Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Player Ratings
Cricket is a game of the unexpected. It is what helps make it so exciting, keeping us on the edge of the our seat as to what can happen next.
However, the Canberra Test between Australia and Sri Lanka was predictable that any fan who didn’t catch any of the game could have explained it with ease (well, maybe not Mitchell Starc taking top order wickets again). Australia, who didn’t win a single series in any format for nearly a year, swept Sri Lanka aside with such ease that the Aussie media believes they are Ashes contenders simply because of this win.
No.
Australia are contenders because England are not without their own issues. Of course, England, while awful in West Indies, will be a big test for Australia, who need to guard against losing early wickets as was on display all summer.
For Sri Lanka, where do we start? They came into this series dreaming they could knock over Australia down under. After two very one-sided Tests, that is likely to remain a dream for many years to come. Sri Lanka instiled more confidence into Australian players than Australian coaches could have in the last 11 months. That they lost all three of their first Test seamers didn’t help, but when you realise they lost that Test by an innings, Sri Lankan fans will be right to wonder where on earth their next victory outside Asia will come from. To all the Twitter users, go easy on the Sri Lanka fans. It is a difficult time.
In this article, I will rate each player in the second Test out of ten. As always, it is a light hearted review of the action gone by!
Also read: Light-hearted New Zealand vs India ODI Series Player Ratings!
Australia
Marcus Harris: England are reportedly keen on trying to bring another foreigner into their team. This time it’s Marcus Harris, who caught the eyes England selectors with his tendency to play ODI shots early in a Test innings. Harris seems to have a complete inability to leave the ball. For me, he doesn’t make the first Ashes XI. 2
Joe Burns: Got through Australia’s awful start on the first morning, and then filled his boots. England could pick a few weaknesses such as Burns’ tendency to bring his back leg around and square up. Nonetheless, this was a strong return to the Test side. 8.5
Usman Khawaja: No Test century is an easy one, but let’s be honest, it was very close to “easy” for Khawaja in the second dig. He sure needed it after a first innings shot so bad I’d rather watch ‘Married at First Sight’ than look at that shot again. Khawaja probably makes the XI for the first Ashes Test, and Australia will need him at his best after a difficult summer. 7
Marnus Labuschagne: It takes more of an effort to fail against such an inexperienced attack than to score. Got a decent ball in the first innings, but regarding Marnus’ second innings shot, you’d see less flirting in a bar. Bowled pretty well when called on, picking two wickets for the game. 3.5
Travis Head: Dominant. Promised in his last series against India, and filled his boots against Sri Lanka. 10
Kurtis Patterson: “Lahiru Thirimanne is my new favourite cricketer”, said a very excited Kurtis Patterson after the match. Thirimanne dropped a sitter at short leg off Patterson’s first ball. He then made the Sri Lankans pay with a blistering century, filled with incredible timing. 9
Tim Paine: If picking the fielder was an Olympic Sport, Tim Paine’s room would be full of Gold Medals. He did play well to grind Sri Lanka down further, even declaring before reaching his own half century. Given how Sri Lanka batted, he is now even more gratfeul that Cheteshwar Pujara is long gone. 7.5
Pat Cummins: Deserved man of the series. Pat Cummins threatened the Sri Lankans constantly with the ball, bowling an excellent mix of short and fuller lengths. 8
Mitchell Starc: Tougher opposition awaits, but it was great to see Mitchell Starc bowling with good pace. Touched 150km/h on numerous occasions. Finished a difficult summer with a ten-for. 10
Jhye Richardson: Dhananjaya de Silva’s “softer than soft serve ice cream” second innings dismissal saved Jhye Richardson from going wicketless in a game where Marnus Labuschagne took two wickets in five overs. Richardson wasn’t as good as he was on debut, but has the ability to constantly ask questions. 4
Nathan Lyon: Little expensive in the second innings, but he was never really needed to make a big impact. Bowled the house down against India, and then added two Tests that lasted six days to his career appearances. 6
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne: Huge concern after getting hit by a Pat Cummins delivery. Thankfully, he was OK. His first innings half century was an excellent knock that Sri Lanka and Karunaratne would have been disappointed by how it ended. Sick of the sight of Mitch Starc, is Dimuth. 6
Lahiru Thirimanne: Unconverted start. Unconverted start. Wouldn’t have been out of place in the Australian side in the recent series against India. In fact, he would have fitted in really well. Dropped a sitter against Patterson. 6
Dinesh Chandimal: Squared Up, the company who decided to sponsor Chandimal in the first Test, had no regrets about their decision. Mitchell Starc outscored Dinesh Chandimal in this series. And Starc only batted once. It’s the stuff of horror stories. Says Sri Lanka will bounce back in South Africa. I say good luck. 1
Kusal Mendis: Another disappointment from Sri Lanka’s nightmare series. Played well in the second innings, but the game was all but gone. His shot to get out suggested the same. Awful stuff. 4
Niroshan Dickwella: An absolute 10 for his sledging. I laughed. So did Usman Khawaja. The Marsh boys, not quite. For his two 20s, and standing behind the stumps as Sri Lanka bowled fruit and dropped catches, he gets an average rating. 5
Dhananjaya de Silva: Previously mentioned that de Silva’s second innings dismissal is softer than soft serve ice cream. However, that is unfair…
… on the ice cream. Also hit wicket in the first innings. One to forget. 4
Kusal Perera: Like Karunaratne, all are pleased to see Perera OK after getting hit by a bouncer. Australia had two men out in the deep in the second innings, and Perera hung back, edging a half volley through to the keeper. A tough lesson about the challenges of Test cricket. 4
Chamika Karunaratne: Started beautifully on debut, but that is where the joy ended. 3
Dilruwan Perera: It’s not quite the game to have pictured and framed on your bedroom wall when Dhananjaya de Silva found more turn than you. Not a single wicket in 47 overs. 2
Kasun Rajitha: Good in patches, very expensive on most occasions. 3
Vishwa Fernando: Again, good in patches, expensive mostly. Started brilliantly, swinging the ball nicely, but faded away. Sydney property prices are expensive, but if they reach Sri Lankan bowling level expensive, then we are officially screwed. 3
So, a second very easy win for Australia to end a tough season on a high.
For Sri Lanka, it doesn’t get easier as they go to South Africa for two Tests.
Thanks for reading!
Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Player Ratings
Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Player Ratings
