That’s very disappointing, I love watching tests from overseas and Galle is such a great visual ground to watch a game.
I’m so bored of the endless loop of England and India tests, even if that’s going to be getting even worse in the near future.
Test cricket is great, we love it, but we aren’t given a chance to get to know and love/hate the Sri Lankans of 2024. They’ll say “Australians don’t care about tests against nations like this” but at least give us a chance to care first!
And with all the talk about two test divisions now so we can get India and England series every 3 years rather than 4. Cricket’s already ruined the world cup by having one every year, it’d suck if they go down that path of saturating the BGT and Ashes.
And our series with South Africa have always been so good but havent had one for a while.
I’m just pissed we havent played Ireland yet.
Also, why not finish the summer with a two test series against an Ireland or a Zimbabwe.
Played at Bellerive and Manuka
I’m sure it will happen last minute.
Sri Lankan cricket nerds the money.
Some interesting calls here. I don’t think Abbotts done well enough domestically to be so high up the pecking order? I may be wrong here.
Happy to see them take McSweeney even if he doesn’t get a game.
The Connolly one is the odd one. He’s being picked as a allrounder but has 0 FC wickets. Some suggestions he got in based off big bash form. That said he’d be unlikely to play so it’s worth getting him in the squad for development.
Squad still lacks players in the 20s.
I’d expect our lineup to be
Head
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Handscomb
Webster
Carey
Starc
Boland / Murphy
Lyon
Kuhnemann
You have Head opening and not Konstas?
All of a sudden we are a bit weak with our bowlers
That team was more a “this is what I think selectors” will pick as I’ve seen a fair bit in the press about them wanting to copy what they did against India a few years back as Head doesnt start well against spinners. When he did open, he got scores of 43, 9, 49*, 32, 90 opening in India in 2023 so it sounds like hes returning to that role.
Even if he doesn’t I wouldn’t give Konstas the gig. Hes 19 and played 13 FC games, all in Australia. Sending him to open on a pitch that turns as much as Galle when spin is considered a weakness seems like a bad move right now. Can see it being more of a development tour for him- like with Connolly.
When it comes to Connolly, I’d rather have given Maxwell the spot and made Connolly a non-playing reserve.
EDIT: Also scrap everything I’ve said about following the press, never clicked that Handscomb wasnt in the squad. So either theyre going to bring McSweeney back in the middle order (seems rough saying your first shot is opening vs Bumrah, your second is on the huge turn of Galle) or Inglis. Makes the lack of Maxwell (yes i know he hasnt played first class in ages but he also actually has a test hundred in Asia) even more odd as he could have taken the aggressive middle order role.
Head opening with Khawaja looks like it was the plan before Konstas came on the scene.
Was supposed to go to the cricket before our game today but heaps tired so CBF.
Smith’s just gone bananas and hit 121 off 64 and the Sixers have 221.
Idiot.
Haha blimey. I was listening while driving but had to get out of the car when Smith was 99 not out with just an over and 1 ball left. The last over must have been fun
Caught on the boundary, but the foot touched the rope so was not out
Jhye Richardson going down for another shoulder surgery.
One of those stories of great potential, but too fragile to make it to the top I guess.
He’s 28 so it’s not all over, but the clock is ticking.
28? He’s not needed for the national team for 3 or 4 years
Called it!
He needs a full year of uninterrupted cricket to even get a sniff of playing for Australia again.
And rights go to FTA. First non-Ashes away series on FTA for many years.
Well done 7/ 7Plus.
Dear god, it’s common sense.
We don’t do that here.
330 is a fantastic start time too
Aussie women beating England via Duckworth Lewis with just 5 balls remaining. We probably would have won anyway but this way is much more entertaining. I’m sure they will call us cheats somehow
