
Play the majority at home or away in Bangladesh/Zimbabwe = India high up in test rankings.... Simple :)
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What technique?
:) :) :) :)
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Finding it a bit ridiculous that a player averaging nearly 60 is considered talentless or a flat track bully. If the pitches that Smith's playing on are so flat, why aren't his team mates averaging 60? (Excluding Adam 'Bradman' Voges naturally)...
Also India's ranking has nothing to do with 'playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe'. India claimed the rankings when they destroyed the then world number 1 side 3 zip. Granted it was in Indian conditions but they still dismantled them. Also they beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka as well, against a far better Sri Lanka side than the one currently giving Australia fits.
A little perspective before labelling players/countries as a bunch of stiffs...
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Finding it a bit ridiculous that a player averaging nearly 60 is considered talentless or a flat track bully. If the pitches that Smith's playing on are so flat, why aren't his team mates averaging 60? (Excluding Adam 'Bradman' Voges naturally)...
Also India's ranking has nothing to do with 'playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe'. India claimed the rankings when they destroyed the then world number 1 side 3 zip. Granted it was in Indian conditions but they still dismantled them. Also they beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka as well, against a far better Sri Lanka side than the one currently giving Australia fits.
A little perspective before labelling players/countries as a bunch of stiffs...
Ouch!!
Firstly, I didnt say he was "talentless" and as to why others around him didnt score as highly? Perhaps him not being an opener and not playing as "many" loose shots as others may have contributed to his high average? Not 100% sure TBH. I usually lose interest once Warner gets out... :)
Secondly, if you look at the stats you will have noticed India only got into a position of being able to over take SA by playing against the lesser nations and have since becoming number 1 have played and taken on easy test series against some poor opposition.
Thirdly, I think its a little early to say Australia are struggling against Sri Lanka especially if you look at how many chances Australia have spilled.
Perhaps a little perspective is needed when you look at stats ;)
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Ouch!!
Firstly, I didnt say he was "talentless" and as to why others around him didnt score as highly? Perhaps him not being an opener and not playing as "many" loose shots as others may have contributed to his high average? Not 100% sure TBH. I usually lose interest once Warner gets out... :)
Secondly, if you look at the stats you will have noticed India only got into a position of being able to over take SA by playing against the lesser nations and have since becoming number 1 have played and taken on easy test series against some poor opposition.
Thirdly, I think its a little early to say Australia are struggling against Sri Lanka especially if you look at how many chances Australia have spilled.
Perhaps a little perspective is needed when you look at stats ;)
Do realise that fixtures are designated like years in advance?
I'll give you India playing West indies was an optional series but that was a favour after Windies cancelled their last tour to India mid tour. Plus it benefits Windies to play India(eg IPL)
Also India are set to play New Zealand, England and Australia within the next 6/8 months.
Finally Australia have lost 7 straight matches in sub continent(3/0 whitewash to Pakistan and 4/0 whitewash to India). So I wouldn't be putting too much cash on Australia chasing down whatever SL set?
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Do realise that fixtures are designated like years in advance?
I'll give you India playing West indies was an optional series but that was a favour after Windies cancelled their last tour to India mid tour. Plus it benefits Windies to play India(eg IPL)
Also India are set to play New Zealand, England and Australia within the next 6/8 months.
Finally Australia have lost 7 straight matches in sub continent(3/0 whitewash to Pakistan and 4/0 whitewash to India). So I wouldn't be putting too much cash on Australia chasing down whatever SL set?
I noticed the pitch wasnt in the greatest of condition this morning. Could be an interesting chase indeed.
I was aware that fixtures are decided a couple of years in advance and I believe the Indian cricket board are excellent at arranging these fixtures. When was the last time India had 3 tough test series one after another? 1970's :) Also aren't India playing New Zealand and England at home?? Like I said, stats are great for producing league tables, HOWEVER if you look at them closely they are also very easy to manipulate/guarantee a favourable outcome..
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I have been keeping an eye on Mendis and he looked impressive when he was over here!
At 21 SL have found someone who could go on to be a World class batsman!!
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Yeah , Mendis has been a class above in this test . His straight driving has been sublime . The new chinaman bowler looks promising too .
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Sri Lanka eventually all out for 353. Setting Australia 268 to win. If you get the chance see Henriques catch to end the innings quite stunning.
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Warner and Khawaja gone already with only 33 on the board.
If they lose smith early. This could be Roy rover for the Aussies.
Who said this was a meaningless stat improving game/series again?
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Is warner also a flat track/seaming wicket bully? can't remember him getting too many runs on the subcontinent
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Warner and Khawaja gone already with only 33 on the board.
If they lose smith early. This could be Roy rover for the Aussies.
Who said this was a meaningless stat improving game/series again?
It was Mr negative I believe.
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Is warner also a flat track/seaming wicket bully? can't remember him getting too many runs on the subcontinent
Good question. IMHO... Yes... :)
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we will see how good Australia are :)
sub continent wins are few and far between
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Will we last till tea? Don't deserve it but rain or light may save us.
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Where's our resident Aussie?
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Where's our resident Aussie?
He masquerading under a different name.
Sri Lanka looking for the win here. Everyone round the bat!!
Read an article halfway through this test, it was referring to the A side, and opporitunities to impress and force there way into the test side as many are struggling.
But then switched to the fact it would make no difference as once home the current lot will all perform in Australia. The problem being Australian cricket and pitches no currently producing players that can play away from home. And what can be done about it?
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No run in 116balls!! This is the type of cricket @ProCricketer1982 would be getting over exciting about!
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Does he get excited?
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20th maiden in a row! Boycott would be impressed.
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Nevill goes!! Game over?
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Wahey!
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Old Herath does the job once again!
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Too good, I didn't think series would be a walk over like a few were predicting.
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Positives for Australia least they didn't get hammered like they've done in their previous 7 games on the sub continent :D.
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Second Test win ever for SL vs Australia. A great confidence boost for their bowlers - but they need more from openers and Angelo.
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Well played Sri Lanka, hell of an effort from Nevill and O'Keefe though
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Australia wilted when in mattered in the Sri Lanka second innings. Their bowlers lacked the control and where unable to keep it quiet when Mendis took them apart. Obviously their left arm spinner getting injured didn't help, but Smith's captaincy was pretty inept. Delighted to see the old warhorse Rangana Herath still turning out match winning performances, maybe the old boy can still reach 400 Test wickets.
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This feels eerily similar to India's tour of Sri Lanka 2015. India was thrashed by Dinesh Chandimal in the first test match with a 150+ score and SL took the lead. Next two matches India trounced them to win the series. I am guessing Australia will do the same.
Warner or Usman has to fire in the next test match. Smith is looking solid but SL seems to have figured out a field setup to stifle him though.
Where is Adam Zampa btw ? Is he in the Aussie test line up ?
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Great effort from starc taking 5 wickets! How many wickets will the aussies lose before close, already one down inside the first over
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Where is Adam Zampa btw ? Is he in the Aussie test line up ?
Zampa's been off playing in the Caribbean Premier League for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
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One has gone through the top, turned and bounced to Warner. This looks unlikely to last 5 days. 281 could be a fine score!
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Australia will probably rue today's play as it will likely cost them the series. After Starc snared the openers, Lyon was once again poor. He's very limited and lacks the skill to out think batsmen when they aren't intimated by the Australian pace bowlers. Starc and Hazlewood pretty much outstanding. Holland bowled decently. Even Marsh offered control. Young Mendis' star continues to grow.
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Australia will probably rue today's play as it will likely cost them the series. After Starc snared the openers, Lyon was once again poor. He's very limited and lacks the skill to out think batsmen when they aren't intimated by the Australian pace bowlers. Starc and Hazlewood pretty much outstanding. Holland bowled decently. Even Marsh offered control. Young Mendis' star continues to grow.
Lyon is struggling, admittedly, particularly with finding the right pace for these pitches . But he's taken subcontinental wickets before so he'll likely come good . To say he's very limited might be a tad , or very , harsh though . For a finger spinner , bowling half his games on unhelpful aussie decks , to have 200 test wickets at a better average than someone like Daniel Vettori , he can't be too shabby .
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Lyon is struggling, admittedly, particularly with finding the right pace for these pitches . But he's taken subcontinental wickets before so he'll likely come good . To say he's very limited might be a tad , or very , harsh though . For a finger spinner , bowling half his games on unhelpful aussie decks , to have 200 test wickets at a better average than someone like Daniel Vettori , he can't be too shabby .
Whilst Lyon has taken wickets in Asia, it's more often been wickets gifted rather than getting batsmen out. He's a decent bowler but lacks variety in his bowling. Bowling 'the attacking Australian off spinning line' won't cut it against excellent players of spin. As Lyon is allowing the batsmen the opportunity to free their arms.
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Australia in total disarray as the masterful Rangana Hearth takes a hat trick. Started the day 54-2, currently 89-8. No idea how to play spin. Looks like it will be 8 straight defeats in the sub continent
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Our batting looks thin with Mitch Marsh at 6, 25 test innings to average 23 is pretty ordinary. Aussies just refuse to change their tactics for different conditions.
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Few too many flat track bully's in this aus side. I'm sure if a sub continent player struggled away from home more would be made out of it.
Sri Lanka should declare, they've got plenty :D
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How many sub Continental teams win test series on flat track Australian wickets?
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Our batting looks thin with Mitch Marsh at 6, 25 test innings to average 23 is pretty ordinary. Aussies just refuse to change their tactics for different conditions.
What do you think Henriques would have averaged in the same period? Similar bowling strength, I guess Moisés misses out as his surname neither begins with 'm' nor rhymes with 'harsh'.
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Good to see flat track bullies struggle so much, pretty much shows players aren't actually that good unless the flat and they can just hit through the line/on the up. Very telling (well, it is but people will still crow over flat track bullies stats and pronounce them as world beaters)
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#1 test side in the world
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Looking at Australia's spinners they just can't create any pressure. Wherever they bowl, Sri Lanka just tonk. Jon Holland in particular has looked well short of Test quality. Starc and Hazlewood have taken over 20 wickets on this pitches yet the spinners have been dreadful. When India went to Sri Lanka last year Ashwin ripped them apart, including sangakkara
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Oh dear! :(
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Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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Yep, cricket is a batsman game these days....
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This is serious, the Aussie cricket team needs the forums support! :o
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Warner only one with any kind of resistance in both innings!
Obviously all down to his big bat.
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I cannot wait to see our OS tomorrow :D
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This is serious, the Aussie cricket team needs the forums support! :o
hmmm... there are Aussies on here. But England are in India this winter so I for one will not be gloating(alright a bit).... wins in the sub continent are about are hard as it gets in test cricket...
you could say any win over there is better than an Ashes one in terms of kudos? :)
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hmmm... there are Aussies on here. But England are in India this winter so I for one will not be gloating(alright a bit).... wins in the sub continent are about are hard as it gets in test cricket...
you could say any win over there is better than an Ashes one in terms of kudos? :)
It's interesting to see how players do when the ball is swinging/seaming or spinning. These conditions are when you find out about players.
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What happened to SL?
Get smashed by Eng, destroy the supposed No.1 team?
My initial reaction is Home pitch advantage, but as we've seen with Eng/Pak and WI/Ind, it's not the be all and end all.
Test cricket is pretty good, isn't it?
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What happened to SL?
Get smashed by Eng, destroy the supposed No.1 team?
My initial reaction is Home pitch advantage, but as we've seen with Eng/Pak and WI/Ind, it's not the be all and end all.
Test cricket is pretty good, isn't it?
Watch the test and you'll see how bad aus are at batting on anything but a road. Tbf, Warner was the only decent batsmen
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Pitch didn't look too bad today, wasn't spinning square. Stupid shots from khawaja and voges.
1 win in the last 18 games on the sub continent. Reckon even Bangladesh would beat this current Aussie side
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From 27-5 to 141-5 - balls turning square already yet the Aussie spinners have looked ordinary again. Starc continues to impress, Aussies would be in big trouble if he wasn't playing
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Mitchell Starc seriously an outstanding bowler. 18-24 months ago he looks rather ordinary at Test level. But now he's transferred his ODI/T20 bowling into Tests and he's s frightening bowler. I think the Australians played South Africa down under in a few weeks. Should be an epic showdown Starc vs Rabada vs Steyn. That's why pace bowling is priceless.
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Sri Lanka ended up posting a more than useful 355. de Silva(129 maiden Test hundred) and Chandimal(132 7th Test hundred) both crossed three figures. Once again Starc ended up with 5 wickets(5/65). Australia were 27/1 at tea, Warner out.
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Australian captain Steven Smith passes 4000 Test runs. The youngest to do so surpassing a certain RT Ponting. The lad can play a bit.
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Must be pretty nice for Shaun marsh knowing he's got a family member as a selector. Gosh how many chances has he had??
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TBH Shaun Marsh has played the spin better than both Burns and Khawaja, both of whom looked like they'd never face/played the turning ball in their lives.
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Must be pretty nice for Shaun marsh knowing he's got a family member as a selector. Gosh how many chances has he had??
Who is he related to on the selection panel?
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Australia's batsmen finally come to the party. 121/1 at stumps on day 2. Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh both bring up their fifties. Australia have only managed three individual scores of 50+ during the series. Also the Smith-Marsh partnership went passed 100, Australia's first such partnership in the whole series.
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Turns out Sri Lanka bowled their overs pretty quickly but it didn't do any damage to Australia. 141/1 at the close.
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Who is he related to on the selection panel?
No one....must be confused /thinking Rod Marsh is related to Shaun and Mitch ......funny how people make that assumption all the time .
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Must be pretty nice for Shaun marsh knowing he's got a family member as a selector. Gosh how many chances has he had??
You are joking, right?
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No one....must be confused /thinking Rod Marsh is related to Shaun and Mitch ......funny how people make that assumption all the time .
But it must help when their father Swampy was a former player and selector?
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Experience in Sub continental conditions and 180 odd in the last test he played possibly could have helped him also
If anything his name has probably hindered him, especially when it comes to sorely misinformed public perception and scrutiny.
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Shaun Marsh notched up his 4th Test century and second in Sri Lanka with his 130. Why wasn't he selected earlier? Steven Smith brought up his 15th Test century and first in Asia. Marsh and Smith put on 246 the second highest partnership ever for Australia in Sri Lanka.
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Australia probably blew their chance of avoiding a whitewash after they collapsing from 267-1 to 379 all out. Mitchell Marsh scored 50 but the rest of the lower middle order failed again. The ageless Rangana Herath with 6/81. A master of his craft.
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Sat and ate my breakfast and Aussies looked good, run rate going well and and no wickets right up until last over before lunch.
After lunch the collapse is on, 123 for 6 at the moment! Lots of time left in the game.
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Ah, glorious test cricket
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Australia's team selection is bordering on ridiculous. They had one rather average all rounder in Mitchell Marsh but they decided to weaken their batting further by adding Henriques...How was that ever going to solve their batting woes? They way they are playing it could be 13 straight losses in Asia after their tour to India in a few months
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Herath4eva
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there is something comforting about a tubby non running 40 year old getting wickets in a test match for all club cricketers out there.
:)
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Whitewash for Australia.
not going to gloat because we are in India this winter and that's going to be tough.
However it does show up the rankings for what they are-just a statistic.
I really think a series win for England,NZ,Australia,WI etc on the sub-continent has become more important than the Ashes in terms of pure cricketing achievement
agree? :)
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Gloat away, we were terrible, if it wasn't for Stark it would have been even mored humiliating. We underestimated them, we overestimated out ability against spinners. I have never seen our batting look so thin.
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Gloat away, we were terrible, if it wasn't for Stark it would have been even mored humiliating. We underestimated them, we overestimated out ability against spinners. I have never seen our batting look so thin.
there's been a few batsmen in and out of the Aussie side, lots depends on Smith and Warner...not unlike us(England) where we rely on Cook and Root, and more recently Jonny Bairstow...the rest of our batting is a bit fragile.
Sri Lanka is a very hard place to win but it is a hammering, and a bit unexpected-I thought Australia would have enough to compete there.
What is happening with Micheal Clarke's comeback?
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Our bats were shown to be flat track bullys and i was a bit concerned a few months ago when we picked up the no 1 test spot... Brittle is a term i tend use in regards to our team at the moment. We will improve over the next few years and hopefully place an emphasis on performing on the subcontinent.
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What an embarrassment. The Marsh boys come up short far too often. Really missing Rogers.
It's clear most of these blokes are not cut out for digging in when the team is in trouble.
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It's clear most of these blokes are not cut out for digging in when the team is in trouble.
can we blame T20 for this?
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It's clear most of these blokes are not cut out for digging in when the team is in trouble.
I don't think this is a problem related specifically to Australia's batting order but more to modern cricket in general.
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Our batting was all brands of crap .
Personally i dont understand a few of the selections either .
I remember Ed Cowan making a good 80 or 90 odd last tour of india . He has improved as a player since then too . We could do a lot worse than picking someone with a Cowan / Bancroft type batting temperament for subcontinental conditions .
We really need to solve our home pitch sameyness / drop in pitch problem . Get a few to be a bit greener so we don't freak out every time we're in England , and get Sydney back to being a bunsen burner . We can't make good choices re recent form against spin when domestically we never play on turning tracks and said tracks don't encourage spin bowling talent or depth .
As bad as Wade's keeping can be perhaps its time to revert back to him to bolster the batting a bit ... Nevill has not produced sadly ( he's more than capable which makes it all the more frustrating ).
Also , I think we need to avoid our pick-an- allrounder-at-all-costs policy henceforth . No more Mitch marsh, unless he is picked as a frontline bowler . No Enriques . Ever . No Faulkner either . Agar maybe in a few years , if his bowling develops further . Or Maxwell if hes playing regular shield cricket and making big runs and taking wickets ....maybe .
Voges has done well but as long as he stays it just prevents us from blooding the eventual replacement .
Hazlewood is and always has been a bit overrated in my eyes . Fully fit Pattinson would be a better choice (Hazlewood was so under bowled in this series we may as well have played another batsman and bowled M. Marsh more ) . Or they could be bold like Pakistani selectors and pick real talent when they see it , even if they aren't the finished package ie pick Billy Stanlake .
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I do think that this series is just one in a line suggesting that the icc needs to have greater authority on controlling home advantage over pitches. To me it is destroying test cricket as on the whole we are going from one one sided series to another as pitches becoming more and more extreme. I am not suggesting that pitches should be homogenous around the world far from it, it is one of the joys of cricket the effect location and climate have one the game, however the pitches should reflect those used in first class cricket in the country/test match venue and to a degree be consistent over time. Let's be honest The present pitches are making some decent but steady bowlers from all nations look like world beaters and statistically better than greats of previous eras. It's the same in England with the edgbaston and Trent bridge pitches of last years ashes as it is for Indias pitches against South Africa. Fundamentally there should be something in the pitch for batsman pace men and spinners alike, and ideally the pitch should hold a match for 5 days, the weighting will be different in each country, and each ground but fundamentally I do feel that some greater oversight is necessary for series to be competitive and exciting to watch.
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I'm not sure the ICC can enforce what type of pitches the home side offers up. But I think the rankings system need to be tweaked so that winning an away series gains you more points than just winning all your series at home. This should encourage visiting sides to show more backbone as they can't just boost their egos during home series.
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Don't see that coming, not a high scoring series but Sri Lanka mostly put on good totals. As for reflecting domestic pitches, English test pitches are a lot less green than the ones produced for county games! India v SA for sure though, when Dean Elgar is ragging it square and bowling sides out you know there's a problem with the deck.
Shouldn't be a surprise that teams are doing less well abroad in the modern age - shorter tours with less warm-up games to acclimatise and less players go abroad to play domestic cricket than in years gone by. Definitely agree that away wins should count for more in the rankings though.
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Well thats not true for India atleast.......... we have players such as AB, Gayle who are more loved than the local players around :) After IPL, loads of players have improved their skills against the spin bowling .
I feel personally its the skill that has gone down than the climate or conditions ..... Players nowadays dont want to grind ... simple ..
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Or they could be bold like Pakistani selectors and pick real talent when they see it , even if they aren't the finished package ie pick Billy Stanlake .
I reckon big Billy might be a season away yet. I'd love to see him have a good Matador Cup and Shield season. We could do a lot worse than getting Ed Cowan back in the side. Not a bad idea.
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I don't think this is a problem related specifically to Australia's batting order but more to modern cricket in general.
It is a modern cricket problem. If you breed aggressive hitter batsmen who feel the need to score at 4+ am over for white ball cricket and mainly grow up/play white ball cricket how the hell do you expect them to learn to bat in the test match? Shock horror, they bat the same way and so we pre ended up with the he last generation (Clarke, sanga/mahela) who were test bred and now we have white ball bred players.
If anyone were serious about bringing test cricket and the skills you need to make it as good as previous generations then stop producing roads, place emphasis in county/state cricket on the 4 day game and bring amateurs up learning to play the game properly (ie draw cricket). If we don't, it'll simply get worse and test cricket will suffer (2020 and odi will continue To 'improve' because people will get bigger, stronger snd smash it more, bowling will stagnate.
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I reckon big Billy might be a season away yet. I'd love to see him have a good Matador Cup and Shield season. We could do a lot worse than getting Ed Cowan back in the side. Not a bad idea.
I know that Stanlake ideally needs at least one full , good season of shield under his belt ....its just that I'd like to see our selectors show some balls and i can't see him performing so bad that I'd be wishing for the incumbent to return in his place . He really is our test pace future along with Starc .
Heeey ! ....someone who actually thinks Eddie Cowan is not a bad idea ! , thought i was the only one in the world ! There are guys with plenty more talent , but almost no one with such temperament and patience. ...and those two qualities are severely lacking in our top order .
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I think he has the right temperament too. He doesn't have the flair (or youth) of Travis Head or Nic Maddinson though. It'll never happen.
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ODI series started today. Steven Smith won the toss and put the Sri Lankans in.
Changed a plenty of both sides. SL with as many as 6 spinning options in their sides. Travis Head gets an opportunity ahead of Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja. Head essentially has taken the place of the recently axed Glenn Maxwell.
Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Milinda Siriwardana, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Dilruwan Perera, 10 Amila Aponso, 11 Lakshan Sandakan
Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 George Bailey, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Travis Head, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
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Mitchell Starc has become the fastest bowler to 100 ODI wickets, getting their in only 52 matches, breaking Saqlain's long standing record
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Australia have finally notched up a victory on their tour of Sri Lanka. After restricting Sri Lanka to above par 227/8. Kusal Mendis continued his good form with 67 and Dinesh Chandimal scored an unbeaten 80(his fifth consetutive ODI fifty), but Australia kept taking wickets with regularity. James Faulkner with a career best 4/38 and Mitchell Starc 3/32 where the pick of the bowlers. Chandimal took a fearful blow to the ribs towards he end of the innings and it remains to be seen if he's ok to play the rest of the series. During the Australian chase Aaron Finch got the wheels in motion with a rapid 56. Steven Smith 58, Matthew Wade 26 and George Bailey 39 got the Aussies close until a mini wobble but Australia saw it through.
On aside note, Josh Hazlewood is billed as the new Glenn McGrath, but he's looked totally toothless at times on this tour. If the likes of Pat Cummins and James Pattinson weren't made of glass, they'd be far more useful.
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Australia have finally notched up a victory on their tour of Sri Lanka. After restricting Sri Lanka to above par 227/8. Kusal Mendis continued his good form with 67 and Dinesh Chandimal scored an unbeaten 80(his fifth consetutive ODI fifty), but Australia kept taking wickets with regularity. James Faulkner with a career best 4/38 and Mitchell Starc 3/32 where the pick of the bowlers. Chandimal took a fearful blow to the ribs towards he end of the innings and it remains to be seen if he's ok to play the rest of the series. During the Australian chase Aaron Finch got the wheels in motion with a rapid 56. Steven Smith 58, Matthew Wade 26 and George Bailey 39 got the Aussies close until a mini wobble but Australia saw it through.
On aside note, Josh Hazlewood is billed as the new Glenn McGrath, but he's looked totally toothless at times on this tour. If the likes of Pat Cummins and James Pattinson weren't made of glass, they'd be far more useful.
Hazlewood is overrated. ...i mentioned it in an earlier post on this thread.....good to see someone else say it !
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Just seen the last two games of the ODI series will be on free to air in the uk! Quest have picked them up for some reason, good news for cricket fans here.
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Rather bemused as to why Australia didn't select James Faulkner for the Test series. His style of bowling would've been quite the handful on the surfaces they play on. His IPL record shows his slower balls/cutters are difficult to smash around. And secondly he's better than Mitchell Marsh and Moises Henriques
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As if to emphasise the issue, Faulkner MoTM in the first ODI, has just taken a hat trick in the second ODI...
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Contrary to performance, m.marsh (and m.enriques) are seen by selectors as batting allrounders . Faulkner is definitely, in red ball cricket anyway , a bowling allrounder . It's not like we have room for a batting allrounder in our fragile batting lineup , let alone a bowling allrounder . But , yes , i agree his bowling is suited well to subcontinental conditions. I would , however , had just played m.marsh as a bowler in place of hazlewood .
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Henriques' first class stats aren't to dissimilar to Faulkner's to be frank. Granted Henriques has more hundreds but their averages are pretty similar.
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Another error was the wicket keeping slot during the Test series. Peter Nevill, more like Phil Neville, decent keeper but totally inept with the bat. Matthew Wade, granted isn't the best keeper ever but he's solid. But his batting has improved in Asian conditions. He's a bit ungainly but he finds a way to score runs.
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Third ODI in Dambulla today. Sri Lanka lost a couple of early wickets but Dilshan and Chandimal helping revive the Sri Lankan innings. That was until Adam Zampa got Dilshan, Dilshan heads off into retirement now. End of a fantastic career.
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Australia won the low scoring thriller in Dambulla to move 2-1 up in the series. Sri Lanka posted a below par 226 all out. Dinesh Chandimal continued his outstanding form with his fourth ODI century. During the course of his innings he moved passed 3000 ODI runs, he's the fourth fastest Sri Lankan to achieve this feat. It was a good combined bowling effort from the Australians, Zampa the pick of the bunch with 3 wickets. In reply Australia slipped to 44/3. But solid contributions from Bailey 70, Head 36 and Wade 42 meant Australia had just enough to get home 8 down after a late wobble. Pretty decent series so far.
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This game is on quest currently.
Sri Lanka in trouble On 134 for 6, which is actually for 7 as angelonmatthews has torn his calf once again and won't bat or bowl again in this game.
Stupidly he tried to carry on batting after lengthy treatment, but lasted 1ball! At only 3 down, why risk it? Come back alter if fine
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Pretty strange watching Australia's bowlers in this series, Starc aside, it's like the rest are selected from a lucky dip. Credit to them though, whoever gets a game does a decent job b
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Finch trying to win this inside the first power play. Going nuts
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18 ball fifty for finch. Could have equalled abv 16 ball but he missed with a wild swipe needing one.
Looks out lbw here though. Gone to review.
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I think Finch should be given an opportunity in the Australian Test middle order. He could be a match winner when they go to India.
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Khawaja, someone who's Asian, hasn't a clue against spin. That said Bailey now having a blast
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Khawaja, someone who's Asian, hasn't a clue against spin. That said Bailey now having a blast
Although I agree. That lbw wasn't hitting another set(hawk eye agreed) he was unlucky finch wasted the review
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I think Finch should be given an opportunity in the Australian Test middle order. He could be a match winner when they go to India.
I'd take both finch and bailey to India, more experienced heads and both seem to adapt well to conditions. I believe Bailey averaged 90+ in an ODI series over there a few years ago?, looks like the best player of spin we have in these conditions. Also wade over nevill, I like Nevill, and his glove work is ahead of wade, but Wade seems to play spin well and whilst an annoying one, is a presence in the side.
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I'd take both finch and bailey to India, more experienced heads and both seem to adapt well to conditions. I believe Bailey averaged 90+ in an ODI series over there a few years ago?, looks like the best player of spin we have in these conditions. Also wade over nevill, I like Nevill, and his glove work is ahead of wade, but Wade seems to play spin well and whilst an annoying one, is a presence in the side.
Spot on. Nothing wrong with picking horses for courses. Faulkner and Hastings should go as well. Their style of bowling will probably do better than take a few below par spinners
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Australia win easily. 19 overs to spare. 6 wickets in hand. Bailey 90* and Finch 55 the stand outs. Hastings my MoTM with his 6/45. Series win for Australia. I guess that's why they are number 1 ranked...And with their captain at home having a rest!
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First T20 has just started, for the eighth time in this tour, Australia once again lost the toss...gotta be some sort of record. Anyway Sri Lanka put Australia in to bat.
For Australia no Finch or Lynn whom are both injured. Meaning a recall for MoTS in the ODIs George Bailey. The big show Maxwell is also showing his face. Rather strangely Wade has been dropped for Nevill...
Sri Lanka: 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.), 5 Chamara Kapugedara, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Sachith Pathirana, 9 Sachithra Senanayake, 10, Suranga Lakmal, 11 Kasun Rajitha
Australia: 1 David Warner (capt.), 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 George Bailey, 4 Travis Head, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Moises Henriques, 7 James Faulkner, 8 Peter Nevill (wk), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Scott Boland
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Australia go nuts in the power play. 73-1. Maxwell was 2 off 7 and it now 36 of 18
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So many full tosses
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Sri Lanka with some lovely slot bowling!!
Maxwell taking full advantage at the moment.
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Rod Marsh is a genius
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Hahahahahahahahaha, such a Maxwell way to ton up
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The Big Show's back. 100 off 49 balls
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100 up for Maxwell. 100 off 49 balls. Another beamer helps him bring it up. Oz looking at 230
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Seems as though the penny might have finally dropped for Maxwell. He actually played like a batsman rather than a punch drunk slugger
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Not really, it's the same Glenn Maxwell I've always watched alongside some very generous bowling
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To be fair, I reckon I'd have scored a fair few! Sri Lanka bowling 2 full tosses an over at the minute!
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Australia got a lot of competition for their opening slots in T20 cricket. Warner, Finch, Khawaja, Maxwell and Head all more than capable.
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Not really, it's the same Glenn Maxwell I've always watched alongside some very generous bowling
He was actually trying to drive the ball today. In recent times he only seemed to play the reverse hit/sweep
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Embarrassing fielding from Sri Lanka...pretty hapless
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New world record Australia with the highest team total in T20i
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263/3 Maxwell 145*. I guess that's one way to show you'll still got it. As for Sri Lanka...chase hard
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Australia got a lot of competition for their opening slots in T20 cricket. Warner, Finch, Khawaja, Maxwell and Head all more than capable.
Decent T20 players like Nick Maddinson not even getting a look in as well
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Brutal innings from Maxwell. Sri Lanka were generous in their fielding and bowling ! Sri Lanka is like the new west indies. They have been rapidly disintegrating from a formidable opponent to a brush aside one ...
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Yet we still can't make a ripple in T20 world cups.