FIRST TEST: THE GABBA

Sri Lanka was the first Test series Australia played after the retirements of Warne and McGrath with Tests in Brisbane and Hobart. Australia maintained standard operating procedure by spanking the Shrees in Brisbane, but between the First and Second Tests the pundits mozzed Australia with complaints about Australia's perpetual dominance, so that in Hobart Australia had an early taste of the future by having to rely on Random Rudi Koertzen bailing them out with a howler when he fired Sanggakara on the last day as the Shrees threatened to chase down 500+ (despite six single-figure scores). Ponting, Hayden, Jaques, Hussey, Clarke, Symonds and Gilchrist made up the top seven. Today's top seven of Harris, Burns Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head, Patterson and Paine speaks for itself. Johnson, Clark, MacGill and Lee were the bowlers back in 2007, while today's bowlers are Cummins, Starc, Richardson and Lyon, who stack up okay again the earlier version. At least, they stack up okay if they brandish a sharper cutting edge than they did against India.

Comments

[Philsgone]

Surprised vice captain Cummins didnt pull rank and open the bowling. Having said that Richardson going OK. Starc as usual brilliant and appalling in equal measure. too much leg side.

[Tony Tea]

I like the way Richardson goes about the caper. Pitch it up, nibble it around, keep the seam straight, bit of swing, keep it tight.

[Carrot]

Oh come on - what’s Ian Healy doing there? I thought we’d got rid of him. Who’s next, Greg Ritchie?

[Carrot]

For all his Strine ockerness, he actually just made a reasonable point. There IS a long way before the Ashes as far as domestic cricket is concerned. You could also make the remark that batting against a moving ball under lights here is a useful exercise to replicate English conditions. Are there any day/night Shield matches coming up?

[Carrot]

And meanwhile, England are getting their arses handed to them in the Caribbean = awesome.

[Tony Tea]

Bit of a shock to wake up to England all out 77.

[Carrot]

Oh, it was GLORIOUS. And this Hetmeyer bloke is just insane, in the best possible way. “We’ve just lost four quick wickets? Hold my beer, I’ll just hit us out of trouble”. And he did! Brilliant.

[I am Not Trampis]

''Why is Richardson quick and the three Lankans not when clearly two are quicker than he?

Big note time.

The Sri Lankan coach is the nicest man in world cricket

[Tony Tea]

Jeez, Starc wastes the new ball.

[Carrot]

There were two very good, low-down catches in the slips from the Sri Lankans today, both of which were very clearly out. I can’t think of one, but have there been any disputed/controversial low catches with the pink ball that anyone can remember? I wonder if the pink ball makes these decisions easier to adjudicate.

[Carrot]

PS - shout out to my auto-correct that tried to change “Sri Lankans” to “Sri Lankan’s” about FIVE FREAKIN’ TIMES. Bloody hell.....

[I am Not Trampis]

This is an unfair test.
11 players from OZ against a mere sri Lankans!

Damned hot in Sydanee today.
no doubt our coal powered plant wil break down like the vics did as they always do when it is very hot.

hopefully getting some cool breezes at Roseville today.

[Patard]

It's disappointing we won't get to bat again.

[Patard]

Watched the Thirimanne wicket without the sound and have no idea how 3rd ump didn't overturn. No edge off bat, obviously off shirt near elbow if anything.

Shocking decision.

[Tony Tea]

The umpire was making all the right comments, then said something like "Snicko is after the bat, so that's out". No idea how he came at that decision.

[Philsgone]

Last time we had an innings win? Been a while. Starc has to play next test so he can get all this crap bowling out of his system. And well done to the two vice captains, leading by example.

[Tony Tea]

Australia winning by an innings is rare because it means we either bat first, score big, then enforce the follow-on, or we bowl first, roll the opposition quick stix, bat big, then roll the opposition again. Both of these are unlikely since we rarely enforce the follow-on, and rarely manage to bat second and go big since our batting is so weak.

[ICC Cricket World Cup 2019]

Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish...

[TT edit]

[Carrot]

So that’s two of my comments fused together...... What’s that expression, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Not sure how I feel about my “material” being used to spruik a website, mind you.

[Tony Tea]

I'll disembowel that comment. Bloody spruikers.