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Surprisingly we have actually taken a 24 run lead after the 1st innings in the 3rd Test thanks to Steve Smith-119 & the Marsh brothers SOS-130, MM-53 the rest of them offered up fark all again.
These blokes are lucky some of the Olympic average efforts are taking the heat off of them as this has been nothing short of a disastrous tour to SL tho Mitch Starc has been a standout.

I agree with all the above; the amazing thing about the drop in standards, particularlly for the batsmen, is that it has been sanctioned by the greats. GS Chappell picked Dave Warner for test cricket, above the groans of the cricket going public in Australia. I would make them watch video from the 20s and 30s, when players actually got to the pitch of the ball or moved inside the line so they could avoid being hit and play the hook and pull shot. Then I would say two words to them: foot work.

If I see one more 'test batsmen' from the top six get caught in front of the wicket at cover or mid off, even mid-wicket, I am going to tear my hair out. If people, such as Lehmann, really thought about it, he would threaten them with fines if they got/get dismissed in certain ways. If players are going to bat like children they should be treatted in such a manner until they learn; but, by his own admission, Lehmann does not coach: he sends them down the nets to hit throw downs and learn for themselves.

I don't remember the following getting caught in front of the wicket:

chappell
Border
Boycott
Gavaskar

I don't remember DW Hookes getting caught in front of the wicket in a test match, and as people would remember, he was much looser player, more akin to the type we have to suffer today.

I am a bit softer on the bowlers, because on the whole, it is the harder skill to do well. For the most part, I would rate them as a slightly above average test attack; it is certainlly not down to them the we will go on to lose this series.

Grassy what about John Holland? We would have been better off wheeling out Bob Dutchy Holland than the Vic left armer who would struggle to get my mum out let alone Test batsmen!

Beasley Hutton wrote: Grassy what about John Holland? We would have been better off wheeling out Bob Dutchy Holland than the Vic left armer who would struggle to get my mum out let alone Test batsmen!

Spot on! How this peanut got a gig ahead of Adam Zampa has me stuffed. What would you rather, a finger spinner spinning the ball away from the right hander or a wrist spinner...go figure?!?!??!

Dazzler wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: Grassy what about John Holland? We would have been better off wheeling out Bob Dutchy Holland than the Vic left armer who would struggle to get my mum out let alone Test batsmen!

Spot on! How this peanut got a gig ahead of Adam Zampa has me stuffed. What would you rather, a finger spinner spinning the ball away from the right hander or a wrist spinner...go figure?!?!??!

God knows Dazz the longer Rod Marsh stays as Chairman of Selectors the more I wonder if he actually has much of an eye for talent anymore (Stevie Wonder could spot Warne, Ponting etc had enormous talent).
When O' Keefe went down and Agar was indisposed I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to blood a young 24yo blond leggie in Zampa on the SL decks against good players of spin bowling which also have been good for his development but they instead went for a 30+yo Holland who struggles in 1st class domestic cricket.
Just no foresight shown by selectors who may well have had their day in the role!

I've seen some doozies in my time but the selection of Henriques in this test ahead of Usman Khawaja would have to be the dumbest call of all time. What was Moises selected for, his fielding FFS???? His contribution to the match so far is 4 runs as a number 5 batsman and 2 overs for 9 runs. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. I would hazard a guess that had Khawaja played, he would have had more chance than Henriques of consolidating Australia's position after the great partnership between SOS and Smith, which may have got them closer to the 150 lead that they needed to challenge in this match. If Nevill is the best keeper in Australia then bring back Gilly I say......

Grassy wrote: Neville doesn't do much for me.Neat stumping though.

Was it a dead ball though Grassy? It had been in his gloves for quite a while.

Mikeh: the boss of the national selectors has been at it for years, peddlling pop-gun cricketers. Richie Robinson opened in a test match for Australia in 1977 following his support, according to what I have read.

Let us hope they avoid a three nil defeat.

Goodness me this mob are a rabble at the minute
From 0/77 a ball before lunch and looking at even pinching a long overdue win on the tour they are now 6/129 less than an hour later and about to go down 3-0 to Sri Lanka
Already made mention of the ridiculous decision to pick Holland over Zampa (or even Glenn Maxwell for that matter) but sheesh wasnt Moises Henriques an inspired selection for Khawaja

Touch wood Starc saves the day and makes a Gillespie double hundred.....hearing you loud and clear BH....no doubt all will be restored over the Aussie summer.....