Sports - Cricket
2ND TEST PREVIEW – SRI LANKA v AUSTRALIA
Even though still within the bounds of a domestic season down under, Australia travelled to Sri Lanka for a quick couple of test matches.
Check out the Racing And Sports Preview for the Sri Lankan Tests this summer with a betting idea at the end.SRI LANKA v AUSTRALIA
2nd Test
6 February – 10 February 2025 @ Galle
So you wander down the road and the village green has some Sunday League guys or gals trundling away enjoying a lovely game of cricket under the blazing Summer sun.
Well at least that is how it appeared at Galle in the opening Test, at least for the first 154 overs.
Some have even mused should they be counted as first class runs? Besides the odd good cherry, there was not a great deal of batting apprehension.
Tack onto that only four bowlers contributed at the crease, and the workload became more of a punishment. It looked like boys playing men and yet it was the men who were in foreign territories.
You also have to feel for Sam Konstas and to a lesser extent Nathan McSweeney. After effectively facing Darth Vadar over the five tests at home, the next in line have ended up being 22 yards from Grogu (Baby Yoda for the non Star Wars fans). It was a much easier battle.
And in no way is that meant to deny what Josh Inglis achieved in scoring a maiden Test ton (the first in a decade to do that) but oh how Konstas or McSweeney must have felt.
They missed the opportunity to cash in having done the hard yards on home decks. Surely they felt they had a right to bear fruit away.
Inglis looked assured and efficient on the turning track – clearly what the selectors thought would benefit the side while in those conditions. Given his experience in other forms, it was not like he was a true debutant but just one coming into another format.
Could he end up being the longer term answer, especially with the retirement soon of both Khawaja and Smith – albeit they too got to raise their bats?
Smith was of no surprise as the second half of his Indian series was so good. However Usman has pulled his highest test score from some undisclosed place.
And so the biggest score in Asia for Australia and their 13th best all time is an achievement but it kind of left you flat. Maybe, just maybe, coming off the attraction of the type of cricket in the Indian series, viewers were somewhat deflated as well.
As is so often the case, after being in the field for two days, Sri Lanka got to the middle and within 15 overs were three down. Some top catching for sure.
Kamindu Mendis does look a bit of player though. While he does love playing on his home track, his all over performances (home and away) indicate some quality. And he was duly acknowledged with ICC recognition.
What you have to like is his simple technique, stroke range and composure (most of the time). While others looked in trouble, he looked the most assured. You'd have to say he is Sri Lanka's man in the next decade as long as he curbs some enthusiasm.
There appeared more Australians in Galle than the locals and the opening two days were hardly competitive.
Having said that, just over two years ago Australia won the first of two back to back Galle Tests by 10 wickets on a very spin friendly deck. Sri Lanka made just 113 in the second dig.
But then second time around, they made the small measure of 554 via a Chandimal double and it easily wiped out Smith and Labuschagne hundreds. Rebounding is not just a basketball term.
Will Australia take the same or similar style into the next game? Could they give Cooper Connolly a game, allowing him to bowl his left arm orthodox in place of Murphy? Head could do any off spinning required.
You'd imagine this won't be a strip of the same style much as it wasn't in July of 2022. More spin than a political playbook this time. It is hard to imagine that non-subcontinental sides would look as good in those circumstances.
Get in early and do it quickly would be the mantra. A Head assault is on the cards. How long it lasts is questionable but it surely will be entertaining.
Let's just hope for a more competitive contest. Certainly one where the home side asks more questions with the ball. We don't need more lazy days and pitch perambulations.
| Suggested Bets First Innings: Travis Head +50 Runs @ $2.50 |
