Sri Lanka v. Australia - 2nd. Test

[Donny]

500th. Test wicket for Muttiah Muralitharan. Kaspa.

I'm not sure what was more impressive. Murali's 500th. wicket or MacGilla hitting him for a boundary.

[Donny]

MacGill just passed Langer, Martyn, Symonds, Gilly and Kaspa and equalled Lehmann and Dizzy with one shot. A four over first slip to race to 8.
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Warney gone for 18. Caught by Murali. All out for 120. Australia's lowest total against Sri Lanka.

[JLC]

Warne will save the Aussies bacon yet again so no need to worry this low total just means the Aussies will win the game quicker. I dont rate Sri Lankas batsman that highly.

Hayden showed his class with a 50 which was almost 50% of the team total.

jlc

[Donny]

How badly is Jayasuriya out of form ?

Kaspa strikes first. 1/6.
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1/30 at tea.

[Donny]

Kaspa gets two more. He has 3/20 from 7 overs. It's 3/49.

[Canberra]

Interesting that 10 of the 14 wickets to fall so far have gone to pacemen. No sign of the Aussie spinners yet.

[Donny]

4/62. Dizzy got Sangakkara for 5.
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Warne on. Wicket.

Jayawardene for 17.
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And another. Dilshan, first ball. Warne on a hatty.
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Vaas digs it out and gets a single.
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6/69. Warne has 2/9 from 3 overs

[Donny]

Warney strikes again. This time it's the skipper, Tillakaratne for 16. A wonderfully subtle delivery. A feather edge and Gilly pounced.

What an enthralling day of Test cricket. 17 wickets for 212 runs.

In these days of the bat dominating, it's great to see a day like this.

Warne has 3/15.

[piedys]

[JLC]

It is only a short term solution and the batting line up of Sri Lanka is not that strong.

He is still a fill in player with McGrath missing.

Good luck to Kaspa as he has bowled well.

jlc

[Donny]

Full marks to the Aussie selectors for picking Kaspa.

Once again, it's not always the best policy to play a promising youngster when a vacancy appears.

They have done the right thing bringing Tait into the squad but, barring a couple of injuries, he's a while off playing his first Test.

Some would see it as a retrograde step bringing Lehmann, Kaspa and Warne into these Tests because of their age but don't their performances justify their selection ?

The fact that Australia had 4 changes - the 3 mentioned and Symonds - in the first Test team from the Sydney Test, indicates the constant state of change the Aussie team is going through.

The fears of a sudden changing of the guard and it's accompanying drop off in team strength, as suffered by the Windies (and Australia after Lillee, Marsh and Greg Chappell retired together), has been taken into account and, these days, we also have the ODI squad to blood young players.

I'd like to see Australia A get a few more games than they do. Perhaps a winter tour overseas to play some of the second tier cricket nations.

This team should comprise the younger brigade. Say under 25s. North, White, Hauritz, Clarke, Dave Hussey, Wise, Watson, Cosgrove etc. They would gain valuable touring experience and learn how to handle different wickets and conditions.

[JLC]

Please dont mention Warne in the same category as Lehmann and Kaspa.

Warne is an out and out Champion.

jlc

[Donny]

Kaspa again into the action. He takes his 4th. wicket as Zoysa gets an edge to Gilchrist.

8/111.

[JLC]

This small total scenario reminds me of that Test in India where the Indians just snuck home. (I know that was a second Innings but this was first innings). The tail have snuck Sri Lanka afirst innings lead.

jlc

[JLC]

Why doesnt Ponting replace Kaspa with the tail end specialist in MacGill ??

Personally i would have MacGill and Warne in tandem to the tailender

jlc