Its Only Cricket

3rd Test: Australia wins Sydney Test (scorecard), South Africa won Test Series 2-1.. T20 & ODI series follows.
Current Cricket Series : South Africa vs Australia, West Indies vs New Zealand. Coming Up : India in NZ 2009.

Filed under Australia vs Srilanka

Simply put, Sri Lanka have the best bowling line up. hands down. but this time, the challenge is to beat the team Australia, in their backyard.

Can team from Lanka do it? Can they at least manage to not lose the '3 Mobile Phone' 2 test match series? well, here's a start. IOC will be doing an extensive coverage of Srilanka tour of Australia, followed by India tour of Australia, ending with Commonwealth bank triseries between the three nations.

Following is the Srilanka test match team, 16 of them, selected to counter Australia at Brisbane (8-12 November 2007) & Hobart (15-19 November 2007). Full schedule.

The batters : Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Michael Vandrot, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak,
Wicket keepers : Kumar Sangakkara, Prasanna Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga
Seamers : Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedara.
Spinners : Muthiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

Interesting will Srilankan selection of playing eleven. Farveez Maharoof might be a trick bet whereas I'll personally like to see Malinga Bandara - the leg spinner bowling intendem to Muthiah Muralitharan. Another feelingI have, is Jayawardene asking Sanath Jayasuriya to bat at number 6 - trying to mix experience in the middle with youth of Vandrot, Mubarak & Tharanga opening the innings & Sangakkara, Jayawardene at number 3 and 4.

To me, Sangakkara & Jayawardene has to show the way, and atten supremacy of International test cricket.

Obvious is 4 bowling arsenals of Muralitharan, Malinga, Vaas & Fernanda.

One name you must know is Chanaka Welagedara : 40% wickets are bowled and 35% leg before wicket. Yes, Walegedera loves targetting the stumps & bowls 75 % he's hitting'em. Wonder Srilankans will unleash this left arm speciality on this tour or not!

Sri Lanka select 16 for 2 tests downunder

Australia, world record & cricket's greatest spinner

Australia vs Srilanka 2 test match 3 mobile series

Srilanka fail to meet expectations : Gabba test