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

Who will win?


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Ratings seems good on 7.

S2 got 927k
Tea got 827k
S3 which ended early due to rain got 757k

Could actually make them or other FTA want overseas tours that are prime time in Aus

Helps there is not much on bar MAFS. I wouldn't even have a clue what else is on the other channels. Cricket is at all all time high fresh off a great series win too, Smith going for 10k too
 
Root averages nearly 50 in India, 50 in South Africa, and 65 in Sri Lanka.

Not sure he’s needed any help with the pitches.

He would have an average in the high 40s in Australia, too, if he could get past whatever mental hurdle he has had that has stopped him converting his 50s into hundreds; he’s hit 9 half-centuries in 25 completed innings here but only averages 36.

For context, that’s almost an identical half-centuries/completed innings ratio to Lara himself.

It’s not like he can’t bat here.


His home batting average before Bazzball and the alleged improvement in conditions was 52.

His home average since is 64.

So yeah it’s gone up. Most batsmen will benefit from better conditions. He has also benefitted from batting behind a better combination than he had for the few years prior as well which has helped.

I’d say his average of 52 in the pretty standard English conditions before that were a good indicator of his quality, though.
He's a great player, no one is doubting that. Prior to Bazball his test average was in the high 40s, hovering around 47/48, which is that of a great. Since Bazbll it's climbed about 4 or so runs to 52ish and his total number of centuries has exploded. Prior to 2021 it was below 20 iirc. The last 3 or so years he's scored about 17 tons - 10 of which are at home, and 3 in NZ & Pakistan, which as mentioned before aren't exactly tough batting conditions these days. It's undeniable that he's gone up another level since the change. I think it started once he gave up captaincy, then got turbo charged with the further changes.

You're asking me to nitpick a great player in order to dismiss the notion that batting is harder now. Just because it's harder doesn't mean there's no great batsmen. That's almost proving my point, it's harder, which is why Smith stands higher than the rest in this era and higher than any other since Bradman. While another all-time great batter who has a strong record everywhere "only" averages a tick over 50, whereas in yesteryear similar players averaged mid 50s.
 

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He's a great player, no one is doubting that. Prior to Bazball his test average was in the high 40s, hovering around 47/48, which is that of a great. Since Bazbll it's climbed about 4 or so runs to 52ish and his total number of centuries has exploded. Prior to 2021 it was below 20 iirc. The last 3 or so years he's scored about 17 tons - 10 of which are at home, and 3 in NZ & Pakistan, which as mentioned before aren't exactly tough batting conditions these days. It's undeniable that he's gone up another level since the change. I think it started once he gave up captaincy, then got turbo charged with the further changes.

You're asking me to nitpick a great player in order to dismiss the notion that batting is harder now. Just because it's harder doesn't mean there's no great batsmen. That's almost proving my point, it's harder, which is why Smith stands higher than the rest in this era and higher than any other since Bradman. While another all-time great batter who has a strong record everywhere "only" averages a tick over 50, whereas in yesteryear similar players averaged mid 50s.


Im not asking you to dismiss anything. I’m saying that the idea that batting is just out and out ‘harder’ now is not as black and white as saying ‘well this is how it is’ that’s all.

And likewise Smith is a great player and there’s no means by which that can or should be countered, he’s passed every test he has been presented with.
 
Ratings seems good on 7.

S2 got 927k
Tea got 827k
S3 which ended early due to rain got 757k

Could actually make them or other FTA want overseas tours that are prime time in Aus

Well it worked for me.

I watch free to air TV once every few months and it got me to load the 7app on the TV which was dormant.
 
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Absolutely pissed down overnight, so good thing the entire ground is covered. Not raining now but looks very grey and misty out my window. Forecast shows drizzle 10am until 2pm, so prob can expect some delays today. If anything just to put those bloody covers on and off! No shit, it's a 100 person job.
 
Im not asking you to dismiss anything. I’m saying that the idea that batting is just out and out ‘harder’ now is not as black and white as saying ‘well this is how it is’ that’s all.

And likewise Smith is a great player and there’s no means by which that can or should be countered, he’s passed every test he has been presented with.
I'd suggest you watch this:



Kimber has done other videos on it, but that's the one that was easiest to find.

Cliffnotes - The 00s is the 2nd highest batting average decade. 2010s rates high but as he talks about in the video mid-late 10s is where the change starts to happen - which coincides with Smith and co's primes.

1/3rd of batters who average over 50 played in the 00s.

2020s is the 11th. The only years below 2020s in overall average are post war 1950s, 1910s, 1900s, 1890s & 1880s. Post war, and uncovered pitches covered in crap are the only worse eras than now.

Also goes into the changes to the seam, swing and movement off the pitch that I've referenced.


So, it's not just me throwing out ideas, it's statistically verified.
 

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I'd suggest you watch this:



Kimber has done other videos on it, but that's the one that was easiest to find.

Cliffnotes - The 00s is the 2nd highest batting average decade. 2010s rates high but as he talks about in the video mid-late 10s is where the change starts to happen - which coincides with Smith and co's primes.

1/3rd of batters who average over 50 played in the 00s.

2020s is the 11th. The only years below 2020s in overall average are post war 1950s, 1910s, 1900s, 1890s & 1880s. Post war, and uncovered pitches covered in crap are the only worse eras than now.

Also goes into the changes to the seam, swing and movement off the pitch that I've referenced.


So, it's not just me throwing out ideas, it's statistically verified.


I’ve seen it, I follow him.

Remember, Smith during this decade that Kimber is talking about averages 44 prior to this year.
 
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What a smouldering turd of a test match pitch. It makes for terrible cricket. Aussie batting was good as you would expect on such a docile slow deck. Marnus still looking cooked.
No no apparently it was a fantastic test match pitch mate 👍
 
What a smouldering turd of a test match pitch. It makes for terrible cricket. Aussie batting was good as you would expect on such a docile slow deck. Marnus still looking cooked.

There's plenty of turn if you weren't bowling slow lollypops. The leggie spun it heaps for starters, and there was turn for Jayasuiria too.

Why people want both sides struggling to make 200 ish is beyond me.

A good pitch is a side making 350-450, and getting harder to bat on as the test goes on. That's ideal.
 
There's plenty of turn if you weren't bowling slow lollypops. The leggie spun it heaps for starters, and there was turn for Jayasuiria too.

Why people want both sides struggling to make 200 ish is beyond me.

A good pitch is a side making 350-450, and getting harder to bat on as the test goes on. That's ideal.
Because the games are close and interesting every ball instead of just dead for 3 days and hoping it's close by the 5th. I get you won't understand this so no need to reply.
 
There is nothing more uniquely Australian than watching a dominant performance away from home and deriding the current players because cricket's not as strong as it used to be.

I mean yesterday was kind of boring but "good boring", we were doing it easy. Well other than Marnus, geez he'll be pissed off at that dismissal, a real get out nothing shot.
 
Because the games are close and interesting every ball instead of just dead for 3 days and hoping it's close by the 5th. I get you won't understand this so no need to reply.

Those pitches make spinners useless, they are just as bad. Half the reason the Melbourne test was great was everyone played a role. You could get runs, the quicks got wickets, and the spinners had a role on day 5. That's what you want. This pitch is not dead anyway. They could easily have us 5 for 300, two DRS non reviews and dropping Smith second ball. It's harldy some Rajastan highway out there you have to bat patiently and put away the bad balls.

3-4 day tests are awful 9 times out of 10
 
There's plenty of turn if you weren't bowling slow lollypops. The leggie spun it heaps for starters, and there was turn for Jayasuiria too.

Why people want both sides struggling to make 200 ish is beyond me.

A good pitch is a side making 350-450, and getting harder to bat on as the test goes on. That's ideal.
If a pitch is very slow it's easier to negotiate the spin though it's nothing like spitting off the pitch spin in India, it was perfect for Usman with how late he plays it almost looked like slow motion.
 

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


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