1st ODI - Australia v Sri Lanka MCG Fri Jan 11 2013

[BunniesMan]

Ohh no..

Wait til old matey get's hold of the "HAH is Bradders" bit..

This could get messy..

Lol notice the article says Bradman only MIGHT have produced what Hughes has been producing. That was the most awesome bit of an article full of awesome.

Even I wouldn't go that far and that's saying something.

 

[Horrie Is God]

You going to get a framed copy & put it up next to Joey??..

 

[TheParraboy]

You going to get a framed copy & put it up next to Joey??..

Joey? I thought it was Craig Coleman

 

[BunniesMan]

You going to get a framed copy & put it up next to Joey??..

Those posters are long gone. I don't even live in that house anymore.

I'm more mature these days. I'm obviously going to put a copy of that article in my Phil Hughes folder.

 

[Sphagnum]

I wonder if Hughes would neck himself if he knew what went on in these forums?

I know I would if I were him. Save the selectors from having to do it next month.

 

[IanG]

Is there DRS in this series?

 

[Hallatia]

why wouldn't there be?

 

[IanG]

Dunno wasn't sure if it had been brought in for ODIs fully or if it was just the world cup they tried it

 

[Hallatia]

Malinga 'in the form of his life' - Hussey
Brydon Coverdale
January 9, 2013

David Hussey has described his Melbourne Stars team-mate and soon-to-be ODI opponent Lasith Malinga as "in the form of his life" and believes the ability of Australia's batsmen to handle Malinga's three variations will be critical when the one-day series begins on Friday. Malinga is the equal leading wicket taker in the Big Bash League this summer and his presence in Sri Lanka's team makes them a much more daunting outfit than they were during the Tests.

The spinners Ajantha Mendis and Akila Dananjaya, who boast hard-to-read variations, will also play important roles but it is Malinga who has the potential to really flummox the Australians. Hussey said Australia's batsmen would need to watch closely for the slower balls, bouncers and yorkers from Malinga, who collected 4 for 49 last time Sri Lanka played a one-day international at the MCG.

"They've got some of the best bowlers in the world," Hussey said. "Lasith Malinga, I was lucky enough to play with him at the Melbourne Stars and he's in the form of his life. All our batters have to really get down to business and do their homework and really try to take him out of the equation.

"Never scared [of facing him] - it's always exciting. You always want to play the best bowlers in the world. It's a great opportunity to face him. If you do well against him, it gives not only your team a lot of confidence but yourself and your game a lot of confidence as well."

"You've just got to get your plans and your focus purely on his three different balls. He's got a very fast bumper, a very good yorker which he executes every time, and his slower ball. Just get your individual plans ready to go and try to nullify his game plan. If we take him out of the game, it definitely goes a long way to winning the game."

Hussey will have a key role to play in that, as the second-most experienced member of Australia's batting group for Friday's match, behind the recalled Brad Haddin. The absence of Michael Clarke and Shane Watson, and the controversial decision not to include Michael Hussey after his announcement that he would retire from international cricket at the end of the season, has left a major experience vacuum in Australia's side.

But despite having played 64 ODIs, Hussey knows that his future in the national side may be assessed on a series-by-series basis, and at the age of 35 he is well aware that time is running out to bring his domestic form to the international arena. He is likely to fill the finishing role occupied so successfully by his brother in the past and he wants to make up for his struggles during the one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE last year.

"A few times I've played for Australia in the past, I've had a few regrets and didn't really play the way I wanted to play," Hussey said. "This time I'm just going to have a lot of fun, enjoy myself and play with no regrets and a lot of freedom. I haven't done quite as well as I wanted to do. I haven't really finished games off the way I wanted to finish games off and win games of cricket for Australia. This time, fresh mind, new opportunity and play with no regrets.

"The UAE series probably didn't go to plan. I didn't play very well at all, and then the World T20 I didn't get much of an opportunity. You come back to Australia you really want to right the wrongs and prove a few people wrong. I really have struggled the first part of the Shield season but one-day cricket I've done quite well. This is a great opportunity for me to free the mind, play with no regrets and show a few people that I can play at the level."

Sauce

 

[Patorick]

FOX SPORTS News ✔ @FOXSportsNews

Team for tomorrow's 1st #ODI against #Sri Lanka: Bailey, Doherty, Finch, Haddin, Hughes, Hussey, Johnson, Khawaja, Maxwell, McKay, Starc
Retweeted by Damien Fleming
Expand

13m

Neroli Meadows ✔ @Neroli_M_FOX

Cutting & Smith miss out on 1st ODI. @AaronFinch5 & Hughes to open. Both ODI debutants, along with #3 @Uz_Khawaja @FOXSportsNews
Retweeted by Damien Fleming

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Two spinners? I guess Maxwell and Dussey will share some overs, depending on how the others go. I guess it's the 11 you would expect.

 

[TheParraboy]

first 3 batman debutants?

Would you have to go back to our first ever ODI when that last happened?

 

[lockyno1]

Two spinners? I guess Maxwell and Dussey will share some overs, depending on how the others go. I guess it's the 11 you would expect.

Where is the 2nd spinner? Maxwell and Dave Hussey are batting all rounders.

 

[Hallatia]

this has to be one of the laziest cricinfo match previews I have ever seen, but I shall share it here anyway

Sri Lanka seek one-day redemption
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale
January 10, 2013

Match facts
January 11, MCG
Start time 1420 (0320 GMT)
Big Picture
The great mystery of Sri Lankan cricket is how they can be so disappointing in Tests and yet so impressive in the shorter formats. In part it comes down to personnel, for bowlers like Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis are not in the Test setup but are consistently dangerous in limited-overs matches. Part of it must also be a down to attitude: at times during the Test series, the Sri Lankans clearly lacked the kind of patience that could have helped them challenge Australia, but across 50 overs such a mindset is not a bad thing.
Part of is simply a matter of confidence. Sri Lanka deserve to be bullish entering this five-match series. Last time they played a bilateral one-day series in Australia they won, and in last summer's triangular series they took Australia to a third final. They have also won their past three one-dayers at the MCG, the venue of this first game.

On paper, Sri Lanka appear a much stronger side than in the Tests, and not just because of Malinga and Mendis. Thisara Perera is a fine limited-overs allrounder, Akila Dananjaya is a spinner of potential and mystery, and men such as Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, who came in for the Sydney Test, should be in their element.

Australia's squad is a mixed bag. There are four uncapped men - Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Ben Cutting - but all four are very fine players who deserve their opportunities. At 35, Brad Haddin is back for his first international match in nearly a year, and the team will be led by the T20 captain George Bailey. Their lack of experience is glaring. Missing from this squad are Michael Clarke (221 games), Shane Watson (154), Michael Hussey (185), as well as the less experienced but first-choice David Warner and Matthew Wade.

Australia have made no secret of the fact that this squad has been chosen with tours of India and England in mind, as well as the 2015 World Cup. But in the meantime, are they good enough to beat a dangerous Sri Lanka team picked for the present?

Form guide
(Most recent first)
Australia WLWWL
Sri Lanka WWWLL
In the spotlight
Aaron Finch has been in irresistible limited-overs form this summer and has a chance to make his name as an ODI player. The leading run scorer in the Ryobi Cup this season with 497 runs at 99.40 and in the Big Bash League with 309 runs at 77.25, his powerful striking has been one of the major reasons the Melbourne Renegades have been the dominant team in the Twenty20 tournament. He even hit the roof at Etihad Stadium with one enormous stroke in December. Finch has played three Twenty20 internationals and performed well, and now he has his chance in the 50-over game. Finch will open the batting and his home crowd will be hoping to witness something memorable in his first ODI.

Just as Finch is the BBL's top run scorer, Lasith Malinga is its leading wicket taker with 13 at 10.69 for the Melbourne Stars. He mesmerised the Perth Scorchers with 6 for 7 and Sri Lanka hope he will carry that kind of form into this series. His slingy action disguises his accurate, swinging yorkers, deceptive slower balls and dangerous bouncers and along with the spinner Ajantha Mendis, he could be the most important player in the series.

Team news
Australia have confirmed their line-up, with Cutting and Steven Smith the men to sit out of this game. Finch and Hughes will open, with Khawaja at first drop, while Glenn Maxwell is expected to bat in the top six.

Australia 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 David Hussey, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.

Sri Lanka squad Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Kushal Perera, Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne.

Pitch and conditions
There was a little more pace and bounce than expected during the MCG Test and the pitch should be dry, given Melbourne's forecast of 37C for the day of the match.

Stats and trivia
Sri Lanka have won the past three ODIs between these teams at the MCG
Mitchell Johnson is the only member of Australia's squad who has played 100 one-day internationals
George Bailey will become the 21st man to captain Australia in ODIs
Quotes
"There's a real air of excitement within the group. There's no doubt the side has been picked with an eye on the World Cup in 2015."
George Bailey

Sauce

 

[BunniesMan]

Happy to see Hughes and Finch opening. The two best Ryobi players in Australia.

Hope we bat first. Don't want to wait all day to see the core of our next World Cup squad (Hughes, Finch, Khawaja).

 

[Hallatia]

Will a crowd show up for weaker Australia?
Brydon Coverdale
January 10, 2013

Once upon a time, the one-day international tri-series was a highlight of Australia's cricket summer. You need only catch a World Series Classics replay on Fox Sports to be reminded that the stands were usually heaving with scantily-clad men and women, kids holding home-made banners, and if it's a match from the early 1980s, terry-towelling hats. Tony Greig and Bill Lawry would be calling the action with such fervour that you'd think each game had the World Cup riding on it.

How times change. The triangular series is gone, although it was resurrected last summer with India and Sri Lanka in the country, and the crowds don't flock to 50-over cricket in anything like the numbers they used to. Twenty20 internationals and the Big Bash League have been brought in with the aim of attracting the younger fans, Test cricket remains the premier format, and one-day internationals are left searching for relevance.

It is into this environment that an Australian outfit led by George Bailey and lacking drawcards like David Warner and Shane Watson will venture on Friday, taking on Sri Lanka in a series that two years from the next World Cup, has little riding on it. The broadcasters, Channel Nine, have voiced their displeasure at the lack of big names in Australia's side, although they might change their tune if Aaron Finch tees off on debut.

"I can probably understand it coming from Channel Nine," Bailey said in Melbourne on Thursday. "I think they're about to go into negotiations for the TV rights. I think that was a pretty tactical move to try to talk down one-day cricket and what the Australian team's putting out. But it's still called the Australian cricket team."

On Friday, the Channel Nine cameramen will do their best to focus on the most densely populated stands at the MCG, but there will be huge numbers of empty seats as well. When Australia and Sri Lanka met at the MCG in a one-day game earlier this year the crowd was approximately 29,000, while only 19,000 turned up when they played at the same venue the summer before. By contrast, the BBL Melbourne derby attracted 46,000 fans last weekend.

"I might have a bit of a left-field view but I think the way sport is shown on TV now is so good and you get so much information thrown at you that the better it gets delivered to your couch, the less reasons there are to leave and watch it at a ground," Bailey said. "Big Bash is popular because it goes for three hours and it fits in nicely. There's no doubt one-day cricket takes a bit longer, and I think Test matches are becoming a real event in themselves.

"It's as much about the spectacle as the event itself and the cricket. One-day cricket, as far as crowds go, will be challenged at different times. But I still think the actual cricket itself is very good. There is always going to be a huge element of luck in T20 and I think Test cricket will always be the ultimate test, and I think one-day cricket certainly sits nicely in the middle of those two."

If the last couple of ODIs between the sides at the MCG are any indication, the Melbourne crowd will feature plenty of Sri Lankan supporters from the city's large ex-pat population. Despite the format's battling status in Australia, 50-over cricket remains immensely popular in Sri Lanka, and the team's captain Mahela Jayawardene said he was confident that if the series started well, it would find an audience.

"There's been a lot of cricket played in the summer, and West Indies are coming, there is the Big Bash," Jayawardene said. "But I think there's certainly a lot of interest in world cricket for the 50-over game. For players it will still be exciting, trying to push yourself, but once you play a few good games [the fans] will get into it. I think it's all about how the series is going to start and how exciting it is going to be.

"We've got a really big appetite for 50-over cricket [in Sri Lanka]. I think that's something that drives the national team a lot. They [the Sri Lankan public] enjoy their one-day cricket and T20 cricket a lot more than Test cricket. We don't get big crowds for our Test matches ... but in one-day cricket they definitely get behind the team, they have a good time and enjoy their one-day cricket."

These five matches will also be the first in Australia to be held under new ICC rules that, among other things, prevent captains from placing any more than four fieldsmen outside the circle at any time. The rules aren't quite as radical as the split-innings experiment Australia trialed in the Ryobi Cup last summer but the game's governing bodies hope they will lead to more exciting ODIs as the cricket world builds towards the 2015 World Cup.

"The rule changes are going to be interesting. We've had them for a couple of years at the domestic level," Bailey said. "My only concern with those is not to continue to make them too batter friendly. I don't necessarily think higher-scoring games become better games of cricket. An even contest between bat and ball still provides the best games of cricket. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the international players adapt.

"I think four [fielders] out has challenged the spinners at a domestic level, but I've also seen the best spinners adapt pretty well and still find ways to dominate the game or contribute really well in games. I like the fact that bowlers do get a second bouncer. I like the fact that that leaves a bit more uncertainty in the over. I think they're interesting rule changes. Anything that provides a little bit of uncertainty, even to make captains or teams think a little bit more on their feet, are good changes for the game."

Sauce

 

[AlwaysGreen]

On Malinga - he can be deadly but he can also go for plenty on a regular basis.

 

[Twizzle]

its the first game, there will be a decent crowd

 

[BunniesMan]

Hughes and Finch v Malinga. If our openers can take Malinga out the back and rough him up in his first spell we'll have all the momentum.

I do like the rule about limiting outfielders to 4. Too many 50 over games have died in the last few years between over 10-15 and over 40 because fielding captains just send everyone deep.

 

[Hallatia]

Malinga doesn't care if he goes for runs, he'll keep attacking, that's part of why he's so dangerous