Congrats to Murali, truly a magic player. Don't worry about the HAPLESS Poms Davros, they're just dirty because their aims of drawing the series in SL in December last year weren't met - they did some trademark Boycottesque blocking for most of the 1st and 2nd Tests to scrape away with heroic draws but unfortunately didn't manage it in the Third Test where Murali cleaned them up, leading to a crushing defeat.
And speaking of differing standards of expectation:
Quote:
Wisden reporting on the OZ win in Galle:
Shane Warne's scriptwriter could not have penned his comeback better. Australia, their backs firmly to the wall after the first two days, powered their way back into the opening Test as Warne polished off Sri Lanka's tail in the first innings and Matthew Hayden, the Man of the Match, set Australia on course for a massive lead. Warne then took centerstage on the final, action-packed, day as he ripped through Sri Lanka's batting and rushed to the magical 500-wicket landmark as Australia recorded a famous win.
Sri Lanka squandered a 161-run first innings lead as Australia piled up a mountainous 512 for 8. Set an improbable 352-run target, they were thrown into a tailspin this morning as Warne whipped out the cream of their middle order with a magical 13-ball spell that saw Sri Lanka crumple from 41 for 1 to 56 for 4. Sri Lanka never recovered and were bowled out for 154 in just 45.2 overs.
|
Contrast this with:
Quote:
Wisden reporting on the Pom draw in Galle:
England held on for a fighting draw in what was a tense finish to a closely-fought opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. After battling efforts from Mark Butcher, Paul Collingwood and the lower order, the umpires offered England the light with four overs to go and nine wickets down.
The weather certainly came to their rescue, but England's draw represented an impressive display of tough concentration and commitment to the cause, especially against Muttiah Muralitharan on a wearing pitch. And as always in these situations, England will feel like champions and take plenty of heart with them to the next Test. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be ruing their inability to finish the job off, and their slow batting on the fourth day.
|
Chalk and cheese.
[img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]
[ 05-11-2004, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]