FIRST TEST: PALLEKELE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM

Interesting that Australia have been filth on the under-continent, but haven't lost a Test in Sri Lanka since 1999. 

Comments

[philsgone]

Maybe its because Sri Lanka is an island, just like our island home.

[Bruce]

Or that the Shrees have been mediocre despite Kumar at #3.

[Tony Tea]

And we haven't played many Tests there.

[Tony Tea]

And now the Shrees are 4/44. Double Richie.

[Soups]

5/84 at lunch. Good, tight bowling by us. Nice catches taken. Great start.

[Tony Tea]

I always get a little confused when bowlers appeal for LBs when the batsman has obviously nicked the ball. Even more confused when they bowler opts to review.

[Lou]

I'm not in a position to watch it and considering how awful the Shrees batting must have been, I'm sort of glad. Sort of.

Though Haze is class of course.

[Tony Tea]

Speaking of haze - it's rained out.

[philsgone]

Present tests averages of our top five in total make 302. This has to be some sort of record I would expect. Voges 95 certainly helps

[philsgone]

Good to see the long innings strategy coming to the fore

[Bruce]

I would recommend the radio stream at:
http://mixlr.com/whitelinewireless/

[Tony Tea]

Worth a read: Sri Lanka series a chance for Smith's Australians to show a subtler side.

[m0nty]

Yet again, noted master of spin Flasheart gets out playing a stupid, unnecessarily elaborate shot against spin.

[Lou]

He is dopey against spin at times. Like Clarke, he's in love with his own feet unfortunately.

[Tony Tea]

Read some article recently about how the Aussies need to be more assertive / aggressive / attacking / awhatever against spin. Load of delusional bollox.

[m0nty]

We have to chase more than 120 in the fourth. We're stuffed.

[Lou]

Agreed Monty, another 50 runs and it will probably be the usual story of watching brains melt under pressure. The track will turn into a mine-field once the Aussies come out to bat.

I read that article, Tony, sounded like the usual recipe for disaster in the sub-continent. What about just playing the ball on merit?

[philsgone]

Apparently the Pakis only lost 3 wickets chasing over 300 at this ground not too long ago. Probably irrelevant in our case, but something to compare our effort against.

[SaggyGreen]

Doomed. We're doomed.

[Tony Tea]

Hairy Herath is a very good bowler. Don't like our chances of getting the better of him batting last.

[Tony Tea]

Here's the tip: Kusal Mendis never makes another Test hundred.

[SaggyGreen]

Still, it will be a Good Test Of Character, and our chaps probably need that.

[Tony Tea]

Steve O'Keefe gets into the Test side, then pops a hammy and has to return to Australia. Parramatta is a laughing stock. It's not Pat's year.

[Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd]

Like Russia in the '90s, Parra has been raped and pillaged by the (((globalists))), but we have our Putler in Brad Arthur whom we trust; 2017 will usher in the era of the Blue and Gold.

In the meantime we bide our time and watch our expats lift this year's trophy for the Melbourne Eels (Morgan, Blair and Green).

Speaking of SoK I was telling my old man how there's this blog that used to shitbag the mighty SoK and now's my chance to rub it in and then ping! goes the hammy! Damn it all!!!

[Lou]

Does anyone expect the Aussies to chase a score? Ever? They haven't got the patience or brains it seems.

Or maybe it's lack of talent. I dunno.

[Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd]

Steve O'Keefe to bat out the draw.

NRL to continue robbing Parra and Penrith with not calling and then incorrectly calling forward passes.

[Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd]

Any possibility of a tsunami late on day 5?

[Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd]

Well done, Lankans.

Pity the TV commentators had to talk shit for several hours on end bitching about how hard done by they were.

[Tony Tea]

Have we ever lost to a weaker Test team? The Shrees have no batsmen, a couple of okay spinners, and they mugged us. We are slop.

[via cillins]

Enjoyed reading the Sam Clarke article you linked to TT. This stanza kinda sticks out just a little as the winter of our discontent rages outside the window:

"This Australian side has brightness to it again. Most of the batsmen are averaging fifty or better, the seamers are either frightening or pinpoint, and off-spinner Nathan Lyon increasingly confident of winning games late."

I'd have agreed a few days back...

[Lou]

Well done Shrees. Next test Aussies will be rolled again.

[Tony Tea]

Fortunately, VC, it is not in my gizzards to ever overrate the Aussie cricket team.