***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[vic_orthdox]

I don't think there should be any need to include a player in the squad if he has no realistic chances of playing.

Sometimes it is necessary, though. Especially these days where tours are undertaken with very few tour games, taking a reserve batsman, for example, who may not get used, but is over there as cover is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Perm]

Sometimes it is necessary, though. Especially these days where tours are undertaken with very few tour games, taking a reserve batsman, for example, who may not get used, but is over there as cover is perfectly reasonable.

For sure, but that's much different from taking a wicket-keeper on a tour to Sri Lanka where he won't get any game time unless Prior his injured, because the selectors want to give Prior as many chances as possible.

 

[Richard]

Interesting to see if Swann plays as a pinch hitter in any of the one day games. Has had relatively decent success at Notts in that role and I can’t see the selectors giving Cook or Prior the whole five games (at the top) if neither one impresses early on.

I hope they do. I hope both get the whole series, and if they both fail I hope both get dropped, Cook never gets picked again until there's some serious sign of improvement, and Prior just never gets picked again full-stop.

Oh, and I can't really see Graeme Swann working as a pinch-hitter. He just doesn't possess the skill, really, otherwise he'd have done more with the bat at domestic level. He might smack the odd quick 30 but I can't see him doing much else.

 

[JASON]

Looks like England are headed straight to SL from South Africa -

Arrival date depends on Twenty20 progress

England's Sri Lanka tour could start early

Cricinfo staff
September 13, 2007

The first of England's two winter tours to Sri Lanka could start earlier than planned if they fail to reach the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals according to Sri Lanka Cricket.

"They [the ECB] have asked if we have any objections to their coming early," an SLC official said. "We have said no objections."

England are scheduled to arrive on September 25 but are looking to bring that forward by three days if they fail to reach the last four in South Africa. The tournament's semi-finals are on September 22 with the final two days later.


England will play their first three matches of the five-match tour in the central town of Dambulla starting on October 1. The last two games are scheduled for the capital Colombo ahead of an October 15 departure.

England return in mid-November for a three-match Test series.

© Cricinfo

 

[Athlai]

You get the feeling that if England don't do well in the WC they will play it down and suggest that well now that the little side show is over we can get to some real cricket. Yet if they do well they will be singing its praises and the tour would take a second place (at least initially), I hate this kind of scheduling, so ridiculously back to back, I love my cricket but COME ON.

 

[Richard]

You get the feeling that if England don't do well in the WC they will play it down and suggest that well now that the little side show is over we can get to some real cricket. Yet if they do well they will be singing its praises and the tour would take a second place (at least initially)

A rare opportunity to have thy cake and eat it... can't expect the chance to be turned-down.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

For sure, but that's much different from taking a wicket-keeper on a tour to Sri Lanka where he won't get any game time unless Prior his injured, because the selectors want to give Prior as many chances as possible.

I don't think Prior is on as long a leash as the England powers that be seem to be letting on. I think patience is running thin with him and some horrific batting form will see him out sooner than later, because England can ill afford an incompetent number 7, given their typical tail. He's certainly not good enough to have his batting blushes spared due to his glovework.

Also, I'm always for a reserve wicketkeeper. Because in the case of an injury, you definitely need a specialist for a Test series. And by specialist, I mean someone who's kept wicket with significant experience. It's like including a goalkeeper in your 5 substitutes for a Premiership game. It's a necessary precaution.

 

[TT Boy]

Interesting to see who keeps wicket now that Prior has broken his thumb. Davies, Foster, Pothas, Nixon, Ambrose (et cetera)?

 

[wpdavid]

Interesting to see who keeps wicket now that Prior has broken his thumb. Davies, Foster, Pothas, Nixon, Ambrose (et cetera)?

Now there's a thought. Have we any information about how long it is expected to take to heal up?

 

[Richard]

From not-inconsiderable experience, I'd guess no more than a few weeks. I'm not a wicketkeeper, however.

 

[TT Boy]

Phil Mustard has been called up...

 

[wpdavid]

Phil Mustard has been called up...

Replacement or cover?

 

[TT Boy]

Replacement or cover?

Replacement. Prior will miss the series.

 

[wpdavid]

Replacement. Prior will miss the series.

OK. Presumably we're only talking about the ODIs at this stage?

 

[TT Boy]

OK. Presumably we're only talking about the ODIs at this stage?

Yeah.

 

[wpdavid]

Big opportunity for the lad then. Anyone know how many ODIs we're playing in SL?

 

[Lostman]

5

 

[Mermaidman]

My dad used to play cricket with his dad Alan, infact he ran my dad out on 99, lol

 

[Richard]

Phil Mustard has been called up...

I look forward to the next next-Prior\Jones.

And NO, THIS POST IS NOT IN ANY WAY A PREDICTION, NO EDIT REQUIRED, SO IF GREIGYS ARE BACK BY THE LANKA ODIS I SHALL NOT BE WINNING ONE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Good call by the selectors imo, Mustard deserves his chance.