Sri Lanka v. Australia - 3rd Test

[JLC]

Oh please Tendulkar is a world wide sportsman. Tendulkar has been very consistent for around a decade otherwise he would not be averaging 57 runs an innings.

Also please check what i wrote as i cant seem to find where i mentioned there names in the same sentence either.

jlc

[Donny]

Boof bowling saviour

By Malcolm Conn in Colombo


DARREN LEHMANN complemented his exceptional series with the bat by becoming Australia's saviour as a bowler during the final Test against Sri Lanka.

The South Australia captain followed his innovative 153 with 2-33 from 11 overs as Sri Lanka captain in waiting Marvan Atapattu (109 not out) took his side to 2-239 at stumps on the second day in reply to Australia's 401.

Atapattu brought up his 12th century in 71 Tests and first against Australia with a wonderful cover drive off Brad Williams through a packed off-side field for his 16th boundary.

Lehmann's success with his occasional left-arm orthodox highlighted the folly of dropping leg-spinner Stuart MacGill in such hot conditions on a dry and dusty pitch, particularly now that Australia will bowl last.

MacGill's replacement, Williams, was used for only eight overs yesterday.

Even Simon Katich, who has been struggling with an injured bowling hand, sent down eight overs of left-arm wrist spin.

Despite going wicketless last week in Kandy for the first time in his 32-Test career, MacGill still has one of the best strike rates of any Australian bowler with more than 150 wickets, and the best by a spinner. Among that elite group only Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Jeff Thomson and Jason Gillespie have taken wickets more regularly.

MacGill has a right to feel aggrieved. It would not be the first time.

In a match where spinners have so far taken most of the wickets, another marathon performance by Muttiah Muralitharan has further enhanced his battle with Shane Warne for the world record number of wickets.

Murali finished with 5-123 from 37.1 overs and now has 510 wickets. By contrast, Warne finished with 0-58 yesterday and now has 511.

Already with 25 wickets for the series, Murali would need to take all 10 in Australia's second innings to pass Courtney Walsh's 519. Warne requires a more realistic nine with a maximum 18 Sri Lankan wickets remaining in the match.

Warne received some harsh treatment from Sanath Jayasuriya (71) as he and Atapattu had a record opening partnership against Australia of 134.

Jayasuriya threw away a century by slogging the second ball from Lehmann to Jason Gillespie at long-on, who slid forward to hold a fine catch.

The former Sri Lankan captain faced just 78 balls, hitting nine fours and a six off Warne.

Lehmann's second wicket came in less clear circumstances. Kumar Sangakkara (22) was given out caught behind by umpire Steve Bucknor when the bat appeared to crash into the front pad but missed the ball.

Australia resumed at 6-314, with Lehmann (104no) and Warne (seven not out) continuing a partnership which netted 77 runs.

Warne went on to make 32 before he was somewhat unluckily leg before wicket sweeping at Murali.

Gillespie was caught bat-pad at silly point off Murali for a duck and Michael Kasprowicz (4) was bowled by a ball from the occasional left arm finger spin of Jayasuriya which turned past the outside edge of his bat.

In the end Lehmann sacrificed his wicket for his country, caught at deep cover slogging. He batted for exactly six hours and faced 268 balls, hitting 14 fours and two sixes.

The 34-year-old is now averaging almost 55. It is even more impressive when taken from the time he was recalled to replace Mark Waugh at the beginning of the previous season against England.

[Donny]

Aussies thank Lehmann

From correspondents in Colombo - Fox


IF not for Darren Lehmann's ability with bat and ball Australia would have been in a very deep hole in the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo today.

Century-maker Lehmann turned wicket-taker on the second day of the final match but even his efforts couldn't stop Sri Lanka driving into a strong position.

At stumps the home side was 2-239 with Marvan Atapattu on 109 and Mahela Jayawardene on 29.

Australia lead by 162 after Lehmann's 153 helped the tourists reach 401 batting first. It was a reasonable score but one made to look insufficient by Sri Lanka's top order.

And if Lehmann hadn't rolled up to secure two critical wickets with his left-arm off-spin, Australia could have been in real strife.

Just before tea, Lehmann came on for what should have been a couple of overs but within two balls he had the vital wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya, caught at long-on by Jason Gillespie for 71, off 78 balls.

Lehmann's eighth over netted Sri Lanka's second wicket when Kumar Sangakkara was caught behind for 22, although Adam Gilchrist didn't look convinced and replays showed the ball brushed Sangakkara's pad.

Lehmann's contribution was critical as Australia looked as if it had made the wrong decision with its bowling attack for this game.

The Australians broke away from the team which won the first two Tests, sacking legspinner Stuart MacGill in favour of pace bowler Brad Williams.

Yet today, by the time Lehmann had bowled 11 overs of his part-time spin, Williams's contribution had been just four overs.

When Lehmann tired, the Aussies turned to another part-time spinner in Simon Katich and it was obvious the lack of another specialist spinner could yet cost the world champions as they press for a 3-0 series sweep.

In the 22 years since Sri Lanka was admitted to Test cricket, it has never lost a series 3-0 at home and was looking to maintain that record after going down 2-0 in Galle and Kandy.

In playing for pride, the home side delivered the best opening partnership of the series from either side and a record stand against Australia of 134.

With Sri Lanka delivering its best batting of the series, the omens weren't good for Shane Warne's world record bid.

After ripping out Sri Lankan batsmen at the rate of one ever six overs so far in the series, Warne bowled without success in a 16-over spell either side of tea, going for 56 runs.

He bowled two more overs before stumps, again without reward.

Warne came into the game with 511 wickets and was searching for nine to beat Courtney Walsh's mark of 519 scalps.

By the end of day two he was still stuck on 511.

Earlier, Lehmann carried Australia passed 400 before he was the last man out just before lunch.

Australia, resuming at 6-314, added 87 this morning, with Lehmann going from 104 to 153.

It was the third 150 of his career and it came up in 262 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.

His innings makes him the leading batsman in the series with 374 runs at an average of 79.80 with another innings to come.

[Donny]

Dizzy strikes !!

After his sub standard bowling yesterday, Gillespie took 2 wickets in successive deliveries in the opening over. Jayawardene for 29 and Dilshan for a 'golden'.
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Kaspa produced a big offie and bowls Tilla for 118. 5/256.
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5/293 as the Aussie bowlers toil away in the heat.

[Blanch]

If we are going to get picky please read what I wrote - I didn't say you mentioned them in the same sentence...just said please don't mention them, but I'll take that because we aren't getting picky . The point is you were making a parallel between the two people.....I was suggesting that one was a little (a lot) above the other in terms of consistency.

We probably all agree that his 30 possessions now have far greater impact that his 40 used to...right? He's so much more a team player now than the late 90's. Tendulkar (and just about the rest of the indian team) has had articles written about their lack of "team before individual" attitude.

Tendulkar at one stage was the best batsman in the world...that I agree with, but so was Damian Martyn at one stage.

[Donny]

Boofa strikes again !! Zoysa stumped.

8/382.
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All out 407. Lead by 6. Tilla 74 n.o.

Lehmann took 3/50, Dizzy, 3/96 and Kaspa and Warney each took 2.

[Donny]

After 10 overs, Australia is 0/33 with Hayden on 33 n.o.
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At stumps, it's 3/80. Hayden made 28, Ponting, 20 and Langer is 29 n.o.

[Donny]

Match ref charges Langer

From correspondents in Colombo - Fox


JUSTIN LANGER's reputation is on the line after the Australian opener was charged with bringing the game into disrepute after a controversial incident during the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Match referee Chris Broad was tonight set to decide whether Langer made an innocent mistake or was guilty of a more sinister action after he dislodged a bail while fielding during Sri Lanka's first innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Langer claimed to be unaware of incident but the umpires thought his actions required further investigation and reported him to the match referee.

Langer was charged with a level one misconduct offence and Broad was set to conduct a hearing after play finished on the third day.

If found guilty, Langer can be fined up to 50 per cent of his $11,000 match fee.

Australia were 3-80 at stumps – an overall lead of 74 after Sri Lanka made 407 in reply to Australia's first innings of 401.

Langer was not out on 29.

Matthew Hayden fell leg before wicket to Chaminda Vaas for 28.

Ricky Ponting was out in the second-last over the day, caught at first slip by Thilan Samaraweera off the bowling of Rangana Herath for 20.

And Australia's nightwatchman scheme failed when Jason Gillespie was caught at leg slip for one off the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan in the final over.

Umpires David Orchard and Steve Bucknor reported Langer after a bizarre incident which defied explanation.

In the 16th over of the day play was stopped for several minutes as the umpires tried to figure out how a bail had ended up on the ground after Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillakaratne had played a ball from Brad Williams to fine leg and run a single.

Before the next ball was bowled, Australian captain Ponting saw the bail was down and appealed for Tillakaratne's dismissal, thinking his rival must have knocked it off in the course of playing his shot.

The matter was referred to the television umpire and after a few minutes vision was found showing Langer knocking off the bail with his hand as he walked past the stumps on the way to a new fielding position.

During the lunch break Langer said he was shocked to learn he had dislodged the bail and denied doing it on purpose although it's hard to believe he wouldn't have felt the contact with the stumps as he brushed by.

Australian manager Steve Bernard felt the matter serious enough to visit the match referee to push Langer's side of the story.

After the lunch break, Langer also explained the situation to the umpires but his claim of innocence didn't wash and he was reported for bringing the game into disrepute.

Langer's charge came on a mixed day for Australia and Shane Warne, whose world record charge has almost stalled.

Warne needs seven wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings to break the world record after being restricted to just two scalps in Sri Lanka's first dig.

Warne picked up two late wickets to finish with 2-115 off 36 overs as South Australian pair Jason Gillespie (3-96) and Darren Lehmann (3-50) finished with the bulk of the wickets to stifle their team-mate's bid for cricketing glory.

At one stage Warne looked like going wicketless when he had 0-99 through 28 overs.

But he snapped up the wickets of Vaas and Herath either side of tea.

After taking 20 wickets in the first two Tests, five in each of Sri Lanka's four innings, Warne had hit a wicket-taking brick wall in this match until he picked up the two tailenders.

He came into the game with 511 wickets and was searching for nine to beat Courtney Walsh's mark of 519 scalps.

He now has 513.

Rival Muralitharan's five wicket haul in Australia's first innings and one more today leaves him on 511, two behind Warne.

Warne needs six wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings to equal the world record and seven to break it.

If he doesn't do that, Murali could soon beat him in the race for 520 scalps.

With Sri Lanka due to visit Zimbabwe before Australia tours there in May, Warne may find himself well behind a new record-holder by the time he plays his next Test.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillakaratne, playing for his career, made 74 not out as the home side stymied Australia's bid for a 3-0 series whitewash.

Sri Lanka have never lost a series 3-0 at home and the match is evenly poised with two days to play.

[Donny]

Langer charge dismissed

From correspondents in Colombo - Fox


JUSTIN LANGER has been cleared of a misconduct charge after a hearing into a controversial incident during the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Match referee Chris Broad decided Langer had made an innocent mistake after he dislodged a bail while fielding during Sri Lanka's first innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club early on the third day.

However, Broad reminded Langer to take more care in similar situations in the future.

"Justin was disappointed the charge was brought and explained his position in an honest and succinct way," Broad said.

Langer was relieved to be exonerated.

"I had absolutely no idea the bail had fallen off and if I had known I would have picked it up and put it straight back on," he said.

"I am glad common sense has prevailed and the match referee has come to this conclusion."

Langer was charged with a level one misconduct offence and Broad conducted a hearing after play finished but found the West Australian opener had no case to answer.

Langer, having been cleared, will resume his second innings on 29 when the fourth day gets underway with Australia on 3-80 at stumps – an overall lead of 74 after Sri Lanka made 407 in reply to Australia's first innings of 401.

[Donny]

Sanity prevailed.

I saw this incident. Nothing in it. To suggest Langer did this on purpose in an attempt to get a batsman out is ludicrous.

Apart from the integrity factor, how stupid would a player need to be to think it wouldn't be captured on one of the multitude of cameras covering every aspect of play ??

Whilst on this subject, I'm quite amazed Tillakaratne's actions in the second Test didn't come under more scrutiny. As Ponting was lunging forward from a very close offside position, taking a sharp bat pad chance, Tilla poked his bat at the ball (and Ponting's hands) as he caught it.

This was clearly deliberate. Tilla was 2 metres outside his crease. Nothing was made of it on the field at the time as the Aussies were jubilant at getting the wicket and were racing to surround Warne, the bowler.

From memory, Geoff Lawson said, "What was Tillakaratne doing !? If Ponting didn't take that catch, he could've been given out, obstructing the field" In all my years of watching and playing cricket, I've never seen a batsman do what Tilla did.

After stumps, I combed the reviews of the days play and found nothing.

Ok. I know things can happen on the spur of the moment - a 'rush of blood' a 'brain explosion' a 'refex action' - and the Sri Lankan captain may well be as honest and fair minded as the day is long but how that didn't rate a mention and Langer was charged with "bringing the game into disrepute" beats me.

[Donny]

2 quick wickets. Martyn (5) and Lehmann (1) both gone.

Come on, Kat. Here's your big chance.
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Langer's fighting hard here. He just hit Herath for a big 6 to go past 50.
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50 partnership up between Langer (77 n.o.) and Katich (12 n.o.) 5/148.

[Donny]

Century for Alfie !!

The partnership is 84. Katich has 19 of them.

Here's the perfect example, JLC.

Hayden, Ponting, Gillespie (nightwatchman) Martyn and Lehmann all gone for 98 so who stands up ? Justin Langer.
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The partnership goes to 103 and the total to 201. The lead is 195. By no means safe yet but this partnership is excellent.

Langer is 114 n.o. and Katich, a very patient 23 n.o.

[Donny]

The lead is 254 now and the partnership is 162. Katich has 47 of them.

Langer is 139 n.o. That's 110 today.

[Johnson#26]

With Langer. 1st of all well done on another fine century. 2nd, would the selectors find it annoying that Langer looks out of touch in a series before scoring a century in the last test. A century usually warrants selection in the next test unless you're unlucky Ie: Katich, so what would the selectors be thinking?

[commonwombat]

50 to Kat first ball after tea.

To answer yr question Johno, the selectors won't admit to anything but are probably thinking that they fell for a bit of a 3 card trick with Symonds selection for Tests 1 & 2.

A top class batsman, who can push it along as well as knuckle down, was sacrificed for an unsuccessful gamble on a talented young player who is sadly not specialist material in either discipline at this juncture.

As regards Katich, if he can establish any sort of tenure in the side (selectors willing), it would not surprise to see him batting higher in the order than 6.