2nd Test: Sri Lanka v Australia @ Galle Feb 6-10, 2025

[The Mad Hatter]

I bet Barrels won’t even bowl.

 

[simmo1]

Good to see Nishan Peiris has done enough to retain his spot with 0/189 and 0 & 5 last game.

 

[hineyrulz]

Connelly batting @ 8??? Derp derp de de derpity derp!!

 

[jargan83]

So we omitted a spinner for a batsman who bowls part time and hasn't got a wicket at First Class level.

Makes sense.

 

[hineyrulz]

So we omitted a spinner for a batsman who bowls part time and hasn't got a wicket at First Class level.

Makes sense.

Bailey is not scared to make the big decisions lol.

 

[TheParraboy]

Our next test is the WTC Final vs SA in June

Will there be a 5th debutant n 5 tests ?

 

[Fangs]

McSweeney should go get some sun down by the water of Galle.

 

[bazza]

This probably makes more sense if they expect the pitch to be turning square from ball one. No need for 3 spinners if you're only expecting innings to last 50 overs.

if Smith and Labs still bowled leggies would be fine to go in with 2 full time spinners and a single pacer (with webster for back-up seam). Also with Head another spin option

With these shit pitched you may as well bat deep because you won't need to be a master spinner to get wickets

 

[AlwaysGreen]

he must have been bowling "very well in the nets"

In the article from yesterday it literally says that.

 

[bazza]

Connelly batting @ 8??? Derp derp de de derpity derp!!

may as well - the wickets dished up are shit so you don't need good bowlers

 

[AlwaysGreen]

If they wanted a third spinner who spins it away from the right hander they should have flown Tanvheer Sangha in.

I've got nothing against Connolly, who I think would have played for Australia down the line anyway, but this is a ridiculous selection.

 

[TheParraboy]

This test will be over in 2 days, start making other plans for the weekend folks..

 

[hineyrulz]

This pitch looks drier than a Californian fire hydrant.

 

[Twizzle]

In the article from yesterday it literally says that.

lol, was the article written by a garden gnome ?

 

[Chins]

So we omitted a spinner for a batsman who bowls part time and hasn't got a wicket at First Class level.

Makes sense.

Well we did pick 25 full-time finger spinners last match and then still bowled Head instead of Labs or Smith bowling leggies

 

[undertaker]

Our next test is the WTC Final vs SA in June

Will there be a 5th debutant n 5 tests ?

Unless there's injuries, the answer is an emphatic NO.

The composition of the side at Lord's will be similar to Australian conditions (frontline bowling attack will be the usual 3 fast bowlers + 1 spinner)

Bowling attack will be Lyon, Cummins and Starc as shoo-ins, with Hazlewood or Boland competing for the 3rd fast bowling spot.

Top 7 will look similar to what it's been the past few tests, with Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head and Carey being 5 of those 7 batsmen.

The only two positions of contention in the batting lineup will be Webster vs Green for the all-rounder spot, and if Konstas is selected as opener.

Whether Green gets slot back in the Test XI will depend on his fitness and how much match practice he gets over the next 4 months leading up to the WTC Final. If he cannot prove his fitness, I can see Bailey et al. choosing Webster as the conservative option.

If Head is selected as opener, Inglis will hold onto his spot in the middle order. If Konstas is selected though, Head will go back to #5 and Inglis will miss out.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

lol, was the article written by a garden gnome ?

From Smith in the article posted yesterday:
“From what I’ve seen in the nets he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here and that’s all you’ve got to do in these conditions, try to bowl as many good balls in a good area as you can and the conditions just take over."

 

[mave]

From Smith in the article posted yesterday:
“From what I’ve seen in the nets he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here and that’s all you’ve got to do in these conditions, try to bowl as many good balls in a good area as you can and the conditions just take over."

Smith makes Test Cricket sound oh so simple.

 

[Twizzle]

pitch playing well at the moment, SL doing it easy despite losing an early one

not much turn

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Time for Shane Keith Connolly to come on and finish them off.