1st Test: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Galle Mar 8-12, 2013

[TheParraboy]

Sangakkara should be back for this

SL should be too strong, though contract issues stuffing up their preparation

http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/623234.html

Sri Lankan cricket is headed towards a major crisis with the board on Saturday night freezing out 23 of its top players over a contracts deadlock, less than a week before the start of the home series against Bangladesh. SLC, which met the players earlier in the day, has told its selectors not to consider those cricketers for any international cricket, including the Bangladesh series, until they agree to their new contract terms.

Player contracts expired on February 28, and all 60 players who were offered new contracts have refused to sign them before the March 2 deadline prescribed by the board

.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/623329.html

Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has stepped in to move Sri Lanka's contract crisis towards a resolution, after his meeting with the locked out players on Sunday night ended with the players indicating they would sign SLC's original contract. Jayasuriya had personally set up the meeting earlier in the day in an effort to break the deadlock, which he has now successfully done.

"The players have decided to put their country first and sign the original contract." Jayasuriya said after the meeting, which lasted over two hours. "Once they sign, they will be considered for selection for the Bangladesh series." The players are yet to put pen to paper, but are expected to do so on Monday.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Thilan Samaraweera has retired

5462 test match runs

NOTHING IN AUSTRALIA! :lol:

 

[vvvrulz]

Bangladesh will cause a few surprises but Sri Lanka should prevail in the end.
Hilarious to see Ashraful still in the mix, the biggest non-performer in their short history.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Bangladesh will cause a few surprises but Sri Lanka should prevail in the end.
Hilarious to see Ashraful still in the mix, the biggest non-performer in their short history.

Mohammad Ashraful = The Phil Hughes of Bangladesh :lol:

Players retire with regrets, Thilan Samaraweera would regret he performed against everyone, except Australia.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

The moment Shakib was ruled out it was Sri Lanka's match.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Sri Lanka having a whale of a time with their minnow bashing

They show some highlights of these minnow matches on Omnisport on FTA channel One, I kid you not!

 

[Xfactor1979]

Ashraful with a career saving century coming up

With his 6th century (from 58 test matches :lol: ) he will guarantee himself a place for Bangladesh's next ... 3 test matches :lol:

He and Phil Hughes should team up to be the mediocrity brothers!

 

[African Monkey]

This century does more harmto the BD side than good.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Look at that average of his! Its almost reaching Mitchell Starc proportions!

Unfortunately, Mitch Starc's a tailend slogger with no responsibilities when he comes out to bat, Ashraful's a top order player whos had 111 innings *derp*

I would laugh if Ashraful gets 200 or 300, it would just be a joke to the cricket world if he managed to get amongst them

EDIT - and why hasnt Sri Lanka bowled their Debutant, Vithanage?

Hasnt had a bat, hasnt bowled. Apparently not injured

 

[African Monkey]

Apparently he averages about 13 if you exclude his record against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Bangladesh making a good fist of their first innings

294 for 4 middle of the 3rd day

Not sure if they'll avoid the follow on

Knowing Bangladesh, I expect them to fold like a deck of cards in their second innings

Mohammad Ashraful is the worst player in Test cricket history to score 6 Test centuries, he has 4 more test centuries than Shane Watson (Watson averages 40 odd), Misbah Ul Haq, a respectable average of 40 odd and one of Test Cricket's great blockers, has only scored 3 test centuries

Where's the justice?

EDIT

http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/155200/155246.jpg

He's holding the bat all wrong :lol:

^ http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6077/6131063792_667d6ac05d_z.jpg

 

[vvvrulz]

I'd better take back those Ashraful comments... he's on 189!

He was always a clean striker of the ball when he got going, but along with that was some of the worst shot selection ability in world cricket. Maybe he's finally figured it out?

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Highest test score by a Banger and highest partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh. I'd like to see him score at least 200.

I have to say this though, knowing Bangladesh's history of collapsing in 4th innings a loss is still a big possibility for them.

 

[Earl]

Makes a mockery of Shane Watson and his 'batting talent' when everyone considers Mohammad Ashraful a terrible player yet he has 4 more test centuries than Watson.

 

[African Monkey]

Ashrafool succeeding against Sri Lanka is similar to Mitchell Johnson succeeding at the WACA. You know they won't perform anywhere else.

 

[Xfactor1979]

Anyone for a bet on Sri Lanka still pulling a result of a hat in this match?

 

[vvvrulz]

1373 runs, 15 wickets.
We've had a 200, 190, 155*, 142, 116*, 100 and another century almost on the way.

What a terrible game of cricket.

 

[Xfactor1979]

A funny fact, Mahmudullah is the only player who's taken more wickets than scored runs

 

[Twizzle]

Glen McGrath used to be in that category

 

[TheParraboy]

1373 runs, 15 wickets.
We've had a 200, 190, 155*, 142, 116*, 100 and another century almost on the way.

What a terrible game of cricket.

8 centuries for the match

1613 runs

19 wickets out (from a potential 40)

its just not cricket