1st Test Day 5, Aus v Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan's will be hoping that scattered showers turn into rampant thunderstorm today, considering that after a solid effort yesterday they are still staring at a 122 deficit starting at 5/218 with a new ball due in 2 overs.
If they can survive the new ball onslaught of Lee and Johnson then they'll be up the worlds best remaining leggy on a 5th day pitch, not to mention one S. Clark who will again be redefining the term 'variable bounce'.
Big kudos to whoever comes closest to predicting the final result (without exceeding it), both in terms of winning margin and finishing time.
| Posted by Moses on Mon 12 Nov |  33 comments |
My prediction is Australia win by an innings and 45 runs at 1.50pm AEDST (10 minutes after returning from lunch)
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 10:15:45
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 10:15:45
An innings and 41 at 2:14.
Posted by TA on 2007-11-12 10:56:16
Posted by TA on 2007-11-12 10:56:16
My prediction is Sri Lanka will avoid the innings defeat, setting Australia a target of 17 runs which they'll polish off with a 10 wicket victory - halfway through the middle session. The reason I say this is it's the same result as our club cricket game this weekend just gone - the progress of our game closely mirrored the Test.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 10:59:31
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 10:59:31
Lee to Maharoof, no run, ouch! Lee bangs one in short and Maharoof again takes his eyes off it, and this time it clangs into his helmet as Lee's got some more pace than Clark .. the ball balloons up behind to Gilchrist, who collects it ... that'll make you see stars for a couple seconds
Mwauhahahaha
and at the end of all this Sri Lanka will be heading into the second test having taken 4 wickets... oh dear. Also of interest is Murali still needs 6 to catch Shane Keith
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:09:10
Mwauhahahaha
and at the end of all this Sri Lanka will be heading into the second test having taken 4 wickets... oh dear. Also of interest is Murali still needs 6 to catch Shane Keith
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:09:10
For some reason I am thinking before lunch, and maybe 50 runs.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 11:29:28
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 11:29:28
Lee to Maharoof, OUT, bowled 'em! Great delivery to follow up three short short ones, pitching on a length on about middle and swinging away to clip Maharoof's off stump as he stands and plays down the wrong line, completely beaten for movement
Looking good for that Andrew.. lead is still 81
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:30:51
Looking good for that Andrew.. lead is still 81
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:30:51
Drizzle is getting heavier, umpires looking to the skies
bit of rain might get them to lunch.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:33:38
bit of rain might get them to lunch.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 11:33:38
Sigh, maybe I should have added a little note about assuming no rain. I just hope there is a result from this game.
Assuming Australia does win or even if they don't for Sri Lanka to only pick up 4 wickets is a bit of a joke. Hopefully they bring in Malinga or the next pitch is a bit more interesting.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 11:47:58
Assuming Australia does win or even if they don't for Sri Lanka to only pick up 4 wickets is a bit of a joke. Hopefully they bring in Malinga or the next pitch is a bit more interesting.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 11:47:58
Lee to Silva, OUT, gone! Lee bowls it short of a length outside off stump and Silva plays it across the line, attempting to go leg-side with an odd sort of shot, neither a pull nor a short-arm jab, closing the face of the bat and gets a thick outside edge to Hussey at a well-placed deep wide third man!
Another one to Binga (3/81 now).. lunch in 2 minutes so my prediction of 1.50 and 45 behind looking good...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 12:59:09
Another one to Binga (3/81 now).. lunch in 2 minutes so my prediction of 1.50 and 45 behind looking good...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 12:59:09
Two quick wickets and Andrew's got it, shortly after lunch and it'll be me... but with a bit of tail resistance JC's looking good.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:00:28
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:00:28
Maybe not, Lee took a wicket in the last over before lunch. 9 down now. Binga's had a good Test as head honcho quick. So Australia's wicket taking ability still seems good in the post-Warne/McGrath period.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 13:03:05
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 13:03:05
C'mon Rudi forget lunch, play on!
Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 13:03:53
Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 13:03:53
96.5 Lee to Fernando, OUT, cleaned up! Another Lee specialty, changing the pace and bowling it very full, moving it off the pitch and through Fernando's push to shatter middle and off
CRD Fernando b Lee 4 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Damm Rain delays, otherwise it would have been my call at just before lunch. As the ABC pointed out that if we had a "full test session" it would have been over before lunch. :-)
Oh well, I am hoping for a first ball wicket after lunch.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 13:04:30
CRD Fernando b Lee 4 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Damm Rain delays, otherwise it would have been my call at just before lunch. As the ABC pointed out that if we had a "full test session" it would have been over before lunch. :-)
Oh well, I am hoping for a first ball wicket after lunch.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 13:04:30
I factored in weather considerations with my 'middle of the second session' estimate :-)
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 13:09:39
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 13:09:39
Hasn't Binga had a good match - 8/111. Should get MOM.
From Cricinfo:
From Cricinfo:
On a lighter note, Brett Lee recently agreed to a deal that could see him become Australia's biggest recording artist. After recording the chart-topping "You're The One For Me" in India last year, Lee has been asked to produce and perform the theme song for the next cricket World Cup, which will be held on the subcontinent in 2011. That song, a pop duet with legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, reached No. 2 on the charts in India and South Africa. This venture could take his music to a new level.
Please say it ain't so. Stick to chin music Binga, please!
Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 13:12:58
Maybe I should have done an "overs" predicition instead... oh well with a first ball wicket, I will hopefully be the closest on runs guess.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 13:26:43
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 13:26:43
and then you'd be in line to win the Kudos ;)
I wouldn't mind Lee coming out with a bouncer that clears everyone landing on the helmet before yorking him...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:41:25
I wouldn't mind Lee coming out with a bouncer that clears everyone landing on the helmet before yorking him...
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:41:25
Clark to Muralitharan, OUT, all over! Australia win by an innings and 40 runs! Murali backs away to a yorker-length delivery on the stumps, misses his shot, and the stumps are splayed!
--
probably the wrong one to leave I dare say.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:54:21
--
probably the wrong one to leave I dare say.
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 13:54:21
I got to this blog too late to join in the contest, but it looks like TA is the winner.
So we defeated Sri Lanka. Next week we take on Hornsby High School in an equally thrilling contest.
Sarcasm aside, all of the debate about "will we be dominant in the post McGrath/Warne era?" won't be settled until we meet a worthy opponent. Sri Lanka have certainly improved at test cricket over the last ten years, but they are still only a "second tier" team.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:06:29
So we defeated Sri Lanka. Next week we take on Hornsby High School in an equally thrilling contest.
Sarcasm aside, all of the debate about "will we be dominant in the post McGrath/Warne era?" won't be settled until we meet a worthy opponent. Sri Lanka have certainly improved at test cricket over the last ten years, but they are still only a "second tier" team.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:06:29
Sidenote - that's the 13th victory in a row for Ponting.
Could he break Waugh's record of whatever it was... (16 or 17?) I only remember that the test where the streak was ended was that nightmare against India where Laxman scored 1700 runs in twenty five minutes while following on.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:10:11
Could he break Waugh's record of whatever it was... (16 or 17?) I only remember that the test where the streak was ended was that nightmare against India where Laxman scored 1700 runs in twenty five minutes while following on.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:10:11
Interesting stat - 13 consecutive for Punter. So he could be 18 in a row if the summer goes to plan. That would break Tugga's record - there's a fair chance although I wouldn't be surprised if 1 or 2 Tests with India go to a draw.
Hanuman, please say you're joking about Brett Lee singing the World Cup theme song. The cringe factor is already off the scale!
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 14:19:27
Hanuman, please say you're joking about Brett Lee singing the World Cup theme song. The cringe factor is already off the scale!
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 14:19:27
"C'mon Rudi forget lunch, play on!
-------------- Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 13:03:53"
Rudi played by the rules sadly. The rules do not permit a delay of the lunch interval when nine wickets have fallen.
The rules do permit a half-hour delay of stumps on Day 4 or a delay of the tea interval if nine wickets have fallen.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:26:02
-------------- Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 13:03:53"
Rudi played by the rules sadly. The rules do not permit a delay of the lunch interval when nine wickets have fallen.
The rules do permit a half-hour delay of stumps on Day 4 or a delay of the tea interval if nine wickets have fallen.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 14:26:02
Of course Rudi won't get sacked for following the rules to the letter....
I can take comfort in that in "overs" Australia would have won before lunch.
Is it just me or is the biggest concern Sri Lanka have got to have is that they only managed to take 4 wickets out of a possible 20. The only plus I can see is that they managed to keep the pressure on the Australians and dry up the runs for most of the game. In fact one could argue thats where their wickets come from. Hopefully the pitch in Hobart is more interesting.
See the only reason 20/20 is mildly interesting is that the best won't always win, what we need in Test cricket is more competitive teams, look at the 2005 ashes series for what a competitive test series can do for cricket. Unfortunately for us Australians to make it really interesting normally means we have to lose.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 14:38:46
I can take comfort in that in "overs" Australia would have won before lunch.
Is it just me or is the biggest concern Sri Lanka have got to have is that they only managed to take 4 wickets out of a possible 20. The only plus I can see is that they managed to keep the pressure on the Australians and dry up the runs for most of the game. In fact one could argue thats where their wickets come from. Hopefully the pitch in Hobart is more interesting.
See the only reason 20/20 is mildly interesting is that the best won't always win, what we need in Test cricket is more competitive teams, look at the 2005 ashes series for what a competitive test series can do for cricket. Unfortunately for us Australians to make it really interesting normally means we have to lose.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-11-12 14:38:46
Oh my - re my earlier comment about Sri Lanka being a "second tier team"...
I just looked up the rankings for the test nations (as of 12 October).
Team Rating
Australia 141
England 111
India 107
Sri Lanka 107
South Africa 105
New Zealand 99
Pakistan 96
West Indies 72
Bangladesh 4
According to that chart, we have played/will play the three most competitive teams in the world in succession.
Sheesh... the future of test cricket doesn't look too bright if that's the level of competition out there.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 15:15:30
I just looked up the rankings for the test nations (as of 12 October).
Team Rating
Australia 141
England 111
India 107
Sri Lanka 107
South Africa 105
New Zealand 99
Pakistan 96
West Indies 72
Bangladesh 4
According to that chart, we have played/will play the three most competitive teams in the world in succession.
Sheesh... the future of test cricket doesn't look too bright if that's the level of competition out there.
Posted by Manning on 2007-11-12 15:15:30
Darn, one run off :)
Posted by TA on 2007-11-12 15:20:35
Posted by TA on 2007-11-12 15:20:35
I think the biggest thing to note in terms of test playing nations is that for everyone else getting an away win is a big thing.
New Zealand are 6 points behind South Africa, yet take them out of the east island and they just got clubbed by 358 after SA declared 3 down ; and that after winning Day 1!
Perhaps the left arm chinaman has some valid suggestions in this piece..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 15:25:39
New Zealand are 6 points behind South Africa, yet take them out of the east island and they just got clubbed by 358 after SA declared 3 down ; and that after winning Day 1!
Perhaps the left arm chinaman has some valid suggestions in this piece..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 15:25:39
Australia 141
England 111
India 107
Sri Lanka 107
South Africa 105
New Zealand 99
Pakistan 96
West Indies 72
Bangladesh 4
Thanks for posting the above list. I am shocked to see England at 2nd, to me they are far behind. Yeah, there is a huge gap between 1 st and the rest both thru the list and also the onfield performance. Its more about consistency though. SL and India play really good cricket in one series and do badly in the next.
Posted by Yasas on 2007-11-12 16:21:45
England 111
India 107
Sri Lanka 107
South Africa 105
New Zealand 99
Pakistan 96
West Indies 72
Bangladesh 4
Thanks for posting the above list. I am shocked to see England at 2nd, to me they are far behind. Yeah, there is a huge gap between 1 st and the rest both thru the list and also the onfield performance. Its more about consistency though. SL and India play really good cricket in one series and do badly in the next.
Posted by Yasas on 2007-11-12 16:21:45
consistancy is a big thing, but winning away from home is the decisive one.
England's rating would still be inflated due to their winning two tests against the might of Australia in 2005.. they've also had some good away series on the sub-continent and South Africa I think..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 16:40:11
England's rating would still be inflated due to their winning two tests against the might of Australia in 2005.. they've also had some good away series on the sub-continent and South Africa I think..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 16:40:11
Would be surprised if their 2005 win has an effect in 2007 current rating! They have lost to Aussies in 2006 massively too. Yeah, probably they had some other series with some success, have been out of touch, honestly :)
Posted by Yasas on 2007-11-12 16:51:33
Posted by Yasas on 2007-11-12 16:51:33
2005 is a big factor in England's high rankings - when England came to Australia in 2006/2007, if they'd won a few Tests, they were a chance of toppling us from our #1 spot. Instead, the cleansweep widened the gap and pushed England back towards the rest of the field.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 16:53:11
Posted by JC on 2007-11-12 16:53:11
Well done, boys.
All looks rosie with our team, save for the leg-spinning department. MacGill is a good interim replacement for Warnie but they're as old as each other so we need to unearth someone new, and quickly.
Ronchi from WA, who scored that lightening century yesterday, last 50 off 11 balls!! isn't he a wicketkeeper? If so we might have a replacement for when Gillie calls it quits.
Final comment. Rudi is getting fat. Anyone else notice? Too rigid enforcing luncheon rules I reckon.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-12 17:09:18
All looks rosie with our team, save for the leg-spinning department. MacGill is a good interim replacement for Warnie but they're as old as each other so we need to unearth someone new, and quickly.
Ronchi from WA, who scored that lightening century yesterday, last 50 off 11 balls!! isn't he a wicketkeeper? If so we might have a replacement for when Gillie calls it quits.
Final comment. Rudi is getting fat. Anyone else notice? Too rigid enforcing luncheon rules I reckon.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-12 17:09:18
Ronchi will need to do more than score a quick century to knock Haddin of the next keeper perch..
Haddin's averaging 123 in the shield and 138 in ODI's this year..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 17:20:09
Haddin's averaging 123 in the shield and 138 in ODI's this year..
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-12 17:20:09
Re Binga and the world cup - it isn't 1st of April so I assume it must be true.
Is this why they hate us?
Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 17:58:40
Is this why they hate us?
Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-12 17:58:40
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