***Official*** Australia in Sri Lanka

[shivfan]

"The technology required for the DRS is currently estimated to cost $5000 per day and with the SLC having financial difficulties, the board have decided not to use the system."

So nothing to do with not wanting the system for not trusting the technology, but purely rejecting it from an economic point of view which, given their reported financial circumstances, I guess is understandable.

Is it really? The WICB had the UDRS for the home Test series between the West Indies and Pakistan, and given that the WICB is supposed to be so cash-strapped, I would've thought if they could afford it, then others could too. Maybe the situation in the WICB is not so dire after all, and they could lend a buck or two to these poverty-stricken boards....

I find it a bit disingenuous that SLC is claiming these costs for both the ODI series and the Tests, when the WIndies took the approach of not using UDRS for the meaningless ODIs, but for the more important Tests, and yet the SLC didn't even consider that option....

Maybe the real motivation is for the politicians with their hands in the till to get as much money as possible before they have to step aside for an elected board.

 

[Spark]

SL are in deep debt tbf. They spent a huge amount on stadiums for the WC and that took them way into the negative.

 

[Howe_zat]

Can't have been helped by their last two Test series being the soggiest of damp squids, either.

It's pretty plausible that they don't want to spend any money.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, they had to cut back on security for this tour as well because of costs. In the end the SLPL thing makes quite a lot of sense from the POV that they genuinely need quite a lot of money in quite a hurry.

 

[Himannv]

5 lakhs per day? Not happening.

 

[Migara]

SL's main worries would be bowling. But the worries will be less as they'll be playing on pitches with spin. Expect Randiv to be the main spinner, and whether S'nayake gets go will be interesting to see. Batting line up won't change, with Dilshan, Piranha, Sanga, MJ, Sam, Mathews and PJ. PJ's keeping is under the radar for last season or two. Although he was awesome with the bat in England, another bad series with gloves will find Kaushal Silva replacing him. Fast bowlers hopefully will be Welegedara and Lakmal with Mathews bowling fill in overs.

 

[BlazeDragon]

Paine would struggle to get into the top 15 FC batsmen in this country.

Well people like Cameron White and Steve Smith keeps getting picked even though they don't really do anything. I would say that Paine is at least better than them. But yeah the next most likely to play is probably Ferguson.

 

[NUFAN]

Well people like Cameron White and Steve Smith keeps getting picked even though they don't really do anything. I would say that Paine is at least better than them. But yeah the next most likely to play is probably Ferguson.

Next most likely to play after who?

1 century in 44 matches is a huge worry, although anyone who saw Paine bat in the Test series vs India would have been impressed with his attitude and technique.

I do agree though that I would be more confident having Paine in front of White or Smith in our Test team on batting alone, but would feel better if none of them were playing!

I'm still angry that Katich is out of the running.

 

[Furball]

Next most likely to play after who?

1 century in 44 matches is a huge worry, although anyone who saw Paine bat in the Test series vs India would have been impressed with his attitude and technique.

I do agree though that I would be more confident having Paine in front of White or Smith in our Test team on batting alone, but would feel better if none of them were playing!

I'm still angry that Katich is out of the running.

Averages 35 in FC cricket does he not? I'd say that's pretty reasonable for your wicketkeeper.

His temperament looks good too; IMO the Aussie lower middle order could do with a gritty batsman like Paine when the top order has a habit of collapsing in a heap.

 

[pup11]

Next most likely to play after who?

1 century in 44 matches is a huge worry, although anyone who saw Paine bat in the Test series vs India would have been impressed with his attitude and technique.

I do agree though that I would be more confident having Paine in front of White or Smith in our Test team on batting alone, but would feel better if none of them were playing!

I'm still angry that Katich is out of the running.

Paine as you yourself said has just one FC century in 44 first class games and that too he scored during his debut game which AFAIC shows his limitations as a batsman.

I agree that he showed good temperament during the Indian tour and play a few workman like innings, but lets face it even as a wicket-keeper/batsman he is facing tough competition from someone like Wade who has been pretty consistent and unlike Paine has shown ability to switch gears when required which is an important quality for a lower-order batsman to have.

Guys like Smith and White might not have the same grit, resolve or defensive technique that Paine has but they both are much more talented and diverse batsmen and their FC records proves that as well.

 

[NUFAN]

Averages 35 in FC cricket does he not? I'd say that's pretty reasonable for your wicketkeeper.

His temperament looks good too; IMO the Aussie lower middle order could do with a gritty batsman like Paine when the top order has a habit of collapsing in a heap.

No, he averages 31. Not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me in your response, I was talking about Paine the batsman assuming Haddin was still in the team. Basically my opinion is that none of Paine, Smith or White is the answer for a top 6 spot in the Australian Test team.

Paine as you yourself said has just one FC century in 44 first class games and that too he scored during his debut game which AFAIC shows his limitations as a batsman.

I agree that he showed good temperament during the Indian tour and play a few workman like innings, but lets face it even as a wicket-keeper/batsman he is facing tough competition from someone like Wade who has been pretty consistent and unlike Paine has shown ability to switch gears when required which is an important quality for a lower-order batsman to have.

Guys like Smith and White might not have the same grit, resolve or defensive technique that Paine has but they both are much more talented and diverse batsmen and their FC records proves that as well.

Yes, Smith and White both have better FC records but when they've played Test Cricket both have batted like deers caught in headlights.

As Australia are struggling at the moment and for argument sake, Australia only had 3 options out of Smith, White and Paine for a batting position I would be picking the guy that has the extra grit, resolve and defensive technique.

Like I said earlier though, none of the 3 should be in our best team - they are Australia A or B standard batsman.

 

[aussie tragic]

Well people like Cameron White and Steve Smith keeps getting picked even though they don't really do anything. I would say that Paine is at least better than them. But yeah the next most likely to play is probably Ferguson.

The next likely to play should be Khawaja....Smith, White & Paine as a batsman should be no where near the test Team (Smith has potential to be a number 7 spinning allrounder)

1. Watson
2. Hughes [Katich]
3. Khawaja
4. Ponting
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7, Haddin

 

[Spark]

Well people like Cameron White and Steve Smith keeps getting picked even though they don't really do anything. I would say that Paine is at least better than them. But yeah the next most likely to play is probably Ferguson.

Both of them have done far more to justify a Test spot as a specialist bat than Paine.

 

[Prince EWS]

No, he averages 31. Not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me in your response, I was talking about Paine the batsman assuming Haddin was still in the team. Basically my opinion is that none of Paine, Smith or White is the answer for a top 6 spot in the Australian Test team.



Yes, Smith and White both have better FC records but when they've played Test Cricket both have batted like deers caught in headlights.

As Australia are struggling at the moment and for argument sake, Australia only had 3 options out of Smith, White and Paine for a batting position I would be picking the guy that has the extra grit, resolve and defensive technique.

Like I said earlier though, none of the 3 should be in our best team - they are Australia A or B standard batsman.

Not that I think White would be any great success at Test level, but I don't think his efforts batting #8 in India playing as a frontline bowler should really have any baring on whether he gets selected or not.

 

[pup11]

No, he averages 31. Not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me in your response, I was talking about Paine the batsman assuming Haddin was still in the team. Basically my opinion is that none of Paine, Smith or White is the answer for a top 6 spot in the Australian Test team.



Yes, Smith and White both have better FC records but when they've played Test Cricket both have batted like deers caught in headlights.

As Australia are struggling at the moment and for argument sake, Australia only had 3 options out of Smith, White and Paine for a batting position I would be picking the guy that has the extra grit, resolve and defensive technique.

Like I said earlier though, none of the 3 should be in our best team - they are Australia A or B standard batsman.

To add to what PEWS said, looking too much into Smith and White's test performances isn't fair. They both had uncertain roles in the side and that showed in the way they played as well.

Extra grit and resolve are good qualities to have but only if you have the talent and strokeplay to actually make all that determination count, I think Paine is just a steady batsman who on his day can hang in there and make some runs for his side, whereas someone like Smith in the near future would grow into a match-winner.

 

[Spark]

I mean, don't get me wrong, I like Paine and really enjoy watching him bat, and was thoroughly impressed by his performances in the four Tests he's played. But if he really is good enough with bat in hand, what's wrong with asking him to prove it at FC level first?

 

[NUFAN]

I'm only rating Paine higher because I don't rate White or Smith's Test batting at all! Both are shockers, especially Smith. Yeah, yeah, he's young and is a potential match winner, but he just has a lot to learn before and I think that appears obvious just from watching his handful of Test matches.

Ponting, Watson, Clarke, Katich, Hussey, Khawaja, Hughes, Marsh, Rogers, DHussey are the 10 batsman who I would like to see our top 6 come from.

The likes of Ferguson, Lynn, North, Voges, Bailey, Maddinson, Warner, White, Smith, Paine, Finch, Cosgrove, Cowan, Wade are a level below, but could of course move up to the top tier through sheer weight of runs this year.

EDIT - I forgot about Jaques, not sure where I rate him really, because I don't know if he'll ever get back to his Test form.

 

[SamSawnoff]

I'm only rating Paine higher because I don't rate White or Smith's Test batting at all! Both are shockers, especially Smith. Yeah, yeah, he's young and is a potential match winner, but he just has a lot to learn before and I think that appears obvious just from watching his handful of Test matches.

Ponting, Watson, Clarke, Katich, Hussey, Khawaja, Hughes, Marsh, Rogers, DHussey are the 10 batsman who I would like to see our top 6 come from.

The likes of Ferguson, Lynn, North, Voges, Bailey, Maddinson, Warner, White, Smith, Paine, Finch, Cosgrove, Cowan, Wade are a level below, but could of course move up to the top tier through sheer weight of runs this year.

EDIT - I forgot about Jaques, not sure where I rate him really, because I don't know if he'll ever get back to his Test form.

Smith doesn't just play ugly shots, he plays disturbing shots. So many of his get out shots are with - as far as I can tell - his head going backwards while plonking his foot just straight down the pitch and trying to drive with the bat miles away from his body. I have no idea how he's managed to score so many runs in first class cricket as he hardly ever seems to get his body in the right position to play any shot. But he'll be persisted with as he offers so much in all-round terms... apparently.

 

[nsniks]

SLC confirms DRS for Australia series

Sri Lanka v Australia 2011: Sri Lankan board confirms DRS for Australia series | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Lostman]

SLC confirms DRS for Australia series

Sri Lanka v Australia 2011: Sri Lankan board confirms DRS for Australia series | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo