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

[Cmarsh]

Great seeing cricket at the front of the sporting agenda in February still, usually by this time it's all pre season training and injury lists and I've never seen this sort of interest in any series against Sri Lanka.

Most of the interest seems to be around the selection or non selection of youngsters than the series itself.

 

[sr36]

Most of the interest seems to be around the selection or non selection of youngsters than the series itself.

It's an interesting squad that looks like it's half about giving us the best chance to win and half setting up for the 2027 tour of India. It makes selection more interesting than normal.

 

[Gough]

It's an interesting squad that looks like it's half about giving us the best chance to win and half setting up for the 2027 tour of India. It makes selection more interesting than normal.

I think England are going to be a bigger challenge next summer than we think. They're putting everything into be competitive out here at the moment.

 

[the_interloper]

It's an interesting squad that looks like it's half about giving us the best chance to win and half setting up for the 2027 tour of India. It makes selection more interesting than normal.

Agreed, I like what they're doing. Subcontinent tours are always interesting selection wise, obviously we usually play at least two spinners and also there's usually some horses for courses batting selection.

Webster is very important, allows us to play 3 spinners, or maybe even two and Cooper Connolly.

 

[Topkent]

Two test series is dog shit, **** off some of the 1 trillion short from games and play at minimum a 3rd.

 

[Pistol Night]

Two test series is dog shit, **** off some of the 1 trillion short from games and play at minimum a 3rd.

Best of 2 test series. The campaigners cant even get that right these days

 

[GoldSoundz]

Based on a few things I've read, here's where I think they will land for the 1st test.

Khawaja
Head
Labuschagne
Smith
Inglis
Webster
Carey
Starc
Abbott
Lyon
Kuhnemann

Abbott being able to bowl good reverse could be handy over there. I think Head opens, to allow Inglis to slot in the middle order.
Webster more likely to bowl back up spin than mediums in these conditions (If Abbott plays).

 

[Topkent]

Best of 2 test series. The campaigners cant even get that right these days

It's why I'm an advocate for 4 days test cricket and keep the pitches spicy. Use the extra days to play extra tests

 

[Bob Neil]

The experience of Neil Craig at the Crows is instructive for those who rely too much on sport's science.

Yep there's a seismic difference between (and forgive the crude labels) 'skill sports' (like footy, cricket, etc.) and 'physique sports' (like rowing, cycling, etc.) and it's easy for coaches/analysts/etc to be seduced into relying too much on science and data in the skill sports (especially in a team game).

 

[sr36]

I think England are going to be a bigger challenge next summer than we think. They're putting everything into be competitive out here at the moment.

I think so too. They're putting an excellent team together. I think we'll be in trouble if it's spicy pitches like against India, but will knock them off if it's more traditional Aussie pitches where batters can accumulate.

 

[JackOutback]

It was all right when it was sparse, there's way too much of it now and the international game has no meaning to it. I also hate it cause it killed ODI cricket. The early 90s/2000s ODI cricket was box office with the old VB tri series. Now I could go without watching an ODI for years and miss nothing

I don't think there's too much T20 cricket because I only follow the BBL. I'm aware of all the other leagues but simply don't watch them. What I do think should happen, given the franchise nature of it, is that T20 should be limited to domestic leagues, I just don't think people actually care about international T20 outside the world cup. Make ODIs the international short form game. Unfortunately, the success of the T20 World Cup is probably why that won't happen.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It's why I'm an advocate for 4 days test cricket and keep the pitches spicy. Use the extra days to play extra tests

No thanks you don’t get the MCG test if you cheapen it to 4 days. Tests are meant to be the ultimate test

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think so too. They're putting an excellent team together. I think we'll be in trouble if it's spicy pitches like against India, but will knock them off if it's more traditional Aussie pitches where batters can accumulate.

We heard that last time how did that one go? 4-0. Bazball slogging won’t work on larger grounds where there’s movement

 

[cricketnut14]

Based on a few things I've read, here's where I think they will land for the 1st test.

Khawaja
Head
Labuschagne
Smith
Inglis
Webster
Carey
Starc
Abbott
Lyon
Kuhnemann

Abbott being able to bowl good reverse could be handy over there. I think Head opens, to allow Inglis to slot in the middle order.
Webster more likely to bowl back up spin than mediums in these conditions (If Abbott plays).

depends on what you read and who you listen too.

any of the 16 man touring party could make the XI.

I think khawaja, head, smith, carey, lyon and starc are certainties.

3 batting spots up for grabs between marnus, konstas, webster, inglis, mcsweeney (connolly)
2 bowling spots up for grabs between muphy, kuhnemann, boland, abbott (connolly)

 

[Topkent]

No thanks you don’t get the MCG test if you cheapen it to 4 days. Tears are meant to be the ultimate test

Yeah an of course it would be absolutely impossible to have good 4 days tests
It's a lame argument

 

[sr36]

depends on what you read and who you listen too.

any of the 16 man touring party could make the XI.

I think khawaja, head, smith, carey, lyon and starc are certainties.

3 batting spots up for grabs between marnus, konstas, webster, inglis, mcsweeney (connolly)
2 bowling spots up for grabs between muphy, kuhnemann, boland, abbott (connolly)

Marnus would be a certainty, wouldn't he?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah an of course it would be absolutely impossible to have good 4 days tests
It's a lame argument

You are trying to make it less time to bat/bowl. It's ridiculous. Half the reason you need the 5th is if any weather comes in, good luck getting results if you lose a session to rain and that happens in a lot of areas. You can easily cover that in 5 days. Epic 5 day tests are the ultimate test, how about we not wreck that concept trying to limited overs every form. Only reason England talk about it as their technique doesn't cope with 5 days so slogging like buffoons for 4 days in more likely to half work.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Marnus would be a certainty, wouldn't he?

Absolutely especially in the sub continent one of our better players of spin

 

[Topkent]

You are trying to make it less time to bat/bowl. It's ridiculous. Half the reason you need the 5th is if any weather comes in, good luck getting results if you lose a session to rain and that happens in a lot of areas. You can easily cover that in 5 days. Epic 5 day tests are the ultimate test, how about we not wreck that concept trying to limited overs every form. Only reason England talk about it as their technique doesn't cope with 5 days so slogging like buffoons for 4 days in more likely to half work.

Such a goddamn boring argument lol

There's like one good 5 day test a year maybe, shorten to 4 days and force the pitches to be spicier. It's not a hard concept to understand. Test crickets already dead in all but like 3 countries but sure keep it as is and just have England Australia and India play meaningless series over and over again lol

 

[getthefooty]

I have a feeling this might be a flat one. It’s what I would do if I was them. They had success against us last time when it was flatter. Turning square from day 1 makes it more of a lottery. If it’s a draw they can always just prepare a turner for the second test.

If it’s flat I’d go:

Khawaja
Konstas
Labs
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Boland
Lyon
Kuhnemann

Would consider Connolly for Boland though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Such a goddamn boring argument lol

There's like one good 5 day test a year maybe, shorten to 4 days and force the pitches to be spicier. It's not a hard concept to understand. Test crickets already dead in all but like 3 countries but sure keep it as is and just have England Australia and India play meaningless series over and over again lol

No thanks, half the test is forcing a result on a flatter pitch. You are cheapening test cricket, just NO. It's not a test match, that's a domestic match, and no we shouldn't be making it easier for bowlers. The 5th day allows us to have weather for upwards of half a day and catch the time up. West Indies literally beat us last summer on the last day, that doesn't happen in 4. Thankfully it won't be changing.

 

[Topkent]

No thanks, half the test is forcing a result on a flatter pitch. You are cheapening test cricket, just NO. It's not a test match, that's a domestic match, and no we shouldn't be making it easier for bowlers. The 5th day allows us to have weather for upwards of half a day and catch the time up. West Indies literally beat us last summer on the last day, that doesn't happen in 4. Thankfully it won't be changing.

Which is why test crickets on life support

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Which is why test crickets on life support

It's not record crowds and viewership this summer for starters. Big crowds in Eng-India-Australia for starters. Good crowds in SA the last summer, NZ get good ones. You are trying to cheapen what test cricket is- the ultimate test. It's a 5 day battle. The end.

 

[Topkent]

It's not record crowds and viewership this summer for starters. Big crowds in Eng-India-Australia for starters. Good crowds in SA the last summer, NZ get good ones. You are trying to cheapen what test cricket is- the ultimate test. It's a 5 day battle. The end.

SA pulled there best players from a test series to play T20
Nice try though.
It's dead. It loses money in every country except the big 3.

 

[yabsy]

Marnus would be a certainty, wouldn't he?

Definitely a lock

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