Rest of the World

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Big partnership in the context of the game. If they can add another 20-odd, the lead becomes noteworthy in a low scoring slug fest. As is Jansen showing he may well become a #7, while Keshav is playing with the poise of a man who has 3 Test 50s. Very organised. He probably has done himself a disservice, especially in a South African side both devoid of batsmen and obsessed with pace, in not working a little harder on his batting to be a #7.

Bangladesh bowled out in 19 overs, Maharaj 7/32.

Maharaj made short work of that ! Disappointing for Bangladesh after competing so well .

At least it shows it ain't just England that can get skittled for peanuts in the fourth innings

alfie wrote: 

At least it shows it ain't just England that can get skittled for peanuts in the fourth innings

Any innings.

Good winning by the boys in green. Lots of questions remain unanswered. No centurions again, which isn't ideal, and the back up pace bowlers were pretty innocuous. But Harmer and Maharaj did bowl extremely well. Its always amusing when Harmer's county numbers are brought up to show his supposed superiority, people ignore that Maharaj basically matched it on a smaller sample size, with 55 sticks in 8 games at 17 across two years. Pretty gaudy numbers but not surprising given Rory Burns is unironically the cream of the crop in County.

For South Africa, victory represents another step in the march to a spot in the World Test championship final. Australia are at the top of the table, but they've got to go to India. South Africa has to go to England, who seem to have the wood on us, but you'd probably rather England than India from a "how likely are we to win" perspective.

Bangladesh bowled out for 217 and 80 this time, South Africa cruising to a simple 2-0 win. Very disappointing for Bangladesh after the cussedness they showed v the Kiwis.

South Africa definitely in the hunt for a WTC final spot. England up next and a series South Africa will be confident of winning. It will be also ten years this summer since South Africa defeated England in England to take the-then coveted number one world ranking spot. Look at the teams for the first test of the 2012 series:

Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bopara, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson.
Smith, Petersen, Amla, Kallis, ABDV, Rudolph, Duminy, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Tahir.

What a dip in quality this summer's match-up will be compared to that.

I'm not so. The 2012 vintage's batting probably peaks higher, but both teams (South Africa and England) were rolled by Mitchell Johnson in an infinite hell loop for one summer against an Australian team no one thought was better than either, so I'm not convinced either side would actually look particularly impressive in modern conditions. It's no coincidence, I don't think, basically every batter in either side (except Kallis) ended their careers at relatively young ages because of form. Pitches have gotten a lot harder to bat on and it shows in modern averages - even Cook only got 8 tons in 60 odd Tests post 2013, and I'm fairly certain half of those were double tons on roads.

Basically I guess those sides were better, but I'm not sure the difference is what it would like on paper. If nothing else the South African 2022 vintage probably has a better bowling line up because they've got spin options and a 90mph left armer.

The return of test cricket tomorrow. Bangladesh taking on Sri Lanka in Bangladesh for two tests. Not exactly one to set the pulse racing, but it is the return of Shakib to Bangladesh's set-up, and Silverwood starts his new role as head coach of Sri Lanka, not long after the end of his miserable England stint.

Let's hope for competitive cricket, not some of the pancake flat wickets we've seen in recent months.

Duty281 wrote:The return of test cricket tomorrow. Bangladesh taking on Sri Lanka in Bangladesh for two tests.  Not exactly one to set the pulse racing, but it is the return of Shakib to Bangladesh's set-up, and Silverwood starts his new role as head coach of Sri Lanka, not long after the end of his miserable England stint.

Let's hope for competitive cricket, not some of the pancake flat wickets we've seen in recent months.

Don't think (?) this on TV in the UK - but checking the scorecard I see Angelo Matthews has scored a century to help Sri Lanka to 234-4 at time of writing. Looks like both sides are playing the extra spinner, with a fair bit of spin bowled on day one, so winning the toss and posting a score will have them in a dominant position if they can turn this to 400+

Out for 199 Angelo Mathews, that's cruel. I haven't seen the game, but 13 wickets have fallen in 3 days and Bangladesh are 318/3, so I think we can take a guess at what the pitch has been like.

Hundreds for Tamim and Mushfiqur gave Bangladesh a lead of 80-100 runs on first innings, Das with 88 too. Rajitha the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka (I believe as concussion sub?)

Sri Lanka looked to be cruising to end of play, but a direct hit from Taijul got Fernando and then he bowled Embuldeniya with a beauty in the final over to add a little intrigue to day 5…Sri Lanka still 50 odd behind with 8 wickets in hand. If Bangladesh can get one or two of Karunaratne/Mathews/Chandimal early, the game could get spicy very sharply.

Btw if you want to catch some good quality highlights - they can be found here on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/RabbitholebdSports
(presumably Bangladesh’s equivalent of Sky)

That first test ended in a draw with Sri Lanka batting out the final day...

Test two underway today and bizarre first days play really - Bangladesh winning the toss and batting first, and crumbling to 24-5 in the first 7 overs of play with Rajitha and Fernando doing the damage with the new ball!

But then, not one more wicket fell all day as Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim both racked up hundreds in a yet unbeaten stand of 253 to end the day 277-5!

Would say I think the game is in the balance, Bangladesh have done obviously some exceptional repair work, but the pitch from the highlights is a pancake at the moment, and anything below 400 is well under par. Really losing 5 wickets that early on was criminal batting.
The good thing is Liton and Mushfiqur are still in, and they have Mosaddek to come in at 8 who can bat a bit too. Really need to continue on in the morning session, as with Mehedi and Nayeem both injured, it is only really Taijul and Shakib who offer proper spin threat (Mosaddek can bowl well at times, but is a 5th bowler at best).

Bangladesh ended up 365 all out, in an innings that included 6 batters getting ducks! That is tied for the most in a test innings...but shatters the previous highest score with 6 ducks in an innings, with 365 all out topping the 152 all out from 2014 India vs England!

That partnership was also the highest % of a team total by 2 players in a test innings - 86.57% between Mushfiqur and Liton (316/365 runs), replacing the 85.13% from Wessels/Kirsten for South Africa in 1992 vs West INdies (126/148)

Pakistan are playing the West Indies in a three-match ODI series in extreme conditions in Multan - in the first game yesterday temperatures were as high as 45c, with Pakistan chasing down 306 successfully.

Babar Azam notched another ton, meaning he's scored six tons and 1,000 runs in Pakistan's last 13 ODIs, and is currently averaging 91 at a SR of nearly 104 in the ODI Super League. One of the best in the world.

Really like Pakistan's chances at the next World Cup. They've an excellent top four, Shaheen is one of the best in the world with the new ball, and there's able support from the likes of Shadab/Rauf/Ali in the bowling department. Plus conditions will be in their favour.

Imagine how much the ICC would love an India-Pakistan final!

If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Shakib is in for Bangladesh, but they're missing Mushfiqur. The West Indies, looking to build on their win v England, are nearly at full strength, though they are resting Holder which upsets the balance of their team somewhat.

Duty281 wrote:If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh 45/6 after 15 overs...

Lowlandbrit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh 45/6 after 15 overs...

77/7 now and possibly the worst last three I've ever seen in test cricket:

Mustafizur at 9. Test average of 4.5, FC average of 6.
Khaled Ahmed at 10. Test average of 0.5, FC average of 5.
Ebadot Hossain at 11. Test average of 0.7, FC average of 2.

Every day that passes, that win over New Zealand that Bangladesh achieved looks stranger and stranger.

Duty281 wrote:

Lowlandbrit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh 45/6 after 15 overs...

77/7 now and possibly the worst last three I've ever seen in test cricket:

Mustafizur at 9. Test average of 4.5, FC average of 6.
Khaled Ahmed at 10. Test average of 0.5, FC average of 5.
Ebadot Hossain at 11. Test average of 0.7, FC average of 2.

Every day that passes, that win over New Zealand that Bangladesh achieved looks stranger and stranger.

To be fair to them they compare favourably with England's top 3 over the last few years.

Duty281 wrote:

Lowlandbrit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh 45/6 after 15 overs...

77/7 now and possibly the worst last three I've ever seen in test cricket:

Mustafizur at 9. Test average of 4.5, FC average of 6.
Khaled Ahmed at 10. Test average of 0.5, FC average of 5.
Ebadot Hossain at 11. Test average of 0.7, FC average of 2.

Every day that passes, that win over New Zealand that Bangladesh achieved looks stranger and stranger.

Mullally, Tufnell and Giddens are fuming at this comment

VTR wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Lowlandbrit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:If your thirst for test cricket wasn't quite satisfied by the Trent Bridge game, worry not. The West Indies and Bangladesh start a two test series tomorrow in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh 45/6 after 15 overs...

77/7 now and possibly the worst last three I've ever seen in test cricket:

Mustafizur at 9. Test average of 4.5, FC average of 6.
Khaled Ahmed at 10. Test average of 0.5, FC average of 5.
Ebadot Hossain at 11. Test average of 0.7, FC average of 2.

Every day that passes, that win over New Zealand that Bangladesh achieved looks stranger and stranger.

Mullally, Tufnell and Giddens are fuming at this comment

Not as much as Lawrence, Buttler, Robinson.

Bangladesh, after a decent second innings, have set the West Indies 84 to win.

The West Indies are 9/3 late on day three. The pitch is doing absolutely everything, the bounce is incredibly uneven. Bangladesh actually may have had a good chance if they scored 50 more.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61899721

Sod The Hundred. It takes too long. It's time for the 6ixty.

Six wickets per side. Thirty balls from one end, then thirty from the other. Fans get to vote for a 'mystery free hit' where a batsman can't be dismissed on a certain delivery (England's test openers would like this innovation). Two PowerPlays, but batting sides will get a third if they manage two maximums in the first 12 balls.

All happening in the Caribbean this August for a five-day competition. They're hoping to attract quality overseas players by having a shorter tournament, but I can't see many coming over in an already packed schedule. And apparently this format will add 'strategic intrigue' and ensure that bowlers are 'not cannon fodder', but I don't see how.

Who on earth comes up with this garbage? We're going to end up with a format of one ball per side at this rate!

As with many innovations much of it is unnecessary or just plain dumb and won't catch on. As with all innovations there also tends to be grains of good stuff involved though.

Bowling half the innings from one end, half from the other I love. Cricket is a sport that at it's best requires a ton of time with f-all cricket going on. It drives me nuts that we pointlessly exacerbate that by changing ends every over.

A fielder being removed if the over rate is too slow is also interesting. It will need to mitigate for the often overlooked fact that the bowling side aren't the only team who slow things down. Maybe happens more in Test cricket but whenever overrates come up focus is on the bowling side. Batters slow things down very often too for various reasons though, not least if they just don't want to face as many balls due to conditions and game situation.

In the history of cricket I believe the only thing that hasn't been toyed with is the length of the pitch though. Everything else has evolved to allow the game to grow to where it is. The idea that cricket is an ancient game that shouldn't be messed with is myth. The game Bradman played is fundamentally different to the one Lillee played. The one Smith now plays is fundamentally different to Lillee's era. It's how sports survive by adapting. The many dumb adaption die off and the few good ones remain allowing the game to stay current.

West Indies beat Bangladesh 2-0 in their two-game test series. Some Bangladesh players had career averages in the high 50s going into this one...unfortunately they existed in their new ball bowlers, not any of their batting order!

Another test series begins tomorrow - Sri Lanka v Australia in Sri Lanka for two games. Australia bidding to follow up their unlikely series win in Pakistan with another sub-continent success against a team that, on paper, doesn't look as strong as Pakistan. Looks like Australia will have close to their strongest team available. Sri Lanka are actually on a decent test run, winning three of their last four series, albeit only against Bangladesh (home and away wins) and the West Indies. Australia will be quite a step up in quality, though Sri Lanka did win the recent five match ODI series between the sides (not part of the Super League, but the test series is part of the Test Championship).

Australia are presently top of the Test Championship (five wins, three draws, no losses) and will stay on course to make next year's final should they triumph here.

Would imagine it will be a different test for Australia in SL than it was in Pakistan. Hopefully we see some pitches similar to the ones England played on rather than the benign roads we saw in Pakistan, which I am sure is what will happen.

Starc was a machine the last time they toured in 2016 - 24 wickets at 15 in three Tests on the sub continent. Australia will be looking for him for early wickets as I was underwhelmed by Swepson in Pakistan.

That tour also saw Kusal Mendis play an obscene innings in T1 - 176 in the third innings when there was only one other score above 50 in the match. And that was only 55!

Only been able to follow on text up to tea but it seems the Galle pitch is indeed giving a lot of aid to the spinners. Thought Australia had done well to get the hosts six down for 139 ; but Dickwella has counter attacked well and taken them to 191 from just 52 overs ...

Spinners Lyon and Swepson have bowled 34 overs between them so I am not sure what has caused this glacial over rate ?

Yeah, awful over rate. Think there have been some DRS delays, but even so they shouldn't be that far behind.

It's already turning like a day four pitch, so Sri Lanka's attacking approach has probably been the right one, because it's one of those pitches where you'll eventually get an unplayable ball if you hang around long enough. Lyon's got 4/87 and has reached 431 test wickets, level with Sir Richard Hadlee.

204/8 currently. 250 would be decent on this.

So much for 250

Once Dickwella went it was all downhill...Lyon and Swepson wrapped it all up for 212. Was a great catch there by Khawaja.

Could still be competitive I guess. Got the vision on now and will be interested to see how Australia go against a lot of spin...

Didn't take them long to introduce spin at both ends...

One over from the sole pace man ; and Embuldeniya joins Dhananjaya in the attack.

Warner doesn't mind ...four boundaries already !

Like the way Warner and Khawaja are going about this : using their feet ; keeping busy - and pouncing on anything loose. Not allowing the Sri Lankan spinners to settle at all.

Good policy I think as once the effects of the roller wear off batting might get a bit trickier.

Have to say they've been gifted a fair few loose deliveries already : may well be a result of the batsmen's aggressive intent...

38/0 after just seven overs .

Mendis skids one on and does for Warner... 47/1.

Sri Lanka needed that. Here comes Marnus...

Khawaja is having some 2022 , isn't he ? Up to 36 here already ; and has Australia on to 75/1 at five per over.

Just lost his partner though ! Marnus went for the reverse sweep and picked out a fielder...so 75/2. Probably didn't need to play that...

No need for that either. A couple of lucky escapes then a silly run out.

Yeah, daft run out that. 98/3 at stumps. A very well balanced game that probably won't reach day four, unless rain intervenes.

Khawaja’s improvement against spin is astonishing. Early on his career, certainly vs England, all it took was Swann loosening up to get him out! A brilliant late career surge.

Not the start Australia was looking for after the rain delay... Travis Head popping one back to Dhananjaya to leave them 101/4

Khawaja gets his fifty : but batting doesn't look easy for him and Cam Green , with the ball spinning sharply and bringing up puffs of dust. Khawaja is probably taking the best course in going for his shots ; as you'd think if you try to defend on this you're going to get one with your name on it sooner or later...

I see Carey and Green have done brilliantly - 76 partnership in 13 overs to give Australia the platform for a strong lead.

Yes hugely important innings by Green. Both gone now but 81 runs in front now and still two wickets left so Australia are getting into a pretty strong position.

Haven't watched it all , but I reckon Sri Lanka have been a bit let down by two of their spinners...Embuldeniya and Vandersay both going at five per over . Interesting to note just one maiden over has been bowled in the whole innings !

Not sure why Dhananjaya has only bowled five overs ?

A 101-run lead at the close of play. I was thinking anything between 50-100 would be handy watching it yesterday, so was kind of relieved to see Usman, Green and Carey get decent scores.

Something about this match which doesn't really allow anyone to settle down. (including me) Great value for some shots but there also seems to be a fair few chances in the field when timing is slightly out or the batter has a go at it and plays a shot with less control.

I read that one of the temporary canopies (for spectators) was blown away and some seating collapsed in a gale earlier in the day. It did seem to be quite difficult out there with the strong breeze picking up once play resumed.

Another 25 runs would be handy. Then it's up to our lot to perform well with the ball again. Even with the uncertain weather around I still think there's plenty of time for a result with 3 days to go. The game seems to be moving quickly.

Useful extra runs from the tail ! That lead is looking pretty significant on a pitch that is certainly not going to get any easier. Unless Sri Lanka can produce something remarkable in their second innings , I think Australia are on track for a very good start to the Test leg of this tour...

Sri Lanka in a heap of trouble now ... three gone and still fifty behind ; only the Covid sub and the experienced middle order left to dig them out.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Australia get this done this evening , with the Lyon on the prowl...

Edit : make that four down as Covid-sub Fernando falls to Swepson. All happening quickly !

Cummins has the Magic Touch...

Brings on Head of all people , to bowl... and he promptly cleans up Chandimal with a Warne-Gatting ball ! And follows with Dhananjay's scalp in the same over Head's previous Test bowling analysis was 38 overs , 0/124.

102/7 : could even be an innings win. Well maybe not quite ; but they won't need many.

All done . Travis Head 4/10 ! Genius selection - even though he flopped with the bat

He should probably resolve never to bowl again to preserve his figures...

Aussies need 5 to win. Job done , eh ? Congrats Cummins & co

I think Sri Lanka may need to consider their full test status for collapsing in 2.5 overs to Travis Head

Pal Joey wrote:

Another 25 runs would be handy. Then it's up to our lot to perform well with the ball again. Even with the uncertain weather around I still think there's plenty of time for a result with 3 days to go. The game seems to be moving quickly.

I was a little out with the first bit but I honestly didn't think it would be over that quickly!

That's the sort of bowler England would collapse to! I always consider it more humiliating for a side to have to take the field defending a target such as 5, than to just lose by an innings and get it over with.

Second test tomorrow between Sri Lanka and Australia. This one should be even easier for Australia because Sri Lanka have fallen apart with Covid - losing Dhananjaya, Fernando, Embuldeniya and Vandersay.

Unchanged Aussie team wins the toss and chooses to bat against the Covid-ravaged Sri Lankans.

Nearly a completely different bowling attack for the hosts : still opening up with a token seamer plus Mendis though. Expect a bit of turn available throughout

Warner didn't last long. Nicely cleaned up by Rajitha...played down the wrong line , I guess . But a good bit of bowling ; he's looked quite handy , with 1/5 off his first four overs.

20/1 from seven. Khawaja looking comfortable enough.

Australia appeared to be cruising at 70/1 ...but rather out of the blue , Mendis produced a fine delivery to best Khawaja's outside edge and clip the stumps... He had really been pretty untroubled up to then.

Now then : Smith in , hoping not to be involved in any run outs ...

Big miss !  Labuschagne hopelessly beaten by Mendis , stranded yards out of his crease...but Dickwella totally fumbles what ought to have been a very simple stumping.

That may hurt Sri Lanka a lot. 80/2 now approaching lunch.