Clarke and, yet again, Hussey bat Sri Lanka out of match and series: T3D5

Australia 316 & 488 (138.5 ov, Hughes 126, Clarke 112, Hussey 93, Herath 7/157) drew with Sri Lanka 473 & 0/7 ( 2 ov): T3D5 at Colombo (SSC). Australia win series 1-0 and retain Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.

A not unexpected match result after five days and a good series win for Australia (though not one I'd expected).

When Phil Hughes was out early for 126/220b (1x6, 16x4), Sri Lanka may have sniffed an unlikely victory in the air. But Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey dispelled any such thoughts by batting to lunch and then more than an hour beyond, adding 176 from 38 overs, until at 396 and the match saved Clarke was out. His 112/178b (3x6, 14x4) was his highest score for some time, and made in a refreshingly forthright way. This and his 60 in T1 at Galle should silence those who've doubted that he's worth a place in the team (or who've sneered at him dropping himself to no5).

And Mr Cricket. Dismissed for his second ninety of the series, 93/138b (1x6, 11x4), the most consistent and most effective (cf Angelo Mathews) batsman on either side (493 runs), an excellent fielder and, by virtue of two wickets, top of the bowling averages. Unquestionably Player of the Series and deservedly Player of this Match.

Sri Lanka plugged away (or tried to plug the gaps in the field) . With only one frontline spinner they lacked the kind of firepower needed to keep the pressure on Australia. Even so Rangana Herath's herculean 52-11-157-7 shouldn't go unmentioned or unappreciated. He did well to regroup, admittedly on what was a more favourable pitch, after an ordinary performance in the first innings.


So Australia are now the fourth ranked Test nation in the world. In the coming months their opponents will include the higher ranked South Africa (in a piddling two match away series) and India (four Tests at home). Interesting, though after the Sri Lanka series more hopeful, times perhaps.

Scorecard 




PS Interesting to hear (and see)  ABC commentator Jim Maxwell filling in for Tony Greig on the coverage from Sri Lanka. He did a good job and showed, as if it needed to be, that high level cricket experience is not an essential requirement for the job.

Sri Lanka well placed for at least an honourable draw after two days

Sri Lanka 2/166  (65ov, Sangakkara 61*, Paranavitana 46,) trail Australia 316 (104.3 ov, Hussey 118, Marsh 81, Ponting 48, Eranga 4/65) on first innings by 150 runs: T3D2 at Colombo (SSC).

I've been away from live TV coverage for the last couple of days so have had to rely on Cricinfo (whose comments and analysis are good yet lack the immediacy of real time TV coverage) and,TV highlights. Better than nothing (try getting Test coverage in the US media) but still below par.

Making allowances for these shortcomings I conclude that Sri Lanka have been competitive and that, while they haven't yet got all the required runs on the board, their two best bats - Kumar Sangakkara 61*/125b (9x4) and Mahela Jayawardene 31*/83b (5x4) - are still at the wicket. Which means they must have a pretty good chance of passing Australia's OK but could have been better 318.

For Australia,once again Mike Hussey came to the rescue with a quintessentially pugnacious Mr Cricketish (a tautology, eh?)  118/178b (2x6, 12x4). Shaun Marsh also justified the selectors' faith in him (a no-brainer after his debut) with 81/207b (7x4). But add their scores  together, toss in Ricky Ponting's 48 and Brad Haddin's 35, and you can see, even without looking at the scorecard, that there were several below par performances. 
 
 I'm now repairing to the couch to watch day 3, so will leave you to check out the Scorecard and form your own opinions.

Australia build massive lead as Hussey & Marsh make hay before rain comes : T2D3

Australia 7/411 (132ov, Hussey 142, Marsh 141) lead Sri Lanka 174 by 237runs with 3 first inns wickets in hand. T2D3 at Pallekele.

Mike Hussey and Shaun Marsh eventually added 258 before Hussey fell for 142/244b (18x4). Marsh followed soon after for 142/315b (16x4), as did Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson to successive deliveries from Suraj Randiv (Ryan Harris narrowly avoided the hat trick).

Both Hussey, the old gun who'd been written off by many a year ago, and Marsh, the Test debutant, batted magnificently on a pitch which is holding up well against an attack which which lacked penetration (or was made to lack penetration).

But then the rains came. I don't know the forecast for Kandy (near the Pallekele stadium) but wouldn't be surprised if more rain was expected tomorrow and Monday, in which case Australia should declare now and hope that their bowlers can once again take advantage of what this series so far has shown to be a more brittle than expected Sri Lanka batting lineup.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka win first session, Aust the second, weather the third: T2D2

Australia 3/264 (91.3 ov, Marsh 87*, Hussey 76*) lead Sri Lanka 174 by 90 runs with 7 innings wkts in hand: T2D2 at Pallekele.
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When bad light stopped play just after tea Shaun Marsh and, once again, Mike Hussey had taken Australia from a sub-optimal 3/116 to a much healthier 3/264 in about one and a half sessions

Marsh on debut batted in doughty mode at first (his 50 took 133 balls, inc 7x4) before becoming more fluent later. His 87*/211b (11x4) and of course Hussey's continued late(?) career bloom 76*/152b (8x4) have put Australia back on the road to a substantial first innings lead. The main contest may now between them and the weather.

Sri Lanka, especially the economical Suraj Randiv, plugged away in the field. After lunch the occasional ball caused problems but when Kumar Sangakkara came on to bowl it seemed, if not unconditional surrender, then the opening of peace negotiations. Yet like MS Dhoni, the other subcontinental wicketkeeper turned bowler (in a recent Test v England), Kumar didn't bowl too badly: he swung the ball at about 100kph. Good parkland, but a bit short of Test standard.

; Scorecard

307 stand trumps 260 total on Hussey and Haddin's big day: T1D3

England 260 & 0/19 (15 ov) trail Australia 481 (158.4 ov, M Hussey 195, B Haddin 136, S Finn 6/125) by 202 runs with 10 2nd inns wkts in hand: T1 D3 at the Gabba, Brisbane.

Make no mistake about it: despite some early uncertainty against the new ball and some close, though favourable, calls from the umpire decision review system (and the umpires themselves), Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin's 307 6th wicket partnership has shifted the first Test in favour of Australia.

Hussey, 81 overnight, had already saved his cricketing life. He went on to 195/330 b (1 x6, 26x4), while Haddin added another 114 before he was snaffled at slip off Graeme Swann for 136/287b (1x6. 16x4).

The last five wickets, including Mitchell Johnson for a duck, fell for 31 runs as the persevering Steve Finn picked up 6/125. Graeme Swann's 2/128 reflected his modest bowling, though Jimmy Anderson's 2/99 significantly understated his continued probing at the batsmen.

From here, thanks to Hussey, Haddin and the bowlers, Australia should win, though a draw isn't beyond the realm of possibility.

Scorecard

Fox Sports Report

Pakistan batting falters in face of solid Australian total: T1 D2

Pakistan 4/109 (49 ov) trails Australia 5/454dec (128 ov, S Katich 98, S Watson 53, M Hussey 82, N Hauritz 75, R Ponting 57) by 345 runs with 6 first innings wicket in hand: T1 D2 at MCG.

A very one sided and not especially memorable day's play.

There wasn't even an Australian century to celebrate despite Bill Lawry's prediction that Mike Hussey, 82 at the time, would score one. Alas Lawry's claim was the kiss of death for Hussey, who was lbw (confirmed on review by UDRS) without adding to his score. He faced 113b, hit 10 4s and looked in good touch (so the reasons for Lawry's prediction weren't too far fetched).

Nathan Hauritz batted on without ever looking as polished or as entrenched as Hussey or Michael Clarke, who joined him at the crease (and who probably regretted not coming in last night to take advantage of the shortcomings of the Pakistan attack) . When Hauritz was lbw for 75/152b (1x6, 8x4), his highest Test score, Ricky Ponting declared.

The Pakistan batting was of modest quality, except for Salman Butt who looked fairly comfortable until he fell lbw to Shane Watson for 45/113b (1x4). The Australian bowling was tight, conceding just over 2 runs an over, which augurs well for a home win, though probably not for exciting cricket.

Scorecard

Australia looks good on paper, despite obvious cracks

Australians 8/337 (90 ov, M Hussey 143* S Katich 95, T Bresnan 3/36, S Harmison 3/67) v England Lions: Day 1 at Worcester.

After all sorts of off-field distractions including Michael Vaughan's retirement , Andrew Flintoff's reprimand for missing a team bonding trip to Ypres and a crackbrained proposal from the ICC president to reduce Tests to four days traditional first class cricket for the Australians resumed today at Worcester, a traditional English cricket ground.

Unlike the days when Worcester hosted the first in a series of preliminary matches (and Don Bradman invariably produced a century or double century) this is the only scheduled first class match before the Test series begins

While the 8/337 doesn't seem a bad day's work for the batting side, the scorecard reveals that without Mike Hussey's 143* and Simon Katich's 95 there's little scope for complacency, let alone hubris. Phil Hughes' weakness outside off stump was exposed, Ricky Ponting played an uncharacteristically airy shot to slip, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin were ordinary, while Marcus North looked out of his depth.

The Lions' pace attack did well: Steve "Lazarus" Harmison bowled with both fire and accuracy, the wiry Graeme Onions continued his excellent 2009 county form while the stockier Tim Bresnan came back well after a wobbly start . Sajjid Mahmood had a few moments, though Adil Rashid looked as if he needs more time to prepare himself for the longest form of the game (but I still believe he's a great prospect).

The Sky Sports TV coverage was most appropriate: its customary professionalism ( underlined by occasional crosses to the England v Warwickshire practice match) had a bucolic tinge which reminded me of a line from John Arlott's poem about cricket at Worcester "And the bar stayed open all day". In these politically correct times no commentator would dare admit on air (or in verse) to having a drink in the workplace (aka at the ground) : Michael Atherton's icecream (from the Dean's Ices van) was the closest to this, but if the obesity police have their way perhaps he'll be either reprimanded a la Flintoff or, as we say in these parts, on the outer. I hope not.