Richardson bowling himself into the Ashes team here. Starc has been a bit off again but did have an LBW decision overturned. Australia in a strong position but we don’t really know whats going to happen in this game until both teams have batted. It could be all over by the end of day 2 for all we know.
Gee’s Khawaja continues to disappoint with the bat this Summer after a decent tour to the UAE, if some of the young selections come off he will be feeling the heat when Smith Warner & Bancroft come back.
Gee’s Khawaja continues to disappoint with the bat this Summer after a decent tour to the UAE, if some of the young selections come off he will be feeling the heat when Smith Warner & Bancroft come back.
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I was feeling sorry for the Sri Lanka bowlers.Kuwaja played and missed at least a dozen times.
Spot on BH…Uzzie has been disappointing this summer at home…surprising considering he scores better in Aust than outside Aust…Harris needs to go on and score a maiden test 100…though a lead of 100 may be enough for Aust considering how SL batted today…great to see Richardson show folk what he can do…nice shape with his bowling today…
Just a lack of game awareness by Khawaja. Trying to cut a spinner 10 minutes before stumps.
The Australians making hard work of chasing this first innings score of 144. Once more Harris wastes a good start. The lowest score in his test career so far is 13.
Noticed Patterson yet to bat.. Thought he was selected as a batter?
Noticed Patterson yet to bat.. Thought he was selected as a batter?
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Was down to bat at 6 but seeing Lyon came in as night watchman yesterday he has been pushed down to 7. Think he should be batting ahead of Labushagne.
Noticed Patterson yet to bat.. Thought he was selected as a batter?
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We are only 4 down and one of those was the Nightwatchmen!
Sri Lanka are in a world of trouble now.Two batsman are set Head+Labashane.Missed an opportunity last night when the pink ball was swinging.We will see how they bowl in the last session.Under lights with the Pink ball+possible swing.
SL were seriously shite over in NZ…more so now without Matthews…time for fellas like Labuschagne and Head to fill their boots…Harris will be licking himself…hopefully JL doesn’t fall into a false sense of security and think these fellas have found their test feet…just shows India have a far superior attack than SL…but hey you can only beat what is put in front of you..
Interesting comments Freeze, I’m a little unsure regarding Sri Lanka’s quality too and did follow their progress as it’s on Fox. There is a genuine chance for the players given the opportunity here to virtually lock down an Ashes spot. With every run they make in this innings Labuschange and Head are making every post a winner, not that he hadn’t been given every opportunity a test level I think Shaun Marsh probably would have lapped up this chance too.
Fast bowling options for the Ashes are now straightforward, they will go with Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood and Richardson. Maybe take one more quick, from that take your pick of a bunch (maybe someone renowned for swing and experience in English conditions) but if fit it will be a combination of the 4 named for the first test.
Thing is Oooll, if these Aussie boys can’t bat long v SL current attack, like fark are they going to do it v Eng or other better attacks…some times these big scores v weaker attacks are “claytons” scores…no way the likes of NZ boys in Latham or Nicholls would ever score big 100s v quality attacks…look at Guptill…big 100s and only test 100s v Bangladesh, Zimbabwe etc…nothing else…
Interesting listening to former England Captain Michael Vaughn last night saying in his opinion, Richardson will be a real handful in English conditions with his pace and the bit of swing he gets. For mine, Cummins and Richardson should get the game day nod for the Ashes quicks and Starc and Hazlewood to fight it out for the third spot.
There is a reasonable chance that the selectors will be able to work out the bowling with Cummins, Hazelwood, Richardson, Starc and Lyon at their disposal. Even they can’t really balls that up, (sure, I get that Greg Chappell is involved), however who knows what they will do with the batting.
For mine now, with just a hint of form, both Smith and Warner are walk up selections for the Ashes - it will only be something political that stops them otherwise. And if selected they will provide the confidence and spine which is currently lacking.
Will be interesting to see what G&T do with Pucovski…needs a test match or an Australian contract to get that visa so he can play county this year…can only see Burns getting the heave ho for the next test if it’s the former…going to be an interesting finish to the shield season with a few batsmen trying to go big in order to win an Ashes berth…might even kick start a few FC 100s for a change…as you say Oooll the first 4 fast bowlers are a shoe in…with a wild card in Meredith or a Kelly getting a tour for the experience…Lyon needs a spinning partner…Zampa can’t seem to buy a wicket in FC these days…Pope not ready, Ahmed too old perhaps…Holland not good enough…who is left?..Paine and Carey as keepers?..or perhaps Nielson or Doran as a smokey back up keeper Ashes pick…
What about Josh Inglis as an alternative keeper/batsman Freeze?
Doran doesnt even keep for TAS!
Kept in the CA game tho BH…thus why I mentioned Doran…would be happy for Inglis too…reckon Carey would be the front runner tho…
Starc seriously needs to be dropped…just to wake him up…Richardson even at his tender experience has bowled with more nous than Starc…whilst Cummins just keeps delivering…wonder if JL and Saker have the balls to tell Starc to go back to Shield cricket and make him earn his Ashes tour…
When was the last time a West Australian fast bowler played test cricket for Australia? Excluding the obvious Mitchell Johnson who came here from Queensland.