Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st Test, Galle, 17-21 November, 2012

Re Franklin- If after 30 tests (although admittedly when he began he was a bowler who batted at number nine) your number six still averages just 21, it's PERHAPS time to move on. They have some decent young batsmen in domestic cricket- Latham, Cachopa, Rutherford, Kitchen......Makes you wonder why they persist with the not up to it Franklin.

Must be up there with Ashley Giles in the Coach's c*ck sucking stakes.

Aye, they need to get Kitchen in ASAP.

Wow, the Snoozies had (and to some extent still have) the Lankans rocking and rolling. 4-20 and 5-50??

Jaya and Flangelo making a recovery. 5-123

And the biggest dope award goes to Randiv...

7.5 - Southee to Randiv, no run, Dropped by McCullum! That was a sitter at third slip, pitched up and swinging away, edged and went at a good height and he spilled it

7.6 - Southee to Randiv, OUT, someone's taken it this time! After the reprieve in the previous ball, Randiv plays the same shot, reaches out to a pitched up away swinging delivery, thick outside edge and it goes to Guptill this time at second slip, no fumbling, McCullum must be a relieved man.

Got to say, Galle produces a result very often. Fair play to them, though they did make Lyon seem a top spinner.

Mouthee has bothered earning his keep for the last month. What IS going on?

Boooo

Hell of a player, Mahela. Mathews is good too. Especially in a crisis.

Couple of quickies and NZ are back in it - 219/7. Of course, Mahela's still in there so...

26 run lead for Lanka.

Kin enda. Looks like a properly good match though.

Mukka's a genius. Give that man an award.

Whatta dick.

And his desperation to flash it.

Sunny again.

Brass Monkey wrote:Kin enda. Looks like a properly good match though.

Not looking flash anymore.

Might as well have played Coldplay

Shaggers 97/9 with a lead of only 71. useless tools.

Jebus christ... talk about pissweasels.

What a disgrace. Chris Martin should be brought back in immediately, to stiffen up the batting stocks.

Sweet Jebus, this one ended quick.

Herath burned the Snoozies then?

Presumably the Sheep barely rate above the Bangers now?? Soft as a soft ball of soft belly button lint.

So three tests that promised exciting finishes all petered out into easy wins.

while earlier, the one that for two days plus looked like an easy win (to South Africa) petered out to a draw

Test cricket: you can't beat it

taipan wrote:So three tests that promised exciting finishes all petered out into easy wins.

Though considering their crapulence early on, England playing upto the fifth day itself was a success.

lardbucket wrote:while earlier, the one that for two days plus looked like an easy win (to South Africa) petered out to a draw

Test cricket: you can't beat it

The draw was favourite after day one I who'd have said.

taipan wrote:

lardbucket wrote:while earlier, the one that for two days plus looked like an easy win (to South Africa) petered out to a draw

Test cricket: you can't beat it

The draw was favourite after day one I who'd have said.

Without wanting to sound too much like Chappelli, that was certainly the attitude of the South Africans (dead cert draw after losing a day) and it nearly cost them the test.