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SCG: Another wash out?
Friday, 8 February 2008 - 12:11 PM SL Time
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If you are thinking of obtaining leave from work to see Sri Lanka take on Australia, might not be a very good idea.
The weather predictions are for thundershowers as rain continues here in Australia and three matches into the Commonwealth Bank Series, all three participants are yet to win or lose a game.
Sri Lanka of course has a lot of reasons to grumble. They felt that the 268 target that the Indians set them on a perfect batting wicket and a fast outfield at the Gabba was an opportunity missed, and they have more reasons to worry as the SCG wicket suits their players more than any other venue in Australia.
Sri Lanka has won the last four of the five games played at the SCG.
`SCG has been always helpful to us, especially our slow bowlers. This in fact has been a good hunting ground for us and that`s why probably they don`t give us a Test match here,` Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene told journalists.
`Unfortunately we have no control over the weather. We just need to get a game in and hopefully, we`ll kick start the tournament tomorrow. It`s been seven days now and we haven`t finished a game as yet,` Jayawardene said as his team was yet again forced to train indoors due to heavy rain.
So bad was the weather that the ground staff even couldn`t take the covers off to let the Sri Lankans have a look at the pitch.
If things clear up, the tourists will rely a lot on their slow bowlers.
Jayawardene felt that the absence of leg-spinner Malinga Bandara, who took four wickets against Australia in an ODI two years ago, will not affect his side too much.
Bandara`s exclusion ahead of Nuwan Kulasekara has come in for criticism from many corners, but Jayawardene backed the decision to leave out the leg-spinner. `We have enough spinners in the squad. Even in the past, we haven`t played two spinners often. We have gone with just one specialist spinner and the part time bowlers have come in and done the job for us,` he said.
This will be also the first time both teams meet after the World Cup final in Barbados and Jayawardene said Sri Lanka was looking forward to the contest. `The guys have been waiting for this opportunity. It`s a challenge for us to play Australia as they play good cricket. We enjoy coming here and playing good cricket and we tend to have that extra bit when we play them,` Jayawardene added.
Jayawardene was full of praise for Ishara Amarasinghe, who playing only his second ODI returned figures of 10-2-30-1, on a good batting track at the Gabba on Tuesday. `Ishara has worked really hard. He`s been around for a while and he`s not a youngster anymore. It has taken some time for him to develop and realise his potential. He`s done well with the `A` team and I thought he bowled well and more importantly, he wasn`t overwhelmed by the occasion.`
One man who has played a massive role in Sri Lanka`s success story at the SCG is Sanath Jayasuriya.
His form at the venue has been such that he`s a very popular figure in Sydney. Jayasuriya`s scores in his last five innings in Sydney are 65, 122, 106, 114 and 0. Weather permitting, there`ll be more fireworks from Jayasuriya and in that case, the risk of obtaining leave from work is worth taking.
Australia (Probable XI):
Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (Capt), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken.
Sri Lanka (Probable XI): Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Ishara
Amarasinghe and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Australian Tri-Series
Team M W L T NR BP Pts
India 2 0 0 0 2 00 04
Australia 1 0 0 0 1 00 02
Sri Lanka 1 0 0 0 1 00 02
(five points for a win NR-no result BP-bonus point) - Day-night matches unless noted, start times are GMT Sunday, Feb. 3 at Brisbane
India 194 all out, Australia 51-3, match abandoned, rain (no result). Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Brisbane
India 267-4, Sri Lanka did not bat, match abandoned, rain (no result). Friday, Feb. 8 at Sydney
Australia vs. Sri Lanka, 0315 Sunday, Feb. 10 at Melbourne
Australia vs. India, 0315 Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Canberra
Sri Lanka vs. India (day) 2300 Monday Friday, Feb. 15 at Perth
Australia vs. Sri Lanka, 0230 Sunday, Feb. 17 at Adelaide
Australia vs. India, 0315 Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Adelaide
Sri Lanka vs. India Friday, Feb. 22 at Melbourne
Australia vs. Sri Lanka, 0315 Sunday, Feb. 24 at Sydney
Australia vs. India, 0315 Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Hobart
Sri Lanka vs. India (day) 2300 Monday Friday, Feb. 29 at Melbourne
Australia vs. Sri Lanka, 0315 Sunday, March 2 at Sydney
First Final (top 2 teams), 0315 Tuesday, March 4 at Brisbane
Second Final, 0315 Wednesday, March 7
Third Final, if necessary, 0315
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Damed
Joined: Jun 2006
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 8 Feb 2008 10:06:48 GMT Report for Abuse
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Muppet's,
Another sloppy Batting performance.
125/10 31.3 overs.
Openers to Middle order and finally All rounders.
Edited By - Damed - 8 Feb 2008 10:07:36 GMT |
raigamakolla
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 8 Feb 2008 11:18:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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| We have lost the match! Too late. Good performance but we lost. Operation successful but the patient died. |
nmaya
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 8 Feb 2008 12:38:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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Disgusting irresponsible batting performance. mahela played a completely unnecessary arrogant shot and got out when everything was going so well. it was completely unnecessary and as captain he shuda had better judgement.
also tharanga and c silva have been having a free ride for too long. throw these two out and and bring in dilruwan and maharoof for the next game. maharoof is much needed as the fifth strike bowler to keep the pressure on in the middle overs. part timers are leaking way too many runs. its criminal that kapugedara gets a full quota of ten overs while maharoof sits on the bench. |
zaharan
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 9 Feb 2008 04:52:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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SCG is well known as a spin friendly wicket but I am surprised that, Sanath nor Dilshan was never given a bowl.
Mahela's dismissal was a big blow in the chase, he should have tried to play second fiddle to Sangakkara, who was batting beautifully at the other end.
Tharanga's struggle on bouncy tracks continue, Dilruwan is raring to go so why not, give this man a chance and this move can also unsettle the opposing bowlers rhythm, with a left (Sanath) and right opening combination.
its criminal that kapugedara gets a full quota of ten overs while maharoof sits on the bench.
Maya,
Agreed.......it would have been a toss up on whom to play, I think Maharoof will get the nod ahead of Kapu against the Indians. |
Damed
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 9 Feb 2008 05:34:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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Zaha,
Track was less live and Pace Friendly,which made difficult for Aussie Batsmen.
Spin friendly but cloudy conditions, even made Murali struggle to get good returns.
May be the reason why Mahela not use any other spinners.
All together bowlers did well to contain Aussie Bating to 250,But Again Lankan Batsman including Captain failed to stay at the middle.
Aussies pacer's bowled well on, line and length to rip through Lankan middle order.
chubarak will have a chance. |
zaharan
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9 Feb 2008 06:05:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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Spin friendly but cloudy conditions
Damed,
Our slow bowlers have won us many matches by giving us vital breakthroughs, performances include even bowling with the dew factor, anyway Mahela thinks otherwise.
If cloudy conditions were taken into consideration, then Maharoof should have been preferred ahead of Kapu.
Our batting has to click for sure, if we are to stay in contention.....taking a gamble in trying out other players in the squad could pay dividends. |
Eelanka
Joined: Feb 2008
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 10 Feb 2008 06:44:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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| It is often said this particular stadium is a bit lucky for the Lankans, now I understand it all is in practise and not luck! |
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13 Feb 2008 04:06:37 GMT