What a novelty – a sporting pitch!

A day of carnage has seen 17 wickets fall for just 212 runs in 82.2 overs possible at the 2nd Test in Kandy. The bowlers are getting some significant assistance from the pitch and what a welcome change!

The past summer has been pretty a much a non-stop run feast on benign pitches so it is little wonder the Aussie’s were caught out on what is not a bad track, but could be called “fresh”.

Ponting won the toss and boldly decided to bat. It took me back to day one of the 1997 Ashes series when Tubby batted on a real green top. I think we made 117 on that occasion. Hayden offered the only real resistance with 54 while Warne was next best with 18. Gillie made another duck as his average plummets and his PWC rating is in free fall.

Murali took four wickets and in doing so brought up Test wicket number 500. More importantly for Sri Lanka, Zoysa, the big left armer moved the ball around and took four of the top seven wickets.

At the end of the day, the match is evenly poised, with Australia possibly in front, with Sri Lanka at 7/92. Kasper went through the top order with three wickets and Warne has taken the last three, continuing his fine come back with 3/15. He removed first Test century maker, Dilshan, for a golden duck. Warne’s 18 with the bat may yet be significant if the match continues in the way it has started. His 18 was second top score for Australia and no Sri Lankan has managed to reach such giddy heights as yet.

Sri Lanka’s hopes for this innings lie with Vaas – he can handle a bat and has made 16. That aside, the last three on both sides have not contributed thus far in the series. One suspects that the pitch might dry out and play better over the next two days. How much will it improve for the start of day two and if it is significantly better, can Sri Lanka take advantage?

Footnote: Pakistan and India had their second ODI match up. Once again, both teams scored well over 300 runs. This time it was Pakistan holding on for a 12 run victory. MOTM once again came from the loosing team with Tendulkar hitting 141 and in doing so passed 13000 ODI runs. Now that is mind-numbing!

Australia in big trouble at lunch

After a steady start in the 2nd Test at Kandy, Australia has limped to lunch at 4/61. Much lies with Hayden, who survives on 36 and Symonds, 1. Batsmen dimissed are Langer 3 (from 39 balls), Ponting 10, Martyn 1 and Lehman 8. And much will depend on Gillie – can he deliver?

No catching has been required with 3 lbws and 1 bowled. Murali has one wicket with three falling to the seamers.

I can’t but help thinking Australia have made a blunder taking the same team into this match. The pitch has much more life and I think Williams for MacGill and Katich for Symonds would have been good changes. I still can’t believe that Katich has been left out after his wonderful summer.