2nd Test, Day 4. Aus v Sri Lanka

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Heading into Day 4, Australia lead Sri Lanka by 407 runs with 9 wickets in hand. What I like best about the Australian performance is the way the bowlers have hunted like a pack - reminiscent of England in 2005 (and dare I say the 80's West Indies although no way near as lethal). The main concern for the post-Warne/McGrath era was our ability to take 20 wickets. Taking Sri Lankan wickets hasn't been a problem (knock wood, 10 more to go) and most gratifying has been Brett Lee's wicket taking form as senior bowler. There are still question marks over Stuart MacGill but any lingering questions should be answered for good or bad after 4 Tests with India.

The main question for today - what time will Ponting declare today? Surely he won't wait till after tea - he'd have to give himself at least 4 sessions to bowl out the Sri Lankans. He won't have forgotton when he gave himself 4 sessions to bowl out South Africa in Perth and failed - the last time our winning streak was broken. My prediction - just over an hour of brisk scoring then a declaration 40 minutes before lunch, giving the Sri Lankans a few nasty overs before the break. Anyone else care to have a punt?

Live Coverage HERE.

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Posted by JC on Mon 19 Nov

18 comments

I agree with the quick scoring approach.. would like to throw on a quick 200 before sending them back in. Has the pitch flattened out a bit?

Surely the ghost of VVS has run it's course now...

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 10:22:53

it's a hot day out there (31) so making them run around a bit could work to our advantage. Look for lots of balls to chase in Sangakara and Attaputu's areas ;)

I'm thinking a declaration later than anticipated, for the mental effect of them wanting to get out with the bat but still having to field. I reckon 601's the magic target, though wouldn't be suprised if we keep going to 650!

Muralitharan to Ponting, SIX, thwack! charges down the ground like a bull in a China shop and whistles that straight over long-on for a big six, super shot that one

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 10:29:17

I pissed off Ricky didn't send them straight back in. That should have meant the Sri Lankans didn't even get 10 wickets.

Oh well, run fest till lunch then the declaration.

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Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-19 10:36:52

Just spoke to my cousin, his theory on the declaration is when Murali get's his 100..

actually I'd like for him to get a few more wickets and be one short of equalling Warney, then when he's coming in to chuck one to Macgilla we could declare ;)

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 11:19:19

Punter ended up declaring 45 minutes before lunch. I was only 5 minutes off, not a bad guess!

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Posted by JC on 2007-11-19 12:07:27

I wish he'd actually had a go before the declaration.. rather we just tapped it around for some reason.

Could easily have had another 50 runs for perhpas another wicket lost. Jaques was the only one who really went for it though..

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 12:23:30

Yeah, that was a little disappointing - whatever happened to the pre-declaration tonk? Seems to be a thing of the post in the Ponting era.

On the bright side, Hussey had a nice little red inker to boost his average - getting into the high 80's now :-)

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Posted by JC on 2007-11-19 13:15:59

can you imagine if Hussey was eligible to play for New Zealand, do you reckon they'd pick him? or would he lose his super-powers when he sticks on a black cap..

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 13:32:23

Halfway through the middle session, the pitch playing like a road and Sangakarra and Attapatu batting like they plan to be there at stumps tomorrow. Looks like Ricky's gonna need the 5 sessions.

Love Macgilla's first ball of the day - a loopy full toss rightly despatched for four. That's the kind of ball I deliver - except not just my first ball but throughout the entire spell! :-(

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Posted by JC on 2007-11-19 14:22:05

25.3 MacGill to Atapattu, FOUR
25.2 MacGill to Atapattu, no run, lands on the leg stump, on a length, turns away from Atapattu who leans forward, bat and pad close together, and defends
25.1 MacGill to Atapattu, FOUR, fab cover drive. It was tossed-up, full and outside off, Atapattu waited a touch on the front foot before driving through the off side field.



*MS Atapattu (rhb) 47 92 7 0 51.08 4 (1b) 34 (41b) 90 5469 39.06
KC Sangakkara (lhb) 33 54 4 0 61.11 11 (12b) 19 (20b) 68 5582 54.72


97/1 (25.3 ov)

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Posted by Hey on 2007-11-19 14:34:57

Attaboy Binga!

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Posted by Hanuman on 2007-11-19 16:36:11

Binga on a hat-trick!

Ball 1: Head
Ball 2: Ribs
Ball 3: .
Ball 4: 2
Ball 5: Attaputu Caught
Ball 6: Jayawardene Bowled

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 16:36:49

That's a relief - the way Attapatu and Sangakarra were going, batting through the middle session, I was having flashbacks to Dravid and Laxman.

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Posted by JC on 2007-11-19 16:41:23

Had that eventuated then the go steady approach of Ponting batting for his 50 would have come under so much fire.. whatever happened to sending Gilly up the order for quick runs?

Binga missed his hat-trick..

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 16:44:56

Macgilla's serving up a platter of pies this afternoon.

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Posted by JC on 2007-11-19 17:31:10

indeed he is.. 275 runs the lead now, of for Ponting to have tonked it around a bit for another 100.

Still, feeling pretty comfortable. Macgilla just served a stomach high steak and kidney with heaps of sauce on it for Sanga to bring up his hundred..

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Posted by Moses on 2007-11-19 17:43:36

MacGill's bowling effort today has to rank as one of the poorest I've ever witnessed in a Test match. He simply doesn't deserve to be spoken of in the same breath as Warnie.
Unless we get a breakthrough early tomorrow there may be a famous victory on the cards.
Great to see Brett Lee put his hand up today, and Johnson getting beautiful reverse swing.
Back to MacGill, match winner or not, we cannot afford to have a bowler who dishes up so much crud.

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Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-11-19 18:14:18

Caught McGill's waist high shocker on the news - thought they were playing baseball there for second! If McGill keeps bowling like that tomorrow maybe Ponting should have held out for a lead of 600!

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Posted by MT on 2007-11-19 21:04:28

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