Australia v. Sri Lanka 2019

[Joseph41]

Any predictions for this series?

[MB_]

Sri Lanka didn't look too great against NZ so there's a good chance we can win 2-0. It will be interesting to see how we go with even more changes but Richardson looked pretty good in the ODIs and Patterson showed a lot of promise in the tour match. Players like Khawaja and Starc would want to step up after being quite disappointing against India.

[Joseph41]

Sri Lanka didn't look too great against NZ so there's a good chance we can win 2-0. It will be interesting to see how we go with even more changes but Richardson looked pretty good in the ODIs and Patterson showed a lot of promise in the tour match. Players like Khawaja and Starc would want to step up after being quite disappointing against India.

Pretty good start! Sri Lanka 3/58 at lunch.

How unlucky has Paine been at the toss? Haha.

[Yertle the Turtle]

Look, I know everyone said Aus did terribly against India, but I think that the scoreline doesn't really do an adequate job of showing how that series went. Aus won one, and were never entirely ruled out in 2 others. The scoreline could have easily been 3-0 to Aus instead of 2-1 against. Besides which, they lost key tosses, and players like Cummins showed their true value. Because of this, I'd say that Australia could/should easily win this series. Cummins and Richardson are both looking great, awesome show on debut by Jhye. Not convinced by Labuschagne over Pucovski, but we'll have to see as the series goes on. It's just possible that Aus won't really need their batting much...

[Quantum44]

Richardson has a lot of potential, although I have a feeling the selectors will annoyingly favour Starc and Hazlewood for the Ashes, even though Starc should go back to Shield to work on his game. It’s great to see a bowler who bowls a little slower but creates more swing.

[MB_]

Pretty good start! Sri Lanka 3/58 at lunch.

How unlucky has Paine been at the toss? Haha.

I think I read that Paine is 1/8 for the toss
It's now 7/102, I didn't think they'd fall away this quickly

[Lear]

Going to be a quick 3 day match, this one!

Australia been made to look good by Sri Lanka

[lzxnl]

Look, I know everyone said Aus did terribly against India, but I think that the scoreline doesn't really do an adequate job of showing how that series went. Aus won one, and were never entirely ruled out in 2 others. The scoreline could have easily been 3-0 to Aus instead of 2-1 against. Besides which, they lost key tosses, and players like Cummins showed their true value. Because of this, I'd say that Australia could/should easily win this series. Cummins and Richardson are both looking great, awesome show on debut by Jhye. Not convinced by Labuschagne over Pucovski, but we'll have to see as the series goes on. It's just possible that Aus won't really need their batting much...

Even with the tosses, Australia certainly should have won that 2-1. That first Test in Adelaide, our batsmen just collapsed. Had any two batsmen scored an extra 20 runs in each innings, we'd have won, and we had plenty that were dismissed for cheap change.

Seriously, Patterson is sort of expected to hit hundreds now, and part of me reckons our openers should be capable of putting on a partnership worth more than SL's current total, given SL's performance in the tour match.

[Joseph41]

Sounds like Burns and Head are recovering pretty well.

[Yertle the Turtle]

Looking a really good match at the moment, nice to see an Aussie batsman finally ton up. Any thoughts on who goes when Smith is fit? I lean towards Khawaja, as I really can't see anyone else to drop, whereas I don't see Warner fitting into the team at the moment, with Harris and Burns both looking good. Don't expect Head or Labuschagne to be dropped after their recent form, so I guess that leaves Khawaja, who hasn't been looking good lately. Any thoughts on whether Paine stays or not? I think he should, particularly after winning another toss Anyway, nice to see Aus dominating once again, though I'm not sure that it's entirely a good thing, covering up for the issues that are still there.

[Joseph41]

Looking a really good match at the moment, nice to see an Aussie batsman finally ton up. Any thoughts on who goes when Smith is fit? I lean towards Khawaja, as I really can't see anyone else to drop, whereas I don't see Warner fitting into the team at the moment, with Harris and Burns both looking good. Don't expect Head or Labuschagne to be dropped after their recent form, so I guess that leaves Khawaja, who hasn't been looking good lately. Any thoughts on whether Paine stays or not? I think he should, particularly after winning another toss Anyway, nice to see Aus dominating once again, though I'm not sure that it's entirely a good thing, covering up for the issues that are still there.

I'd pick Khawaja over Labuschagne every day of the week.

[Sine]

Looking a really good match at the moment, nice to see an Aussie batsman finally ton up. Any thoughts on who goes when Smith is fit? I lean towards Khawaja, as I really can't see anyone else to drop, whereas I don't see Warner fitting into the team at the moment, with Harris and Burns both looking good. Don't expect Head or Labuschagne to be dropped after their recent form, so I guess that leaves Khawaja, who hasn't been looking good lately. Any thoughts on whether Paine stays or not? I think he should, particularly after winning another toss Anyway, nice to see Aus dominating once again, though I'm not sure that it's entirely a good thing, covering up for the issues that are still there.

Khawaja would probably be first choice for the top 6 (not counting warner/smith) with Labuschagne and Burns also making the team as they look to have good temperaments. I don't think Harris or Head should be playing though - on flat decks they are fine but in England they wouldn't be able to cope. Smith will probably return but not as captain. Also mathew wade deserves a chance to play as a specialist bat at 6.

Paine, as much as I like him he isn't ideal to test cricket for batting - his keeping is fine though. His FC average is <30. However, i do still think its important to keep him as captain, can't really think of anyone else (maybe cummins)

For bowlers Lyon and Cummins are locks and Hazlewood should return so will be a toss up between Richardson/Starc. Richardson is better right now but they will probably choose Starc for the variety of having a left-armer + his connections.

Look, I know everyone said Aus did terribly against India, but I think that the scoreline doesn't really do an adequate job of showing how that series went. Aus won one, and were never entirely ruled out in 2 others. The scoreline could have easily been 3-0 to Aus instead of 2-1 against.

Sadly, I thought it was closer to 3-1 for India tbh and losing 2-1 was a very good scoreline given the way they played. Without rain Aus would've lost the last test comfortably by an innings (they would've easily been all out before 320 if they batted on day 4/5 at the SCG).

[Yertle the Turtle]

I'd pick Khawaja over Labuschagne every day of the week.

Me too, but he played a key role in the last test, while Khawaja has been out of form. Hence there is quite a possibility that Khawaja could be the drop. Personally I would like to try Wade out again instead of Paine, maybe try Glenn Maxwell in place of either Labuschagne or Head, adding that spinning option as well as a very good batsman, don't forget that ton in India. Another interesting question is who leads Australia in the World Cup? With Warner returning Finch could get the axe, Paine isn't in the team and Smith is banned from captaincy for another year. People have suggested Maxwell, and I must say his BBL captaincy has been really good for the Stars, including helping them improbably defend 134. Any thoughts on this?

[Joseph41]

^Sure, he played a key role in the last Test. But his scores so far: 0, 13, 25, 43, 38, 81, 6. Not a bad start by any means, but he has a First Class average of 33, and IMO Khawaja is one of our best bats, even if out of form.

Wade - not opposed to him batting at 6, but not at the expense of Paine.

Honestly, I'd go something like:

(1) Burns
(2) Harris
(3) Warner
(4) Khawaja
(5) Smith
(6) Head
(7) Paine (c) +
(8.) Cummins
(9) Richardson
(10) Lyon
(11) Hazlewood

[Sine]

Something similar to J41 (somewhat)

(1) Burns
(2) Warner
(3) Smith
(4) Khawaja
(5) Labuschagne
(6) Wade
(7) Paine (c) +
(8.) Cummins
(9) Richardson
(10) Lyon
(11) Hazlewood