Print

[Felix Tito]

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...

[ProCricketer1982]

Another pointless stats bolstering series. Nothing to be learnt about anyone playing in that series

[csnew]

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

[ElPerro]

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

[Felix Tito]

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

[ElPerro]

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

[Felix Tito]

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.

 

[Felix Tito]

Khawaja was also using Kookaburra bat/equipment for those of you that way inclined.

[smilley792]

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.

[Alvaro]

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.

[Felix Tito]

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.

[Felix Tito]

Brilliant innings by Kusal Mendis a maiden Test hundred. Turning the game back towards Sri Lanka

[csnew]

Probably a match winning knock that on this pitch! 100 more and the aussies have no chance

[Kulli]

Another pointless stats bolstering series. Nothing to be learnt about anyone playing in that series

Still so sure? That was some knock from Mendis.

[Alvaro]

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.