Australian Cricket Season 2018-2019

[Cossie]

You just have to be kidding..........

 

[QF WP]

What the hell...

8.4
Wicket
C Karunaratne to Labuschagne, OUT, caught behind! Chamika has a Test wicket! What a delivery! Good length, angled in, Labuschagne has to press forward to defend, it wobbled and hit the seam, nips away, catches the edge and Dickwella takes the catching moving to his right!
M Labuschagne c †Dickwella b C Karunaratne 6 (11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 54.54

3/28

 

[QF WP]

Well I can't see this Test match lasting 4 days...

 

[rock86]

You just have to be kidding..........

Pretty good swing bowling & plans by the Lankans at the moment.

But it just shows our batsmen ability to decent swinging balls, it really bodes well for an Ashes series doesn't it

 

[QF WP]

Drinks Sensational first hour for Sri Lanka. They have made use of the conditions and taken the three chances offered.

Meanwhile, Australia has been forgetting that it's a Test match, on a swinging pitch, and they need to leave balls well outside off for the keeper.

 

[QF WP]

Well Tim it seems that nobody was listening when you spoke this morning....

Tim Paine seeks keys to consistency in wake of rare victory

@rock86 it bodes for a poor Series with England having an away Series batting debarcle in West Indies. Overnight, in the second Test, Poms all out 187 (and only 3 batsmen did anything - Bairstow, Woakes and Ali).
WI 30/0 (21.0 ov, KC Brathwaite 11*, JD Campbell 16*, BA Stokes 0/5) - Stumps - West Indies vs England 2nd Test Match Live Score, Summary | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[QF WP]

I didn't want to tempt fate so I haven't been "watching" since the drinks break. I think it woud have broken my heart to see another wicket. So just checked in at lunch:

That's lunch on the opening day of Canberra's first Test. It started very well for Sri Lanka with the new ball but this partnership has steadied things nicely for Australia with runs coming quite freely. Sri Lanka need to refocus during the break and try and squeeze in the afternoon session. The pitch doesn't have much pace and as the ball gets softer it could be hard work for the seamers. Alex will be back with you in 40 mins at 1.10pm​

My God, Head and Burns have found their spines, playing some glorious strokes and hitting 4's by the gross...(but not without a chance dropped off Burns a couple of overs ago)

So 3/103, a 75 run partnership. Bodes a little better for us...they must have been listening to Tim's oration this morning.

 

[QF WP]

Fabio Lucano: "When was the last summer Australia went without a century from its batsmen?" 1964-65, but they only played one Test that summer!

Dear (whatever deity you wish to name), please don't let that happen...one of these two need to go on with it after lunch...

There have been ten 50's this summer, but the highest score is only 84.

They are also ignoring the 1880's test series...

 

[Pushka]

2 slashes outside off stump, when will our batsmen ever learn

Well they don’t play much Sheffield Shield but likely BB so that’s the shot they practise.

 

[rock86]

Well they don’t play much Sheffield Shield but likely BB so that’s the shot they practise.

The 2 who did slash have been in the Test side all summer though.....

 

[Pushka]

The 2 who did slash have been in the Test side all summer though.....

Yes but in all years previously they would have been playing a mix of Test and Sheffield Shield. Learning skills is a long term learning process. Test players and state players these days get very little opportunity to play four day cricket right in the middle of the summer which means selectors can’t see if there is anyone ready to replace poor test performers because state cricket was last played weeks ago. And if a test player gets dropped there is no way he can get match fit again because there are no matches for them to play and improve. How can people regain form when there is no avenue at all to do so and this year there hasn’t been a match since weeks before Christmas and it’s now Feb and not a match in sight?

 

[JohnK]

We're on the road to averting potential disaster against the pop gun attack. Again. What is it with our batting?

Just as well England have their own issues.

 

[QF WP]

What's this.. a century partnership. Reminiscent of the First Test...

 

[rock86]

(hopefully without putting a spectators curse on them) Now there is no movement in the air and the deck is doing absolutely zilch, surely one of these two has to get to the century mark!!!

 

[QF WP]

200 up after 50 overs with Burns 93 and Head 86...hmmm, after the first hour, the game has swung our way.

 

[QF WP]

Burns reaches 100. The first one this Series and summer by an Australian:

50.3
4 runs
Rajitha to Burns, FOUR runs, what a way to go to 99! A short-of-a-length delivery which he sends rocketing through square leg with a front-foot pull

and

50.6
1 run
Rajitha to Burns, 1 run, Burns has his hundred, Australia's first of the season. A defensive shot which drops into the off side and there's a great moment for Burns

Now what chance Head can emulate Burns...

 

[CaptJCool]

 

[QF WP]

Well Head tried to get out on the bogey number 87, according to cricinfo:

52.3
1 run
Rajitha to Head, 1 run, dropped at gully, maybe just finger tips from Perera. Short outside off, oh dear, this should have been held above his head. Was almost guided to him

 

[QF WP]

Not jealous much, @CaptJCool. Couldn't organise my trip to CBR to correspond with the Test match dates

Have a cold ale for me (yeah, I know you will...)

Looks like that was Burns doffing his cap (helmet actually) and waving his bat after scoring his ton...

 

[QF WP]

That's tea and it's been a session where Australia have taken charge. A excellent century by Joe Burns and Travis Head is closing in on three [figures himself. Sri Lanka's attack has looked pretty toothless since the early wickets when the ball was swinging and the run rate has also got away from them.

3/220 with Burns on 107 and Head 91. Partnership 192 (also a record for this summer, overtaking the 166 in the last Test by Head and Labuschagne).

Head has good figures of 84 and now 91 n.o. - second is Burns with 15 and 107, third is Labuschagne with 81 and 6.

Head is starting to show quality at Test match level - notwithstanding it is against Sri Lanka. He now has his highest Test score and this will benefit his averages. He has now played Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in his Test matches.

Plus, he's from ADL so @Pushka and @CaptJCool will claim him