Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 16-20 July, 2014

PeterCS wrote:It's still 268 on the board with 5 wuckets left, though. "I've seen worse situations." I'd say deuce, next session important.

Odd decision to use Steyn as a NW? Doesn't betoken great faith in JP. (I thought the real teams were supposed to sneer at the use of NWs?)

Steyn has been doing the NW for about 5 years.

An odd days play. The non ODI players (Petersen, Elgar and Faf) tried to play test innings but finally ran out of concentration die to lack of middle time. The in form Amla and AB got out playing one day shots.

Looks a fair fightback by the Lankans after the Saffers got to 1-195.

Looks like SA had a mini collapse. I was expecting to see a score of well over 300 this morning.

high 400s still on the cards....bizarre that Faf bats at 3...shows lack of conviction/faith in the two best bats

horace wrote:high 400s still on the cards....bizarre that Faf bats at 3...shows lack of conviction/faith in the two best bats

Faf has the highest average in the team.

Where is Clarke batting these days?

taips

your efforts would be more rewarding teaching a pig to sing

or you to make a judgement, any kind, let alone an astute one....how many tests has faf played compared to the ABD and Amla?

I see I have annoyed the pig.

nah how can anyone be annoyed at a meerkat?

I rest my case.

Verny exercising some of his allround skills again.

Haysman channelling his inner Sivaramakrishnan. Nauseatingly biased atm. Doesn't have to repeat ad nauseum that South Africa have gained the upper hand, been going on about it for around ten minutes non stop. That is evident, but not as much as he says yet.

JayPee and Phil have taken the game away from the Lanks.

I wouldn't be surprised if the home team's top order showed the after-effects of a sizeable 8th wicket stand from the visitors - which may therefore prove the most decisive batting partnership in the match.

horace wrote:high 400s still on the cards....bizarre that Faf bats at 3...shows lack of conviction/faith in the two best bats

Odd that the two best bats have the two lowest scores in the top 8.

tricycle wrote:Haysman channelling his inner Sivaramakrishnan. Nauseatingly biased atm. Doesn't have to repeat ad nauseum that South Africa have gained the upper hand, been going on about it for around ten minutes non stop. That is evident, but not as much as he says yet.

So would you doubt that South Africa have the upper hand?

It's quite obvious they have the upper hand, isn't it?

And Sri Lanka have the lower hand.

And that bro is because South Africa clearly have the upper hand.

And another thing ... regarding the state of this match, .....

PeterCS wrote:

tricycle wrote:Haysman channelling his inner Sivaramakrishnan. Nauseatingly biased atm. Doesn't have to repeat ad nauseum that South Africa have gained the upper hand, been going on about it for around ten minutes non stop. That is evident, but not as much as he says yet.

So would you doubt that South Africa have the upper hand?

It's quite obvious they have the upper hand, isn't it?

And Sri Lanka have the lower hand.

And that bro is because South Africa clearly have the upper hand.

And another thing ... regarding the state of this match, .....

Just another eight minutes of the same!

Philander gone. Very good partnership.

That seemed to jinx Philander but he can certainly occupy the crease in addition to playing shots. With Morkel and Tahir the end could be nigh though.

Why are Saf only playing with 3 bowlers?

JGK wrote:Why are Saf only playing with 3 bowlers?

Smith has retired.

Ah. Sorry, just saw that Tahir is playing.

tricycle wrote:Haysman channelling his inner Sivaramakrishnan. Nauseatingly biased atm. Doesn't have to repeat ad nauseum that South Africa have gained the upper hand, been going on about it for around ten minutes non stop. That is evident, but not as much as he says yet.

Why would he be biased? Aus isn't playing.

Fair point. He's on again. Commentary dream, this series. Oscillating between Haysman and Arnold...

I was going to mention Arnold. IMHO the worst commentator around.

I like Arnold, for a Sri Lanka perspective. He's pretty much the only one who has a decent grasp of English. You want excruciating - try Jayasuriya.