***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Laurrz]

im confused

what is this about Sangakkara saying no to the umpire?

 

[wpdavid]

England win the toss & bowl.

Afterr the 1st couple of overs it seems to be a good toss to win uneven bounce, swing & seam movement for the bowlers.

I only heard the first couple of overs this morning. At that point, you'd have fancied McGrath or Pollock to reduce SL to 30 for 5. As things stand. the hosts will be delighted the new ball's pretty much been seen off and their best two batters are still there. Interesting run rate towards luch as well. Is that because England were bowling tripe, or were KS & MJ taking on anything & everything on the basis that a delivery would probably come aloing with their number on it at any moment?

 

[Neil Pickup]

I only heard the first couple of overs this morning. At that point, you'd have fancied McGrath or Pollock to reduce SL to 30 for 5. As things stand. the hosts will be delighted the new ball's pretty much been seen off and their best two batters are still there. Interesting run rate towards luch as well. Is that because England were bowling tripe, or were KS & MJ taking on anything & everything on the basis that a delivery would probably come aloing with their number on it at any moment?

Mainly the tripe variety, I'm afraid. A lot of length balls gently swinging down the batsman's leg side and being helped away through midwicket/fine leg/square leg/wherever there wasn't a fielder. Harmison overpitched a couple of times to Jayawardene looking for the drive and getting driven.

Earlier, Collingwood's chance at second slip was a sitter. Sidebottom got a massive amount of movement early doors but kept beating the edge rather than hitting it. Vandort's LBW was not just high, but probably would have gone over the top by six inches. Tharanga's was borderline whether it pitched on or outside leg, particularly in real time, it was an awful shot, and he was doing his best to get out flat-footed driving anyway. As for Sangakkara's, well, massive, massive noise on the coverage and the bat couldn't have hit owt else.

 

[Mister Wright]

Vandort's LBW and Thuranga's LBW were not out as was Sangakkara's caught behind appeal, so Right 1 - Wrong 2, AFAIC.

Still trying to work out how Collingwood dropped his catch.

 

[Goughy]

The 2 LBWs were not out, though the one off Harmison looked pretty dead on first viewing.

The caught behind should most probably been given as it could only have hit bat, but its hard to see conclusively

Of the 3 only the LBW off Sidebottom was a really bad decision

 

[Mister Wright]

Yeah, the Harmisson LBW looked seriously plumb on live viewing. Certiainly can't blame the umpire for that one.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Having seen the amount of turn Panesar has just managed on day one, I think the smart money ought to be on this Test finishing with Murali eating England's brains.

Bumble telling anyone listening that England should have opened with Monty, and that his dream partnership with the new ball would have been Richard Hadlee and Derek Underwood.

 

[Burgey]

What's with Harmison's pace? It seems seriously down on normal. Still, he is hitting the pitch - has there ben anything said that he's deliberately slowing it down a bit for > accuracy?
On the Sanga caught behind, the ball didn't seem to alter in it's spin after it passed the bat. That can be a good indicator - not always mind.

 

[Goughy]

Guys in the booth talking about Panesar bowling poorly and getting cut far too often. No ****! He does it every game. Its something Ive brought up on numerous occasions on here and it will not change until he adjusts his head position.

Its a bad habit he has had since debut

 

[BoyBrumby]

Vandort's LBW and Thuranga's LBW were not out as was Sangakkara's caught behind appeal, so Right 1 - Wrong 2, AFAIC.

I haven't seen it yet, but TMS seemed pretty convinced Sanga had edged it. BBC site suggests snicko confirms a faint tickle too.

 

[The_Bunny]

Good finish by England, great stuff by Harmy.
Allways have felt that he cops way more stick than he deserves.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Good job we left out Harmison for Broad.

 

[wpdavid]

This all reminds me of a game in NZ about 25 years ago, when England bowled first on a pitch that could euphamistically be described as 'tricky'. Unfortunately they bowled like drains and NZ made 300. Thereafter, Hadlee cleaned up and England failed to reach 3 figures in either innings. afaics we're toast.

 

[grecian]

Good finish by England, great stuff by Harmy.
Allways have felt that he cops way more stick than he deserves.

Well said, he can be frustrating, I'll admit. Yet the stick he get's on here, you'd think he was del-boy pringle reincarnated. He's bowled really well in these two tests, but will no doubt get no credit, from some

 

[Richard]

No, he hasn't bowled well, at all. Tharanga driving at a nothing ball (the catch, not the lbw, as the lbw was obviously not-out), Sangakkara pulling at a nothing ball and Silva playing down the wrong line at a nothing ball.

Obviously, for some the fact that he's got 3-28 is all that matters, because figures can't lie.

Anyway, FFS why did I have to go out last night? Looks like there was actually some decent in-match activity today.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Haven't seen any of it but it's quite possible that he bowled well despite taking his wickets with average deliveries. It happens in cricket.

 

[Goughy]

I watched it and he bowled very well. By far the pick of the bowlers.

 

[Richard]

He might have bowled decently (or, at least, better than he usually does), and better than the other two. He did not, however, bowl with any penetration whatsoever and had he got 0-for it'd have been absolutely no injustice whatsoever.

Anyone could have got the 3 wickets he got, he just happened to be bowling when the required poor strokes were played.

 

[NUFAN]

Anyway, FFS why did I have to go out last night? Looks like there was actually some decent in-match activity today.

Yeah bro, why have a life when you could be making a post about cricket!

 

[social]

Gotta feel sorry for Swann - guy was Eng's best in the ODI series and hasnt been given a chance despite no-one else looking remotely threatening once Hoggard was injured