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

[BoyBrumby]

1 run from the first over. Hurtling along.

 

[Spark]

Haha so that's it. Right.

Most subdued celebration of a Test match hundred I've ever seen.

 

[BoyBrumby]

& pull the plug as soon as Bell makes his ton. Huh.

 

[Jacknife]

Well didn't expect that, declared once Bell gets his ton.

 

[benchmark00]

Declare ffs.

 

[benchmark00]

Declare ffs.

Beaten.

 

[benchmark00]

Such rubbish by England.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Very strange.

Well batted Ian Bell.

 

[Woodster]

Glad we didn't hang around batting on and slogging and gifting wickets away. The only reason to go out was to get Belly a well deserved hundred, although would have been a little heartless myself and declared before play begun.

Now hopefully we can have some good competitive cricket for the rest of the day. A few early wickets and you never know!

 

[Neil Pickup]

& pull the plug as soon as Bell makes his ton. Huh.

How prepared are the Sri Lankans going to be? Can sense some early interest here...

 

[BoyBrumby]

How prepared are the Sri Lankans going to be? Can sense some early interest here...

Well it surprised me, tbf, so would guess SL are similarly taken aback.

Lol. Both reminding Athers of the time he pulled the plug on Hick on 98*. "No difference between 98 & 103" sez Michael. Hmm. Cobblers.

 

[Woodster]

Well it surprised me, tbf, so would guess SL are similarly taken aback.

Lol. Both reminding Athers of the time he pulled the plug on Hick on 98*. "No difference between 98 & 103" sez Michael. Hmm. Cobblers.

I agree, it doesn't make much of a difference between the scores, I 've never been big on landmarks dominating such things as the delaying of a declaration. The bigger picture is obviously the team. I don't think that decision will make much of a difference today though.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Record before team-interest?? WTF is this?

What is the difference between a 99 and a 100? One run, if you ask me. If the side has a realistic shot of winning physical or even psychological points, then to hell with personal records.

I'd rather put the opposition in, give the top-order a real workover (break a couple of ribs, perhaps ) so that they come blunted to the next test.

 

[Spark]

Well it surprised me, tbf, so would guess SL are similarly taken aback.

Lol. Both reminding Athers of the time he pulled the plug on Hick on 98*. "No difference between 98 & 103" sez Michael. Hmm. Cobblers.

This alone is justification enough, tbh, on the basis of "do what the opposition don't want/expect".

 

[keeper]

I would have preferred a few more runs but an immediate declaration would also have been an aggressive move. As it is we're 20 minutes in and have done nothing to move the game forward.

Anyway, done now. Big test for Broad and has started well.

 

[Spark]

Good first over from Broad.

 

[Woodster]

Ideal start!! Tremmers has got an early one, full pitched delivery and Piranha has gone after it and snicked it to Strauss, good hands.

Come on boys let's bring this Test to life and worm out a couple more before tea.

 

[Spark]

More 3rd man runs off Broad. Both bowlers really hitting the mark here.

 

[Jacknife]

Don't know what happened there, haven't been able to load the site for 15 minutes.
Great start by Broad and Tremlett, right on the money from ball one.

 

[Jacknife]

I agree, it doesn't make much of a difference between the scores, I 've never been big on landmarks dominating such things as the delaying of a declaration. The bigger picture is obviously the team. I don't think that decision will make much of a difference today though.

Like you say if there was a chance of winning, I think they'll have pulled him out overnight. Given the start they've had, he'll be second guessing himself a little.