Lob & Kritik » 6-1, 6-3 win over American Louisa Chirico.

Upon touching down in Sri Lanka, Australia had received quite the reception. There were no cultural dances, as anyone was aware. No fruit drinks at the airport, nor the privilege of being daubed in the glorious palm sweat of one of the nations politicians.The welcome, instead, was sweetened by news of the ever-growing delegation of injured Sri Lanka seamers. Dushmantha Chameera would not rush Australia with his pace. Dhammika Prasads eyebrows would not haunt their nightmares. Having been unavailable for so many recent Tests, Suranga Lakmal also gallantly re-twinged his dodgy hamstring, like a musician obliging a swaying crowd with his greatest hit. Not long after, Nuwan Pradeep felt the peer pressure and followed suit.On the spin front, Jeffrey Vandersay had also busted a finger, but more importantly, Sri Lankas greatest player grinned himself over to the opposite camp, and cocked that Aussie-bashed elbow in the direction of his own team. One thing, comfortingly, did stay the same. Six years after Test retirement, Muttiah Muralitharan was still finding ways to get himself blamed for the spin-friendly nature of a Sri Lankan pitch.In addition, for Australia, there was a welcome banquet at their High Commission, kind words from the opposition captain, and a self-insertion and capitulation from Sri Lanka to set the series off. Short of having groundstaff fan their fielders with banana fronds, Australia had had the best possible welcome on a foreign tour.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, arrived with tattered recent records, an under-pressure captain, and arguably a better attack in triage than the one they have been forced to field. An Aussie whitewash, went many predictions. Others looked into the crystal ball of the islands cricket and saw, oh dear, the West Indies.Where then, six days into the series, did Angelo Mathews find the gall to run at Nathan Lyon and club him into the distance, second ball? Who signed off on a run rate north of four in the first 45 overs today? Who suggested a No. 3 batsman be made of Kusal Perera - who is only a recently reintegrated agent of lower-order slash and burn?It seems to be a solitary Test win that has made the difference. One great Pallekele innings and some quality spin bowling that has been the shot in the arm that has set adrenaline surging again.And it is in Mathews day one doings that this restored confidence was most apparent. In Pallekele he had plodded morosely to 15 and 9. In Galle, he hit two reverse sweeps in his first 19 balls, and loped to 35 at a strike rate over 100. In England, only restaurants that are fronts for criminal operations would have been caught up in so many terrible reviews. But in Galle, he had his highest scorer overturn an lbw decision, and late in the day, declined to refer speculative shouts from his bowlers.We have always wanted to bat reasonably positively, but the problem we have faced is that we hadnt got off to good starts and that has led to a defensive mindset, coach Graham Ford said after stumps. But we always want to play positively. Angelo is capable of playing spin bowling well. He tries and score off them and disrupt them. When I first started with Sri Lanka that was the general approach followed by Mahela Jayawardene, and no surprise Angelo has continued that. At times in England, Mathews had captained with all the zest and creativity of a tube light, but suddenly in Galle, his bowling changes began to seem inspired. Offpsinner Dilruwan Perera had been the worst of the frontline spinners in the first Test, but Mathews had him bowl at a charging David Warner, and eventually, drew the left-handers outside edge. Lunging forward, low to his left, Mathews held a very tough chance himself.With so much inexperience in this squad, which features two Kusals, two Pereras, two Fernandos, a Silva and a de Silva, it was easy to think the selectors had been so short of options theyd been forced to thumb through the phone book picking out clumps of names. But contributions came from all over this XI, which suggests a little belief has built. The openers glove-punched their way to the crease and made the customary head-shaking retreat to the pavilion soon after, but in Kusal Mendis and Pereras 108-run recovery, there was evidence of both grit and ability. In Dhananjaya de Silvas breezy strokes from No. 7, there were healthy signs of another decent player emerging.Sri Lanka will know they have hardly made a dent in Australias batting yet, but with Lakshan Sandakan as yet unloosed on a devious surface, and a half-decent score accrued, they will begin day two with optimism. 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MIAMI -- Where have you gone Mike Piazza?OK, we know exactly where the former Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins (for five games), New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland As catcher will be Sunday afternoon -- getting inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.But we meant where have you gone Mike Piazza in the larger sense, as in, is there an heir apparent to his title as a great hitting catcher?Piazza, who hit 427 homers in his 16-year career, slugged more long balls than any other catcher in major-league history. His career batting average was .308, and his 162-game averages included 29 doubles, 36 homers, 113 RBI and a .922 OPS.Im thrilled, Piazza told mlb.com when asked about his impending induction. Im nervous for tomorrow. But Im looking forward to it.Piazza has earned his legendary status. But suffice to say that no catcher in todays game is close to him in terms of hitting prowess. The closest is Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants, but its not really a fair fight.Here a look at the offensive numbers of the six catchers who made this years All-Star Game:-- American League starter Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals has a career batting average of .278 with 79 homers, 322 RBI and a .745 OPS. His 162-game averages include 20 homers and 83 RBI.-- AL reserve Stephen Vogt of the Oakland As has a .263 career batting average with 39 homers, 152 RBI and a .747 OPS. His 162-game averages include 17 homers and 68 RBI.-- AL reserve Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles has a career .257 batting average with 109 homers, 409 RBI and a .740 OPS. His 162-game averages include 21 homers and 80 RBI.-- Posey, the National League starter, has a .308 career batting average with 114 homers, 491 RBI and a .857 OPS. His 162-game averages incclude 22 homers and 95 RBI.dddddddddddd-- NL reserve Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers has a .284 career batting average with 78 homers, 385 RBI and a .778 OPS. His 162-game averages include 16 homers and 78 RBI.-- NL reserve Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals has a .269 career batting average with 74 homers, 291 RBI and a .741 OPS. His 162-game averages include 22 homers and 88 RBI.Piazza, by the way, never hit .300 or better in his final six seasons. The rigors of catching had clearly caught up to him by then, but he had put up such massive numbers early on that his avearge still was above .300 for his career.As for the Marlins and Mets, they both have young catchers with some potential:-- Miamis J.T. Realmuto, 25, has a .280 career batting average with 15 homers, 82 RBI and a .720 OPS. His 162-game averages include 11 homers and 61 RBI.-- New Yorks Travis dArnaud, 27, has a .245 career batting average with 28 homers, 97 RBI and a .718 OPS. His 162-game averages include 19 homers and 66 RBI.DArnaud, by the way, grew up a Dodgers fan. He was three years old when Piazza made his Dodgers debut in 1992.A shortstop in his early years, dArnaud patterned his game after Piazza once he converted to catcher. And when Piazza served as a Mets instructor in spring training, dArnaud was there to soak up knowledge.(Piazza is) an incredible guy, dArnaud told ESPN New York. He had insight on every little thing.So perhaps it can be said that Piazza is still making a positive impact on the Mets.But another catcher, anywhere in the majors, who can hit as well as Piazza did for as long as Piazza did .. thats not happening any time soon. ' ' '