Test Cricket

I know that the only test cricket that matters this year is the 1 'down under' over Christmas but there are another couple of quite interesting 1s happening at the moment.
India v Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have easily won in what is going to be Muralitharan's last Test match. the man himself took 3 indian wickets in the second innings to claim a new record of 800 test wickets. Mr. Warne is second on that list & he only managed 708 of those. . The main wicket taker for Sri Lanka in the second innings was Malinga though - nice to see that both Sri Lanka's controversial bowlers managed a 5 for Whatever Mr. Warne's detractors ever said about him (& there was much ) I can't remember anyone accusing him of throwing the ball...
Pakistan v Australia
Like anyone with a head on their shoulders, Australia were not willing to venture into far flung Pakistan & so the Tests are being played in the wilder parts of England This one is at Leeds & it does not get much wilder than that. The number of Panistani supporters in Yorkshire must have thrown Pontin into thinking he was in Pakistan & he elected to bat first after winning the toss. However this was a British summer's day at its best. If there had been more moisture in the air then the match would not have started. As it was the ball swung about like a banana on speed & Australia didn't trouble the scorer after reaching a mamoth 88!! Pakistan decided that slow & steady is the order of the day & are currently 218 for 5 wickets.
It being summer the odds are on the match being a draw due to the weather - at least many in Australia will be hoping so...

BobHelm wrote:Like anyone with a head on their shoulders, Australia were not willing to venture into far flung Pakistan & so the Tests are being played in the wilder parts of England This one is at Leeds & it does not get much wilder than that.

Born in Lancashire, Bob?

A fantastic performance by Muralitharan getting 800 wickets....and with his last ever ball in test cricket....you couldnt make the script up !
But Australia are fighting back in the Pakistani enclave of England.....Pakistan bowled out for 258 with Shane Watson taking 6-33.....Australia 136-2 in their second innings with Ponting 61 not out.
They are only 34 behind now and if they could score in excess of 320 in their second innings we may yet see an Australian victory !

Brian Davis wrote:

Born in Lancashire, Bob?

I don't support Manchester United for nothing Brian..... Although I hadn't reached school age before we moved 'down south'...

This test will be decided by the bookmakers again.

The Pakis do seem to loose some games easily dont they !

Aus 283 for 8 (84.3 overs) in their second innings...

Australia all out for 349 setting Pakistan 180 to win.....at the close they are 140-3 just 40 runs short of victory.
Cant see the Aussies doing it......anyone else think Johnson isnt half the player he was two years ago and currently not worth his place in the team ?
So,unfortunately,looks like wild Pakistani celebrations all over England with cars driving round headlights on,horns blaring and Pakistani flags flying......but will the local councils take steps to curb it as they would with an English team ?

Johnson, worries more about the attention he gets off the ground with his wife etc..

Time for him to move on, I agree, a few good tests and few good innings every now and then, doesnt make u an automatic selection.

I would call him a transition player of good quality, but not a 5 year prospect.

The problem is, we are still experimenting, and Im the first to say this upcoming Ashes Tour is going to be close.

It wont be a 5-0 , more like 2-1 , with 2 thrilling draws.

wazza wrote:The problem is, we are still experimenting, and Im the first to say this upcoming Ashes Tour is going to be close.

It wont be a 5-0 , more like 2-1 , with 2 thrilling draws.

Yes,I agree,I cant see England winning the series 5-0 !!

The MCC touring side is the best in-form it has had for 15 years , for its Ashes tour. They have moved on from Tatnell whose fielding errors were worth a number 8, 9, 10 batting average for us. The weapons of Destruction that Hussain had were missing ....and Freddie has also.

The Ozzies unable to rebuild from its last 15 years of domination at home.

Predicting 85, 000 for the Boxing Day Test . Shame im working as my sister is a member and get in for free !