***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

Knock yourself out

Always thought CricInfo were better than that TBH.

 

[wpdavid]

Well, right after that very positive innings, he took 2 good catches (and if I have to believe the BBC-radio, the first one was brilliant).


Good to see both Broad and Harmison (i.e. not Anderson). Broad is really bowling tight on his debute spell. What about the warnings? Is he really doing something nasty? I'm a bit surprised and Cricinfo doesn't say anything about it. Just mentioning the warnings....

It's for following through too close to the stumps, & roughing up the wicket for the spinners.

I guess we'll just have to wait & see if Harmison justifies his selection. I think Anderson's unlucky - one bad game & he's gone, whereas Harmy just keeps getting picked despite whole series of ineffectual performances.

 

[tooextracool]

I guess we'll just have to wait & see if Harmison justifies his selection. I think Anderson's unlucky - one bad game & he's gone, whereas Harmy just keeps getting picked despite whole series of ineffectual performances.

Whilst Harmison's selection is unjustifiable, Anderson has certainly had more than one bad game. One could argue that bar his 5/42, he was very ordinary for the rest of the series against India. Anderson did very little to inspire confidence in his last test outing or in the warm ups, and there comes a point when you have to wonder whether he is capable of sustaining more than just the flash in the pan performance at the international level.

 

[Fiery]

Always thought CricInfo were better than that TBH.

nothing wrong with it tbh

 

[Richard]

Haha, love the way the Sky team are trying to make-out like Sangakkara was affected by Prior throwing the ball at the stumps and Sidebottom throwing it to the wicketkeeper. If it was that simple you'd think someone might have had success with it over the last year. Any fool can do that.

Can't people just accept sometimes that an excellent delivery did its job?

 

[wpdavid]

Whilst Harmison's selection is unjustifiable, Anderson has certainly had more than one bad game. One could argue that bar his 5/42, he was very ordinary for the rest of the series against India. Anderson did very little to inspire confidence in his last test outing or in the warm ups, and there comes a point when you have to wonder whether he is capable of sustaining more than just the flash in the pan performance at the international level.

There's a lot of truth in that, although I still think that Anderson bowled better in that series that Harmy usually manages. And I also think his ability to swing the ball means he's potentially more of a threat in SL than Harmison anyway.

But I do agree that Anderson's looking increasingly less likely to carve out a test career nowadays.

 

[Laurrz]

Knock yourself out

geez

the stats cricinfo have amaze me actually.. credit to them.. they have everything!

 

[tooextracool]

Given Sangakkara's reaction after his dismissal, i think its fairly obvious that something did affect him. Certainly wasn't the reaction of a man who just got a pearler.

 

[Richard]

While he might have been irritated by it, as I say I somehow doubt no-one has tried that over the course of the last year where he's barely stopped scoring runs.

The Sidebottom delivery was an excellent one, one any left-hander however good could always potentially be dismissed by. I don't think he'd have got out had it not been a good delivery.

 

[tooextracool]

There's a lot of truth in that, although I still think that Anderson bowled better in that series that Harmy usually manages. And I also think his ability to swing the ball means he's potentially more of a threat in SL than Harmison anyway.

But I do agree that Anderson's looking increasingly less likely to carve out a test career nowadays.

Can't disagree with that. However, if there is some solace that you can take from that decision, it is the fact that we are already starting to see some uneven bounce in this test match. If the sun continues to bake down, Harmison might have his best chance since Headingly 2006 to pull out the brass spoon from his very limited cutlery on the 5th day.

 

[Richard]

Can't disagree with that. However, if there is some solace that you can take from that decision, it is the fact that we are already starting to see some uneven bounce in this test match. If the sun continues to bake down, Harmison might have his best chance since Headingly 2006 to pull out the brass spoon from his very limited cutlery on the 5th day.

Think you might mean Old Trafford, given that he took something like 1-204 at Headlingley.

Either way, his opening 2 deliveries are both way, way, way too short and his 3rd is nudged to leg.

 

[wpdavid]

At least he's made the batsmen play, which isn't usually the case.

 

[tooextracool]

To the surprise of all, Harmison manages to start off with an unthreatening and dismal over.

 

[Richard]

MSP warming-up. Wouldn't reckon he'd be likely to get that much out of this pitch given Murali only got the odd few to really go, but you never know.

 

[Evermind]

Ouch.

I dunno why Harmison always gets it so bad, from everyone. Everyone from the cricinfo writing staff to the commentators to cricketweb pundits love to rag on him. I mean he's not the best, but he's not the worst bowler out there either. I'd pick him before Anderson any day.

Of course, some of his own comments don't help his cause.

"I desperately want to play for England, but if I'm supposed to be in the side for line-and-length consistency I shouldn't be."

 

[tooextracool]

Sidebottom has joined Harmison since tea in what appears to be a contest for who can go longer without bowling a ball on the stumps.

 

[wpdavid]

I see Broad's changed end.

 

[Stapel]

Hmm, Harmison might not be the Harmison he once was, but he has proven he can be a dangerous customer. I think he deserves a chance to prove it again. Here, on cricinfo and in several media, he is, imho, treated to badly. Prejudice all over ther place...

From cricinfo:
Harmison to DPMD Jayawardene, no run, cut back in to the right hander, tidy bowling so far from Harmison but let's not get too excited too soon

See, that's just a bit unfair.

 

[wpdavid]

Hmm, Harmison might not be the Harmison he once was, but he has proven he can be a dangerous customer. I think he deserves a chance to prove it again. Here, on cricinfo and in several media, he is, imho, treated to badly. Prejudice all over ther place...

From cricinfo:
Harmison to DPMD Jayawardene, no run, cut back in to the right hander, tidy bowling so far from Harmison but let's not get too excited too soon

See, that's just a bit unfair.

You may be right. Admittedly I'm relying on Cricinfo for coverage (not withstanding the bit you quoted), but this actually reads like one of his better opening spells. The batsmen have only left about one ball an over, which is not what usually happens - even if he's not conceding wides, he's previosuly been guilty of allowing batsmen far too many leaves. And if he hasn't exactly threatened, not many have on this track. OK, so I wouldn't have picked him, but I'd prefer to see him judged on what he's actually doing in this game.

 

[gettingbetter]

Hopefully Mahela can redeem himself after the Australian tour, but thus far, its looking good for England.