1st Test Australia Vs Sri Lanka at the Gabba

[Pup]

Australia Vs Sri Lanka

Thursday - Monday

Gabba

Well test cricket is finally back after a long wait. There are numerous questions that will be asked before the start of play on Thursday. Can Sri Lanka restrict the best top 7 in the world, Can the batsmen score enough runs to be competetive, How will Australia cope with the loss of Langer, Warne and McGrath, Will Australia be able to take 20 wickets to win a test match? All these questions are interesting and we will no doubt find out over the next 5 days (Thursday-Monday).

Squads

Australia XII- Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (C), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson (Possible Debut), Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Ben Hilfenhaus (Possible Debut)

Sri Lanka XVIII- Marvin Atapattu, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jaysuria, Michael Vandort, Mahela Jayawardene (C), Chamana Silva, Jehan Muburak, Thilan Samanaweera, Prassana Jayawardene (WK), Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga, Sujeewa De Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chanaka Welegedara (Possible Debut) Dilharo Fernando.

Umpires- Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen

Selection

With Kumar out Prassana Jayawardene comes in to take the gloves but will bat down the order. It also looks like the pair of veterans in Atapattu and Jaysuria will open the innings together with Tharanga missing out (Atapattus first game since late 2005) The bowling line up should consist of 3 paceman in Vaas, Malinga and Fernando with Murali the spinner and can use Jaysuria as back up. The Australiana had the hard ask of replacing three champions this summer, They have gone with Phil Jaques for the empty opening position after a great start to the summer. One of either Johnson or Hilfenhaus will make their debuts in for Glen McGrath and IMO it will Johnson on his home turf. Also Stuart MacGill finally gets his chance as No 1 spinner for Australia with Brad Hogg being sent back to play Pura Cup.

Form

Sri Lanka would not be happy with their early tour form being smashed by Queensland early in the week, And with the injury to Kumar it doesnt help things at all. While saying that Australias form has not been so great either with all bowlers in this squad took a hammering in the last round of Pura Cup. (Lee, Johnson, Tait and MacGill) Ricky Ponting found some great form with the bat as did Matthew Hayden.

Key Players

Australia- Ponting, Hayden and Stuart Clarke

Sri Lanka- Jayawardene, Jaysuria and Malinga

Verdict

It is fantastic to see Test Cricket back and we will see plenty of it in the coming 6-8 months in a crammed schedule for the Aussies. In this game i will be going with Australia, the batting is very strong with Hayden and Ponting leading the way up top and then followed by the steady Hussey and Clarke. Sri Lankas strength is its bowling and will need to rely on Murali and Malinga to cause some major probelms to the Aussie top order. While the Aussies weakness is the bowling, Saying that i would back them in to knock over this top order from Sri Lanka. Stuart Clarke is a brilliant test bowler and will cause anybody in the world trouble. While question marks remain over Lee and to an extent Johnson at test level, they still have a quality spinner who is on the verge of 200 wickets and part timers in Pup and Symonds. I think Australia will win this Test match relatively comfortably unless rain intervenes (Which is forecasted for parts of the first 3 days).

[blink]

Excellent summary Pup.

It is shaping to be an interesting summer of cricket. I can't wait!

[Dirko]

Good work Pup...
The TV is warmed up ready for tomorrow...
The advantage of being a stay at home dad, and having a little lad who loves sport ! Yeehaa gonna be a good summer...

If the weather does not intervene Australia should win 2 - 0 and win easily...

My wish is that the chucker* does not break Warnes record here...

[mal]

The 3 best keeper batsman are all on display this week in Australia
gilCHRIST
Sangakarra
Haddin

[knees peterson]

Murli will brake the record in the first game but only because he bowl 50+ overs in the first did and the 30+ in the second dig if u r bowling as many overs as what he dose i would hope you are taking wickets

[Grahaml]

"While question marks remain over Lee and to an extent Johnson at test level"

Huh? How can a guy have question marks "to an extent" before he's even played? We don't know yet whether he's a champ, a chump or just somewhere between. Agree with you about Lee having question marks.

I think the key players will be Jaques, Symonds, Lee and MacGill. I think the more experienced guys will get the job done, but if those 4 fail then the other guys will have no choice but to play very well just to win. If these guys perform then I can't see SL getting too close.

[Pup]

"While question marks remain over Lee and to an extent Johnson at test level"

Huh? How can a guy have question marks "to an extent" before he's even played? We don't know yet whether he's a champ, a chump or just somewhere between. Agree with you about Lee having question marks.

I think the key players will be Jaques, Symonds, Lee and MacGill. I think the more experienced guys will get the job done, but if those 4 fail then the other guys will have no choice but to play very well just to win. If these guys perform then I can't see SL getting too close.

Yeah i understand what you are saying, I just meant that there is always question marks over you when you are inexperienced at that level, Like you said people dont know if he will perform brilliantly, shocking or middle of the range. Thats all i meant.

[Rik E Boy]

The weather is not good up here in Brisbane town boys. Raining all day today and a lot of rain this week. Why they schedule a test match at this time of year in SEQ has got me beat. November and December are reguarly wet months in a region where it is dry as a bone for the rest of the year. You idiot Stimpy!!

regards,

REB

[Pup]

The weather is not good up here in Brisbane town boys. Raining all day today and a lot of rain this week. Why they schedule a test match at this time of year in SEQ has got me beat. November and December are reguarly wet months in a region where it is dry as a bone for the rest of the year. You idiot Stimpy!!

regards,

REB

You think we will get much play in the first 2-3 days REB?

[rogernumber10]

Always a highlight to watch the first ball of a new Test summer, whether we in the field or the openers are taking guard.
If we do bat, they want to have Ponting out before he gets to 20, because these 4-5 years are the absolute high water mark for him.

In his last 45 Tests since the 03 Tour of the Caribbean, he's averaged a tick under 73, with 18 hundreds in that time.

That run of sustained amazing five-day form hasn't got the credit it's deserved, because there is so much other cricket where he's been a star as well.

[Dirko]

Johnson in Hilfenfifofum out....

[stampy]

Forecast for Thursday
Cloudy with a few showers. Light to moderate SE winds.

Precis: A few showers
City: Min 17 Max 23
Bayside: Min 17 Max 23
UV Index: 12 [Extreme] UV Alert from 7:40 to 15:30

Friday A shower or two Min 17 Max 24
Saturday Mostly fine Min 17 Max 25
Sunday Mostly fine Min 18 Max 25
Monday Fine Min 18 Max 26
Tuesday Fine Min 18 Max 27
Wednesday Fine Min 17 Max 26

looks like the first 2 days might be a bit dodgy but with good weather from saturday onwards we should be in for some great cricket

[Thiele]

Go the Aussies

[locky801]

Latest is that it is pretty wet in Brisbane at the minute, probably wont be a normal start time, lots of rain about

[the joker]

its interesting to know that Brett Lee has only taken three 5 wicket hauls in his last 40 tests. but it is hard to get wicket when warne mcgrath and gillespie all took alot of wickets in those tests...

looking forward to cricket season this year.. and its gunna be good to listen to skull again

[Dogwatcher]

I feel a make or break season for Brett Lee.
This will prove if he's a spearhead or not.

[Dirko]

The Sri Lankans have won the toss and will bowl....

Glenn McGrath presented Johnson with the Baggy Green...

Suns out so hopefully play starts on time or just after....

[Dogwatcher]

Damn - the lankans have left out Malinga!
I was looking forward to seeing him play.

Shows the strength they think their attack has if they can leave him out though. A good sign for Sri Lankan cricket.

[Pup]

Damn - the lankans have left out Malinga!
I was looking forward to seeing him play.

Shows the strength they think their attack has if they can leave him out though. A good sign for Sri Lankan cricket.

I thought he would have played, will be an interesting to see if it was the right decision.

[locky801]

Very strange decision particularly on this wicket, doesnt help me in my fantasy sides either