Australia vs Sri Lanka SCG Test: cricket live scores, updates (Day 2)
Columnist By Geoff Lemon, 4 Jan 2013 Geoff Lemon is a Roar Expert
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- Australia v Sri Lanka, Cricket, Dave Warner, live blog, Mahela Jayawardene, Michael Clarke, Rangana Herath
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Australia v Sri Lanka SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND, JANUARY 3-7, 2013 3rd Test - AUS v SLA |
|---|
| Sri Lanka 1st Inn | 294 All Out |
| Australia 1st Inn | 9/432 |
| Sri Lanka 2nd Inn | 278 All Out |
| Australia 2nd Inn | 5/141 |
| Australia won the toss and elected to bowl | |
| Australia won by 5 wickets | |
| Australia | Over:42.5 RR:3.29 | ||||
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEK Hussey | 27 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 64.29 |
| MG Johnson* | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Sri Lanka | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| HMRKB Herath* | 16.5 | 0 | 47 | 3 | 2.79 |
| TM Dilshan | 18.0 | 2 | 57 | 1 | 3.17 |
| Recent Overs: | ||
| 1 4 . 1 . . | | . . . . . 1 | | 2 . . 1 . . | |
| Last Wicket: | Wade, 9 (BWD:Herath) |
| Current Partnership: | 9 runs, 24 balls, RR:37.50 |
Lahiru Thirimanne’s near century pulled Sri Lanka out of trouble but Jackson Bird claimed four to bowl the visitors out on the first day of the Sydney Test match.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout this game, with the second day starting at 10.30 am AEST on January 4.
It was a much better performance with the bat from Sri Lanka than their Boxing Day showing but on a reasonably placid Sydney track, they would rue that they only got to 294.
Thirimanne, in only his eighth Test match, showed maturity beyond his average of 19.84 and was ably supported by captain Mahela Jayawardene.
But both of them fell when they had a century for the taking and the rest of the batsmen displayed an abhorrence to sticking to the wicket, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 34 being the highest score otherwise.
Michael Clarke’s decision to field first on a drier than usual SCG pitch evoked surprise but with five bowlers at his disposal he was able to rotate them around without the recent worry of fitness issues. Jackson Bird, in only his second Test, was a standout and looked the real deal.
Bird had both openers, one caught top-edging a pull and another nicking it to the ‘keeper, before returning in a later spell to run through the lower-order. Mitchell Starc grabbed three more and the waywardness of Mitchell Johnson wasn’t felt too much.
Going into the second day, Sri Lanka will hope for a better show from their bowlers, after having conceded two scores of more than 450 in the series already. A sub-300 score, however, may not be the best buffer for their rejigged bowling, requiring them to dig deep into their resources.
Rangana Herath has continued to impress cricketing pundits throughout the series but how their second-string attack consisting of Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep go will go a long way deciding the result.
Early wickets could put some pressure on a shortened Australian batting line-up but given the recent form that they have shown with the bat, it is difficult visualise such an eventuality.
We will bring you the live score throughout the game from the SCG and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Geoff Lemon is a writer and radio broadcaster. He joined The Roar as an expert columnist in 2010, writes the satirical blog Heathen Scripture, and tweets from @GeoffLemonSport.
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6:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:00pm | Report comment
aaaaaand… STUMPS
The Australian lower order doing well – 35 runs in this partnership, after Johnson and Wade put on 36. Wade has held things together well and scored briskly, and will resume tomorrow on 47. Siddle has 16.
So, Australia’s day, but Sri Lanka have tried hard, and have had their successes as well. Initially it looked like Australia would dominate, despite losing Cowan early to a silly run-out. Warner and Hughes were motoring along at a great rate and the pitch looked very friendly.
But both those batsmen contrived to get themselves out within sight of a century, Michael Clarke made a very smooth 50 and got himself out as well, and before that he also ran out Mike Hussey. Hussey was applauded to the centre via an honour guard provided by the Sri Lankans, which was a wonderful scene, but he was out for 25 on a short single.
Herath battled manfully, bowling 22 overs to take 2/69. Dilshan and Pradeep took a wicket, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers aside from Herath were not able to make any real impact. Sri Lanka’s endeavour in the field though was excellent, effecting two run outs and sticking to their task despite the difficulties. It paid off as they started reeling the Aussies in.
So it’s evenly poised – the Aussie lead is 48, so if the lower order can get that above 100, Australia will be odds on to win. But if the Lankans can take care of Siddle, Starc, Lyon and Bird for less than 100, they could bat well enough in their second dig to set a challenging target.
This pitch is starting to turn a little, it will be turning a lot more by the fourth innings, and Herath is a last-innings specialist. Could be exciting times ahead!
A big thanks from me for the excellent conversations that have taken place today on the comment boards, it’s been a lot of fun having you all involved.
Join me again from the start of play tomorrow morning, and let’s do it all again. Now for one of Atawhai Drive’s cold beers.
6:02pm
The 12th Man said | 6:02pm | Report comment
I’d have that as Australia in front, prob need another 40 or so to be confident given Herath bowling on the last day will be dangerous
6:03pm
Hazey the Bear said | 6:03pm | Report comment
Australia in front…just. Wade and co just need to eek out a bigger lead somehow – patience, determination, freakish luck, whatever. The Aussies don’t want to be chasing a total on day five.
Thanks for the entertaining day, gents – Will see you tomorrow…probably for the afternoon session and beyond.
6:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:15pm | Report comment
Cheers Hazey. Stay clear of that Bundy.
5:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:59pm | Report comment
Well, given Siddle has outscored Johnson, does he cop a promotion for the second innings?
6:03pm
Red Kev said | 6:03pm | Report comment
Johnson should cop a demotion out the side, so effectively, yes.
6:14pm
The Bush said | 6:14pm | Report comment
At least a bat next to his name on the team sheet
5:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:59pm | Report comment
87.3
Nicely nudged away by Siddle, a late cut for one.
6/342
Siddle has 16, he’s going pretty well.
5:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:58pm | Report comment
87.1
Dilshan back and that’s a ripper delivery first up – turned a mile and beat the left-handed keeper by a margin.
5:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:56pm | Report comment
86.3
FOUR
Classic tailend shot! Siddle top-edges the hook from Lakmal and it flies over the keeper for four.
6/340. This lead is getting handy.
5:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:48pm | Report comment
85.1
FOUR
Great shot from Wade! Square drive, was a man out there but it was too well struck. He now has 44, and is handling his promotion well. Had plenty of luck early, but is making the most of it.
Lakmal bowled a maiden to Siddle before this over from Pradeep.
6/328
5:40pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:40pm | Report comment
83.5
FOUR
Nice shot from Wade, off his toes, driving Pradeep through midwicket. A couple of 3s in the over as well, this is expensive. 11 from the over.
6/323
5:37pm
Johnno said | 5:37pm | Report comment
Mitch’s days at no 7 are over. Like his contemporary stuart Broad, and even Brett Lee and Shane Warne all these guys belong at no 8.
However Vettori made it as a no 6 even as high as a no 5 , how i will never know, but hay that is the land of the long lose white cloud, they do things differently over there in kiwi land.
Irfan Pathan and Manoj Praphker have opened before , so stranger things have happened.
Dizzy Gillespie’s double hundred vs Bangladesh is still the quirkiest and weirdest thing, i have experienced lol.
And Phil Kearns making the wallabies from 2nd grade, but hay at randwick in the 1980′s that was the culture, half the reserve grade team were tahs or wallaby players.
5:44pm
Rhys said | 5:44pm | Report comment
Johnno, Vettori may only average 30 with the bat overall, but his last 4-5 years he’s averaged well into the 40s, and has scored 6 centuries.
He’s a genuine allrounder in my view, a bowling allrounder, but still an allrounder. Does anyone know why he isn’t playing with the Kiwis on their current SA tour?
5:50pm
Atawhai Drive said | 5:50pm | Report comment
Rhys, he has hernia and achilles injuries. Can’t play for Heat in BBL either.
5:53pm
Rhys said | 5:53pm | Report comment
Thanks Atawhai. Boy could they use his experience and talent over there.
5:52pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:52pm | Report comment
Injured, Rhys.
5:37pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:37pm | Report comment
Siddle’s doing alright here – Allrounder status yet?
5:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:42pm | Report comment
Whack him in at No. 4.
5:45pm
Rhys said | 5:45pm | Report comment
I’d actually like to see a reverse batting order for the second innings, similar to the reverse grids in motor sport.
5:32pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 5:32pm | Report comment
So far every batsman has either got himself out or been done his batting partner.
The lack of ability to concentrate for long periods at a time is worrying…
5:35pm
Rabbitz said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Makes you wonder why?
5:39pm
Brendon said | 5:39pm | Report comment
It is a bit of a worry, Wade is looking quite good though
5:44pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 5:44pm | Report comment
They’ve all looked good until the moment of lost concentration happens…
5:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:46pm | Report comment
Yes. Should have cashed in more on this pitch. But, this tail has been known to wag.
5:30pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:30pm | Report comment
81.5
FOUR
Not a bad shot from Siddle. Back foot defence, ran it off the face, and it found the gap in the slip cordon and raced to third man.
6/311
5:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:27pm | Report comment
81.3
OUT!
Johnson goes, caught behind. The edge might have spooked him, then he poked at a ball angled across him and nicked it to the keeper.
And Pradeep gets a wicket! His bowling average will now be halved, from over 400 to somewhere around the 200 mark.
6/307
5:28pm
Calf Jocks said | 5:28pm | Report comment
The all rounder looked good against the new ball
5:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:45pm | Report comment
He can partner Siddle in the middle order, Carl.
5:28pm
Matt F said | 5:28pm | Report comment
Pradeep average watch: 201.5
Only the great bowlers can take 200+ off their average with a single ball.
If he can take the remaining 4 wickets he can push his average into the mythical range of double figures
5:29pm
Rhys said | 5:29pm | Report comment
He’s twice the bowler he waas 5 minutes ago.
5:32pm
Matt F said | 5:32pm | Report comment
I’ll admit to giving him a little cheer when he picked up that wicket
6:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:16pm | Report comment
Double figures now. We can dream.
Keep us posted on Pradeep Watch from here on in.
5:29pm
Rabbitz said | 5:29pm | Report comment
Pickle me Grandmother, what a goose.
Can’t bowl, Can’t bat. What is he doing there?
5:32pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:32pm | Report comment
Well, it’s only his fourth game. But it’s almost a shame about the average – that 403 looked majestic.
5:34pm
Rabbitz said | 5:34pm | Report comment
Actually I was referring to Johnson.
5:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:45pm | Report comment
Ah! That makes much more sense. As you were, Rabs.
5:53pm
Rabbitz said | 5:53pm | Report comment
Aye, Aye, Skipper.
5:36pm
Brendon said | 5:36pm | Report comment
Nice performance by the all rounder
6:00pm
Red Kev said | 6:00pm | Report comment
Thank god Johnson did so much this game – zero wickets and 13 runs. Can Arthur, Inverarity and Clarke wake up to themselves now please.
6:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:16pm | Report comment
But Kev! The X Factor! The X Factor!
5:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:26pm | Report comment
Edge!
Falls short of slip by a foot or so, from the bat of Johnson. That’s about the first bit of joy any of these fast bowlers have had today.
5:24pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 5:24pm | Report comment
So what’s a par score for Johnson in this innings?
5:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:33pm | Report comment
I think it would have been 40+. But his days getting lucky don’t make him a top order batsman.
5:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:23pm | Report comment
This makeshift No. 6 and No. 7 partnership is working so far. They’ve put on 34 runs together.
5:28pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 5:28pm | Report comment
Oh dear…
Never mind.
5:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:33pm | Report comment
I’m on fire today.
5:22pm
Rhys said | 5:22pm | Report comment
How many runs do people think Johnson has to score in this innings for the NSP to continue with their daring allrounder experiment?
I say 15.
5:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:24pm | Report comment
It’s an interesting question. If he scores a fifty, will they keep him there for the India Tests?
5:27pm
Pope Paul VII said | 5:27pm | Report comment
35 ish, that’s Wadey’s ave. If they are 5 for 100 chasing 250 in the last inning could be interesting.
5:28pm
Rhys said | 5:28pm | Report comment
With Herath and Dilshan turning them square, it could be very interesting.
6:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:17pm | Report comment
Hope so. Would make for a good match.
5:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:21pm | Report comment
80.1
New ball taken as soon as it became available, and Lakmal is back on to try his luck with the ball.
5/306
5:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:16pm | Report comment
78.5
A single, there’s the 300 up, Australia are in the lead now, and can set about building their advantage.
5/300
5:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:15pm | Report comment
77.6
Some comedy running there, as they came back for a third, in a rush, and Johnson ended up hurdling Chandimal, the keeper, as the keeper tried to dive onto the stumps with the ball.
A poor throw in from third man, otherwise there would have been a wicket.
5/299
5:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:08pm | Report comment
75.4
Ouch!
Lahiru Thirimanne has just been hit TWICE in a row by Matt Wade. Both full-blooded sweep shots from Herath. The first one hit him on the back of the leg and stung, the second one hit him on the inner thigh and really hurt. A few inches to the side and it would have crushed his testicles, so he’s lucky in that respect.
But respect to Thirimanne, he has resumed his position at forward short leg. Brave! Proves he definitely does still have balls.
5:09pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:09pm | Report comment
Figuratively? Or literally? Or both?
5:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:11pm | Report comment
Both, Haze.
5:12pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:12pm | Report comment
I sincerely doubt it…If nothing else, he’s a soprano now.
But I guess he saved eight runs in the process.
5:20pm
Johnno said | 5:20pm | Report comment
or he could join a welsh choir lol
5:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:33pm | Report comment
No, he didn’t cop it in the jewels. In this case, ‘upper thigh’ actually means upper thigh.
5:06pm
Johnno said | 5:06pm | Report comment
2 blows in 2 balls , ouch. Worse than a night in Kings Cross.
5:07pm
MrKistic said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Actually only one blow was in 2 balls.
5:07pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Both can land you in hospital if you’re not careful too…
5:03pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:03pm | Report comment
75.1
Referral!
This time the other way! Wade was caught at short leg, given out from Herath’s bowling, but he referred that straight away. So he must know he didn’t hit it.
5:05pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:05pm | Report comment
Yeah good use of DRS there – Can’t fault either party there. And Tirrimanne gets a shot into the gut for his trouble…
5:06pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:06pm | Report comment
OUCH! And another – that’s not fun to watch. Stop stop stop showing the replay!
5:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:05pm | Report comment
And the decision is overturned. No edge there. Wade is saved, DRS continues to annoy the Lankans.
5:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:02pm | Report comment
Dilshan back on to bowl.
Matt F, can we start an Average Watch for Pradeep?
I best he’s wishing he didn’t take that one wicket in his career, because if he hadn’t he wouldn’t have an average.
5:06pm
Matt F said | 5:06pm | Report comment
He started the test at 345 and he’s conceeded 58 runs. Current total is 403. His batting average on the other hand is 4.75
5:07pm
Rhys said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Definite allrounder potential.
5:10pm
Hazey the Bear said | 5:10pm | Report comment
Gold.
5:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:34pm | Report comment
If it’s good enough for Johnson…
5:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Imagine if his numbers were the other way around!
5:00pm
Rhys said | 5:00pm | Report comment
Does anyone know if Dilshan has received the ICC Award for ‘Best Facial Hair Design’?
5:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:35pm | Report comment
It’s called ‘Beard Sculpture’.
4:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:59pm | Report comment
73.5
Drop!
Herath misses out on another wicket. Wade turned that straight to short leg, it was not as low as the other one, and Karunaratne (I think it is) got his hands to it, but it went through them. Just not quick enough to the ball.
5/292
5:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:00pm | Report comment
Ah, it’s Lahiru Thirimanne at short leg.
4:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:54pm | Report comment
No ball
Oh dear, that’s a terrible waste. They won’t even go to Hot Spot, because Pradeep overstepped. And there’s Sri Lanka’s second referral gone. How did the umpire miss that no ball? It was enormous.
5/290
4:52pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:52pm | Report comment
Referral!
Wade caught behind, Tony Hill said no, the Lankans were straight upstairs.
4:53pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:53pm | Report comment
And it’s cost them a run!
4:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Ha. True Hazey, I didn’t think of that.
4:55pm
Matt F said | 4:55pm | Report comment
If that wasn’t bad enough Pradeep’s bowling average has just gone past 400!
4:56pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:56pm | Report comment
That’s not a stat to be proud of…
4:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:46pm | Report comment
71.4
Johnson and Wade dealing with Herath comfortably enough. Wade glides him for 3 runs, Johnson takes a single.
Wade 22, Johnson 9.
5/290
4:43pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:43pm | Report comment
So the match evenly poised. You might think that the non-decision on Clarke on 0 was crucial – what is Sri Lanka had got him for nought? But maybe it was in SL’s interest that Clarke didn’t get out, because Clarke ran out Hussey cheaply, then didn’t go on to score overly heavily himself.
If at the start of a day’s play, you as a bowling captain were offered the wickets of Clarke and Hussey for 75 between them, you would probably take that.
Thoughts?
4:48pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:48pm | Report comment
It’s certainly more evenly poised than it should be – I reckon Clarke is ruing his decision to bowl first. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though, and now he has to get the tail to fight for a decent lead, which is proving hard to do. They’ve got to get it past the Lankans score first!
Having said that, I reckon they’ll get a lead of at about 100, and they might get lucky and bowl Sri Lanka out cheaply, if the bowlers can find the right length.
Aussies might have to bat again to score 100 or so, but I think that’s how it’ll go.
4:49pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:49pm | Report comment
Of course, making predictions is making me a little wary – After all, previous predictions have led to the dismissals of Warner and Hussey.
That’s right Roarers, I’m blaming you.
4:51pm
Matt F said | 4:51pm | Report comment
I seem to remember a certain Bear predicting Clarke to get a century
4:52pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:52pm | Report comment
Uhh…was that me?
4:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Some kind of bear. They’re hard to keep track of.
4:56pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Look over there! Bundy! It was him!
4:57pm
Matt F said | 4:57pm | Report comment
Damn drop bears
4:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:41pm | Report comment
70.1
A nice three there for Johnson, a force off the back foot through point, and took the runs on offer. He goes on to 8.
5/284
4:40pm
Johnno said | 4:40pm | Report comment
On a side note what do we all think of Glen Mgrath’s commentary. For the channel 9 commentary team he is young, a ripe old young 42 years of age, you could call him not a 40 year old virgin but a 42 yrd old virgin in the commentary box.. Slats was a baby mid 30′s when he started out in the commentary team.
4:43pm
tommy wood said | 4:43pm | Report comment
Not the worst
4:45pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:45pm | Report comment
I’ve used ABC Radio for commentary since about 1983-84, only occasionally de-muting the Channel 9 sound. But good things have been said about McGrath the commentator. He’s on now. Might give him a go.
4:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:49pm | Report comment
Ooh Aah has sounded pretty decent. Michael Slater is the worst thing on television.
I use ABC radio too, to avoid the constant repeating ads, which are the second worst thing behind Michael Slater. This year has been the perfect storm, because apparently Michael Slater is also in most of the ads.
4:50pm
Matt F said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Slats the worst? I take it you haven’t heard Ian Healy commentate!
4:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Admittedly Healy did coin the phrase “most winningest Australian captain”.
4:59pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:59pm | Report comment
Those KFC ads with the tattooed clowns are ghastly even without the sound.
4:49pm
Johnno said | 4:49pm | Report comment
what is good about Mcgrath Atawhai drive is , the bowling angle. He is a bowler so understands where fast bowlers are coming from as does Brett Lee when he commentates, the rest are batsmen so don’t see the bowlers angle enough.
4:56pm
Rhys said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Johnno, I agree. For years 9′s commentary team has been batsman heavy. I’m just happy for any one of them to interrupt Chappelli when he launches into one of his boring anecdotes.
5:08pm
Johnno said | 5:08pm | Report comment
I agree Rhys, Chappelli doesn’t realise no one is listening, verbal Dia****rha. And to bastmen heavy to 9 has been, they could still do with an extra bowler on top of Pidgeon.
4:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:58pm | Report comment
Brett Lee commentates like he’s made of cardboard though.
I don’t like the forced blokey matey-ness of Nine’s team. The ABC aren’t afraid to have eloquent and erudite people talk about cricket. Nine is a boy’s club, and sounds like one too.
4:58pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:58pm | Report comment
I remember Gilly commentating a while back – He was lively…Where’d he go?
4:59pm
Disco said | 4:59pm | Report comment
Spot on.
5:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:38pm | Report comment
Like the ABC’s practice of having a guest commentator from whichever country is touring. It adds something new to the dynamic each summer, and teaches the listeners something at the same time. And it shows respect to the touring party. Nine is just Aussie Aussie Aussie all the way.
4:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Wade now facing Lakmal. The Lankan seamers haven’t provided much today. Lots of effort, certainly, but no effectiveness. Spinners and run-outs have taken the wickets.
4:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:33pm | Report comment
Wade uncertain against Herath, he doesn’t know whether to bat as he usually does and smash him, or bat like a No. 6 and hold the innings together.
Finally works a single to square leg. Wade has 15.
5/278
4:30pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:30pm | Report comment
So where is everybody today, keeping an eye on the game? At home, keeping cool? Out and about on phones? At work bludging off? Curious to know where you’re all writing in from.
4:32pm
tommy wood said | 4:32pm | Report comment
working from home
4:38pm
Johnno said | 4:38pm | Report comment
bludging from home.
4:42pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:42pm | Report comment
At home, more or less cool, looking forward to a chilled Singha beer at 5pm.
4:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:50pm | Report comment
None permitted before 5?
5:01pm
Atawhai Drive said | 5:01pm | Report comment
Permitted, but I have to exercise restraint. It’s an age thing. Sigh.
5:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:39pm | Report comment
Hope you’re enjoying it, AD!
That Singha is a nice drop.
4:30pm
Rhys said | 4:30pm | Report comment
Geoff, I noticed Johnson is also a Spartan man. Another 298 and Clarke can lead them into battle.
4:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:31pm | Report comment
“Hey, lucky there’s this giant hole to kick people into.”
4:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:29pm | Report comment
66.6
FOUR
Johnson is off the mark with a whip through midwicket. The previous ball from Lakmal hit him in the head, a good solid helmet smash, but if there was ever a player who wouldn’t notice a whack in the head, it’s Johnno.
5/275
4:32pm
Johnno said | 4:32pm | Report comment
In my playing days i copped lots of whacks to the head playing footy, so all my brain cells left 10 years ago Geoff.
4:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:51pm | Report comment
Ha! Not you, Johnno. The other Johnno. But it’s a good story
4:28pm
Johnno said | 4:28pm | Report comment
OUCH.
4:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:23pm | Report comment
Also, can we talk about The Walking Dead some more, because that was the best part of the day for me.
4:30pm
Matt F said | 4:30pm | Report comment
What was slower, Ed Cowans turn when he was run out or T-Dog’s U-Turn?
6:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:18pm | Report comment
T-Dog don’t have time for three point turns.
4:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Get the spinners on, Johnson doesn’t like them so much. So we have the keeper and the first bowler at the crease, and Australia is still 23 runs behind. Can the Lankans take toll?
5/271
4:21pm
Johnno said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Pup out. Funny Australia still call a 31 yr old Pup. With Punter there was a clear post 30 distinction pre young punter, and old 30 plus Punter. Pup should really be called the old dog now he is 31 and the senior and now oldest player in the team with Watto. Both 31. Step up pup.
4:21pm
Rhys said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Enter the Illustrated Man.
4:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:22pm | Report comment
Rhys, I love that sobriquet.
4:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:18pm | Report comment
65.1
OUT!
Herath gets the breakthrough, and Clarke dies by the sword! He’d been out of the attack for a while, Herath, and you get the feeling Clarke wanted to hit him out of the attack. He went for a big hit over midwicket, rather sliced it, it went very high, and Karunaratne circled around at midwicket to take the catch, despite looking extremely dubious as he went for it. You had the feeling he’d drop it, it was swirling away from him, but he took it tumbling to the ground.
Clarke goes for an even 50, 75 balls, five 4s.
5/271
4:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Is everyone having a good day? This is a pizza made entirely of meat, that my girlfriend says she’ll cook for me. So, my day is definitely better.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/meatzza_60080
4:13pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:13pm | Report comment
64.2
Half century!
Clarke pushes a ball into the covers to take the single that moves him to 50. Nice knock by Clarke, he looks good.
4/271
4:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:11pm | Report comment
Sri Lanka could make a game of it yet. They need one more wicket, then they’d be a chance to get the tail out clouting, and keep Australia to a lead of 50 or so. From there, nothing is out of the question.
I don’t think it’ll happen, but they have a chance. Wade on 12 has played some poor heaves against Dilshan.
4/270. Still 25 behind Sri Lanka.
4:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:08pm | Report comment
The Sri Lankan bowlers have been direly expensive today. Have a look at some economy rates:
RAS Lakmal 3.92
N Pradeep 5.88
KTGD Prasad 4.93
AD Mathews 5.50
TM Dilshan 3.71
HMRKB Herath 3.42
4:13pm
Johnno said | 4:13pm | Report comment
awful economy rates,.
4:06pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:06pm | Report comment
Funny times there. Prasad got called for a wide, and he didn’t complain, but the look he gave the umpire was priceless. “Oh yes? Well, if you say so…”
The face is an expressive instrument…
4:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:04pm | Report comment
Dhammika Prasad partnering Dilshan in the bowling stakes. Clarke on the verge of yet another half century.
4:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:02pm | Report comment
61.5
Dropped!
Dilshan got one to bounce, squeezed out by Wade to short leg, it was a very sharp chance but I think it got to him on the full, and was missed low to the ground. It went under the fieldsman’s hand as he stretched down.
4/266
4:00pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:00pm | Report comment
You reckon they’ve changed the water in the (insert sponsor’s name) Beach Pool overnight?
4:08pm
Johnno said | 4:08pm | Report comment
maybe coca cola swimming in it attahwai drive. The dentist will love it, lots of appointments on Monday.
It’s time for Bill and Ritchie to retire, the 60′s are over guys. They are rambling about stories format he 1960′s now. How it took like 7weeks to get back to OZ, and other funny moments on tour, so untechnilogicial.
I wonder if half the the generation Z watching this , even have heard of Neil Harvey who they are talking about now.
They are talking now about what number there cabin was on the boat as they didn’t fly then. It’s time to retire guys.
Now there talking about Keith Miller’s heroics who know one has heard of the modern T20 generation and generation Z.
It’s clear baby boomers seem to run the commentary at channel 9, a great way to alienate your demographics generation Z.
Even Slats is having trouble to relate to Bill and Ritchie’s stories he hasn’t heard of half the stories the rambling on about.
4:11pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:11pm | Report comment
The world began about 1990, Johnno. Nothing interesting happened before then. Everyone knows that.
4:13pm
Johnno said | 4:13pm | Report comment
I agree the world was a boring place before 1990, I’m glad most of my 33 yrs have been post 1990.
4:16pm
Atawhai Drive said | 4:16pm | Report comment
If you weren’t around, how do you know it was boring?
Irony is dead at the House of Johnno.
4:20pm
Johnno said | 4:20pm | Report comment
lol Atawhai drive , Youv’e give me a good laugh you are right irony is dead at the house of Johnno.
4:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:26pm | Report comment
Atawhai, a little thing called Time Travel?
Get with the program, man. This is the future.
4:36pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:36pm | Report comment
Time travel is irrelevant.
4:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:00pm | Report comment
61.4
FOUR
Wade slaps a Dilshan ball through point.
4/265
3:53pm
Johnno said | 3:53pm | Report comment
Sri Lanka have actually had a lot of fun outs this series. A bit disappointing on both fronts. For Australia with the Ashes running between wickets, and sir lank a vibe that they depend on run outs for wickets.
And now Ritchie Benaud says Sri Lanka will be looking to win this match.
Bill Lawry says they need something really special, 2 or 3 quick wickets.
Mitch is going to get a quick fire 50 on this pitch, just this sort of pitch, flat and easy to tonk the ball.
And a quirky cricket stat from Slats. Gilly never batted at 6, unlike wade. But as we know Gilly did go into bat no 3 in test cricket sometimes in the 2nd innings .
And on a side not best aussy batting team since 1950
Openers :
Booby Simpson
Greg Chappell
Ponting
Alan Border
Micheal Clarke
Steve Waugh
Adam Gilchrist
Reserve batsmen:
The very talented and colourful Kim Hughes, then Mark Waugh.
But today on fox sports quite funnily enough Greg Matthews actually has a higher test average than Mark Waugh, Mo go figure. wow didn’t expect that stat. Mo did make a few test centuries though. including a hundred in the ASHES 1990/1
Love the coca cola beach at the SCG.
3:58pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 3:58pm | Report comment
Booby Simpson?!?!
3:58pm
Atawhai Drive said | 3:58pm | Report comment
Booby Simpson. Bit harsh, Johnno.
4:03pm
Johnno said | 4:03pm | Report comment
ha ha type error.
4:03pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:03pm | Report comment
Terrible batsman. Great rack, though.
4:06pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:06pm | Report comment
Makes running between the wickets fun to watch though…
4:11pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:11pm | Report comment
Especially in those super slo-mo shots…
4:18pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Gives “Hot-spot” a whole new meaning.
4:25pm
Matt F said | 4:25pm | Report comment
The first time anybody in cricket has been praised for getting a pair
4:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:27pm | Report comment
Ok, I’m calling it – Matt F wins Comment of the Day.
4:04pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:04pm | Report comment
I know Simmo was pretty old when he came back into the team, but come on…
3:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:46pm | Report comment
58.3
OUT!
Talk about a jinxing! Hussey is out, run out by Clarke on a short single that wasn’t there. Oh, the humanity. Karunaratne threw down the stumps from a distance, and Hussey’s athletic dive was not enough to save him. Let’s hope it’s not his farewell innings, because he’s gone for 25.
4/251
4:05pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:05pm | Report comment
Pup killed Bambi.
4:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:27pm | Report comment
And pooed on Bradman.
3:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:44pm | Report comment
TIPPING TIME
Yes, it’s time to play Roar score tips again, to be named King of the COmment Boards.
Tell me what Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey are going to score.
I’m saying Clarke will play a loose shot on 68, and Hussey will complete the farewell fairytale with 114.
You?
3:45pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:45pm | Report comment
YOU JINXED MR CRICKET!!!
3:47pm
Matt F said | 3:47pm | Report comment
I predict Hussey to be run out for 25
3:48pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:48pm | Report comment
Lucky guess…
3:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:59pm | Report comment
Oh, I jinxed him good. Ok, moving along. Wade? I’m saying not too many. 26. I’ll tip Johnson to get runs. At least 40.
4:02pm
Hazey the Bear said | 4:02pm | Report comment
Shame on you.
Okay, Clarke – 127. He’ll build an innings nicely, but lose helpers along the way
Wade – Quickfire 44. He’s looking eager to score, but a loose shot will undo him.
Johnson – 89, but then get undone by a delivery where the pitch plays up.
4:20pm
Matt F said | 4:20pm | Report comment
What was that you were saying about jinxing players?
3:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:33pm | Report comment
… and we’re back after tea. Herath resuming the attack… How was your tea break?
3:46pm
MrKistic said | 3:46pm | Report comment
Bloody hot!
3:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:12pm | Report comment
TEA
The crowd applauding every Hussey run as though he were Sachin Tendulkar. He and Clarke are at the crease after Warner and Hughes both fell in the 80s. Australia on top, scoring comfortably.
Hussey 18, Clarke 42. See you all in about quarter of an hour!
3/240
3:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:07pm | Report comment
52.6
Four singles worked from Pradeep’s over. Sri Lanka have been utterly unable to stem the run-flow and apply any sort of pressure.
3:04pm
Rhialto said | 3:04pm | Report comment
Nice. Haven’t been here in a while, but I was hoping you’d still be commentating on the cricket, Geoff.
3:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:55pm | Report comment
Thanks Rhialto, I’m glad you could join us again. Yes, it’s hard work to get me away from a Test match.
3:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:00pm | Report comment
Michael Clarke has gone along very quickly to 38. You’d barely noticed him until he thwacked those last couple of shots. Hussey has 14.
2:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:59pm | Report comment
51.3
Now this is really interesting. Dot ball, defensive drive. But Clarke’s footwork to it was the same as the attacking strokes he played down the ground. He charged it with as much intent, then just knocked it away.
3:04pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:04pm | Report comment
Is that a deliberate ploy by Clarke, perhaps Geoff? Maybe put it in the mind of the bowler that the same delivery will work, when really Clarke’s completely in control?
3:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:09pm | Report comment
I think it’s more just a display of confidence, Hazey. Clarke has always been very active when facing spin, and a confident batsman would use his feet even to defend. It neutralises much of the spinner’s risk, if you can do it right. Shows how comfortable Clarke is at the crease currently.
3:14pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:14pm | Report comment
Fair enough, I thought maybe it was deliberately done so as to discourage the bowler to adjust length or speed.
2:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:58pm | Report comment
51.2
FOUR
And again! Down the pitch, feet dancing, lifted that inside out over mid off and down to the rope for four. Not so sedate now. Wants to disrupt Herath, perhaps?
3/230
3:00pm
Red Kev said | 3:00pm | Report comment
He’s their only decent bowler, trying to belt him out the attack isn’t a bad plan … he’s in good enough form to not mess it up (Warner or Hughes style).
3:00pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:00pm | Report comment
Absolutely, Geoff – I think Clarke has declared he won’t be bullied about by the spinner and he will dictate terms. It’ll be interesting to see how Jayawardene responds.
2:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:57pm | Report comment
51.1
SIX!
Skipped down the pitch and lifted Herath into the stands! The feet are moving!
3/226
2:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:56pm | Report comment
50.6
Things progressing sedately here. An over from Herath for three, then Pradeep came on for Lakmal.
2:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:46pm | Report comment
47.6
Herath concedes just one run from that over, he’s bowling with great control, but not much support. Are there any Sri Lankan readers out there? Do we have any up and coming prospects among Sri Lankan bowlers?
2:40pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:40pm | Report comment
46.6
FOUR
Herath just bowled a maiden, but Lakmal lets the runs flow again with a half volley on the legs, and Clarke went through midwicket. It was a very nice shot there, he’s looked in perfect nick aside from missing that first ball.
3/209, Clarke has 24
2:34pm
Johnno said | 2:34pm | Report comment
The 200 is up. DRS is good. Buckner, I will never forget , Kumble had Symonds plum in front in 2007/8 test, at the SCG, and Bucknor said no. How did that miss. And Symonds went on to make a 50 or a hundred from memory and changed the course of the test match
2:39pm
Red Kev said | 2:39pm | Report comment
Using the technology is good, shifting the onus away from umpires onto players is bad. There should be no challenges, just umpire decisions whether they are technology assisted or not.
3:05pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 3:05pm | Report comment
Dunno about that. Umpires would either never use it or always use it. At least with the challenges it’s up to the player to decide to use their two referrals wisely. Early days for it at the moment – it will take a while for everyone to work out how to use the system effectively.
3:14pm
Matt F said | 3:14pm | Report comment
Good point about people needing time to learn how to use it properly. I remember when the West Indies were out here a few years ago their strategy was to use it whenever Gayle or Chanderpaul got out. Not surprisingly they had to alter that strategy when they wasted reviews on plumb LBW’s for Gayle and didn’t have any left when other players actually needed to use it
3:10pm
Brett McKay said | 3:10pm | Report comment
Wasn’t it caught behind Johnno? Didn’t Symonds nick the guts out of one, rather than be hit on the pads?
3:27pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:27pm | Report comment
I’m pretty sure it was the same game or series – I think it led to an official complaint against Buckner – but I remember an Indian batsmen snicking an Aussie bowler, most likely McGrath.
3:31pm
Hazey the Bear said | 3:31pm | Report comment
Actually, I’m rethinking that…probably a different series, ’cause the one you’re thinking of is correct, Symonds snicking one behind and not called by Buckner. Ishant Sharma was the bowler…
2:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:27pm | Report comment
43.3
Hussey is off the mark! Dodges doing the Bradman. Nice of Sri Lanka to applaud him on, actually, given he averages 117 against them. They’d be glad to see him go, you’d think.
2:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:22pm | Report comment
42.1
FOUR
Clarke gets one on the pads from Lakmal and glances it through long leg.
3/199
2:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:21pm | Report comment
MIKE HUSSEY
Here he is, for what might be his last innings in Tests, and the crowd rises to him in a standing ovation. 78 Tests in a row and has never missed one since he started. A wonderful batsman, a wonderful gentleman, and the Sri Lankans are outstanding in forming a guard of honour to applaud him onto the pitch.
Farewell, Huss.
2:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:18pm | Report comment
41.4
OUT!
Hughes misses a hundred as well! He cuts at Herath outside off, top edge through to the keeper, and he’s gone for the classic 87.
3/195
2:21pm
MrKistic said | 2:21pm | Report comment
I reckon Hughes would have squatted low enough to cut a half volley that innings. Not pretty and probably not always necessary.
2:29pm
Red Kev said | 2:29pm | Report comment
Our card looks a lot like Sri Lanka’s at the moment, two big half centuries that should have been hundreds and nothing else.
Of course it is not too likely that both Clarke and Hussey will fail.
2:31pm
Hazey the Bear said | 2:31pm | Report comment
Agreed – One or both should post big scores.
2:38pm
Matt F said | 2:38pm | Report comment
And just like Sri Lanka, our set batsmen got out to poor shots as opposed to great bowling
6:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:20pm | Report comment
Or got run out.
2:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:15pm | Report comment
40.6
Lakmal is back in place of Dilshan, so Jayawardene is obviously reading my criticism between overs.
A quiet over from Lakmal to Hughes before drinks – just their second maiden of the innings.
2/194 at drinks.
2:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:07pm | Report comment
So the Dilshan strategy isn’t really working. His last over went for 8, the one before that for 7. Herath is keeping it tidy, but it would have been huge if he’d had Clarke out first ball.
2:06pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:06pm | Report comment
38.3
FOUR
Clarke strikes his second boundary, a poor ball from Dilshan down leg side and he glanced it for four.
2/187
1:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:57pm | Report comment
A delay here as the sight screen breaks down. They sure do this a lot for things that are only used a few days a year.
1:55pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:55pm | Report comment
I think the problem with the DRS is that it’s being used on those 50-50 decisions mostly instead of the howlers. To me it’s a simple fix, one unsuccessful referral per innings instead of two. That way the umpires still get to make most of the decisions, and the players can only refer when there’s no doubt.
I know there’s a few that disagree with having DRS at all, but I think there’s a case for it. I remember a decision by Steve Buckner a while back. The batsman snicked the ball behind to the keeper, there was a noise, it deviated, but it wasn’t given out, and the bowling side couldn’t do anything about it! In those cases, where’s it’s blindingly obvious that a mistake has been made, there should be some process. Things like a batsman knowing that he didn’t hit the ball on a caught-behind decision, or knowing that he did on an lbw decision…those situations should also have some system in place.
1:59pm
Red Kev said | 1:59pm | Report comment
Take the players out of it entirely. Have ICC techs and umpires in charge of it all. Let the TV umpire or on field umpire decide on reviews.
2:03pm
Hazey the Bear said | 2:03pm | Report comment
I dunno about that – I think the problem with that system would be that every single decision will get broken down and reviewed…The umpires out in the middle will start to question everything and it’ll become too time-consuming. We have that problem now with teams getting two reviews…Give it to the umpires completely and they’ll use it too often.
2:05pm
Matt F said | 2:05pm | Report comment
There’s also the chance that play could have resumed before the 3rd umpire has had a chance to look at it
2:14pm
Red Kev said | 2:14pm | Report comment
There is zero chance of that, they are miked up, just say “I want to have a look at that”.
What you are both overlooking as well is that it is currently very time consuming because an umpire is talking to a techie saying what he wants to look at. If a proper umpire is trained, he has five screens with three different camera angles plus hotspot plus hawkeye. Sync them and boom… easy technologically speaking you just need to train people which is where the ICC is dropping the ball.
Players should never have to.umpire and should not be allowed to challenge the call.
2:19pm
Hazey the Bear said | 2:19pm | Report comment
“If a proper umpire is trained, he has five screens with three different camera angles plus hotspot plus hawkeye. Sync them and boom” – Not sure it’s that simple – going back to Sri Lanka’s first review, it took at least two minutes just to decide whether the ball hit pad first. Going upstairs just to “have a look that” every time there’s a 50-50 just will take way too long. I would rather the umpire in the middle make the decision and move on.
2:23pm
Red Kev said | 2:23pm | Report comment
It is that simple if the umpire understands the tech instead of having to talk to a tv techie to see what he wants.
The third umpires at the moment have one small screen is my understanding (I know they do in footy).
2:25pm
Hazey the Bear said | 2:25pm | Report comment
Players play, coaches coach, selectors select….umpires umpire and techies tech.
2:27pm
Red Kev said | 2:27pm | Report comment
So scrap DRS entirely and let umpires umpire.
2:29pm
Hazey the Bear said | 2:29pm | Report comment
While there are umpires like Steve Buckner (and to an extent, this series at least, Asad Rauf), there will always be a need for DRS.
2:17pm
Brendon said | 2:17pm | Report comment
Yep, umpires call, would be much better
1:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:50pm | Report comment
36.2
FOUR
Dilshan gets wide, and Hughes cuts through third man for another.
2/178
1:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:47pm | Report comment
35.2
FOUR
Clarke off the mark with a lovely cover drive. Class.
2/171
1:48pm
Red Kev said | 1:48pm | Report comment
Should have been a golden duck though shouldn’t it?
2:02pm
Matt F said | 2:02pm | Report comment
Thirimanne was given out first ball yesterday. DRS showed it to be incorrect and he ended up making 91. If anything the DRS has improved SL’s chances in this match
2:15pm
Red Kev said | 2:15pm | Report comment
Not if Clarke makes 92
2:31pm
Matt F said | 2:31pm | Report comment
Even then it has. If there was no DRS then Clarke would still be batting out there as he was given not out by the umpire but Thirimanne would have been out for 0.
1:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:45pm | Report comment
35.1
Clarke is here, at No. 4, and a huge appeal from Herath first up. He’s getting a bit cranky with Asad Rauf, who is not-outing everything.
1:47pm
Red Kev said | 1:47pm | Report comment
Well hawkeye shows they should have referred it. I am leaning towards India’s stance of no DRS, I think it is teaching umpires to cop out on decisions.
1:49pm
Matt F said | 1:49pm | Report comment
Disagree. If anything umpires tend to be making more decisions, though Rauf is bucking the trend a bit here. It’s probably because SL have appealed for almost everything that a confident shout from them doesn’t have much credibility. Over-appealing can cost you sometimes
1:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:51pm | Report comment
That looked out live, it wasn’t a hard decision. Poor one by Rauf. I’m not convinced by putting the onus on players to decide when to refer, surely the third ump can relay anything he sees to the standing official.
1:59pm
Matt F said | 1:59pm | Report comment
They’ve tried that in the Ryobi Cup and it’s shocking, though that’s mainly because they don’t have all the technology. Also, by the time the 3rd umpire has had a look at the game has probably already resumed
I doubt the DRS had any impact on Rauf’s decision. He probably just didn’t think it was out . Umpires have been making howler’s like that long before the DRS came in. It happens. The blame lies with Sri Lanka who could have reviewed it but didn’t
1:52pm
Red Kev said | 1:52pm | Report comment
Any Australian complaining about over-appealling is simply a pot calling a kettle black.
Umpires do not back themselves anymore, on run outs, on catches, on lbws. Make them earn their pay.
1:55pm
Matt F said | 1:55pm | Report comment
No doubt Australian’s over-appeal. I never said otherwise, however if you appeal for everything then an umpire is always going to be a bit more dismissive of a big shout
1:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:48pm | Report comment
Gee, that was out cold on the replay! The Lankans didn’t opt to refer the decision after their near miss with the last referral. Umpire maybe thought there was an edge, but it was clearly pad first, pitched just outside off, angled in, and his Clarke low in front of middle.
Clarke gets lucky. Poor decision by Rauf. Is he just making the Lankans do their own umpiring, spooked by DRS?
1:50pm
Red Kev said | 1:50pm | Report comment
Yes to the last.
1:54pm
Matt F said | 1:54pm | Report comment
Jayawardene’s fault for referring the last one. The last one wasn’t a howler and there was certainly doubt in it, as the DRS backed up. If he hadn’t wasted the first one he would have almost certainly referred that one (he still could have if he was really confident) He probably didn’t want to use up both reviews so early which would indicate that he’s making, or not making, referrals for the wrong reasons.
1:58pm
Red Kev said | 1:58pm | Report comment
None of which excusea the umpire for being so blatantly wrong.
2:01pm
Matt F said | 2:01pm | Report comment
Of course not, but umpire’s have been making bad calls like that forever. Umpires are right far more often than they’re wrong but blunders still happen every so often. That’s why the DRS was brought in, and it would have corrected it had SL used it properly. They didn’t and that’s their own fault.
2:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:11pm | Report comment
Yes, I suppose if they were more confident they would have. But there are so many finicky rules with LBW that can rule it not-out, even if it was probably going to hit. Maybe it’s not worth the risk of losing your review, as opposed to edges behind and so on.
1:42pm
Johnno said | 1:42pm | Report comment
Ideal test cricket schedule for OZ going forwad in the four year cycle
YR 1- ASHES-5 tests
YR2- India-4 tests – play Sri Lanka 1 warm up test only
YR3- STH Africa- 5 tests
YR4-Pakistan hopefully if they ever come good again at test level, they beat England in Dubai or Sharjah last year. – If the coutnry settles down – Give Pakistan 3 tests and NZ 2 tests, or even the windies to tests
Paksitan are the jewel in the carrot, as now test cricket seems to be split into 3 divisions now .
Division 1
Aust/Eng/India/STH Africa -with Pakistan the wild card
Division 2
NZ/Sri Lanka/West Indies
Division 3
Bangladesh/Zimbabwe
Ireland is a country with real test cricket potential right next door to England, they in Irleand are establishing a 1st class scene.
Still I’d like Dublin to put a team into the county cricket comp that would be the best option.
Afghanistan are doing really well at ODI and T20 cricket, as are Canada, Denmark,Holland, Kenya showing promise, but I see no future for any of these nations at Test level.
But cricket Australia can’t bank on Sri Lanka again for a 3 test series, or the west indies, or NZ , right now all teams not up to it. 1 or 2 game series max.
1:45pm
Red Kev said | 1:45pm | Report comment
I miss Pakistan. Also can you imagine Inzamam Ul Haq in T20 … he’d have been brutal.
1:46pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 1:46pm | Report comment
The jewel in the carrot?
Geez Johnno, you’re killing me…
1:48pm
Matt F said | 1:48pm | Report comment
I love finding a jewel in the carrot I’m eating. It does hurt your teeth though…
2:56pm
clipper said | 2:56pm | Report comment
The way it is at the moment, you’d have NZ in Division 3 and Ireland would have a good chance of beating any of those 3 teams.
1:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:41pm | Report comment
34.5
OUT!
Oh no, Warner has done it again! Holed out in sight of a century. He liked the look of Dilshan, didn’t want to let him bowl a tidy spell, and tried to launch him down the ground. He didn’t get hold of it, and Prasad was able to run back to long off and claim the catch. Warner went across the line with a big slog, top edged more than anything, and he’s out for 85, from 84 balls, with 10 fours. A big missed opportunity, just like Thirimanne’s.
2/166
1:43pm
MrKistic said | 1:43pm | Report comment
Speaking of ugly…
1:49pm
Pope Paul VII said | 1:49pm | Report comment
sometimes Diamond Dave bats like Rick Darling as well
1:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:39pm | Report comment
33.6
Loving the conversation, chaps, keep it coming.
Overthrows from Herath’s last ball. And now we’re spinning from both ends, as Dilshan comes on. To be fair, he can’t be any less effective than the pacemen. At least he might keep the scoring a bit slower.
1/163
1:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:35pm | Report comment
32.5
FOUR
And again. PRASAD, STOP BOWLING SHORT AND WIDE. It’s Hughes’ pet shot, and he is loving this generous bowling from Sri Lanka. They’ve given him half a dozen today.
Hughes 69. Warner 83.
SL 1/161
1:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:34pm | Report comment
32.4
FOUR
Hughes gets another wide ball – it was very very wide, and quite full, so he really had to stretch for it, as well as squatting down like he was about to relieve himself on the pitch. It was inelegant, but the ball flew away between gully and slip for four more runs. He has 65.
1/157
1:35pm
MrKistic said | 1:35pm | Report comment
By crikey it’s ugly, but if they keep bowling that wide outside off, mark up P. Hughes for a century within the hour.
1:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:36pm | Report comment
Make that ten minutes, Mr K.
1:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:31pm | Report comment
31.6
Runs ticking along very nicely here, Warner taking ones and twos at will. He’s motoring at better than a run a ball, but with no risky strokes. It’s interesting how many people just see Warner as a slogger – he’s actually a much more adaptable and useful player than that now, and he’s thinking a lot about his game.
Two 2s and two singles from that Herath over.
1:37pm
Red Kev said | 1:37pm | Report comment
My problem with him is that he often gets out to poor shots or rushes of blood. Most of his dismissals against SA were failures of judgement/temperament. If he can bring that under control he’ll be a great opener.
But without Hussey you’d have to rank him as the second best bat in the test side behind Clarke (with Hughes third and Khawaja despite not being selected fourth).
1:42pm
Behold said | 1:42pm | Report comment
There it is.
1:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:27pm | Report comment
30.4
FOUR
Lovely cover drive from Warner, Prasad was the bowler. He’s really dominating, Warner – not going nuts, but just looks so solid and confident in his game. Sri Lanka can’t do much about it.
1/145
1:30pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:30pm | Report comment
I think a few of his recent 50′s that should have turned into 100′s have given him a little more determination this innings.
1:33pm
Red Kev said | 1:33pm | Report comment
Plus it is a belter of a pitch and the Sri Lankan pace attack is pretty toothless.
1:34pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:34pm | Report comment
True, but I was more thinking that he’s not throwing his wicket away.
1:35pm
Matt F said | 1:35pm | Report comment
yet
1:39pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:39pm | Report comment
Don’t do it, Matt! Don’t jinx him!
1:40pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:40pm | Report comment
See what you did!
1:41pm
Red Kev said | 1:41pm | Report comment
Oh my god you DID jinx him!
1:41pm
Matt F said | 1:41pm | Report comment
Whoops! I hate being right so often
1:42pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:42pm | Report comment
Sadly, I saw that coming…
2:03pm
Matt F said | 2:03pm | Report comment
Everyone did unfortunately. Well , everyone except Warner it seems
1:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:22pm | Report comment
29.3
Third over after lunch. Herath has looked good so far. Why on earth wasn’t he introduced earlier?
1/136
1:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:12pm | Report comment
27.2
Back again after lunch, Warner scored two from the first ball, and there’s an LBW review from the second. Herath finally on to bowl.
1:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:12pm | Report comment
They’re looking at the inside edge a lot, but it’s pad first.
1:14pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:14pm | Report comment
And gee, I don’t know about that. Hawk-Eye has that ball turning a long way, I don’t think Herath can turn it that far. Because of the prodigous turn, it’s clipping leg stump, meaning it’s umpire’s call and is not out. But that looked a lot more out to me than it appeared on Hawk-Eye – Warner was hit in front and I would have thought it was taking leg stump.
What do you think?
1:24pm
Red Kev said | 1:24pm | Report comment
If Herath were Warne that would have been given out on the strength of the appeal (I always felt he picked up an extra 10% lbws based on his passion and reputation).
It was close, without DRS you would just shrug your shoulders and say “one of those 50-50 calls, I’ll get one back sooner or later”.
1:28pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:28pm | Report comment
I agree – I think the “Umpire’s Call” decision by the system was the correct one. If it had been given out, probably would have been deserved.
12:38pm
Jayden said | 12:38pm | Report comment
I think India is the best place for our warm-up to be honest
We’ve always struggled there so a win will give us massive confidence. And as we saw England struggled as well, its a good test for us.
Also allows us more time to gel as a unit.
Am I the only one thinking Hughes and Warner at opener is a viable option? They seem to understand each others game very well.
12:41pm
Red Kev said | 12:41pm | Report comment
Hughes, Warner, Khawaja, Clarke is a hell of a top four for mine, but I am not sure the selectors will go for it.
12:57pm
Jayden said | 12:57pm | Report comment
I’d like to keep Clarke at five though, that leaves who 4 should be… Watson should be out
Maybe Cowan down to 3, Khwaja to 4?
Ideally I’d like
Warner
Hughes
Khwaja
Doolan maybe? Ferguson has looked good lately…
Clarke
Wade/Paine
I think fourth spot doesn’t have any real standouts… The bowlings going to be strong no matter who’s there
Preferably
Bird
Siddle
Lyon
Pattinson
1:04pm
Red Kev said | 1:04pm | Report comment
If (and it is a big if) we were doing a massive cleanout and brooming Cowan and Watson I would be going for Burns. But realistically both will be there for the Ashes.
1:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:16pm | Report comment
And should be. Watson was our best player for a year or two there, much as I’ve never hugely rated him. Cowan is necessary given the flashy attacking presence of Warner and Hughes high in the order.
1:24pm
Red Kev said | 1:24pm | Report comment
I don’t know about “necessary”. Let’s say his presence is understandable.
1:25pm
Jayden said | 1:25pm | Report comment
The problem I have with Watson.though is that he isn’t the same player as he was
He even.admitted to concentrating on being a batter only and.giving up the bowling game
If he does though I’m not.convinced that he’s in our top scene bats, his inability to go on and get big scores worries me, he’s never the kind.to make the knock that’s needed if you get what I mean
If we were 4/50 and he came in I’d doubt us making more than 200
He seems like the antitheses of the saying “When the going gets tough the tough get going”
He lacks the mental strength that we need going forward.
1:34pm
Matt F said | 1:34pm | Report comment
Agree there Jayden. I still think that his run of 50′s was more of a hot streak than a consistent level of performance. A better player would have turned that run of 50′s into more 100′s and had year like Michael Clarke’s 2012.
1:25pm
Hazey the Bear said | 1:25pm | Report comment
I can’t wait to see how Bird and Pattinson work out as an opening bowling combination.
1:25pm
Matt F said | 1:25pm | Report comment
Ferguson? Dear lord we are in trouble if he’s the next best available
1:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:38pm | Report comment
Has he done much recently? He was injured for a long time. I haven’t kept my eye on Ferguson.
1:46pm
Matt F said | 1:46pm | Report comment
He’s actually been OK, though not quite where he needs to be. He’s averaging 42 in the Shield this season which is an improvement from his usual standards. Still not a Test candidate yet though
12:37pm
kellett_1992 said | 12:37pm | Report comment
Warner and Hughes off to a great start. Clarke will also be itching to get out in the middle and hopefully can replicate the performance of this time last year.
All three are NSW Blues who will look to perform well at home. Perhaps a hundred from all three could set up another great innings and a chance to ensure Sri Lanka can not meet our score.
12:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:33pm | Report comment
26.6
LUNCH
Time for a sandwich. A dominant session by the Aussies, who realised their ambition to make the most of these very friendly conditions. A placid pitch bar one ball that spat, a bowling attack that hasn’t looked devastating, perfect conditions of clear sunshine, and the only casualty was Ed Cowan who ran himself out.
Half centuries for both Warner and Hughes, and they’ll look to press the advantage after lunch, while Sri Lanka will wonder why they batted below standard yesterday.
Keep chatting, and I’ll rejoin you after lunch for the afternoon session.
1/127 at lunch.
12:34pm
Hazey the Bear said | 12:34pm | Report comment
I picked over 150 at lunch if Warner and Hughes were still in it, but I think Dilshan slowed the run rate nicely, and Warner let Hughes take a lot of the strike, so I missed…Only by 23 runs, but I missed nonetheless.
1:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:17pm | Report comment
At least you’re honest, Hazey.
12:28pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:28pm | Report comment
25.1
FOUR
Half century!
A successful match for Hughes now, as he glides a ball from Lakmal very deliberately away to third man for four.
85 balls, 6 boundaries.
1/123
12:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:26pm | Report comment
24.6
Been enjoying all your chats and discussions further down the board re batting line-ups, the tour of India, opening partnerships and running.
In the meantime, we’ve had a couple of quiet overs drift by at the SCG approaching lunch. There was a maiden from Dilshan, and guess what? It was the first maiden of the match, in the 22nd over. Some Test.
Then there was a one-run over from Lakmal (the 23rd), 3 runs from Dilshan, and 1 run from Lakmal.
Hughes is now 46, and Warner 68.
12:31pm
Red Kev said | 12:31pm | Report comment
Given this pitch and how Hughes and Warner have gone, I still cannot fathom the rationale behind releasing Khawaja to the BBL and playing 4 quicks.
1:31pm
Matt F said | 1:31pm | Report comment
I don’t think many people can. While I would have preferred Khawaja even Maxwell should have been picked ahead of 5 bowlers
12:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:11pm | Report comment
QUESTION
Where is Herath? Dilshan is still bowling. The whole Aussie top order are left handers bar Michael Clarke, who is actually a left hander. But still, you’d think you’d get your best bowler on by now.
12:21pm
Red Kev said | 12:21pm | Report comment
Mahela waited ages last match to bring Herath in too didn’t he? Seems oddly reluctant to introduce him.
12:10pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:10pm | Report comment
20.5
FOUR
That’s another one from Hughes. Cover drive, a lot of bottom hand, kind of shovelled it. Not his most elegant stroke of the day, but effective. Lakmal was the bowler, replacing Pradeep, who had been costly.
1/115
12:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:05pm | Report comment
19.3
Runs still flowing! 8 from that last over from Pradeep, then a couple of 2s and a single worked from Dilshan. Phil Hughes has done a Mike Hussey here – seemingly in no time, he’s zoomed along to 39. Warner has 61.
1/109
11:58am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:58am | Report comment
18.1
FOUR
Nice cover drive from Warner as Pradeep continues. Warner has 60.
1/98
11:57am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:57am | Report comment
17.5
And another very enthused appeal from Dilshan. It wasn’t out, and wasn’t given – would have slid down leg, but it was a straighter ball and hit him in front, so it was worth the yell.
Dilshan really asked the question there, but I think it might be more to convince the batsmen that he is gaining some ascendancy over them.
11:56am
Johnno said | 11:56am | Report comment
Drop Cowan he is useless. Very overrated , and always talking it up too. Why the selectors like him so much I don’t know. They go on about him being intelligent, or he went to a private school. And he on the ABC was even talked about as a future test captain. Ridiculous.
Cowan has to go, and put Watto back to opening where he belongs. And bring in Khawaja or Alex Doolan. Cowan is one of the most overrated batsmen to have played test cricket.
This was a bloke who only a few years ago was a seasoned grade cricketer, as NSW gave him the bird.
11:59am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:59am | Report comment
Ah, come off it Johnno. You’ve been down on Cowan since before he got selected. It wouldn’t actually matter what he did on the field, you’ve already made your mind up.
12:02pm
Rob from Brumby Country said | 12:02pm | Report comment
That’s way easier to say when he’s scoring runs and not getting involved in runouts, Geoff. I don’t think he should be dropped immediately, but there is a case for it…
12:02pm
Matt F said | 12:02pm | Report comment
He’s been down on Cowan since he find out that Cowan went to a private school…..
12:26pm
Johnno said | 12:26pm | Report comment
Matt F, I went to a private school too, so my issue is not that , it’s just the sheer lack of runs, he just ain’t cutting it. Look at his stats there awful. Were talking a batting average of around 34. Not good enough at test level for an opener. He is stifling the innings, where as Dave Warner is kicking on. Justin Langer used to get knocked for being a slow scorer but he had a higher average than Cowan, and made runs against good attacks.
I think Cowan is becoming the next Marcus North. A player the selectors desperately want to succeed, but is just not up to it. This is a bloke who only 3 years ago was not good enough to make the NSW team. And were are talking abut when Cowan was 27 , he is 30 now, so he is no spring chicken. North was dropped in 2010 at aged 31.
1:27pm
Matt F said | 1:27pm | Report comment
I agree that Cowan needs to make some big scores very soon. My point was more about your posting history with Cowan. You’ve managed to turn a lot of Cowan posts into off-topic private school rants.
12:20pm
Red Kev said | 12:20pm | Report comment
I can’t see them dropping Cowan until he fails in every innings in India (which I don’t actually think he’ll do, he will score a 50 or 100 every time it becomes make or break time like Marcus North did).
It will be Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Khawaja for while I reckon.
1:28pm
Matt F said | 1:28pm | Report comment
To be honest I don’t mind the line-up given the alternatives, or lack of to be more accurate. I’d prefer Watson to bat at 6 and Khawaja/Clarke to go to 4 but we could do worse
1:36pm
Matt F said | 1:36pm | Report comment
That is assuming that Watson can bowl of course
8:16pm
Junior said | 8:16pm | Report comment
Regardless of when Johnno made his mind up, he is 100% right. If anything, he’s being too kind.
This nonsense about needing him out there for balance is nonsense. Any grade batsmen could do what he’s doing – you know hold up an end for a bit and score no runs. England will be licking their lips if Pulitzer Cowan gets on the boat.
12:31pm
Disco said | 12:31pm | Report comment
Cowan talks it up because he’s treated like head prefect by the boys’ club. North was too for a while.
It’s just farcical that Khawaja hasn’t played a Test this summer whereas the likes of Quiney, Hughes, Watson, Cowan, Wade and past-it Punter make the top six.
12:32pm
Red Kev said | 12:32pm | Report comment
That is true, Inverarity was a headmaster wasn’t he, and Cowan is a world class brown nose (we all knew kids like him at school).
12:34pm
Disco said | 12:34pm | Report comment
His stirring pro-war address in the Caribbean must’ve sent shivers down Invers’ spine.
12:41pm
Johnno said | 12:41pm | Report comment
He was Kev. Too funny Disco, i agree that caribbean holiday, must have been something in the rum .
1:05pm
Pope Paul VII said | 1:05pm | Report comment
And Hastings preferred to the Bird as well.
1:12pm
Red Kev said | 1:12pm | Report comment
Hastings preferred to Bird, Cutting, Butterworth, Gannon, Feldman, Coulter-Nile and the fat 40 year old that bowls second change for the Subiaco 3rd grade side.
1:30pm
Matt F said | 1:30pm | Report comment
I still think that they picked Hastings as a back-up for Watson and intended to play Hazelwood but then he got injured and they had no choice. That being said they shouldn’t have picked Hazelwood so, even if I’m right, it doesn’t really make the selectors look any better on that one…
1:44pm
Pope Paul VII said | 1:44pm | Report comment
yep and them. Birdy is GPS though.
11:55am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:55am | Report comment
17.2
Hmm, a couple of good balls here from Dilshan. He had a big shout against Warner for LBW, though it was well outside the line, then the next ball was edged away past slip.
1/94
11:53am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:53am | Report comment
16.4
FIVE
That’s a bad ball from Pradeep, a high bouncer that went wide down leg and away for four more wides, in addition to being called wide. We’d just had two quieter overs from Pradeep and Dilshan, each going for three runs, but there’s another score for the Aussies.
0/92
11:45am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:45am | Report comment
14.3
Interesting! A big puff of dirt came up with that ball from Pradeep, and it beat Warner comprehensively. It was a great delivery, moved away, and it seems to be really banged into the pitch. So maybe something in this for the bowlers, an unstable surface?
1/81
11:40am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:40am | Report comment
Looks like we’ll get some off spin from Dilshan. This innings is incredible. Australia’s run rate is still more than 6 an over, as we start the 14th. Great entertaining Test cricket.
11:45am
Matt said | 11:45am | Report comment
Yet some people think Warner shouldn’t be in the team… Nothing more intimidating then getting belted around the park in a test, suddenly they’re 80 off a handful of overs, 250 looks like it’ll be topped in an hour… Big mental benefit
11:47am
Matt said | 11:47am | Report comment
Do not underestimate a fast Warner/Hughes and slow Cowan/Clarke combo – a good mixture of quick runs and solid innings. Though if Cowan gets replaced with Watson wouldn’t be surprised
11:53am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:53am | Report comment
I think Cowan needs more of a run. We need to build players, not chop and change on the back of their last couple of matches.
11:59am
Rob from Brumby Country said | 11:59am | Report comment
I don’t know if anyone wants to chop and change. I think they just want to replace Cowan with a better batsman.
The question is then: is there a better batsman?
I reckon you’ll find a few who will want Khawaja in the top order and Burns in the lower. Is that the right thing for Australia? Maybe…
12:06pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 12:06pm | Report comment
Maybe open with Cowan and Hughes and bring Khawaja in at 3?
12:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:15pm | Report comment
Christo, Khawaja at 3 makes sense to me, though it might be nice to give Khawaja a few games at 6 to help him settle in. With your top three, would you bat Warner at 6?
12:21pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 12:21pm | Report comment
Personally I’d be sticking with Cowan, but give him a rocket about his general awareness (running between wickets, how he holds the bat, etc). Keep Warner as his opening partner.
So, batting for the Ashes (assuming the Indian tour doesn’t throw up any surprises) would be:
Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Watson
Wade
Pattinson
Siddle/Bird
Starc
Lyon
12:39pm
Red Kev said | 12:39pm | Report comment
I am starting to understand (if not yet agree with) what TGT harangued me with in my article – play Watto as an opener. It still scares me that he misses so many matches – but he is surely better than Cowan.
1:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:21pm | Report comment
I like that line-up, Christo. Only change I’d make is having Starc be the expendable bowler – would want to keep both Bird and Siddle in the first-choice XI, then Pattinson if fit.
8:18pm
Junior said | 8:18pm | Report comment
100% agree. That said, he’s the worst Test cricketer we’ve produced since Julien Weiner.
Twelve Tests for Ed is twelve too many
11:37am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:37am | Report comment
12.1
FOUR
Half century!
Warner wastes no time. He’d kept the bowling with that single before drinks, then he works a short ball from Pradeep through backward point. He almost bunted that. He has 51, from just 37 balls, with 8 fours.
1/75
11:40am
Matt F said | 11:40am | Report comment
Warner’s now made four 50′s in the four innings this series. Maybe he’s finding some consistency? Then again, if he doesn’t turn this one into a hundred then he’ll have had a Watto-like series
11:46am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:46am | Report comment
Ah, Watto. Gee I wish Mitch Johnson’s 96* and 92* could have been hundreds, just so he would have more than Watson.
11:49am
Matt F said | 11:49am | Report comment
sssshhhh we’ve got enough people talking MJ up as an all-rounder as it is!
11:54am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:54am | Report comment
No, his real calling is as a moustache model.
11:32am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:32am | Report comment
QUESTION
As we break for drinks, how does everybody feel about our batting for the coming year with Hussey to leave? Presumably we have five of our batsmen confirmed, provided Watson stays fit, with one replacement to come in for Hussey, probably Khawaja.
Confident?
11:35am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:35am | Report comment
I’m more confident now that I would have been a while ago – Warner and Hughes in form makes it a lot easier to be comfortable with the batting lineup.
11:46am
Rob from Brumby Country said | 11:46am | Report comment
I can’t see that anything has changed. This is a glorious batting wicket, and we’re up against a lame bowling attack.
I think we will have a better idea of where we are at after the tour of India.
11:47am
Rob from Brumby Country said | 11:47am | Report comment
Which I am optimistic about
11:47am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:47am | Report comment
Rob, how useful is a tour of India in preparing for England? I’m not too sure.
11:50am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:50am | Report comment
Well, at least we can see a possibility of them having form, rather than the continued question marks that have plagued the team for years. I agree, there’s still a lot they need to do, but I think the possibility is more likely now that it has been in the past.
12:35pm
Red Kev said | 12:35pm | Report comment
I’d be more confident if they selected Khawaja.
11:48am
Matt F said | 11:48am | Report comment
Not as confident as I would be if Hussey would still be there!
I think it’s slowly coming together, though I’d love another 12 months to bed it down (a bit unfortunate given the 12 months ahead!)
Warner’s probably been the big positive from the summer. He seems to have developed some consistency. Hughes seems to have worked on his flaws, but I’d love to see him make a big score for his own confidence. Clarke is obvious.
The others still have some serious questions to answer though
11:31am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:31am | Report comment
11.3
FOUR
That’s demoralising. Prasad bowled a good length ball, and Warner just got on the back foot, angled the bat, and directed it through point for yet another boundary. Warner 46.
1/70
11:30am
Rob from Brumby Country said | 11:30am | Report comment
These two are looking very good indeed. Can’t remember the last time we had a decent partnership for the second wicket…
11:32am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:32am | Report comment
Ricky Ponting’s hair just stood up on the back of his neck at that comment! Ha!
11:41am
Rob from Brumby Country said | 11:41am | Report comment
Rick and Shane have both seen better days than their most recent performances.
But enough about the Walking Dead!
11:48am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:48am | Report comment
Gold! You win.
“This isn’t a democracy any more. It’s a Ricktatorship.”
11:51am
Matt F said | 11:51am | Report comment
Outstanding!
There are some similarities in the movements of zombie Shane and injured Shane. Or Ed Cowan running between the wickets…..
12:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:18pm | Report comment
Definitely some similarities between zombie Shane’s face and normal Shane’s face, Matt.
11:25am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:25am | Report comment
10.3
FOUR
Stop the bleeding! This is starting to look like a 600 pitch. Warner chops this between slip and gully, a bit top-edgy, but fairly controlled.
1/66
11:24am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:24am | Report comment
10.1
Three more as Warner punches through backward point – they almost ran four there, they definitely started on the last run, but aborted.
1/62
11:22am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:22am | Report comment
9.4
FOUR
There we go ahead. SL can’t stem the bleeding. They’re feeding Hughes on the cut shot, and he’ll be feeling good now, with two boundaries away through his pet scoring region. SL must tighten up!
1/59
11:20am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:20am | Report comment
9.2
Prasad continuing – actually bowled a really nice yorker there, but Warner squeezed it out for a single.
1/55
11:18am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:18am | Report comment
8.5
FOUR
Hughes loves the cut shot, we know that. Smacks Mathews through point for anotheries.
1/54
11:19am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:19am | Report comment
If these two stay in til lunch, then the score will be over 150 for sure…
11:21am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:21am | Report comment
Good fun watching Warner when he’s going, isn’t it Hazey?
11:26am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:26am | Report comment
Definitely, he looks comfortable and confident. That’s when he plays his best.
12:19pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:19pm | Report comment
The fact that his pushes and defensive strokes can hit the rope means he’s in superb form. His timing is so clean this summer, and he’s not trying to over-hit much.
11:17am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:17am | Report comment
So they’ve brought Angelo Mathews on already – an all-rounder nominally, but he doesn’t have an imposing record with the ball. What’s the story with predesignating players before they’ve shown what they can do?
The 50 came up from Prasad, by the by.
1/50
11:13am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:13am | Report comment
7.5
FOUR
Anyway, while we’ve been talking run-outs, Lakmal bowled an over for four runs, Hughes got his first score with a 3 through midwicket, then Prasad had a ball spanked away through midwicket by Hughes, who now has 7.
1/49
11:02am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:02am | Report comment
52.3
FOUR
Yet another for Warner. He has 36 now, as he drove that full ball through mid-off.
1/40
11:00am
kellett_1992 said | 11:00am | Report comment
Warner off to a great start but the thing we’ll all find about Warner is his style will always see one of two results – smashing runs fast and making big scores or failing quickly and sharply.
Somewhat similar to the style Michael Slater played. He can become a very successful batsmen but for him to become great he will need to distinguish when the time to go and the time to slow is.
By the way Cowan ran himself out!
11:28am
Christo the Daddyo said | 11:28am | Report comment
I think he’s decided it’s time to go, not to slow today!
11:43am
kellett_1992 said | 11:43am | Report comment
Completely agree Christo, hopefully will reach a hundred before the break.
12:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:20pm | Report comment
I don’t think Warner is as boom-bust as all that. He doesn’t play like Shahid Afridi – he hits what he thinks is there to hit, but he’s almost always in control. And his record so far is actually very consistent.
10:59am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:59am | Report comment
5.1
OUT!
Oh no, Cowan is run out. What happened there? It’s not like there was a huge mix-up, they just went back for a second run and didn’t make it. Warner nudged a full toss through midwicket, I don’t think there were necessarily two runs there. Warner ran the first and just hammered for the second without hesitation, running to the safe end. Cowan saw the danger, stopped for a split second, realised Warner wasn’t stopping, and tried to complete the run rather than just refusing it. He was out by quite some distance, so I don’t think the hesitation cost him, there just wasn’t a second run there.
1/36
11:03am
kellett_1992 said | 11:03am | Report comment
I think he was running half pace, wasn’t really running and hesitated. He ran himself out. Commentators also share the same opinion.
11:04am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:04am | Report comment
Looking at the replay, Geoff, Ed took that first run so slowly it seemed like the second wasn’t there, but to me it looked like an easy two. Warner made it quite comfortably, so I don’t think there wasn’t two in it.
11:09am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:09am | Report comment
He was a bit slow on the first, yes. Looking at that other replay, it looks like Warner actually hesitated briefly too, as he turned. I don’t think he thought it was two, but the batsmen each managed to make the other second-guess himself.
Warner saw Cowan take a step or two after the turn, so Warner went when he was hesitating for a split second. Then Cowan hesitated, but saw Warner going, and decided to go as well.
Just a dodgy moment – Cowan should either have played it safe and called loudly for a single, or motored harder on that first run. Warner never holds back when he’s running.
11:11am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:11am | Report comment
That’s definitely something Cowan needs to work on – He seems a bit lazy when it comes to running and backing up. If we add lazy calling to that list, suddenly there’s a lot to work on.
11:29am
Christo the Daddyo said | 11:29am | Report comment
Considering who he’s opening with he’s going to have to sort that out quick smart.
12:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:21pm | Report comment
Spot on, Christo.
11:07am
Matt F said | 11:07am | Report comment
I disagree Geoff. There was two there. Cowan was jogging that first run and that, combined with his hesitation, was the difference. If he went hard from the start, as he should be doing, then he would have made it home. It’s a real waste as there are some big scores on offer today if a batsman can hang around. That’s the second time this summer he’s been run out and they were both preventable
11:09am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:09am | Report comment
Reckon his spot in the side is under pressure, Matt?
11:19am
Matt F said | 11:19am | Report comment
He’ll still go to India, if only because there’s nobody really putting their hand up to replace him, but no opener can last too long with an average in the mid 30′s. He had a golden opportunity to make a big score today and he’s thrown it away. He needs some big scores soon and doing so in India is going to be much tougher than here.
I don’t think you could get a better day to bat than today. Day’s two and three are always the best batting days in Sydney. Flat pitch, fast outfield, beautiful weather and we’re also up against SL’s 2nd string pace attack. Considering the very mediocre records of their first string fast bowlers, I think that this is as close to a perfect batting day that you can get in a test match.
11:24am
Hazey the Bear said | 11:24am | Report comment
Yeah agree with that – No great shining lights to replace him was my thought too. He’s a great foil for Warner when Warner’s goin’ great, but he needs to work on some of those aspects of the game that he’s letting himself down on.
11:30am
Christo the Daddyo said | 11:30am | Report comment
Or they could return Hughes to the opening spot?
11:36am
Matt F said | 11:36am | Report comment
They could but then they need to find a number three. With Hussey going out I don’t think they’ll want to make too many changes for the 1st test in India. However if he fails in India then we may see that change.
11:10am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:10am | Report comment
Yes, I agree with your analysis, Matt. It was the slow first run that made the other look impossible.
11:33am
Matt F said | 11:33am | Report comment
On first look I thought similar to you, but when they showed the entire footage of the batsmen running he made a real mess of it. If he had run the first one hard he could probably have still hesitated and made it home with a dive.
Warner actually turned for the second before Cowan. I know that Warner is quick but the non-striker should always be the first to turn as they have the benefit of backing up at the start.
11:10am
Disco said | 11:10am | Report comment
Hmm. And yet there’s a question mark over Khawaja’s running.
11:33am
Matt F said | 11:33am | Report comment
Imagine Khawaja and Cowan running together
11:10am
Theworldofando said | 11:10am | Report comment
Hi Geoff but I disagree, he simply didn’t run hard enough. Check the replay, he just jogs the first run.
11:11am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:11am | Report comment
It was a bit slack, wasn’t it Ando? He’ll be kicking himself in the rooms, that’s for sure.
10:56am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:56am | Report comment
4.6
Two more, a push down the ground from Cowan, after Warner took another single. So the boundary, three singles, then a 2 from the over. Not exactly tight. 9 runs in total.
0/35 in just 5 overs.
10:53am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:53am | Report comment
Back foot push by Cowan into the covers, takes the sharp single. Good play in support of Warner there, who is going beautifully.
0/32
10:52am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:52am | Report comment
Warner 18 balls, Cowan 7.
10:52am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:52am | Report comment
4.1
FOUR
Another one! Warner is going great guns. That was just a back foot push to a good length ball, but he pushed it through point, fast outfield carried it to the rope. He has 29, Cowan 1, and Cowan has had almost none of the strike. Warner is voracious.
0/30
10:49am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:49am | Report comment
3.5
FOUR
And again! Three in a row, Warner gets a full ball and dispatches that too. He’s on to 24 all of a sudden.
0/25
10:49am
tommy wood said | 10:49am | Report comment
warner looks hungry – how would you bowl to that??
11:06am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:06am | Report comment
Even his sedate pushes are going to the boundary. Impossible.
10:48am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:48am | Report comment
3.3
FOUR
That was a real shot. Got one wide and it was slapped through point for more runs. Warner to 20.
0/21
10:47am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:47am | Report comment
3.2
FOUR
Edge!
Pradeep gets the genuine edge from Warner, through about a third slip for four.
0/17
10:46am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:46am | Report comment
Cowan off the mark with a single as Lakmal bowls.
10:45am
tommy wood said | 10:45am | Report comment
Wish they’d stop going on about that stupid ‘beach.
11:04am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:04am | Report comment
Morning Tommy. I wish they’d stop going on about many other things, especially home renovation shows.
10:43am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:43am | Report comment
Pradeep’s first over only worked for a single.
10:37am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:37am | Report comment
Pradeep bowling from the other end. He might have some confidence – he actually batted very nicely yesterday for 17, after a previous high score of 1.
10:34am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:34am | Report comment
0.6
Three more runs to Warner from a back foot push through cover, so that’s 7 from the first.
0/7
10:38am
Christo the Daddyo said | 10:38am | Report comment
So with an understrength attack, good wicket and a beautiful day in Sydney, anything less than a hundred from the first session would be below par don’t you think?
11:05am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:05am | Report comment
Hello Christo. Well, the rate Warner’s going, it might be 150 by lunch. I would have thought all they’d really be aiming for, though, is making it safely to lunch and cashing in. Cowan will be livid at missing out on this belter.
10:33am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:33am | Report comment
Interesting to see how the new Lankan bowlers go. The new batsmen did pretty well yesterday, Thirimanne top-scoring, and Chandimal looking pretty decent until he had to bat with Sri Lanka’s erratic tail.
The worst tailender of the lot, Suranga Lakmal, is bowling – tall and rangy with long curly hair bouncing around.
10:31am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:31am | Report comment
First ball and…
FOUR
Edged away! It was along the ground, but a genuine edge to Warner, that zoomed to third man. He’s away.
0/4
10:29am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:29am | Report comment
How do we think today is going to go down. A huge day for Ed Cowan and David Warner, who have a big chance to send themselves off on Australia’s year of touring with a strong innings, and finish their home summers with an exclamation mark.
10:28am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:28am | Report comment
Good morning folks! We’re preparing to get underway for Day 2 of this final Test of the Australian summer. It’s a scorcher in Melbourne, pretty hot in Sydney, and probably baking in other places around the country. How is it where you are? We’d like to hear from all around Australia and the world, so get involved.