Australia v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day
Ian Chappell: Sri Lanka need Sangakkara and Malinga back
November 12, 2007
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Ian Chappell: "I haven't seen Brett Lee bowl with so much control in recent times" © Getty Images
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Ian Chappell: The first Test [against Sri Lanka] has been won by Australia - they have now won 13 Tests in a row and are closing in on Steve Waugh's team's record of 16 Test victories in a row.It's pretty hard to see how Sri Lanka are going to stop this run of the Australians under Ricky Ponting. They [Sri Lanka] were outmanoeuvred and outplayed by the Australians.
Brett Lee in particular had an extremely good game. He bowled with more control than I've seen before. He bowled one magnificent over that finished with the dismissal of [Farveez] Maharoof on the last day. This was when the Sri Lankans were showing a bit of resolution and with the showers that were around, it looked as though they might have a chance of saving the game. Lee bowled a couple of magnificent short deliveries to Maharoof. He then motioned to Ponting to put a man at backward square leg, as though he was going to bowl another bouncer. He did bowl a bouncer a couple of deliveries later, but then he followed it up with a magnificent delivery that moved away a little bit, beat the outside edge of the bat and clipped the off stump. It was a brilliant piece of bowling and it summed up the way Lee's Test match went - four wickets in each innings. He was the one who got things moving on occasions when Australia were struggling for wickets.
Everybody talked about how the Sri Lankans had an attack that suited Australian conditions, but it didn't turn out that way in this Test at the Gabba. The Sri Lankan attack looked flat, particularly from the second day onwards and there was a sameness about their cricket. They need to work on that.
They badly need [Kumar] Sangakkara back in the batting line-up because he is a class batsman. Mahela Jayawardene has had his problems against Australia - only one 50 in 16 innings. He needs to work on that and the Sri Lankans need to improve their [overall] play a lot more.
The Australians bowled well as a team. Stuart Clark was his usual, consistent self. Stuart MacGill, on a pitch that was pretty good, didn't turn a lot but he got his two wickets to reach 200 [wickets] and he was steady. Mitchell Johnson got his first Test out of the way with a couple of wickets under his belt. He looked a far more confident cricketer by the end of theTest, after starting out in a rather nervous fashion.
It was modus operandi as usual for the Australians at the Gabba. They got a huge first innings total and then gradually mowed the opposition down.
I don't see the Australians making any changes in the side for the Hobart Test unless it's forced upon them. But the Sri Lankans have to get Sangakkara back [in their batting line-up] as well as [Lasith] Malinga in their bowling line-up. That's two definite changes that they need to make. They also need to bat a lot better and bowl a lot better, if they want to stop the Australians from making it 14 in a row at Hobart.
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Yes. Ian is dead right. Srilankans were outplayed in all of the departments. The intensity shown by australians on the field can be countered only by brilliyant cricket from the opponents. I think they should not expose murali too much to the aussie batsmen. He must be given short spells. Then only he can surprise even well settled batsmen. As shane warne in his coloumn rightly observed that murali trying all his weapons in his first 10 to 15 deliveries. If any batsmen overcome that quick burst, then murali is hardlylooking as a wicket taker. Moreover they must try to have 5 bowlers. Malinga should be in. But above all, as ian has said the overall performance of lankans has to improve drastically to beat aussies. Muthukumar
Posted by derrida on November 13 2007, 04:39 AM GMT
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Ian: Steve Waugh's record will remain intact, dont worry about that. Even if Australia win the next test, they play the Indians next in a four test series. No doubt Australia are favorites to win. However(and hopefully) it may not be so easy to win the first three tests on trot. The second test is at Sydney and India has always done well there. On previous two occasions, Australia fought hard to save the test thanks to last day heroics by Border and Waugh respectively.
Posted by Mahesh_1967 on November 13 2007, 04:20 AM GMT
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I cannot even begin to fathom the reason behind Lasith Malingas omission in the first test. Attapatus conclusion that the selectors are a 'bunch of muppets led by a joker' cannot be more true. For the sake of good cricket, I hope that they DO include Malinga for the second test. Also, if Sangakarra is able to return, I think Thilan Samaraweera should be removed from the side. He has shown no confidence or promise in the first test, unlike Prasanna Jayawardene who I believe should stay as the keeper/batsman.
Posted by E-1999-Eternal on November 13 2007, 04:17 AM GMT
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The absence of Sangakara has been clearly shown in the first test, not even in terms of runs but also behind the wickets. The experience of Jayasuriya did not victor the team. They need to improve further in their batting I think. The lake of concentration has been shown by Srilankans. Specially playing on a bouncy wicket in Australia they need a player like Sangakara, Dilshan, Jaywardene to keep the momentum going. I think they need to improve in all the department. I think Malinga should play the next test.
Posted by Dhaval1983 on November 13 2007, 03:59 AM GMT
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I agree that Sangakkara and Malinga should be included in their team for Fernando and Attapatu. This will allow sri lanka strength to add to there side and will allow them to play much better in game 2 of the test series.
Posted by Manly on November 12 2007, 23:58 PM GMT
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Getting Sangakkara into the team depends on whether he'll be fit enough to play or not. On the other hand, If Marvan Attapattu does not play in the 2nd Test, then that'll be a big blow to the Srilankan side. Since Marvan is in form, political and personal issues should not interact with Cricket and he doesnt seem to be disturbed by these issues. So overal,l not losing Marvan is another concern compared to Snagakkara and Malinga.
Posted by vipzkulam on November 12 2007, 23:44 PM GMT
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To the Sri Lankan team, Ian Chappell has made some very useful comments please take a note of them. There is absolutely no reason why Sri Lanka should not beat Australia in Hobart or the very least lose looking good. Get serious and play hard, attacking fields all day, forget defence, go for broke.
Posted by pwelcome on November 12 2007, 23:38 PM GMT
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Sri Lankans have the great respect for Ian and Tony, and if Ian could coach our cricketers, unlike the present one who is a jinx, we could be at the pinacle of cricket. Ian's comment on Malinga and Sangakkara are timely and the blunder of Malinga being left out, proved the selectors' foolish and wrong. Dilhara's record in Australia had been poor and inconsistant, beside four quickies would have been a better choice as Aussies had a fear of Malinga. However, Ian's comment on Australia's superior performance needs commenting. 'Murali fear' soon dissipated with the dropping of catches and the outcome of the test would have been entirely different. Shane Warne has sparked another row on Murali's action. If Murali was cheating and had been cheeky, he is honourable enough not to bowl, as most cultured Sri Lankans are, unlike others who cheat and sledge to win matches, besides Shane's absence has no effect, as he has the poorest record with Lankans.
Posted by eyeopener on November 12 2007, 22:37 PM GMT
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Totally agree with Ian on this one. Both Sangakkara and Malinga will strenghten the team for the next test. Their inclusion will only boost the performance of the others and bring better results. Malinga should have played in the last game. His unorthodox bowling style and pace will give the Australian batsmen some difficulty at the next pitch venue.
Posted by aloo_ball on November 12 2007, 21:57 PM GMT
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Fernado was exspensive early in the test match but did slow down run scoring off him with figures of 1 for 130 but was defiantly was not the best of bowling by him.I believe Murali,Vaas and Mahroof bowled resonbly well keeping the aussies pretty honest.Though they did not get many wickets they kept the pressure on.Mahroof bowledwell I thought seaming the ball a bit got a diffcult droped catch and kept the batsmen honest even though his figures won't show it with figures of 0 for 107 off 34 overs.Vaas and Murali bowled like they always do but unfortunally found it tough to get wickets.I believe if Malinga was playing it may have been a different story with the ball and Sangakarra was also missing in the side so hopefully the Sri Lankans will give these two an oppurtunity to shock the aussies with good batting and bowling.Sri Lankans batting I believe is quite strong if Kumar comes in the team but hopefully we get marven in the team for this test and get rid of samaraweera .
Posted by LasithTheSlinga on November 12 2007, 21:27 PM GMT | |
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