1st Test Australia Vs Sri Lanka at the Gabba

[Stumps]

Sending the Aussies IN to bat is a proven recipe for Disaster and this match is looking no Different.
Until Touring teams learn from Others Past mistakes, they will continue to suffer the consequences.

Aust 1/133 and cruising to 500 and Shutting Sri Lanka OUT of the Game.[/quote]

the fact is sri lanka arent in the same class as the aussies and they know it- there bowling attack requires some life in the pitch (esp vaas and maharoof who bowl dibbly dobblys) and they are trying to utilise it- aussies are 1/130 i know but sri lanka would have been 5/70 if they batted on this pitch. Bowling first also gives them more chance to draw the game if they cant win it- dont blame the captain- he just doesnt have the cattle[/quote]

I AGREE with what you are saying Stumps BUT the Fact is most tests are won by sides Batting 1st and the Best chance of Beating Aust is to Bat 1st and Put a Competetive total on the Board. Teams are more respected when they are postive and try to WIN matches rather than be conservative and play for a Draw.
Sri Lanka Should have been Positive enough to Bat 1st considering Australias Bowling attack is a Bit Questionable now that Warne and McGrath have gone.[/quote]

TRUE- all fair calls JJ

[Stumps]

sorry all- the top bit of that message was a quote- the bottom line was all i had to say

[Pup]

1st Days Wrap.


IMO the first mistake was not to bowl first but to leave Malinga out, Sri Lankas only genuine quick and also has a different action and is hard to pick up. As i said before i didnt mind that Mahela decided to bowl, i think most captains would have even Punter, but i do get what other posters are saying and they also have a valid point.

They needed a good start with a couple of early wickets to utilise the conditions, they just didnt get that, (The rain for the first hour didnt help much either) IMO their attack is to thin, Vaas bowls in between 118-130 as a opening bowler, now i know he moves it and cuts it but it is not going to be enough to really trouble Australias good batsmen. Maharoof was reasonable and bowled a good length but still bowled too wide to Hayden and Jaques, he has to make them play on a regular basis just outside off stump. Hayden looked good before falling to a arrogant shot to Vaas. Fernando bowled some of the worst rubbish i have seen for a while, They were pumping him up before the test "Genuine Pace" and "Form of his Career". Well he let alot of people down today, he bowled 130-135 which is not that quick and he bowled absolute garbage, Too wide and full, bowling down the leg side, bowling full tosses and bowling short balls to the best puller and hooker in the world. Crazy stuff. Murali as usual bowled his heart out and got 2 good wickets in Ponting and Jaques but he needs support.

The fielding was pretty ordinary, the throws to the keeper were shocking and caused overthrows, the catching was sub standard which we all know you cant afford to be against Australia. They need to get Hussey, Pup and Symonds early and hope the experienced batsmen can hold them up. I expect them to make 400-450+ and knock Sri Lanka over for just over 200. I hope not though. Bring on the second day.

Congratulations to Phil Jaques as well, great gritty knock, was under immense pressure for the first 34 balls but grinded his way to 30 then started flowing even if he did get a bit of luck. Well Batted.

[rod_rooster]

Good summary Pup. Expect your namesake to make a few tomorrow. He is going to be a star if he isn't already. As long as he can keep his head from inflating to much that is

Murali needs to take 10 for the match if Sri Lanka are to be any chance. The rest of their bowling is just not up to it. You are spot on about Vaas. He is an ideal ODI bowler but in Test cricket he just isn't penetrating enough against quality opposition. He's the Sri Lankan Nathan Bracken.

[Pup]

Good summary Pup. Expect your namesake to make a few tomorrow. He is going to be a star if he isn't already. As long as he can keep his head from inflating to much that is

Murali needs to take 10 for the match if Sri Lanka are to be any chance. The rest of their bowling is just not up to it. You are spot on about Vaas. He is an ideal ODI bowler but in Test cricket he just isn't penetrating enough against quality opposition. He's the Sri Lankan Nathan Bracken.

Yeah i honestly think those days are over for Clarke. Been and gone. (I Hope) I think this is the summer that Clarke will really enhance his reputation. He is a good player of spin which there will be plenty of (Murali, Kumble and Singh.) and with both Sri Lankan and Indian attacks not that penetrating i think there will be a lot of runs scored by the top 5 in particular Australias.

[rod_rooster]

Good summary Pup. Expect your namesake to make a few tomorrow. He is going to be a star if he isn't already. As long as he can keep his head from inflating to much that is

Murali needs to take 10 for the match if Sri Lanka are to be any chance. The rest of their bowling is just not up to it. You are spot on about Vaas. He is an ideal ODI bowler but in Test cricket he just isn't penetrating enough against quality opposition. He's the Sri Lankan Nathan Bracken.

Yeah i honestly think those days are over for Clarke. Been and gone. (I Hope) I think this is the summer that Clarke will really enhance his reputation. He is a good player of spin which there will be plenty of (Murali, Kumble and Singh.) and with both Sri Lankan and Indian attacks not that penetrating i think there will be a lot of runs scored by the top 5 in particular Australias.

Hope so. Clarke has the potential to be one of the greats. Lets hope he can produce because when he does it is sure fun to watch.

[NFC]

Good summary Pup. Expect your namesake to make a few tomorrow. He is going to be a star if he isn't already. As long as he can keep his head from inflating to much that is

Can it get any bigger?

[NFC]

Agree 100% Rod.
Can you imagine the uproar if Shane Watson makes his first test 100
and Channel 9 were not showing it !

Well I'd be up in arms.

Watto's #1 fan.

[rod_rooster]

Watto's 1 fan.

Well there's always one i guess

[Rik E Boy]

Yesterday Murali was the master. He got Ponting out and Jaques had no idea whatsoever against him. The wagon wheel is telling, he can't get Murali away through the offiside. Bloody good knock to Phil 'That man' Jaques who has an array of weapons at his disposal. He did so well to score a 100 when clearly he was struggling mentally for lengthy periods during his innings. Well done Jaques.

The problem for the Lankans is there is not much to back up Murali. Vaas can bowl some good spells but Fernando is dire and the other young fella looks a bit raw. How could they leave out Malinga? Agree with Pup that leaving him out was a bigger mistake than sending the Aussies in.

However, I am less sure about predicting a massive first innnings total. Murali restricted Hussey a great deal and yes Pup is the key player for mine today. I reckon 350-380, our tail looks bloody long with Stuart Clark at nine. Believe me Murali is a real worry on this deck.

regards,

REB

[locky801]

Australia now 3/274

Hussey 43*

Clarke 21*


Good bright start to the day

[Pup]

Australia now 3/274

Hussey 43*

Clarke 21*


Good bright start to the day

Good cricket so far. Tight and Hard to score, Real Test Match Cricket

Hussey and Clarke are brilliant runners between the wickets. Fernando either got a rocket last night or had a good hard look at himself, because he is bowling quicker straighter and better length. Still no break through though.

[Pup]

Hussey reaches his 50.

Shows you cant drop players of his calibre at this level. Was dropped on 13 by Atapattu, it was a catch he should have taken and now it is going to cost them.

[locky801]

At drinks Aust 3/284

Hussey 52* having to work very hard for his runs

Clarke 22* has slowed to a snails pace

[Rik E Boy]

Despite having to work harder than normal for their runs the big first innings tally looks to be on after all. Wrong again REB!

regards,

REB

[locky801]

300 up for the Aussies


3/301

Hussey 59*

Clarke 32*

[locky801]

Runs flowing now been 8 boundaries in the last 5 overs


Aust 3/332


Hussey 76*


Clarke 46*


All a little to easy

[locky801]

50 to Pup

Aust 3/340

Hussey 80*

Clarke 50*

And just to think what will happen if Roy and Gilly get going when they come in

[locky801]

Murali brings up his ton


Aust 3/349


Hussey 82*

Clarke 57*


My prediction yesterday of 500 by tea today is looking good

[locky801]

Lunch at the Gabba and here too actually

Aust 3/359

Hussey 85*

Clarke 64*


Great session by the Aussies