Australia v Sri Lanka



1. Harris
2. Burns
3. Khawaja
4. Labuschagne
5. Head
6. Patterson
7. Paine (c)
8. Cummins
9. Starc
10. Richardson
11. Lyon

Fair enough, can't disagree too much with that XI, probably would've preferred Renshaw opening and Burns in the middle order in place of Marnus, but I'll hold off judgement until I see how they go.
 
Shame Pucovski isn't getting a gig but there are a lot of question marks about if he is too early or not, so no harm done there. Labamba shouldn't be there but he is, so would prefer he be given a couple of tests before likely being thrown in the fail basket. Renshaw should certainly not have been picked, he is just too out of form. Love that my man Richardson is in, he will do some damage.
 
My main problem with the team is Marnus at 4 and Patterson at 6, like, that just doesn't makes sense logistically. Put the more reliable guy at 4, and the guy at 6 who is more suited to an all-rounder / aggressive type role.
 
Will Burns get another chance? You'd think Australia could win by an innings here, and he failed again.
 
Will Burns get another chance? You'd think Australia could win by an innings here, and he failed again.

More importantly, will Khawaja? 1x 50 in his last 12 First Class innings at an average of 24.6 is pretty abysmal. Definitely an argument to be made that he should be making way before any of the others do based on recent form.
 
More importantly, will Khawaja? 1x 50 in his last 12 First Class innings at an average of 24.6 is pretty abysmal. Definitely an argument to be made that he should be making way before any of the others do based on recent form.

Certainly is but let’s hope the selectors have stopped this one or three bad innings and you’re out policy that applies to everyone not surnamed Marsh.

Usman played a fantastic innings in the UAE not too long ago. He is one of only three world class batsmen Australia has overall and the only one available. He shouldn’t and won’t be dropped just because he is out of touch.

Then again, with these selectors, who knows.
 
Will Burns get another chance? You'd think Australia could win by an innings here, and he failed again.

He should in the 2nd test, but I wouldn't count on it. If he doesn't get a dig in the 2nd innings he could be left out of the the 2nd test for Pukovski. It will be unfortunate if he doesn't play again because it will mean his last 3 tests were one test before being dropped. Hobart test v SA, Post sandpaper gate test v SA and D/N test v Sri Lanka. Pretty rough considering how many stretches someone like Marsh x 2 and others have had to cement their places.
 
Couple of quick wickets this morning has suddenly made this test a little interesting.
 
Good stuff from these 2, glad to see Marnus finally make some runs. I like him as a player, very controlled when he wants to be, just needs to buckle down and make a big one here.
 
He should in the 2nd test, but I wouldn't count on it. If he doesn't get a dig in the 2nd innings he could be left out of the the 2nd test for Pukovski. It will be unfortunate if he doesn't play again because it will mean his last 3 tests were one test before being dropped. Hobart test v SA, Post sandpaper gate test v SA and D/N test v Sri Lanka. Pretty rough considering how many stretches someone like Marsh x 2 and others have had to cement their places.

In defence of the Marsh's (there pretty much is minimal by the way), Mitch is an all rounder of the team and Shaun bats at 3-4 in the team. Joe is an opener so really had to contend with Harris and Finch post sandpaper gate and before that Warner and Renshaw. And its easy to sacrifice a rookie than someone who has been there for a long time and has scored runs in the past.
 
****. Really wanted Marinara Lasagne to get a 100. Hope Patterson goes well.
 
‘Classic’ Labuschagne dismissal. He locks that front leg down and is caught at mid wicket. India had two there waiting for him and in Shield they do it too. It’s his strength playing straight but he has to get that leg sorted. Alf and Sec work a lot on it. I watched Alf the other day using bottles to show where his leg should be.
 
Looks like Burns might get another chance to bat again after all.
 
In defence of the Marsh's (there pretty much is minimal by the way), Mitch is an all rounder of the team and Shaun bats at 3-4 in the team. Joe is an opener so really had to contend with Harris and Finch post sandpaper gate and before that Warner and Renshaw. And its easy to sacrifice a rookie than someone who has been there for a long time and has scored runs in the past.

You’ll actually find that SMarsh replaces Burns as opener in Sri Lanka 2 tests after Burns had got MOtM and made 177 agains5 NZ in NZ. Marsh did get a hundred, but you’d think they’d stick with a guy who got 2 hundreds at home and one recently in an away test.
 
Heading in today with my $70 ticket, so expecting Sri lanka to get rolled just before the end of the first session to ensure I don’t get my money’s worth. At least it’s Australia Day and I’ll have plenty of things to do if it does finish early.
 
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Heading in today with my $70 ticket, so expecting Sri lanka to get rolled just before the end of the first session to ensure I don’t get my money’s worth. At least it’s Australia Day and I’ll have plenty of things to do if it does finish early.

Well, at least it went longer than 1 session, haha.
Cummings absolutely tore them apart. I wonder how good his career will end up being...fingers crossed as one of our top 3 fast bowlers of all time alongside Lillee and McGrath.
 
I think there's a legitimate argument to have Cummins, Hazlewood & Richardson as our head pace attack for the Ashes. Starc has not been good recently.
 
I was listening this morning on the radio how the pitch is pretty much a road. They are really desperate for an Australian century this summer. Just one will do!
 
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