*Official* Sri Lanka Tour of South Africa 2019

[StephenZA]

Well Sri Lanka will be batting on a day 3 pitch so in theory they should get the best batting conditions.

PS while I'm following this I'm not actually watching it so I just assumed with the 3 innings scores that it was a bit green.

Bit of dead grass, slowish wicket but SL has the most dangerous bowler against SA.... a part time spinner avg 75.

 

[Maximas]

There's been fairly generous turn and some inconsistent pace/bounce on offer throughout the series too though

 

[StephenZA]

There's been fairly generous turn and some inconsistent pace/bounce on offer throughout the series too though

Think you are being generous with the word generous there...... pitch is a bit slow and is holding up a bit. Does not have the bounce of the other pitches in SA, So pretty standard St Georges wicket... and thus is about 350 par wicket. Most of de Silva's wickets have come off pretty straight deliveries. This is some tight bowling and some truly horrendous batting

 

[Maximas]

That looked plumb

 

[Maximas]

Think you are being generous with the word generous there...... pitch is a bit slow and is holding up a bit. Does not have the bounce of the other pitches in SA, So pretty standard St Georges wicket... and thus is about 350 par wicket. Most of de Silva's wickets have come off pretty straight deliveries. This is some tight bowling and some truly horrendous batting

Embuldeniya was getting some turn yesterday when I tuned in before he messed up his thumb

Mainly I'm talking about Durban though

 

[StephenZA]

Embuldeniya was getting some turn yesterday when I tuned in before he messed up his thumb

Mainly I'm talking about Durban though

Yes, but it is not turning square.... there is no excuse for a pathetic batting display like that other than the batsmen were pathetic.

 

[Gob]

Ho boi

 

[Maximas]

Yes, but it is not turning square.... there is no excuse for a pathetic batting display like that other than the batsmen were pathetic.

Agreed, the batting has been poor, and the pitches are not offering big assistance, it's a case of resourceful and skilful bowling, combined with some poor batting

 

[Daemon]

Funny period of cricket we're going through. From batsmen flat batting sixes over mid off for fun in one format to looking completely helpless in another.

 

[Bahseph]

Even if we do win this, what did we achieve? Same old issues.

 

[StephenZA]

Even if we do win this, what did we achieve? Same old issues.

At the moment this is a kick for the test team, but until the WC is finished we won't know who is or is not retiring. If we have a new coach? I am for the first time advocating wholesale changes.... including Faf and Elgar. When is the SA 'A' team playing again?

 

[Bolo]

India tour is a good opportunity for wholesale changes in a way. Can't win no matter who plays. Doesn't matter when we see new guys failing. Its free experience, just don't judge anyone based on their performances there.

 

[Maximas]

Tense stuff, Steyn going hard at Dimuth's stumps, Dimuth looking uncomfortable but still able to put away the odd bad ball

 

[Borges]

So far, so good. So so good.

 

[harsh.ag]

Isn't this day 2? These guys aren't good enough for test cricket.

 

[Maximas]

Could be another grandstand finish, I'll miss it myself but this test is very evenly poised, one feels that SL need to be pretty close to the target (within 20 runs or so) by the time the 6th wicket falls given Embuldeniya won't bat or at least will be very vulnerable when he does, then again stranger things have happened...

Losing the openers was a blow, everyone from 3 down to 7 are more dashers than accumulators, so they could take the game away from SA quickly with a partnership or two but could be quite vulnerable to a collapse also, I think SL can bring this one home, but damn you'd love to have Chandimal and Matthews in the sheds

 

[TT Boy]

Maharaj is going to be important tomorrow. Hopefully Faf backs him.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Elgar, Hash and Temba should go. Build the team around Faf (short-term) and then Markram/QdK. Team needs to evolve

 

[Pup Clarke]

Does Steyn these last few years whenever he's played look like he rushes through the crease more than he used to at his peak?

Yeah. It's probably just his body getting older. At his absolute peak he had a soaring aerodynamic action, meaning that his load-up was longer, and he could probably get the ball to move later through the air.

 

[Niall]

Elgar, Hash and Temba should go. Build the team around Faf (short-term) and then Markram/QdK. Team needs to evolve

I know quota talk is a pain but if you are going to drop two non white guys and vern near done...you need to find good young non white lads to come through to keep the government happy.