***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

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

Me too, just hope the place regains its former glory after the floods.

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.

Shame to hear. Hope something's done about that.

 

[Nishan]

Sri Lanka hasnt yet played a 20/20 at home which is intersting i dont know when they will start to. I dont think India or Pakistan have had a home 20/20 either is it because the one day game is still popular in these countries.

Anyway i will England will put up a good show, I cannot see Kapugedra getting in he has been in dreadful form so unfortunalty We will have to put up with Mubarak.

Sri Lanka 4-1 and 2-0 for me

 

[JASON]

ODI's SL 3-2

Tests SL 2-1 (with Monty winning England a Test in Colombo)

 

[Salamuddin]

ODI's SL 3-2

Tests SL 2-1 (with Monty winning England a Test in Colombo)

Odi's SL 4-1

Tests 1-1

I think Sri Lanka should beat England quite comfortably in the ODI's particularly at home.
I think the tests will be closely fought though - England will know their world no.2 ranking is under threat and they will look to rebound from their home series defeat to India.
It wouldn't surprise me if they won a test in the Emerald Isle.....as usual I feel it will hinge on Freddy....He is by far and away Enmland's best bowler and with him around England I think alos gain psychologically.

For Sri Lanka to continue their recent progress, I would think anything other than a test series win should be construed as a massive disappontment.

 

[JASON]

Odi's SL 4-1

Tests 1-1

I think Sri Lanka should beat England quite comfortably in the ODI's particularly at home.
I think the tests will be closely fought though - England will know their world no.2 ranking is under threat and they will look to rebound from their home series defeat to India.
It wouldn't surprise me if they won a test in the Emerald Isle.....as usual I feel it will hinge on Freddy....He is by far and away Enmland's best bowler and with him around England I think alos gain psychologically.

For Sri Lanka to continue their recent progress, I would think anything other than a test series win should be construed as a massive disappontment.

I think England have made huge progress in ODIs and thats shown by their current ODI series with India.... In fact I would not be surprised if they pull out a 3-2 win against SL in ODIs.

Tests I doubt England will win in SL - but it could 2-1 or 2-0 to SL depending on Murali's fitness/Weather etc or 1-1 if England play the correct spin combo and Rain affects a Test.(if England are lucky)

One thing for sure Sri Lankans (and SL economy) will appreciate the huge Barmy Army that usually goes to SL and they will definitely have a lot of fun and add to the Colour.

England is the only tourists that Sri Lankans (the general population) look forward to earnestly because of the massive tourism potential and their general well mannered behaviour, camaraderie with SL fans etc...None of the other tourists like the Aussies do that. England bring a huge contingent of Tourists (and Tourism dollars) unlike the cheap back packing Aussie tourists who come to SL when Australia tours SL.

 

[Salamuddin]

I think England have made huge progress in ODIs and thats shown by their current ODI series with India.... In fact I would not be surprised if they pull out a 3-2 win against SL in ODIs.

Tests I doubt England will win in SL - but it could 2-1 or 2-0 to SL depending on Murali's fitness/Weather etc or 1-1 if England play the correct spin combo and Rain affects a Test.(if England are lucky)

One thing for sure Sri Lankans (and SL economy) will appreciate the huge Barmy Army that usually goes to SL and they will definitely have a lot of fun and add to the Colour.

England is the only tourists that Sri Lankans (the general population) look forward to earnestly because of the massive tourism potential and their general well mannered behaviour, camaraderie with SL fans etc...None of the other tourists like the Aussies do that. England bring a huge contingent of Tourists (and Tourism dollars) unlike the cheap back packing Aussie tourists who come to SL when Australia tours SL.

I wou;dn't read too much into England's efforts against India.......they're playing against a side that can't catch or ground field well, that didn't pick an allrounder so have to play a batsman short or a bowler short and who have in all their wisdom picked AA in their pace attack as well as an unfit Munaf patel. On top of that, England are playing in the comfort of home.

If England can push SL in SL in the Odis, then we can start talking about their improvement.

 

[aussie]

I'd say England have a great chance of winning in Sri Lanka based on recent series over their. When they won in 2001 it was a great effort & this time around they are more solid in batting & bowling i'd say.

In 2001 Gough, Gilo, White were England's main attacking threats while Caddick, Croft chipped in well at crucial times. This time around England can depend of Hoggard & Flintoff (once fit) to be very effective in those conditions with the reverse swing factor (although it must be said if Flintoff aint fit it leaves a big whole in England's bowling), Monty potentially will offer more on an attacking option than Gilo this time around & i dunno Swann if picked would be on par with Croft.

In the batting our middle order especiallly Vaughan, KP (hopefully he isn't mentally drained by all this bloody cricket), Collingwood are England's best players of spin. KP vs Murali will be superb viewing i reckon. Really think Pothas should be picked for this tour Freddie can't bat in the top 6 & Pothas is the only keeper in the land that can bat in the top order that England can count on i reckon.

In the ODI's 3-2 i guess, England ODI performances this summer vs India has given hope for future battles in tougher conditions like this one.

 

[Scaly piscine]

ODI's SL 3-2

Tests SL 2-1 (with Monty winning England a Test in Colombo)

Err yea he's bound to outbowl Murali and win a Test when he has done sod all against any good players of spin.

 

[Richard]

He has actually taken wickets against batting-line-ups containing good players of spin, Trent Bridge 2006.

And even if he hadn't, he's only ever bowled against good players of spin on turning pitches twice, and that was in his 2nd and 3rd games. I'm very confident he'll do well if he gets turning surfaces in Sri Lanka. Not outbowl Murali of course, no fingerspinner is ever remotely likely to do that, but if Murali were to have an off-game it's possible Panesar could help win the game.

 

[Richard]

I'd say England have a great chance of winning in Sri Lanka based on recent series over their. When they won in 2001 it was a great effort & this time around they are more solid in batting & bowling i'd say.

In 2001 Gough, Gilo, White were England's main attacking threats while Caddick, Croft chipped in well at crucial times. This time around England can depend of Hoggard & Flintoff (once fit) to be very effective in those conditions with the reverse swing factor (although it must be said if Flintoff aint fit it leaves a big whole in England's bowling), Monty potentially will offer more on an attacking option than Gilo this time around & i dunno Swann if picked would be on par with Croft.

Don't think so, TBH - Croft was the better bowler in 2000\01 for most of the time. Giles only bowled well in the final game, though he was hampered by injury.

Can't see MSP doing much better in any game than Giles and Croft did in the last 2 games.

 

[Richard]

I think the tests will be closely fought though - England will know their world no.2 ranking is under threat and they will look to rebound from their home series defeat to India.

If we can't beat India at home, I don't like our chances of beating Sri Lanka away!

 

[JASON]

When is the England Team being announced ?

 

[JASON]

It will be interesting if Dimitri Mascarenhas makes it. First SL to play for a an Overseas national Team in any sport (I suspect) not just Cricket...And would be interesting to see how he does in SL ...

 

[pasag]

It will be interesting if Dimitri Mascarenhas makes it. First SL to play for a an Overseas national Team in any sport (I suspect) not just Cricket...And would be interesting to see how he does in SL ...

I thought he just had Sri Lankan parents? Profile says he was born in England and raised in Aus. Whatmore would fit that profile though, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

 

[biased indian]

When is the England Team being announced ?

wht about SL ?????

 

[JASON]

I thought he just had Sri Lankan parents? Profile says he was born in England and raised in Aus. Whatmore would fit that profile though, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

True, Whatmore was the first. I forgot completely.

Whatmore was born in SL and left only at age 5 or something like that....

And you are right I think Dimitri was born in England and only been a tourist in SL even in the past.

 

[JASON]

wht about SL ?????

Not sure.... Possibly after the 20/20 I suspect....

Big question in my mind is Sanath J - will he stay or go away to ICL after the 20/20 World Cup.....

 

[Perm]

Not sure.... Possibly after the 20/20 I suspect....

Big question in my mind is Sanath J - will he stay or go away to ICL after the 20/20 World Cup.....

He should stay for the Australian tour IMO and I'm pretty confident he will stick with Sri Lanka until then.

 

[biased indian]

Not sure.... Possibly after the 20/20 I suspect....

Big question in my mind is Sanath J - will he stay or go away to ICL after the 20/20 World Cup.....

did u hear any rumour on murali joining ICL ????

 

[JASON]

did u hear any rumour on murali joining ICL ????

No , But if that did materialise, Murali would be the Dumbest guy , when he is sitting pretty with a possibility of breaking a record and possibly getting 1000 Test wickets or even an unbreakable record...if he goes its sayonara...