Australia v Sri Lanka

[BhoysFC1995]

http://www.foxsportsworld.com/content/view?contentId=2202188

Kings of Spin to battle
Murali vs Warne starts on monday, both racing to become all time leader for having the most wickets in test play.

[Craig the Aussie]

I think the chucker will get there first. It's a disgrace, but there you go ...

[Craig the Aussie]

Australia wins the toss and elects to bat - all set for a very interesting contest on what promises to be a spinning pitch.

Australia has made 4 changes from its last test team -

Out: S Waugh (retired), Katich (12th man - disgraceful decision, should be in for Martyn), Bracken and Lee (injured)

In: Warne, Kasprowicz, Lehmann, Symonds

[babytiger2001]

Good to see Warney back, and firing (hopefully)!

[BhoysFC1995]

day one finished (http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/MAR/088155_SLAUS2003-04_08MAR2004.html)
Aussies Fail Murali Test
Close Sri Lanka 81 for 1 (Atapattu 29*, Sangakkara 17*) trail Australia 220 (Lehmann 63, Muralitharan 6-59) by 139 runs

Murali got 6 for 59. Murali may have destroyed Australia to reach 491 Test wickets, but by the end of the day Shane Warne was back in front with 492. still though, 220 isn't so good for the aussies, lets hope they bowlers can do their job.

[ScouseCat]

Australia simply didn't bat well enough in the first innings, and will pay dearly for it. It will be a lesson learned quickly (I hope) as it's looking like we'll go 1 down in the best of 3 series. Sri Lanka already have a lead over 50 and still with 6 first innings wickets remaining.

[babytiger2001]

Didn't Warne claim a wicket on his 18th ball last night?

Good to see that he's back and regaining some of his old form. :)

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by babytiger2001
Good to see that he's back and regaining some of his old form. :)
Not only that, after our awesome fightback with the bat in the second innings, declaring at 8 for 512 (lead 351) with Hayden, Martyn and Lehmann making marvellous centuries, Warne could be the difference between us winning or drawing this first test on the final day tomorrow.

It's been great to see such high quality spin in the one test match, Warne for Australia and Muralitharan for Sri Lanka.

On another note, Tait has been named as Brett Lee's replacement on the Sri Lankan tour, a marvellous effort by the young man from South Australia who won this year's young cricketer of the year award at the Allan Border medal night.

I'm predicting another 5 wicket haul for the great Shane Warne on the final day, bowling the Aussies to a memorable victory... I hope. :)

[BhoysFC1995]

definitely a great turnaround for the aussies.

hopefully shane with get quick wickets tomorrow and help push for a win instead of a draw. its amazing the turnaround, thinking only a couple days earlier their backs were against the wall.

========
On another note, Tait has been named as Brett Lee's replacement
=======

didn't read/hear that, but congrats to him and its well deserved.

[White Laser Blues]

Adam Gilchrist is really out of form with the bat in test matches or maybe he is looking forward to the next ODI batting instead?

I suppose he is the best or the most experienced wicketkeeper for Australia at the moment, I don't think he'll be drop or even look threaten to be out of the test side.

[ScouseCat]

Last night was hard on Gilly though, he was on a hiding to nothing when he came out to bat. One thing with Gilchrist... you can always count on him doing whatever is best for the team, even if it means sacrificing himself in an attempt to make quick runs such as last night. He could have played for his average and got a slow 10 not out, but he had a go and unfortunately got trapped LBW for a duck.

[babytiger2001]

The Aussies have won the test quite handily, by 157 runs.

Aussie Test win unforgettable -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8946507-23209,00.html)

And Shane Warne completed a milestone, in clinching that Test win for Australia...

Warne takes 500th scalp -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8947209-23209,00.html)

[BhoysFC1995]

what a perfect return for warne.

another article on him and a recap of the day

http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/MAR/092299_SLAUS2003-04_12MAR2004.html

"The Warney Wicket Counter" on the grass banks was now working overdrive and the scoring attendants, looking suspiciously inebriated, had barely strapped on wicket number 498 when he struck again: this time Jayawardene edged a legbreak to Hayden at slip (50 for 4).
:)

[Andy TAUS]

Originally posted by BhoysFC1995
"The Warney Wicket Counter" on the grass banks was now working overdrive and the scoring attendants, looking suspiciously inebriated, had barely strapped on wicket number 498 when he struck again: this time Jayawardene edged a legbreak to Hayden at slip (50 for 4).
:) BhoysFC1995,

Had to have a good belly-laugh (all day) as the SL mob who whacked up that count-down board with Murali's figure prominantly up there (stuck on 496), must have been rather embarassed by the juxtaposition of the Aussie fans' simple white sheet, slowly ticking over to 501 !!!

Those fans even had the forethought to have extra numbers prepared for the extra wickets as they fell. Very efficient of them !!!!!

:D

Andy T.

[White Laser Blues]

Originally posted by Andy TAUS
BhoysFC1995,

Had to have a good belly-laugh (all day) as the SL mob who whacked up that count-down board with Murali's figure prominantly up there (stuck on 496), must have been rather embarassed by the juxtaposition of the Aussie fans' simple white sheet, slowly ticking over to 501 !!!

Those fans even had the forethought to have extra numbers prepared for the extra wickets as they fell. Very efficient of them !!!!!

:D

Andy T.

What a Shame! They have to move that Murali's wicket counter board down and transport it to Kandy!

[BhoysFC1995]

2nd TEST, Day ONE
Sri Lanka 92 for 7 trail Australia 120

17 wickets tumble on day 1 (http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/MAR/097215_SLAUS2003-04_16MAR2004.html)

yes, thats right, only 120 for the Aussies, making it a record low for them. lucky for them the bowlers fought back as the day closed.

Murali joins the 500 (wickets in Tests) club too.

[OldFanatic]

Watch live PPV on broadband internet here:

http://www.willow.tv/EventMgmt/UserMgmt/Packages.asp?eid=32

Why are there 2 threads for this? Mods (would that be you BhoysFC?), please merge with:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=99871

[White Laser Blues]

Originally posted by White Laser Blues
Adam Gilchrist is really out of form with the bat in test matches or maybe he is looking forward to the next ODI batting instead?

I suppose he is the best or the most experienced wicketkeeper for Australia at the moment, I don't think he'll be drop or even look threaten to be out of the test side.

There goes the form slump. Currently, Gilly has made 140 runs and not out in Kandy. I guess he must have read my post!

[Andy TAUS]

AUS got out of gaol again.

Warne 10/fer and MOM for the second time in two tests.

Aus by 27 runs, unbelievably !!!

Series (best of 3) won at 2-0 with third test coming up in Colombo.

Andy T.

[BhoysFC1995]

AUS got out of gaol again.
Aus by 27 runs, unbelievably !!!
Andy T.

unbelievable, YOU said it!

http://foxsports.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,329790,00.jpg

i was actually going to watch the reply in an aussie bar here in nyc, but when i read it lasted only 34 minutes, my ride to the place would have been longer then the match itself.