***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[lionheart]

does anyone know if this series is going to be shown on fox sports in australia?

any answers on this front?

 

[Lostman]

for all the gamblers, good (+) value on both sides. Even if it rains I cant see the first test going for a draw. Games in kandy are usually low scoring, with both seam and spin. Eng wont last long against Murali and Eng only have to worry about getting Sangakarra out. Smart play is to wait till the 29th check the forecast (even though forecasting SL weather is useless) and then place a unit on both sides for the win. good luck

 

[Nishan]

Marvan quoted in today's Sunday Times -

But, in Sri Lanka kissing goes by favour, rather than ability. Just imagine batsmen who even are carrying an average of twenty are considered if he has the right connections. Some times batsmen are given a chance, and then after one attempt they are put in cold storage and some just go on being in the squad without any outstanding performances. This is the system that has to be changed. It’s not good for the development of the game.


No guessing who this guy is its good old Jehan, maybe more important people like Marvan should come out and say this

 

[gettingbetter]

Anyone want to take a stab at the composition of the England team?

I'm suprised if Bopara gets a run, but I'm suprised he is playing in this game.

 

[chalky]

Sky are reporting that Harmisson has left the ground during the tour game with a back injury.

Finally some good news for England fans.

 

[GIMH]

any answers on this front?

Imagine pasag/Prince EWS will be able to answer this one for you if they check this thread

 

[pasag]

Yeah the TV guide on the Foxtel website says it will be live, starting at 4pm Sat. (Yay).

 

[wpdavid]

Anyone want to take a stab at the composition of the England team?

I'm suprised if Bopara gets a run, but I'm suprised he is playing in this game.

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

 

[wpdavid]

Anyone want to take a stab at the composition of the England team?

I'm suprised if Bopara gets a run, but I'm suprised he is playing in this game.

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

 

[chalky]

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

Shah has to play for me can already see 7-11 getting blown away pretty easily & picking Bopara at this stage is just going to lenghen the tail further. Besides that I think Shah has a touch of class about him and deserves a chance after some good ODI performances.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Anyone want to take a stab at the composition of the England team?

I'm suprised if Bopara gets a run, but I'm suprised he is playing in this game.

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

Pretty much in agreement there. Harmy's arse back going has probably galvanised the selector's minds. I'd take Hoggy and Sidebottom as givens, hope Monty gets the nod now Dunc has depearted with his "bugger the bowling, given me five more runs from 8" attitude and suspect Broad might just get the nod as going in with three swing bowlers (four if we count Colly, which we probably shouldn't) holds us too much hostages to fortune if the cherry doesn't swing. & the better batting is a bonus, obv.

I'd say Shah is in the box seat for the final batting slot unless he fails spectacularly twice and/or Bopara does something extra special.

 

[grecian]

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

Agree with all this really. Shah for me too. Bopara's bowling should not be even mentioned as a deciding factor for selectionin a Test match, imho. I think Broad's variety will win him the nod over Anderson, now that Harmison is out. Pacier and taller, the extra batting ability won't hurt either.

 

[Richard]

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

Vaughan, Cook, Bell, KP, Collingwood, Shah or Bopara, Prior, Broad or Anderson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar

afaics Bopara only plays if they want him to be another bowler. I can't see the point, as we already have Collingwood & Bell who could do a similar job, and Shah is the better batsman. As for Broad vs Anderson, that's a tough one to call. I don't think either will be great out there, but they might prefer Broad's batting at 8. I gather that in the other 2 tests they'll probably play two spinners.

I hope Shah, not Bell, will bat three TBH. Also can quite see Harmison, if this injury isn't serious, playing ahead of Anderson and Broad, because of the "he offers something average county plodders can't" bull****.

Also, as it's now absolutely confirmed Vaughan will open, though he'll bat two not one.

 

[Richard]

hope Monty gets the nod now Dunc has depearted with his "bugger the bowling, given me five more runs from 8" attitude

There's no way on Earth Duncan Fletcher wouldn't have picked MSP in Sri Lanka. No way whatsoever.

suspect Broad might just get the nod as going in with three swing bowlers (four if we count Colly, which we probably shouldn't) holds us too much hostages to fortune if the cherry doesn't swing.

Well Broad doesn't offer much even when the cherry does swing. I can't see any of our bowlers getting much out of the surfaces, so it's completely dependent on what we can get through the air. And the ball has swung in Kandy before now, and temperatures are generally much more comfortable than lower down so conducive to more "normal" length spells.

It's basically a case of three swing-bowlers = leaving lots to chance; two swing-bowlers and a seam-bowler = leaving two to chance and giving one virtually no chance.

 

[Richard]

Shah has to play for me can already see 7-11 getting blown away pretty easily & picking Bopara at this stage is just going to lenghen the tail further. Besides that I think Shah has a touch of class about him and deserves a chance after some good ODI performances.

I agree unhestitantly that Shah > Bopara, easily, as a Test prospect batting-wise, but that has nothing to do with ODIs, which Shah has hardly been that impressive in anyway.

Shah has done way, way, way more in First-Class cricket than Bopara at this stage of their careers.

 

[chalky]

I hope Shah, not Bell, will bat three TBH. Also can quite see Harmison, if this injury isn't serious, playing ahead of Anderson and Broad, because of the "he offers something average county plodders can't" bull****.

Also, as it's now absolutely confirmed Vaughan will open, though he'll bat two not one.

Out of curiosity who would you open with if not Vaughan?

 

[Richard]

Prior.

Seriously, there was never much doubt Vaughan would open once the squad was announced, but I was hoping there might be an injury or two, neccessitating an opener to be called-up.

And I honestly would prefer Prior to open than Vaughan - don't see Prior scoring many wherever he bats, and Vaughan would be much better at three than two. Also, obviously, if Prior were to come off that'd mean you had batting down to seven, presumably in the form of Collingwood.

Not that I think there's the slightest chance of Prior opening, though, in case anyone was wondering.

 

[UncleTheOne]

Prior.

Seriously, there was never much doubt Vaughan would open once the squad was announced, but I was hoping there might be an injury or two, neccessitating an opener to be called-up.

And I honestly would prefer Prior to open than Vaughan - don't see Prior scoring many wherever he bats, and Vaughan would be much better at three than two. Also, obviously, if Prior were to come off that'd mean you had batting down to seven, presumably in the form of Collingwood.

Not that I think there's the slightest chance of Prior opening, though, in case anyone was wondering.

so really there is no difference between vaughan opening and prior opening with vaughan at 3? let's face facts, prior isn't going to be hanging about as he really isn't good enough. vaughan is likely to be in before the first 10 are up every time.

 

[wpdavid]

Well Broad doesn't offer much even when the cherry does swing. I can't see any of our bowlers getting much out of the surfaces, so it's completely dependent on what we can get through the air. And the ball has swung in Kandy before now, and temperatures are generally much more comfortable than lower down so conducive to more "normal" length spells.

It's basically a case of three swing-bowlers = leaving lots to chance; two swing-bowlers and a seam-bowler = leaving two to chance and giving one virtually no chance.

Didn't Caddick have some success at Kandy in 2001? I know he swung it sometimes, but lift was more his thing. Still, Kandy 6 years ago may not = Kandy now, so I'm not claiming a lot really. fwiw my take on the current selection is that Sidebottom isn't playing because the selctors have already decided he'll play next week, whereas Broad isn't playing because they've decided he isn't.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Bopara at 8 instead of either Broad or Anderson, anyone?