First Test. Caps v. Lankans. Galle.

[Donny]

First Test. Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first.

From 0/64, NZ lost 3/7, including Williamson for a blob.

Akila Dananjaya took all 3 wickets.

Now, 3/157, Taylor 56*, Nicholls 36*

[K]

Yes, I was going to post in the other thread that the best batsman in the world was out for a duck today.

This might be the only cricket we see today. Can the Ashes broadcaster switch to this game?

[K]

Dananjaya, who is listed by cricinfo as (ob/lb), now has 5/50.

[Donny]

5/179. Rain delay.

Taylor 70*, Nicholls out for 42.

Cricinfo has it correct, re. Dananjaya. The Cricket.com.au site is giving the wickets to Parera.

[Donny]

It's only Dananjaya's 6th Test.

His 5fa, today, takes his tally to 32 wickets. @ 22 runs per wicket. Outstanding numbers. Probably a Murali protege.

[Pies4shaw]

[Donny]

Smith only lost his ICC #1 ranking because he missed Tests.

After the first Ashes Test, the ratings were: 1. Kohli (922) 2. Williamson (913) and 3. Smith (903).

[K]

I'm using my own judgement, not the ICC's rankings.

(I'll say this in Virat's favour: of those, he's the most suited to the hit-and-giggle stuff, if you take those forms of the game seriously.)

[Donny]

Not impressed with his 25 Test tons, mate ?

Also, his 20 Test 50s make his conversion rate close to the best ever. Will check.

[Donny]

Of batsmen with 10 Tests or more, Kohli is third, behind Bradman and Headley (Windies).

Smith, Clarke, Hayden and Younis Khan of recent modern day players are numbers 9 to 12.

Williamson is 68th.

[K]

Well, I haven't looked up how many centuries Kane and Virat and others have. If we want numbers, the average matters more to me than the number of centuries, but clearly they don't tell the full story. I mean, for starters, Steve bats lower than the others.

[Donny]

5/203. Stumps.

Taylor 86*.

[K]

Meanwhile, they are showing Brett Lee bowling and Bill Lawry commentating.

"Only 21 years of age." Who, Bill? Brett?

Hmm...

----------------------------------------------

Both Tests are delayed by rain. (Stumps called in SL, we're told.)

Time for Nicksters to catch up on all the posts in Nick's Sports Bar.

[Donny]

If Ross Tailor converts his 86* to a ton, it'll be his 19th. at Test level.

He also has 30 half tons.

[K]

He's probably underrated outside NZ.

And it looks like he was the victim of ridiculous NZC politics, as I quoted in the ODI WC thread (during a different rain delay), in the four posts starting here:

http://magpies.net/nick/bb/viewtopic.php?p=1916962#1916962

e.g. Martin Crowe: "Over the last week NZC destroyed the soul of Ross Taylor, easily our best player."