***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Pratters]

Live stats - (including this Test)
Fernando 30 Tests 83 Test wickets....thats still 60 wickets more than Maharoof in 6 more Tests...this is the nature of the beast ...he leaks runs but averages 2-3 wickets a Test...2 -3 more than the wicketless Roofers...who is essentially an ODI bowler...unless something changes drastically

They were playing Australia, not a mediocre team. Against such a team, the chances of both bowlers to take wickets was negligible.

 

[JASON]

JASON the fact is in Australia, Maharoof looked better as both a stock bowler and a wicket taker till he injured himself. He was very unlucky not to come out with a few wickets (as was Malinga and Vaas). Though prior to that series I think your spot on, but it does look as if (prior to injury) Maharoof was bowling superbly.

He may have looked promising ...but still no wickets in the wickets column...I don't really think his Friendly medium pace threatens too many International Batsmen...I have no doubt he has a role in ODIs but he really would be a poor option for SL in Tests as he is currently..Especially if someone else promising is to be sacrificed for the sake of picking him like Sujeewa De Silva or Welagedera etc...

 

[JASON]

They were playing Australia, not a mediocre team. Against such a team, the chances of both bowlers to take wickets was negligible.

Forget Australia even before Australia his stats were poor - Before IIRC Maharoof 18 tests 24 wickets excluding Bangers it was still a wicket every second test...

Fernando was like 27 Tests 80 odd wickets...it really shows one thing clearly SL's bowling options overall are pretty poor and unless some really good seamers come by soon, after Vaas there will be quite a struggle....

 

[Pratters]

Forget Australia even before Australia his stats were poor - Before IIRC Maharoof 18 tests 24 wickets excluding Bangers it was still a wicket every second test...

Fernando was like 27 Tests 80 odd wickets...it really shows one thing clearly SL's bowling options overall are pretty poor and unless some really good seamers come by soon, after Vaas there will be quite a struggle....

Remove Bangladesh for Fernando and he has 57 wickets in 22 matches at an average of almost 40. That is distinctly average. I know that he takes more wickets than Maharoof but given it was Australia

a) Both were not going to take any significant amount of wickets for any thing (Fernando's wickets costing more than 100 for the series, Maharoof going wicketless proves this).

b) Maharoof could have at least played the stock bowler role.

So Maharoof would have been preferred by me for the Australian series. As I said earlier, I know you wouldn't agree with this but it is not too difficult to see where I am coming from. We are going around in circles though, so I will end it here...

 

[TheLad]

Forget Australia even before Australia his stats were poor - Before IIRC Maharoof 18 tests 24 wickets excluding Bangers it was still a wicket every second test...

Fernando was like 27 Tests 80 odd wickets...it really shows one thing clearly SL's bowling options overall are pretty poor and unless some really good seamers come by soon, after Vaas there will be quite a struggle....

I think the best demonstration of this is the fact that Fernando really should be off having an operation but is still playing regardless. Long term though probably the worst decision.

 

[JASON]

Remove Bangladesh for Fernando and he has 57 wickets in 22 matches at an average of almost 40. That is distinctly average. I know that he takes more wickets than Maharoof but given it was Australia

a) Both were not going to take any significant amount of wickets for any thing (Fernando's wickets costing more than 100 for the series, Maharoof going wicketless proves this).

b) Maharoof could have at least played the stock bowler role.

So Maharoof would have been preferred by me for the Australian series. As I said earlier, I know you wouldn't agree with this but it is not too difficult to see where I am coming from. We are going around in circles though, so I will end it here...

And Hence your wish was granted with Maharoof playing ahead of Malinga in the first Test and then ahead of Vaas in the second and there goes SL chaotic selection policy...the "Muppets" let others get into their heads and they lost the plot,IMHO...

 

[Pratters]

And Hence your wish was granted with Maharoof playing ahead of Malinga in the first Test and then ahead of Vaas in the second and there goes SL chaotic selection policy...the "Muppets" let others get into their heads and they lost the plot,IMHO...

In the first test, Maharoof was bowling pretty well. Fernando came in and let all the pressure ease with his dire bowling. Whenever he bowled in the series, the runs kept flowing with ease. Your laugh is insulting. Most people agreed that Maharoof was a better option to Fernando and while I don't mind you having a different opinion, laughing at the other point of view is dire. Basically, you are just looking at the bowling average and deciding x would be more useful than y. That does not always hold good. It is about functioning as a team together towards a common goal and when one person is easing the pressure by bowling 2-3 tripe balls each over, functioning as a team certainly wont occur.

 

[chalky]

FFS Vaughan gone when looking in no troublw what so ever, just like Bell in the last test. Will this cause a collapse like the Bell wicket did?

 

[chaminda_00]

Now how much did Muburak pay you Vaughan to give him a catch. So dire now people are going to think his a good fielder. FFS. Couldn't you hit the ball to someone else.

 

[chalky]

Where's Bumble gone??? It seems strange he would commentate on the 1st test but not this one.

This must be the ****tiest sky commentry team ever no Bumble, Gower, Atherton or Hussain The only English commentators are Botham on who's ability to read the game I agree with Duncan Fletcher's assesment & Nick Knight who is as dull as dish water.

 

[Evermind]

For a very even, easy-paced pitch, the bowlers other than Dilhara Fernando are doing OK.

Speaking of Fernandos... Nick Knight: "good to have you back in the commentary-team, Ranjit". Hmm...........

They should switch the Fernandos in their roles. Might turn out to be a better deal for everyone, seeing how it can't get any worse on both counts.

 

[chalky]

Cook hits his usual mid to late innings batting wall I dare say he will give it away very shortly.

 

[chalky]

Oh dear looks a bit dodgy that catch

Edit:Just watched the slow mo replay definately looks like the ball touched the ground.

For me you can't blame the Umpire though if the fielder claims the catch like that.

 

[Jamee999]

That's been put down

(And Bumble's ill, he was on a little bit, earlier, IIRC)

 

[chalky]

With Cook not able to score & 2 quick wickets can see England getting rolled out for 250 now.

 

[chalky]

That's been put down

(And Bumble's ill, he was on a little bit, earlier, IIRC)

Was watching the boxing so did not see mutch of the 1st session.

 

[Richard]

Oh dear looks a bit dodgy that catch

Edit:Just watched the slow mo replay definately looks like the ball touched the ground.

For me you can't blame the Umpire though if the fielder claims the catch like that.

That's been put down

Yeah, no doubt for mine that was pushed onto the ground after going into the hands.

As regards the Vaughan one, people who open the batting for England in Tests on this ground have a habit of being caught oddly at short-leg - those with memories stretching back 7 years will remember Trescothick sweeping Dinuk Hettiarachchi into Russel Arnold's shirt. Vaughan will certainly remember it as it was the only game of the series he played.

 

[Jamee999]

Was watching the boxing so did not see mutch of the 1st session.

It was after lunch, as that's when I got up.

 

[Richard]

This must be the ****tiest sky commentry team ever no Bumble, Gower, Atherton or Hussain The only English commentators are Botham on who's ability to read the game I agree with Duncan Fletcher's assesment & Nick Knight who is as dull as dish water.

Knight's dull but he's better than the Waqar Younises, Ranjit Fernandos et al. These Sri Lanka chaps aren't too bad, though, and I've never heard of either of them before this series.

Either way, would much prefer have Willis, Allott, Gower, Atherton and Hussain. Unusual to not have Holding on an Englan series too.

 

[chalky]

It was after lunch, as that's when I got up.

Can't have been listening