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Following on from the questions set earlier in the week, here are what the bloggers and assorted wise people are picking out of the Sri Lanka / NZ test series that started yesterday. And, predictably, the only question getting almost universal agreement is the series result. And, take out the first 3 overs from Galle, it looks a reasonably safe bet. But don’t take our word for it, a self-satisfied first day review is here
NB: All of the picks were submitted in time, or thereabouts. So here’s a reminder. Questions for the Series 1. Series Result. 2. Highest run scorer (SL) 3. Highest run scorer (NZ) 4. Leading wicket taker (SL). 5. Leading wicket taker (NZ). 6. Will Jesse last the series without dehydration issues?. 7. Number of overs Big Jake will get through (to the nearest 10 or so).. 8. Leading left arm “spinner” in the series.. 9. How many matches will Sri Lanka pick 3 spinners 10. Number of times the SL openers score more than 30 together 11. How many times will SL open the bowling with a spinner. And for the test at Galle. 1. Result. 2. Session match finished on 3. Highest run scorer (SL) 4. Highest run scorer (NZ) 5. Number of blades of grass on the pitch. 6. Which side will win the most LBW appeals?. 7. How many overs before Dilshan brings out the flick over the shoulder?. Our picks: 1. SL. 2-0. 2. Kumar 3. Taylor 4. Murali. 5. Vettori. Especially the tail-enders 6. Certainly not. More to the point, will he start the series? 7. 29.2. 8. Tight one this. Lets go with Herath 9. 1. Rain around at Galle might spook them. After that they will realise the folly. 10. 1 That’s out of 2 innings 11. None And for Galle. 1. SL 2. Day 5, session 1 3. Jayawardene 4. Taylor 5. 0 6. SL 7. 3 Sri Lankan gloaters The Fly Slip are pretty bullish. For the series. 1. SL. 2-0. 2. Sangakkara 3. Taylor 4. Herath. 5. Martin 6. No. he will fly home before the first test is over. 7. 1 8. Herath 9. 1. 10. 1 out of 4 innings 11. 2 out of 4. But to much time gloating, not enough time reading instructions. He forgot to submit answers for the 1st test. Playing through champion 12th Man from Chinese Cut makes his picks. Take note people, he’s sharp. 1. Is there a need to ask? SL. 2-0. 2. Sangakkara 3. Taylor 4. Muralitharan. 5. Vettori 6. Yes. He will just manage to last the distance. 7. 20 8. Vettori 9. Nil. 10. 3 11. Nil And for Galle, pay attention. 1. SL 2. Day 5, session 1 3. Jayawardene 4. Flynn 5. 20 - 30 6. SL 7. At least 15 Aussie cricket Blogging Overlord and author Jrod from Cricket with Balls might be busy right now, but he sent this through. 1. SL. 2-0. but the Kiwis will be plucky (©. New Zealand Cricket Team) at times 2. King Kumar who is going to get him out? 3. Jesse. It takes an uncomplicated mind to play spin on the subbie, Jesse has that. 4. Hearth, The Sri Lankan Vettori. 5. Jeets, fresh from his maiden first class century. 6. No. Dude will get the squirts a few times as well. 7. 57. And they will be brutally fast, he will bend his back like never before to get bounce off these lifeless pitches. 8. Herath Vettori is a batsman 9. 1. But they will quickly realise they don’t need that many. 10. 3. With scoops and all 11. Once. Just for the hell of it. And for Galle, 1. SL 2. Day 5, session 1 3. Kumar 4. Jesse 5. 7 6. SL 7. 18 Roving Pakistani Well Pitched usually does OK at these. 1. SL. 2-0. Doesn’t think NZ will be able to cope with spin. 2. Sangakkara. Who else? 3. Taylor 4. Muralitharan. Fit and hungry, and he wants to get to 1000. 5. Vettori 6. Highly doubt it, No. 7. 20 8. Vettori. Murali’s back, Herath won’t get many wickets. 9. Nil. Can't drop either of Matthews, Kulasekara, and Tushara 10. 2 11. Nil And for Galle, 1. SL 2. Day 5, session 2 3. Kumar 4. Taylor 5. 3 6. SL 7. 12 Now here’s something wonderfully English. UK blog The Old Batsman submitted his picks late. Not criminally late, but disqualified himself from entering any picks for the Galle test as he thought that would be bad form. Would anyone else do that? 1. SL. 2-0. 2. The boy Dilshan 3. The boy Taylor 4. The boy Mendis. 5. The man Martin 6. Yes. He’s a man now. 7. 35 8. Vettori 9. Nil. 10. 0 11. Twice Ben from Crucket breaks the mould in the series result department. Bless.. 1. SL. 1-0. Lets be positive from the start. 2. Sangakkara. He does love NZ bowlers. 2 centuries last time we met I seem to recall 3. Taylor. His big weakness is bouncy pace. How much of that are we going to see? 4. Muralitharan. Anywhere between 1/3 and 2/3 of the total SL wicket haul 5. Vettori. He does love SL batsmen. A 5-er and a 10-er last time we met. 6. Of course he will. 7. 40. But how many will he be needed for? 8. Vettori 9. Nil. 3 spinners? When does anyone play 3 spinners? We're talking specialists here right? 10. Half the time 11. Nil Enough about the spinners already. For Galle, 1. SL 2. Day 5, session 1 3. Jayawardene. He pwns Galle. He'd probably get the highest match aggregate too. 4. Vettori 5. 100 6. NZ 7. 2 Sach popped up on here to make his picks. We like trash talking. 1. SL. 2-0. if the weather Gods decide to stay out of this. 2. MJ. He likes bashing minnows 3. Vettori. Best batsman in NZ lineup 4. Muralitharan. He's angry he didn't get to bag Pakis 5. Vettori. The only bowler Kiwis have, so it's not really a question. 6. Probably. Cos he's not going to last long enough to dehydrate 7. 12. Anything over that is a bonus 8. Vettori The only thing Kiwis are going to be better than SL. 9. One. If the spin duo picks sh*t loads of wickets in the first Test 10. 2 or more - depending on whether they get to play that many innings 11. Nil For Galle, 1. SL 2. Day 4, session 3. It might rain, you see. 3. Jayawardene. 4. Vettori 5. More then what NZ are going to score. 6. SL of course 7. 6 Comments and Fly Slip gloating here . And if you get bored of the real cricket, try this out .
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