**Official** Sri Lanka in England / Scotland - 2011

[Migara]

If there's heat and dry pitches as a result, English batsmen will be having a tough time against Sri Lankan spinners (Herath and Randiv as it looks), and SL lower middle order will be very annoying with their runscoring in those conditions.

 

[Howe_zat]

I doubt it's going to be as exaggerated as that. A "heatwave" in May is about 23 degrees.

 

[Migara]

23 is pretty cool by SL standards. If it gets up to 27-30, with sun on their backs, SL players will have a party out their.

 

[superkingdave]

Yeah its not going to be pitch cracking on day 3 kind of weather, but it looks like it won't be cold or overcast conditions which will surely be welcome from a SL POV

 

[vcs]

Thisara Perera does not strike me as a Test match bowler. His FC bowling average is 34, but his List A average is 22.7. Seems more of a limited overs bowler.

 

[vcs]

Sri Lanka news: Make best use of individuals - Atapattu | Sri Lanka Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

We've got to work ourselves up and at the same time the batsmen that we have, the two senior-most are one hundred times better than the others. They have been the best for a number of years in the top five.

Pretty harsh on Samaraweera that. Away woes notwithstanding, he's a quality batsman.

 

[Howe_zat]

Nice backhand dig at your new captain there.

 

[Lostman]

SL will be full strength for match against Lions. Perera, Fernando and Welagedara will be the fast men to play and Randiv the spinner as it seems.

SL are debating on 7-4 or 6-5 team composition. Since PJ adds little with the bat, Chandimal may take the gloves, and allow 5 bowlers to play. Randiv, Herath and Perera are quite capable with the bat, but inform Kulasekara would have been a better choice in a 6-5 team.

Would personally favor a 7-4 team for tests with Chandimal keeping. That would also free up a spot for Thiramine.
Regarding Perera, from what I have seen of him I don't think he is a test standard bowler. But I suppose he deserves a shot in the test side after some consistent performances in the last 1.5 years.

Sri Lanka news: Make best use of individuals - Atapattu | Sri Lanka Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

Pretty harsh on Samaraweera that. Away woes notwithstanding, he's a quality batsman.

Lol @ Atapattu, seems to say whatever is on his mind with no censorship mechanism. (muppets and jokers is the gold standard though)
Over/under Marvan lasting 5 months?

 

[Prince EWS]

Atapattu probably didn't even take 10 minutes to sit down and think about what the batting lineup actually was, and just forgot all about Samaraweera.

 

[Cevno]

Has the england side been announced yet?

Who is likely to be Collingwood's replacement?

 

[Howe_zat]

Morgan is the next man in but has been off at the IPL, and not even doing that well, while Bopara's put in a good run in the CC.

They'll wait until after the lions game to decide. Both Morgan and Bopara will be playing, so it may come down to who does better there.

The rest of the lineup is almost certain:

Strauss, Cook, Trott, KP, Bell, Morgan/Bopara, Prior, Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson.

Bresnan likely would have been 12th man, but he's injured, so we'll have either Finn or Shahzad, again the Lions game will probably decide that.

 

[Migara]

Would personally favor a 7-4 team for tests with Chandimal keeping. That would also free up a spot for Thiramine.
Regarding Perera, from what I have seen of him I don't think he is a test standard bowler. But I suppose he deserves a shot in the test side after some consistent performances in the last 1.5 years

I'd also like a 7-4 team. But ATM Perera seems to extract most out of any track from all bowlers. And FC average of 34 is not bad in SL FC standards, because most of good pacers average near 30. His extra pace, ability to ball a heavy ball all will help

 

[Migara]

Team for Match on 19th

Dilshan*, Paranavithana, Sanga, MJ, Sam, Thirimanne, Chandimal+, Randiv, Perera, Fernando, Welagedara

 

[Isura]

Team for Match on 19th

Dilshan*, Paranavithana, Sanga, MJ, Sam, Thirimanne, Chandimal+, Randiv, Perera, Fernando, Welagedara

Good looking test side for the 1est test. I'd replace Perera with Lakmal.

 

[Austerlitz]

Don't fancy lankan bowlers getting anything out of this engalnd batting without help from pitch or malinga.Batsmen will have to perform OTT to create scoreboard pressure and make things happen.

 

[Austerlitz]

News of bresnan tearing calf muscle,its true?

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah, he's out for the series.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

If there's heat and dry pitches as a result, English batsmen will be having a tough time against Sri Lankan spinners (Herath and Randiv as it looks), and SL lower middle order will be very annoying with their runscoring in those conditions.

Mendis is in the squad, right? Any reason why he wouldn't be playing?

 

[Howe_zat]

Mendis is in the squad, right? Any reason why he wouldn't be playing?

He's been playing here for Somerset and bowling like arse fluid all season.

 

[morgieb]

I doubt it's going to be as exaggerated as that. A "heatwave" in May is about 23 degrees.

23 degrees hot in May? England must be colder than I first thought.

Heck 23 degrees wouldn't be considered a heatwave in Sydney and it's nearing Winter rather than Summer.