***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[JASON]

Just 3 and half weeks away - Here's the schedule

September 2007
Fri 28

10:00 local, 04:30 GMT TBC v England XI
Tyronne Fernando Stadium, Moratuwa

October 2007
Mon 1
14:30 local, 09:00 GMT 1st ODI - Sri Lanka v England
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Reserve Day 2nd Oct
Thu 4
14:30 local, 09:00 GMT 2nd ODI - Sri Lanka v England
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Reserve Day 5th Oct
Sun 7
14:30 local, 09:00 GMT 3rd ODI - Sri Lanka v England
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Reserve Day 8th Oct
Wed 10
14:30 local, 09:00 GMT 4th ODI - Sri Lanka v England
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo
Reserve Day 11th Oct
Sat 13
14:30 local, 09:00 GMT 5th ODI - Sri Lanka v England
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo
Reserve Day 14th Oct
November 2007
Tue 20 - Thu 22
10:30 local, 05:00 GMT TBC v England XI
Colombo Cricket Club Ground

Sun 25 - Tue 27
10:30 local, 05:00 GMT TBC v England XI
Colts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo

December 2007
Sat 1 - Wed 5
10:30 local, 05:00 GMT 1st Test - Sri Lanka v England
Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy

Sun 9 - Thu 13
10:30 local, 05:00 GMT 2nd Test - Sri Lanka v England
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo

Tue 18 - Sat 22
10:30 local, 05:00 GMT 3rd Test - Sri Lanka v England
Galle International Stadium

Will Murali recover to take part in ODIs ? Will Freddy make the Tour ? Will Stuart Broad be included ? Will England take 3 spinners to SL .... Discuss

 

[JASON]

Monty to take his first 10 wicket haul in tests....( and possibly two 10 wicket hauls)

 

[JASON]

If Murali is fit, SL ODI XI should look like this -

Sanath J (I hope and pray he has not gone to ICL by then).
Tharanga
Mahela
Sanga (Wicket keeper)
Chamara Silva
Kapugedera
Lokuararaachchi
Vaas
Maharoof
Malinga
Murali

Others in the frame Dilhara, Warnapura, ? Bandara (Chandana heading to ICL will Bandara go too ? )? Silva the wicket keeper ? others

 

[Athlai]

No 20/20?

 

[JASON]

No 20/20?

Doesn't look like there is any .

 

[Athlai]

Doesn't look like there is any .

They give it a world cup but after that they forget to even put it in a tour. Jeez.

 

[JASON]

They give it a world cup but after that they forget to even put it in a tour. Jeez.

I am not sure if SL has had any 20/20 International at all....may be someone can tell me..

 

[Athlai]

I am not sure if SL has had any 20/20 International at all....may be someone can tell me..

Two against New Zealand that I can recall from memory, one was interrupted by rain. I like the ODI series coming before the tests, a build up, should be an excellent series.

 

[JASON]

Two against New Zealand that I can recall from memory, one was interrupted by rain. I like the ODI series coming before the tests, a build up, should be an excellent series.

I live in NZ too , lol , I knew that...They also played a 20/20 in England....No I am referring to any being played in SL....perhaps they played one against SA in SL before the tour got cancelled...not sure

 

[Athlai]

I live in NZ too , lol , I knew that...They also played a 20/20 in England....No I am referring to any being played in SL....perhaps they played one against SA in SL before the tour got cancelled...not sure

My mistake, sorry mate.

Nope no matches yet played in Sri Lanka, wonder when the first will be then.

 

[JASON]

My mistake, sorry mate.

Nope no matches yet played in Sri Lanka, wonder when the first will be then.

Guess, in that case they could've played one in this tour in Colombo to get Sri Lankan fans introduced to the 20/20 concept...But I think SL Cricket may be not too fond of the 20/20 format...

 

[shehanwije]

If Murali is fit, SL ODI XI should look like this -

Sanath J (I hope and pray he has not gone to ICL by then).
Tharanga
Mahela
Sanga (Wicket keeper)
Chamara Silva
Kapugedera
Lokuararaachchi
Vaas
Maharoof
Malinga
Murali

Others in the frame Dilhara, Warnapura, ? Bandara (Chandana heading to ICL will Bandara go too ? )? Silva the wicket keeper ? others

I would go with Dilshan for Lokuarrachchi in your X1 - Sana, Dilshan and Murali as the spin trio is formidable to add to Vaas, Slinger and Maha. The fielding and batting both are strengthened with Dilshan.

Looks a settled, balanced, experienced team.

If we are wrap up the ODI series quickly, then we need to bring Dilhara and some new blood into the team - with the Aus tour in mind.

 

[Richard]

Just 3 and half weeks away

Good grief, so it is...

 

[Richard]

No 20/20?

Doesn't look like there is any .

They give it a world cup but after that they forget to even put it in a tour. Jeez.

Would be foolish IMO to play anything straight after a WC, as it was to play a Sharjah tournament like a week after WC2003.

 

[wpdavid]

Interesting choice of quicks for England - presumably 3 from Hoggard, Harmison, Flintoff, Anderson, Sidebottom & Tremlett will play in each of the tests, unless it's a real sandpit and we play the extra spinner. That being said, if Fred can't last more than 10 overs in a odi, I wonder if he'll tour anyway.

Do we know when the squad is announced?

 

[Athlai]

Would be foolish IMO to play anything straight after a WC, as it was to play a Sharjah tournament like a week after WC2003.

A single match could do no harm, its not like ODI cricket is avoided at all costs after the ODI WC. It should be just a standard part of the tour if it deserves a championship. 1 -3 20/20's 3-5 ODI's and (2 nowadays) 3-5 tests. If there were 3 20/20's I feel it would be best to have them at the start of the tour or perhaps throughout, a match at the start, after the tests (or ODI's) and one at the end.

Not fussed really.

Just weird that it gets a world cup but it can't even find its a way into a packed tour schedule. What future is it going to have?

 

[The Sean]

Can see Murali going absolutely berko on the England batsmen on home turf - record books could be re-written.

 

[Lostman]

^^ murali bowling on the first morning at Galle with around 5 people around the bat, cant wait to see a real dustbowl again

All the other SL wickets in Colombo and Kandy are so slow and true now due to the amount of cricket being played on them. Even on the 4th/5th day these wickets just powder up instead of starting to crack up causing the ball to play lower.

 

[Richard]

A single match could do no harm, its not like ODI cricket is avoided at all costs after the ODI WC. It should be just a standard part of the tour if it deserves a championship. 1 -3 20/20's 3-5 ODI's and (2 nowadays) 3-5 tests. If there were 3 20/20's I feel it would be best to have them at the start of the tour or perhaps throughout, a match at the start, after the tests (or ODI's) and one at the end.

Not fussed really.

Just weird that it gets a world cup but it can't even find its a way into a packed tour schedule. What future is it going to have?

As I say - ODIs directly after a WC might not be avoided, but I feel they should be. I'd be happy if the calender was ODI-free for a good couple of months post-WC TBH.

I'm never remotely bothered if a Twenty20 Int doesn't find its way onto a tour schedule either.

 

[Richard]

Interesting choice of quicks for England - presumably 3 from Hoggard, Harmison, Flintoff, Anderson, Sidebottom & Tremlett will play in each of the tests, unless it's a real sandpit and we play the extra spinner. That being said, if Fred can't last more than 10 overs in a odi, I wonder if he'll tour anyway.

Do we know when the squad is announced?

Don't think so, no. Wonder if the boss has received any communication.

Can see that the pecking-order right now should be summat like...
Flintoff (in the unlikely event he's fit)... Hoggard... Sidebottom... Tremlett... Anderson... Harmison.

Mind, as things stand I don't see either of Hoggard or Sidebottom doing much on a stereotypical Lankan wicket. Sidebottom is yet to bowl on one when I've been watching tho, so wait to see.