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***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

Richard

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Yeah, they showed that during the coverage today.

Crucial difference, which naturally no-one wants to admit, is that Warne and Murali both had a million miles to go to become the bowlers they eventually did. Warne, when first picked in Tests, was hopeless - nothing less. Murali was far, far from the finished article. MSP, on the other hand, can make little improvement - he's already bowled as well as he's ever going to be able to bowl any number of times. Obviously, it'd be nice if sometime in future he didn't waste spin-friendly conditions like he did at Mohali in his 2nd Test and at Kandy in his 2nd-to-last as of this post. So that's one hope for improvement. But even there, no-one can bowl well in every game.

Other than that, anyone expecting him to do a great deal more than what he's done to date is going to be disappointed, as I've said several times. Unlike Warne and Murali, he was already something close to the finished article at 23-24. That in itself makes him unusual as a spinner, and for it he deserves great credit. But it will mean his career will contain little of the in-progress-improvement we see so much of.
 
gettingbetter

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
I think I'll boost the posts in this thread. Mubarak out and here is what cricinfo said: Another failure for Mubarak and the selectors will be looking at his place when it comes to the third Test because it's unlikely he'll get another crack with the bat here.
 
Evermind

Evermind

International Debutant
What a hopelessly soporific affair, from the looks of the commentary. I think it may be an even worse watch than the India game. At this rate, I don't think there's time for SL to bat again at all.
 
wpdavid

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Evermind said:
What a hopelessly soporific affair, from the looks of the commentary. I think it may be an even worse watch than the India game. At this rate, I don't think there's time for SL to bat again at all.
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It's a very odd approach, especially now that Jayawardene's taking a single an over to farm the strike. If England do now bat long enough to save the game, SL will have missed a chance to secure the series win. That being said, England are quite capable of folding in 3 sessions or less, leaving SL a nice little chase after tea on Day 5.
 
S

Steulen

International Regular
I think Sri Lanka are playing for the innings win, actually. They will have a 200+-run lead if they declare sometime after tea and would be hopeful of having Murali break through the ultra-defensive English play that will no doubt ensue.

Ah, well, the good thing about this match is that the word 'dire' has appeared in non-CW commentary on this match.
 
Richard

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Have found this odd myself - 6 posts in 2 sessions' play says it all. There's little worse in cricket than watching tailenders stick around, whether they're scoring runs or not. The word "stalemate" has been used several times and it fits perfectly for mine, the last session was so boring I went to sleep for only the 2nd time in the series. I pity Paul who's got to report this rubbish. This game has done nothing of note this session. Hope the next one's rather more exciting, inclusive of SL getting out very, very soon, whether through declaration or being knocked-over.
 
Richard

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
chaminda_00 said:
Muburak = Dire
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Yeah, Dilhara Fernando looking more accomplished than him says it all. Batsmen have stood playing down the sort of delivery he got out to for 3 days, and he made it look like Sabina Park or Kensington Oval in 1976 or 1981. Hope he gets the boot next Test, is bordering on taking the piss out of the game itself to see him keeping getting selected.
 
chaminda_00

chaminda_00

Hall of Fame Member
Richard said:
Have found this odd myself - 6 posts in 2 sessions' play says it all. There's little worse in cricket than watching tailenders stick around, whether they're scoring runs or not. The word "stalemate" has been used several times and it fits perfectly for mine, the last session was so boring I went to sleep for only the 2nd time in the series. I pity Paul who's got to report this rubbish. This game has done nothing of note this session. Hope the next one's rather more exciting, inclusive of SL getting out very, very soon, whether through declaration or being knocked-over.
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I thought it was a great session, nothing better in cricket then tailenders scoring runs.
 
Richard

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Hate it. Run-scoring is what top-order batsmen are meant to do, tailenders are supposed to get out and get on with their job, bowling.

Hate seeing bowlers batting and batsmen bowling.
 
chaminda_00

chaminda_00

Hall of Fame Member
Richard said:
Yeah, Dilhara Fernando looking more accomplished than him says it all. Batsmen have stood playing down the sort of delivery he got out to for 3 days, and he made it look like Sabina Park or Kensington Oval in 1976 or 1981. Hope he gets the boot next Test, is bordering on taking the piss out of the game itself to see him keeping getting selected.
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I expect Loku to make the side as spin bowling all rounder, after Murali complains about lack of support and being over bowled. So really its not going to make a great deal of difference if he plays or not.
 
J

JASON

Cricketer Of The Year
Both Teams IMO Guilty of killing this Test Match...SL and Mahela more culpable for intentionally letting the innings and team meander aimlessly ....England for bowling negatively and then failing to nail the tailenders by letting them continue in the hope of letting them kill time....I see one inevitable result a Boring draw ...since thats what both Teams want....Not sure what the Umpires want though...:laugh:
 
bond21

bond21

Banned
Batsman score runs, bowlers get wickets.

At least thats what its supposed to be.

When all the batsmen get out then the bowlers are expected to get runs, its totally ridiculous.

Also I dont see how Sri Lanka are going to win this match. They still have to bat again.
 
Richard

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
chaminda_00 said:
I expect Loku to make the side as spin bowling all rounder, after Murali complains about lack of support and being over bowled. So really its not going to make a great deal of difference if he plays or not.
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Wouldn't mind seeing Kaushal picked at all, especially if he were to replace Mubarak.
 
wpdavid

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
BoyBrumby said:
Quite. Appreciate he's a part-timer, but he really is the worst bowler I've seen turn his arm over for a proper team since Owais Shah bowled for us in the one dayers during our summer.
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My turn to go way off topic. Echo & the Bunnymen? Now, in 2007? Why? :-O :-O
 
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