1st Test Australia Vs Sri Lanka at the Gabba
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:12 amAustralia Vs Sri Lanka
Thursday - Monday
Gabba
Well test cricket is finally back after a long wait. There are numerous questions that will be asked before the start of play on Thursday. Can Sri Lanka restrict the best top 7 in the world, Can the batsmen score enough runs to be competetive, How will Australia cope with the loss of Langer, Warne and McGrath, Will Australia be able to take 20 wickets to win a test match? All these questions are interesting and we will no doubt find out over the next 5 days (Thursday-Monday).
Squads
Australia XII- Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (C), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson (Possible Debut), Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Ben Hilfenhaus (Possible Debut)
Sri Lanka XVIII- Marvin Atapattu, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jaysuria, Michael Vandort, Mahela Jayawardene (C), Chamana Silva, Jehan Muburak, Thilan Samanaweera, Prassana Jayawardene (WK), Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga, Sujeewa De Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chanaka Welegedara (Possible Debut) Dilharo Fernando.
Umpires- Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen
Selection
With Kumar out Prassana Jayawardene comes in to take the gloves but will bat down the order. It also looks like the pair of veterans in Atapattu and Jaysuria will open the innings together with Tharanga missing out (Atapattus first game since late 2005) The bowling line up should consist of 3 paceman in Vaas, Malinga and Fernando with Murali the spinner and can use Jaysuria as back up. The Australiana had the hard ask of replacing three champions this summer, They have gone with Phil Jaques for the empty opening position after a great start to the summer. One of either Johnson or Hilfenhaus will make their debuts in for Glen McGrath and IMO it will Johnson on his home turf. Also Stuart MacGill finally gets his chance as No 1 spinner for Australia with Brad Hogg being sent back to play Pura Cup.
Form
Sri Lanka would not be happy with their early tour form being smashed by Queensland early in the week, And with the injury to Kumar it doesnt help things at all. While saying that Australias form has not been so great either with all bowlers in this squad took a hammering in the last round of Pura Cup. (Lee, Johnson, Tait and MacGill) Ricky Ponting found some great form with the bat as did Matthew Hayden.
Key Players
Australia- Ponting, Hayden and Stuart Clarke
Sri Lanka- Jayawardene, Jaysuria and Malinga
Verdict
It is fantastic to see Test Cricket back and we will see plenty of it in the coming 6-8 months in a crammed schedule for the Aussies. In this game i will be going with Australia, the batting is very strong with Hayden and Ponting leading the way up top and then followed by the steady Hussey and Clarke. Sri Lankas strength is its bowling and will need to rely on Murali and Malinga to cause some major probelms to the Aussie top order. While the Aussies weakness is the bowling, Saying that i would back them in to knock over this top order from Sri Lanka. Stuart Clarke is a brilliant test bowler and will cause anybody in the world trouble. While question marks remain over Lee and to an extent Johnson at test level, they still have a quality spinner who is on the verge of 200 wickets and part timers in Pup and Symonds. I think Australia will win this Test match relatively comfortably unless rain intervenes (Which is forecasted for parts of the first 3 days).
Thursday - Monday
Gabba
Well test cricket is finally back after a long wait. There are numerous questions that will be asked before the start of play on Thursday. Can Sri Lanka restrict the best top 7 in the world, Can the batsmen score enough runs to be competetive, How will Australia cope with the loss of Langer, Warne and McGrath, Will Australia be able to take 20 wickets to win a test match? All these questions are interesting and we will no doubt find out over the next 5 days (Thursday-Monday).
Squads
Australia XII- Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (C), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson (Possible Debut), Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Ben Hilfenhaus (Possible Debut)
Sri Lanka XVIII- Marvin Atapattu, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jaysuria, Michael Vandort, Mahela Jayawardene (C), Chamana Silva, Jehan Muburak, Thilan Samanaweera, Prassana Jayawardene (WK), Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga, Sujeewa De Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chanaka Welegedara (Possible Debut) Dilharo Fernando.
Umpires- Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen
Selection
With Kumar out Prassana Jayawardene comes in to take the gloves but will bat down the order. It also looks like the pair of veterans in Atapattu and Jaysuria will open the innings together with Tharanga missing out (Atapattus first game since late 2005) The bowling line up should consist of 3 paceman in Vaas, Malinga and Fernando with Murali the spinner and can use Jaysuria as back up. The Australiana had the hard ask of replacing three champions this summer, They have gone with Phil Jaques for the empty opening position after a great start to the summer. One of either Johnson or Hilfenhaus will make their debuts in for Glen McGrath and IMO it will Johnson on his home turf. Also Stuart MacGill finally gets his chance as No 1 spinner for Australia with Brad Hogg being sent back to play Pura Cup.
Form
Sri Lanka would not be happy with their early tour form being smashed by Queensland early in the week, And with the injury to Kumar it doesnt help things at all. While saying that Australias form has not been so great either with all bowlers in this squad took a hammering in the last round of Pura Cup. (Lee, Johnson, Tait and MacGill) Ricky Ponting found some great form with the bat as did Matthew Hayden.
Key Players
Australia- Ponting, Hayden and Stuart Clarke
Sri Lanka- Jayawardene, Jaysuria and Malinga
Verdict
It is fantastic to see Test Cricket back and we will see plenty of it in the coming 6-8 months in a crammed schedule for the Aussies. In this game i will be going with Australia, the batting is very strong with Hayden and Ponting leading the way up top and then followed by the steady Hussey and Clarke. Sri Lankas strength is its bowling and will need to rely on Murali and Malinga to cause some major probelms to the Aussie top order. While the Aussies weakness is the bowling, Saying that i would back them in to knock over this top order from Sri Lanka. Stuart Clarke is a brilliant test bowler and will cause anybody in the world trouble. While question marks remain over Lee and to an extent Johnson at test level, they still have a quality spinner who is on the verge of 200 wickets and part timers in Pup and Symonds. I think Australia will win this Test match relatively comfortably unless rain intervenes (Which is forecasted for parts of the first 3 days).
