1st Test Sri Lanka v Australia Jan 29-Feb 2 1500hrs @ Galle International Stadium

[Gough]

Sri Lanka from, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka (subject to fitness), Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake.
Australia from, Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

 

[jannissary]

i’m keen. will be good to see it broadcast on tv too

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Bedi you over there yet? Any sneaky pitch reports for us?

 

[Pistol Night]

Thank Christ another Test. BBL can EAD

 

[The 747]

If they drop Konstas I'll spew up

 

[allrighty]

If they drop Konstas I'll spew up

This is a great opportunity for Sam to go back to basics and refine his test technique. But I agree if they drop him I'd be pissed. But then again who would replace him?

 

[Bedi]

i’m keen. will be good to see it broadcast on tv too

interesting SEN are sending a commentary team over but ABC aren't. They're covering it from the studio in Ultimo

 

[Bedi]

Bedi you over there yet? Any sneaky pitch reports for us?

Nah fly out tomorrow. Looks like most of the stands have sold out for Day One so there might actually be a crowd, which is rare for test matches on the subcontinent these days

 

[sr36]

If they drop Konstas I'll spew up

Dropped would be the wrong way to look at it. Asian tests are like a separate format. A format he hasn't been selected for before. Both he and Boland are a chance to not be selected, despite their performances in the final two tests.

Personally, I wouldn't even have Carey as a certainty. His batting last India tour was awful and we essentially lost that series because the tail started at 7 and didn't look like contributing anything at all. To me he's one who needs to show in the lead up that he's got a batting plan that might work in the conditions. As do all of Konstas, McSweeney, Webster, Inglis and Connolly.

 

[Borisdog]

Bedi you over there yet? Any sneaky pitch reports for us?

I’m here now but I’m about 60km north. Another mate flew in last night, there’s 3 of us here now, we might head down to Galle for a look tomorrow.

The locals are pretty keen, even up here, saw a few young fellas having a game of beach cricket yesterday on the way home from lunch/beers.

 

[sosos]

Thank Christ another Test. BBL can EAD

I'm a massive test cricket tragic.

But you've genuinely missed some superb cricket in the BBL this season.

Maybe you've been watching the billionth rerun of Friends instead?

 

[Jim Prideaux]

I’m here now but I’m about 60km north. Another mate flew in last night, there’s 3 of us here now, we might head down to Galle for a look tomorrow.

The locals are pretty keen, even up here, saw a few young fellas having a game of beach cricket yesterday on the way home from lunch/beers.

Great to hear B-Dog. Looking forward to any reports you and Bedi can give us.

I don’t need to tell you that all of us here are living vicariously through you.

Please, I need this.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Dropped would be the wrong way to look at it. Asian tests are like a separate format. A format he hasn't been selected for before. Both he and Boland are a chance to not be selected, despite their performances in the final two tests.

Personally, I wouldn't even have Carey as a certainty. His batting last India tour was awful and we essentially lost that series because the tail started at 7 and didn't look like contributing anything at all. To me he's one who needs to show in the lead up that he's got a batting plan that might work in the conditions. As do all of Konstas, McSweeney, Webster, Inglis and Connolly.

None of them will get experience if they don’t play.

As much as every series matters, this is the closest thing to a feee shot in Asian conditions as we’ll get for some time. Konstas needs to play.

 

[Topkent]

I'm a massive test cricket tragic.

But you've genuinely missed some superb cricket in the BBL this season.

Maybe you've been watching the billionth rerun of Friends instead?

Would rather stick pins in my eyes and watch paint dry than excuse for cricket. Just slog shots to fielders catching in the deep with shit fireworks and music.

 

[Borisdog]

Great to hear B-Dog. Looking forward to any reports you and Bedi can give us.

I don’t need to tell you that all of us here are living vicariously through you.

Please, I need this.

I’ll have a bit of a walk around and should be able to get some photos assuming the covers are off. Mate #3 isn’t up yet, it’s 0900 here atm and they didn’t get in until 0200 last night. When he gets up we’ll set the plan for tomorrow. I’ve just realised we’re a lot closer than I thought, 27km away. We’re just south of ambalangoda.

 

[Tugga27]

Dropped would be the wrong way to look at it. Asian tests are like a separate format. A format he hasn't been selected for before. Both he and Boland are a chance to not be selected, despite their performances in the final two tests.

Personally, I wouldn't even have Carey as a certainty. His batting last India tour was awful and we essentially lost that series because the tail started at 7 and didn't look like contributing anything at all. To me he's one who needs to show in the lead up that he's got a batting plan that might work in the conditions. As do all of Konstas, McSweeney, Webster, Inglis and Connolly.

You've said this several times and it's just wrong.
You can sugar coat it as much as you want.

If he doesn't play, he's been dropped.

Carey averaged in the thirties which was more than Labs and Uzzie.
Take out Websters one test and he finished 3rd behind Head and Smith.

Kept well also.
He's under no pressure at all.

 

[yabsy]

Nah fly out tomorrow. Looks like most of the stands have sold out for Day One so there might actually be a crowd, which is rare for test matches on the subcontinent these days

Oh really, wouldn't have thought that the case...Probably filled with all the Aussie tour groups...As far as I'm aware, there isn't a great deal of covered seating...I'm keen for shade, so better have a look online for the 2nd test availability

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[sr36]

I'm a massive test cricket tragic.

But you've genuinely missed some superb cricket in the BBL this season.

Maybe you've been watching the billionth rerun of Friends instead?

I like the format, but not the leagues, as I find myself barracking for individual players - often on different teams - and thus don't care about the result. And sport where you don't care about the result just isn't as good.

 

[Bedi]

I’ll have a bit of a walk around and should be able to get some photos assuming the covers are off. Mate #3 isn’t up yet, it’s 0900 here atm and they didn’t get in until 0200 last night. When he gets up we’ll set the plan for tomorrow. I’ve just realised we’re a lot closer than I thought, 27km away. We’re just south of ambalangoda.

Zoom lens up from the fort??

 

[Bedi]

Oh really, wouldn't have thought that the case...Probably filled with all the Aussie tour groups...As far as I'm aware, there isn't a great deal of covered seating...I'm keen for shade, so better have a look online for the 2nd test availability

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Dunno as the various stands sold out over several days, where if it were tour groups you'd think they'd be gone in one hit, and for all days. But with that said i did read somewhere one tour group was sitting in the GCC.
There are still tickets however for the VIP Enclosure which is indoors and around the same price as other stands – so you'll find somewhere under cover. I've gone the green grassy knoll day 1 to sit with the locals. At $2 a ticket it's prob the best view available as all other stands are square of the wicket.

 

[Bedi]

Oh really, wouldn't have thought that the case...Probably filled with all the Aussie tour groups...As far as I'm aware, there isn't a great deal of covered seating...I'm keen for shade, so better have a look online for the 2nd test availability

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Looking at the second test and all stands are available, but def try and arrange this 7500 rupee buffet lunch in the members. Not only is it the cheapest option, but gives you access to upstairs and downstairs stands, and most importantly, a bar.

 

[sr36]

You've said this several times and it's just wrong.
You can sugar coat it as much as you want.

If he doesn't play, he's been dropped.

Carey averaged in the thirties which was more than Labs and Uzzie.
Take out Websters one test and he finished 3rd behind Head and Smith.

Kept well also.
He's under no pressure at all.

If Cummins was on tour, Boland would be a certainty of being "dropped". If that's the way you want to describe selection for different conditions. As it is, Boland is a chance of being "dropped", depending on what the pitch looks like.

Just as we'll be picking bowlers for the conditions, we need to pick batters for a spinning deck too.

You might have seen him in state cricket with an effective game against spin, but all I've seen is him face less than 10 balls from Jadeja on an MCG deck that didn't offer that much to spinners - out lbw once and another one that could have been given. And I didn't see him show how he was going to score runs against spinners.

I love what he offered against seamers in this year's conditions and I'm hoping he can do enough to convince the selectors that he'll do well on a turner and then go out and kill it in the tests. But I won't be remotely surprised or critical if the selectors pick someone else who they think is more likely to succeed in the conditions.

 

[sr36]

None of them will get experience if they don’t play.

As much as every series matters, this is the closest thing to a feee shot in Asian conditions as we’ll get for some time. Konstas needs to play.

Tests isn't the only way to get experience. Newbies to Asia need to first work out a game plan that works for them in the conditions. Some of them will, for some it will still be a work in progress. That first happens in practice and if you're good enough you can transfer it to the pressure of a match.

I think it would be madness to pick a newbie to Asia in tests, if they're struggling in Asian practice sessions and don't have a clear plan against spin that looks like working for them. That may or may not be Konstas, McSweeney, Webster, Inglis, Connolly. **** knows from our end. It'll be clearer to McDonald though who will be watching and working with them on their game for turning decks.

 

[jannissary]

do we reckon we’ll take murphy/lyon for this test?

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Tests isn't the only way to get experience. Newbies to Asia need to first work out a game plan that works for them in the conditions. Some of them will, for some it will still be a work in progress. That first happens in practice and if you're good enough you can transfer it to the pressure of a match.

I think it would be madness to pick a newbie to Asia in tests, if they're struggling in Asian practice sessions and don't have a clear plan against spin that looks like working for them. That may or may not be Konstas, McSweeney, Webster, Inglis, Connolly. **** knows from our end. It'll be clearer to McDonald though who will be watching and working with them on their game for turning decks.

Short of sending them off to play Ranji trophy everyone is a newbie to Asian conditions on their first tour.

The only one you advocated for dropping is Konstas for the inclusion of Connolly - a player with even less experience, because he might bowl.