Oz tour of SL, Jan 29 - Feb 13

[mikesiva]

1st Test, 29th January-2nd February 2025, Galle

2nd Test, 6th-10 February 2025, Galle

Only ODI, 13th February 2025, venue TBC

[sussexpob]

These back to back, same venue games where they use the same pitch for both matches really do fill me with dread. The game is being played at a venue famous for its dry, dusty wickets that break up into minefields and turn at right angles. Imagine scheduling 10 out of 14 days on a wicket that has historically behaved like that.

Probably get good odds on the second test being over by day 2.

Maybe they will do as Pakistan have done, and make the first test pitch a total flat pancake that takes 5-6 days to break up..... so we get one bore test of huge runs, followed by a second game where from day 2, its impossible to bat on

[andy]

Why is there one random ODI?

[sussexpob]

Why is there one random ODI?

Champions League beings in Pakistan after, doesnt it?

[andy]

Ah yes it does...one game seems pointless though?!

[bigfluffylemon]

Guess it's just a warm up for both sides.

Odd timing of a test series too.

[mikesiva]

Khawaja gets his century!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder if that's the most runs in the first hour of a Test, by Travis Head? Probably not, as the game has been played a long time, but 57 and out in the first hour is the sort of thing that once didn't happen.

Seem to remember a discussion during the last series, someone said he would open . Who got it right?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Head may well open in Sri Lanka

Maybe Alfie.

[alfie]

Monster score on the cards here...Australia 475/3 after four sessions , Khawaja on 204no... Smith (who really should have been out for just 1 yesterday) finally fell for 141 but no joy otherwise for the home team today. Haven't seen all of it but what I have has shown a determined Australian effort to grind the Sri Lankans down (Head did more of a "smash them in a blender version" - not that the run rate has been slow anyway) and I reckon they fancy batting once. Sri Lankan fielding has let them down a few times - and cost plenty. Inglis came in at a fairly nice time for a debut and has already gathered 44 at nearly run a ball.

Good toss to win , I think.

[sussexpob]

There is a Siberian proverb that says its only truly cold when you can speak and overtake the sound of your own voice.... I think this pitch is so slow, the bowler could get to the other end and bat his own delivery if he wanted to.

Its Galle, so I expect at some stage on Day 4 and 5 it might start rocketing around a lot. Hard to see SL avoiding a big defeat with 600 on the board.

[Arthur Crabtree]

At least modern RRs keep the result live for longer.

Good Test for Aussie's yesterday's men, Smith and Khawaja.

So used to the Aussies picking the same attack, there is some novelty with these bowlers.

[mikesiva]

Australia 654-6 declared

Khawaja 232
Smith 141
Inglis 102
Head 57
Carey 46*

Jayasuriya 3-193
Vandersay 3-182

[Arthur Crabtree]

So used to the Aussies picking the same attack, there is some novelty with these bowlers.

Doing well, given the reported flatness of the pitch.

[andy]

Surprised Sri Lanka have only used 4 bowlers and dhanjaya hasn't bowled himself...