Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

[MarcMaverick]

Yes mate, I know how it works I, too, live in the tropics.

Sri Lanka is a bit different in that the monsoon happens at different times of the year in different parts of the Island.

View attachment 2206585

K, thanks for letting me know.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Rolling the pitch.

View attachment 2206588
Dunno if that's the Test strip this far out, seems a fair way off the centre too.

Nice lush outfield

 

[Borisdog]

Nice lush outfield

Yeah, mate said the ground in general looks great.

 

[sr36]

Huh, interesting. Galle is like Darwin in that there isn't the four seasons, just the two seasons, wet and dry and currently its on the wet/humid part of the year.

Even though its not raining its very humid. I suppose all the cities populating near the equator would be.

It's actually Galle's dryer season at this time of the year, but they'll still get afternoon rain every 2 or 3 days.

 

[MarcMaverick]

It's actually Galle's dryer season at this time of the year, but they'll still get afternoon rain every 2 or 3 days.

Huh, OK Good to know.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey (+)
Connolly
Starc
Lyon
Boland

Looks good to me. Think the selectors will want the SLA option.

 

[sr36]

Huh, OK Good to know.

The rain is great. Might interrupt a final session or two, but it clears quickly and makes the evenings beautiful.

Just looked it up, it's actually only 1 in 5 days that rains in Feb. And it's only likely to affect the final session. So 0-2 sessions impacted. Not really an issue.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Just realised that Foxtel were not showing this series and I'll only get to see it because of 7 recently obtaining the rights.

 

[samFFC]

lol, not a high water mark for rest cricket


It seemed like who was to blink first for a bargain price. Seven 'lost' out

Anticipated series.
New young players
Coming off terrific summer
Great timezone for Aus audiences

They’ll make plenty on their investment.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey (+)
Connolly
Starc
Lyon
Boland

Looks good to me. Think the selectors will want the SLA option.

Nice line up from a versatility point of view, if it is a raging turner you have a lot of spin options, and Webster can do both, seam when the ball is in the 0-40 over range and spin in the 40-80 over range.

 

[Gough]

I worry about counting on anything other than Connolly's batting, he's wicketless in under twenty overs so far in first class cricket albeit with a small sample size.

 

[Snake Charmer]

The talk of rain/ stormy season made me want to share this photo from 2016 in Kandy. Sat in the stands drinking cans with my old man laughing at the covers. Never seen anything like it. Took a good 1.5 hours to take them off lol

 

[MarcMaverick]

The talk of rain/ stormy season made me want to share this photo from 2016 in Kandy. Sat in the stands drinking cans with my old man laughing at the covers. Never seen anything like it. Took a good 1.5 hours to take them off lolView attachment 2206738

That's hilarious. Then Brisbane/Gabba said "Hold my Rain Bomb"

 

[samFFC]

The talk of rain/ stormy season made me want to share this photo from 2016 in Kandy. Sat in the stands drinking cans with my old man laughing at the covers. Never seen anything like it. Took a good 1.5 hours to take them off lolView attachment 2206738

Cute dog!

 

[Snake Charmer]

Cute dog!

Fletch.. named after the greatest fullback ever

 

[BGman]

Nah, Connolly has yet to take a first class wicket. If Kuhnemann is out they will want another specialist, such as Rocky, or a leggie. May even go back to fellow l/a orthodox Ashton Agar who was treated shabbily in India and has had past success on the sub cont.

Reading now Kuhnemann will go with the touring party to a Dubai training camp so appears he may well be fit for first Test. Media went over the top when he broke the thumb by immediately ruling him out of the tour. Problem was they evidently ignored the fact the injury was not to his bowling hand.

 

[sr36]

Nah, Connolly has yet to take a first class wicket. If Kuhnemann is out they will want another specialist, such as Rocky, or a leggie. May even go back to fellow l/a orthodox Ashton Agar who was treated shabbily in India and has had past success on the sub cont.

Reading now Kuhnemann will go with the touring party to a Dubai training camp so appears he may well be fit for first Test. Media went over the top when he broke the thumb by immediately ruling him out of the tour. Problem was they evidently ignored the fact the injury was not to his bowling hand.

I think Connolly is only a chance if conditions warrant them going with just one pace bowler or if Konstass or Webster is all at sea in the conditions.

 

[eaglevision]

I’m all for selection integrity but we would be absolutely crazy not to use this tour to have a look at both Konstas and Connolly in both test matches. Other than Head and Smith none of the senior batsmen did anything to guarantee their spots. Unlikely to get two test matches against mid table opposition where the results don’t count toward anything again anytime soon. I’d even consider giving Inglis the gloves.

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Webster
Connolly
Inglis/Carey
Starc
Lyon
Murphy (Boland in the unlikely event of a seaming pitch)

 

[Tugga27]

I’m all for selection integrity but we would be absolutely crazy not to use this tour to have a look at both Konstas and Connolly in both test matches. Other than Head and Smith none of the senior batsmen did anything to guarantee their spots. Unlikely to get two test matches against mid table opposition where the results don’t count toward anything again anytime soon. I’d even consider giving Inglis the gloves.

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Webster
Connolly
Inglis/Carey
Starc
Lyon
Murphy (Boland in the unlikely event of a seaming pitch)

I like Inglis but there's no way in the world he plays before Carey.

 

[eaglevision]

I like Inglis but there's no way in the world he plays before Carey.

I agree, it’s just an opportunity if Carey wants/needs a rest or is carrying a slight niggle. If it was a live series it wouldn’t even be a consideration.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Hope we take the Sri Lankans seriously, I actually view them as a more dangerous oppo than India,

Feb is going to be busy cricket-wise. First the Sri Lanka series than the Champions Trophy in UAE.

 

[Tugga27]

I agree, it’s just an opportunity if Carey wants/needs a rest or is carrying a slight niggle. If it was a live series it wouldn’t even be a consideration.

Doubt he wants a rest.

He's still playing BBL.

 

[eaglevision]

Doubt he wants a rest.

He's still playing BBL.

Not anymore! 5 teams thst don’t deserve to play BBL finals but as it stands we've been the least shit of those 5 teams.

 

[sr36]

I’m all for selection integrity but we would be absolutely crazy not to use this tour to have a look at both Konstas and Connolly in both test matches. Other than Head and Smith none of the senior batsmen did anything to guarantee their spots. Unlikely to get two test matches against mid table opposition where the results don’t count toward anything again anytime soon. I’d even consider giving Inglis the gloves.

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Webster
Connolly
Inglis/Carey
Starc
Lyon
Murphy (Boland in the unlikely event of a seaming pitch)

One thing I don't like about the test championship is that a series like this is viewed by some as a dead rubber.

We haven't beaten them over there for a while. This team wants an enduring reputation. They've got to be able to knock off Sri Lanka over there.

Having said that, I like that team (if they don't think Boland will get anything out of the pitch). However, I'd have it as Connolly or Boland rather than Murphy or Boland. The youth angle favours Murphy as much as Konstas or Connolly. There's a lot of talk about the age of our batters, but the elephant in the room is that most of our bowlers are old and those performing well at state level are all over 30 or perpetually injured. Murphy one of our few shiny youngsters. O'Neill too, but he's a style of bowler the selectors haven't liked recently.

 

[BGman]

Head

Some scribes throwing Travs name into the ring to open. He did in India and scored some decent runs, so imagine CA has in him in mind too.

look at both Konstas and Connolly

No doubt Konstas was picked for sub cont conditions to continue his education. Connolly not so sure. I'd also like to give the gloves to Inglis but CA dont use this policy of trying out blokes when there is nothing at stake.