Australian Tour to Sri Lanka - Jan 2025

[Lightning McQueen]

SL should be winning this series , quite possibly 2-0
Likely that the decks will have more spin than the Gee Whiz

I think the West Indies showed that the home team preparing "Gee Whiz" pitches doesn't mean certain success by knocking off Pakistan

NZ also clean Swept India on their Gee Whizzes 3 zip

Australia would be $1.01 if the series was played in Australia
I dont think a Gee Whiz pitch is necessarily enough to bridge the gap between the 2 teams.

We were worlds apart last time we toured and they absolutely pantsed us in the 2nd test.

[Booney]

Inglis a lock

[Lightning McQueen]

Inglis a lock

Probably my biggest gripe of how they'll line up.

[Jim05]

Inglis a lock

Probably my biggest gripe of how they'll line up.

Yeah, I’m not convinced he will make it.
Has earnt his shot due to weight of runs in the SS but he still looks a tad suspect IMO

[Lightning McQueen]

Inglis a lock

Probably my biggest gripe of how they'll line up.

Yeah, I’m not convinced he will make it.
Has earnt his shot due to weight of runs in the SS but he still looks a tad suspect IMO

I'm a bit salty on the treatment of McSweeney, got chucked in the absolute deep end when we needed an opener so I feel as though he deserves a shot at where he has learnt his craft and earned the opportunity..

[The Bedge]

I'm a bit salty on the treatment of McSweeney, got chucked in the absolute deep end when we needed an opener so I feel as though he deserves a shot at where he has learnt his craft and earned the opportunity..

I agree

[Rik E Boy]

Let's burn another young player just to extend the career of Usman who is older than Dave Warner. Last year we should have blooded youth and another opportunity has gone begging here. I feel Konstas was given a licence to bash and after batting the way he was instructed they promptly turfed him out of the side...why, because of one poor shot?

regards,

REB

[The Bedge]

If Khawaja fails this series, you'd suspect he'd be closer to the door than not - but he has a reasonable record on the sub continent.

What is alarming is his last century came back in June 2023. His Boxing Day 50 probably saved him from being axed already.

[whufc]

Inglis a lock

Probably my biggest gripe of how they'll line up.

Yeah, I’m not convinced he will make it.
Has earnt his shot due to weight of runs in the SS but he still looks a tad suspect IMO

I'm a bit salty on the treatment of McSweeney, got chucked in the absolute deep end when we needed an opener so I feel as though he deserves a shot at where he has learnt his craft and earned the opportunity..

Agree. McSweeney should have been the next in line midddle order batsmen.

[whufc]

Let's burn another young player just to extend the career of Usman who is older than Dave Warner. Last year we should have blooded youth and another opportunity has gone begging here. I feel Konstas was given a licence to bash and after batting the way he was instructed they promptly turfed him out of the side...why, because of one poor shot?

regards,

REB

I obviously would love to see Konstas stay in the side but i reckon its their obsession with opening Head and Khawajas strong sub-continent record rather than the one shot Konstas played. It was clear and even more so in the aftermath that Konstas was instructed to bat the way he did.

[Booney]

Let's burn another young player just to extend the career of Usman who is older than Dave Warner. Last year we should have blooded youth and another opportunity has gone begging here. I feel Konstas was given a licence to bash and after batting the way he was instructed they promptly turfed him out of the side...why, because of one poor shot?

regards,

REB

He played way more than one bad shot but apparently that's how they bat now.

[Lightning McQueen]

Let's burn another young player just to extend the career of Usman who is older than Dave Warner. Last year we should have blooded youth and another opportunity has gone begging here. I feel Konstas was given a licence to bash and after batting the way he was instructed they promptly turfed him out of the side...why, because of one poor shot?

regards,

REB

As much as I agree with you I also think that it would be unwise to have dropped Usman for this tour, I do think that Konstas could've learnt from opening up with him though with the view to replace Usman during the upcoming Ashes series.

[Lightning McQueen]

Let's burn another young player just to extend the career of Usman who is older than Dave Warner. Last year we should have blooded youth and another opportunity has gone begging here. I feel Konstas was given a licence to bash and after batting the way he was instructed they promptly turfed him out of the side...why, because of one poor shot?

regards,

REB

He played way more than one bad shot but apparently that's how they bat now.

Come on Pops, embrace the changes.

[Jim05]

Can’t believe that people don’t think Usman is getting a farewell Ashes tour.
Is an absolute lock

[whufc]

Can’t believe that people don’t think Usman is getting a farewell Ashes tour.
Is an absolute lock

I think most of the boys that helped Ronnie get the job have a 'retire when you want' clause locked in

[The Bedge]

I wonder if Khawaja and Inglis are also preferred as left handers against Jayasuriya?

[Booney]

Murphy in, no Boland

[RB]

I do think that Konstas could've learnt from opening up with him though with the view to replace Usman during the upcoming Ashes series.

If that's the way the selectors are thinking then we're in more trouble than I thought.

You don't aim to be replacing a player 'during' a series, let alone an Ashes series. We've got 5 or 6 tests this year before the Ashes to be finding our best lineup.

I just look at Khawaja being 38, in patchy form and without a big score in a while, the probability of him making runs in the Ashes is low. Not zero, but really low.

Occam's razor, folks - I really don't think it could be much clearer that it's in the interests of the team for Khawaja to be the first dropped, and I've never previously had anything bad to say about the bloke or his batting.

If Uzzie can make major runs in the Shield next season before the Ashes, and there's a place for him due to injury/another batsman's poor form, then by all means consider him. But runs should be the prerequisite IMO.

[Jim05]

Pitch doesn’t seem to be a raging turner and a bit of rain around the next few days. Days 3 and 4 could get a decent shower if it goes that long

[The Bedge]

Pitch doesn’t seem to be a raging turner and a bit of rain around the next few days. Days 3 and 4 could get a decent shower if it goes that long

Mate of mine loaded up on the draw at $6.50 early this morning - so i looked at it, but most the rain is forecast overnight each day.