***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[wpdavid]

It does appear to be a steep learning curve for Cook at the moment, I think it is more the amount of times he has been out LBW that is the biggest problem. Indian left armers only contributed to two of his dismissals out of six in the recent Indian series, but he was out lbw around four times.

Something for him to work on with regards his technique, but he is still a top class player who will make the necessary adjustments and ultimately be a better player for it.

I'd look at the oneday series against India & SL as well to see how Cook's fared against the leftarmers recently. I know it's a different game to some extent, but not when he's being dismissed in the first few overs.

I hope you're right about him making the necessary adjustments, as he's absolutely crucial to our well-being over the next few years.

EDIT
His record against left armers wasn't quite as bad as I thought. Two ducks against Zaheer Khan in the India odi series, and two very cheap dismissals to Vaas in the SL series. Plus this test, of course.

 

[Stapel]

And this was supposed to be our best bet, wasn't it? Heaven help us in the remaining tests, esp if KP & Hoggard are unavailable.

No , it was not your best. Only Panesar and Hoggard bowled well (and part-time bowler Collingwood). Sidebottom and especially Anderson did poorly. Jimmy took 2 for 167, both innings combined. From the ashes 2006/7 I've wondered what the hell Anderson is doing in the England team. And during those series he was the fifth bowler..... It's quite simple: If you want to win tests, you must not use Anderson.
I'd gove more credits to Sidebottom (1/123 this test, but his career averages are better; and he was unlucky I think), but he didn't perform that well this test. Not sure about him. Anyway, I would give Broad a chance, instead of Anderson. If Harmison is fit, he should take over Sidebottom's place. If Hoggard is not fit, Sidebottom can easily fill his spot. If neither Hoggard nor Harmison is fit, Anderson might come in again, though I would rather see another batsman and use Collingwood as a serious part of the attack.

I wonder about Cook, tbh, who seems an absolute rabbit when facing a leftarmer nowadays. How many time has been dismissed for next-to-nothing by Vaas or one of the Indian leftarmers in the last few months?

Hmm, Cook is also the young men that performed in Aussieland. I guess he deserves another chance.
Anyway, If KP, Vaughan, Cook and Collingwood would only do just a tiny bit better, England should have a decent batting line-up. I do not consider the England batting weak. I would be more worried about the bowling.

 

[bond21]

OOTQ

Not a word...

 

[aussie]

I would say England played pretty well in ths test match. The batting line-up other than Cook everyone batted to the best on their ability in conditions that one would expect England batsmen to struggle in.

Worries for me are in the bowling. It was obvious that before this series that England would have missed Flintoff's & Jones's ability to bowl on these wickets but now that Hoggard seems like he'll be out for the next test it leaves us will very thin on quality quick bowling options in those conditions. Swann will have to play so at least along with Monty England will have at least two worthy wicket taking options.

 

[Jono]

Muttiah Murali-****ing-tharan

What a frickin' genius. His two deliveries to get well set batsman like Prior and Bell out, and that to clean bowled, well it just shows how bloody brilliant he is.

 

[Richard]

Not a word...

Err... no, it's 4.

 

[Richard]

Anyway, I would give Broad a chance, instead of Anderson. If Harmison is fit, he should take over Sidebottom's place. If Hoggard is not fit, Sidebottom can easily fill his spot. If neither Hoggard nor Harmison is fit, Anderson might come in again, though I would rather see another batsman and use Collingwood as a serious part of the attack.

Nah, Harmison or Broad aren't going to get anything out of a typical SSC wicket, no chance. Sidebottom and Anderson obviously aren't going to either, but there's at least the chance of them getting something through the air - there's no such chance with Harmison or Broad, their actions are too poor and their typical length too short.

 

[Lostman]

he should bowl with a new ball more often, those non spinning skidders are unplayable. Not only does it get him wickets, the batsmen end up looking really bad in the process as well.

 

[Dissector]

An interesting record that may be equalled this series is Bradman's record of hundreds in 6 consecutive tests. Sanga has four already and given his form and England's injury woes he will surely have a great chance of getting another couple in the remaining tests.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Read in the paper today (thank you Derek Pringle*) that Sanga is the first player ever to register scores of 150+ in four consecutive tests. Heady stuff.

*Don't usually read Torygraph, but Wednesdays is fantasy football day.

 

[Richard]

Think 2 of them were against Bangladesh tho - if people had played a side so woefully below the common standard for the last 100 years I'd venture to say someone would've done it before now.

Not, obviously, that his innings against Australia and England have been shabby.

 

[Top_Cat]

It does appear to be a steep learning curve for Cook at the moment, I think it is more the amount of times he has been out LBW that is the biggest problem. Indian left armers only contributed to two of his dismissals out of six in the recent Indian series, but he was out lbw around four times.

Something for him to work on with regards his technique, but he is still a top class player who will make the necessary adjustments and ultimately be a better player for it.

Yep, damn right. The thing I liked most about Cook when he was here for the Ashes was that despite being out caught behind so many times, he didn't go into his shell. He kept playing his shots and also kept working at his technique outside off-stump. He didn't let failure or consistent outs get him down. Still nailed his key shots too (pull/hook, etc.) and also, Clark and McGrath bowled quite well to him. Signs of a guy who is likely to be a gun and I'm sure the Aussies have identified him as one bloke who will trouble them for years.

 

[Athlai]

Think 2 of them were against Bangladesh tho - if people had played a side so woefully below the common standard for the last 100 years I'd venture to say someone would've done it before now.

Not, obviously, that his innings against Australia and England have been shabby.

Remember though that those were double centuries, good batsman should be able to dominate Bangers IMO, a good sign.

 

[Burgey]

Is Strauss on tour, or has he been punted altogether?

Bouquets to Bell & Prior for their efforts, but I couldn''t help but be disappointed by the way Prior was bowled (didn't see Bell's - fell asleep on the lounge), likewise Collingwod in the 1st dig. Full credit to Murali for a good ball on each occasion, but I just felt the batsmen were caught betwixt and between. Especially felt for Prior, who had batted so doggedly on the last day.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Is Strauss on tour, or has he been punted altogether?

Punted altogether, playing club cricket in NZ as far as I'm aware.

 

[Matteh]

Team should be

Vaughan
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Prior
Swann
Sidebottom
Broad
Panesar

Broad in for the next test in light of Hoggard being shot. Vaughan to #1 because Cook can't, Shah should have played the last test and Swann in because Anderson isn't really all that dangerous.

 

[JASON]

Mahela captaincy has been very suspect this match

Agreed , the only he got right was the timinig of declaration it seems ...but even that may have gone wrong had Bell hung on...

 

[JASON]

Bell's finest test, for mine.

Bell is a real classs act and he is one of the few Cricketers who seem to bring their best to the Subcontinent ...He has IIRC batted brilliantly in India and Pakistan...

 

[JASON]

Awful umpiring.

If Koertzen was dumped for a few games for the decision on Sangakkara which came at a less crucial time for Sri Lanka, surely Rauf must be sacked for such an awful decision which could cost the English a draw...

Both were equally bad ...Some teams seem to cop these..while others never get bad decisions at crucial points in the games...possibly related to having very vocal loud Captains who talk down umpires and pressurise them before hand perhaps....

 

[JASON]

Team should be

Vaughan
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Prior
Swann
Sidebottom
Broad
Panesar

Broad in for the next test in light of Hoggard being shot. Vaughan to #1 because Cook can't, Shah should have played the last test and Swann in because Anderson isn't really all that dangerous.

I wonder if Harmison should be considered in place of Broad....Otherwise England are better off playing Bopara as a seamer...I dread to think what might happen to Broad after his 20/20 experiences v Yuvraj etc...it would be better for him to get some tests in seamier conditions first under his Belt than get burnt in the subcontinent...

Playing Bopara might strengthen the batting ...and I am sure he can be as effective as Broad...in the conditions at SSC...