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

[Spark]

TBF he doesn't technically agree with them.

 

[Howe_zat]

TBF he doesn't technically agree with them.

He said it was a fact.

 

[Spark]

I should have said "doesn't technically agree with them in that sentence".

 

[hang on]

Mahela Jayawardene - "Lots of people have commented on the fact that this is Sri Lanka's first Test since Muttiah Muralitharan retired, and it's true our bowlers don't have the same variety now that he's not in the side - which is the main reason why we chose five of them for this match. But we have to move on from Murali, because we're not going to get him back."


Mahela Jayawardene: Forget day five at Cardiff | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Obviously Mahela doesn't remember he played in 3 test matches (minus the retired Murali) against the West Indies last November and December.

not to mention a couple vs india last summer.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It would only be a short team option, but Vaas bowling 72-78mph as he does now would still vastly improve SL's seam attack.

I think there's something to be said for picking the best available XI & he'd be in it IMHO.

 

[Xuhaib]

Vaas was strangely never a success in England even during his peak, Randiv and Fernando should get a go next game.

 

[TT Boy]

Indeed and in the 2006 tour of England, he was completely anonymous. Keeper standing up, bowling 75mph and not taking any wickets. Even in close to pomp circa 2002, he toured England and averaged over 100 with the ball. Strong performances for Northants this season is more of a reflection on how bad county division 2 cricket is then how good Vaas still is. I can't see him troubling England on good test wickets, neither at home against the Aussies or next winter in the Republic where he will be nigh on 38. Thought the best format for Vaas to continue in for Sri Lanka would have been ODIs i.e. the World Cup.

 

[Jono]

Mahela Jayawardene - "Lots of people have commented on the fact that this is Sri Lanka's first Test since Muttiah Muralitharan retired, and it's true our bowlers don't have the same variety now that he's not in the side - which is the main reason why we chose five of them for this match. But we have to move on from Murali, because we're not going to get him back."


Mahela Jayawardene: Forget day five at Cardiff | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Obviously Mahela doesn't remember he played in 3 test matches (minus the retired Murali) against the West Indies last November and December.

 

[Cevno]

Mahela Jayawardene - "Lots of people have commented on the fact that this is Sri Lanka's first Test since Muttiah Muralitharan retired, and it's true our bowlers don't have the same variety now that he's not in the side - which is the main reason why we chose five of them for this match. But we have to move on from Murali, because we're not going to get him back."


Mahela Jayawardene: Forget day five at Cardiff | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Obviously Mahela doesn't remember he played in 3 test matches (minus the retired Murali) against the West Indies last November and December.

Tbf, except for Roach's bowling and Gayle's triple century ,there was not much to remember in that series.

3 severely rain affected matches played on flattish wickets.

 

[Jono]

Isn't it also fair to say they played two tests vs. India without Murali as well?

It's technically the sixth test since Murali retired.

 

[Xuhaib]

stilll reckon had Murali completed the series Sl would have won it.

 

[Jono]

Quite possibly.

 

[centurymaker]

stilll reckon had Murali completed the series Sl would have won it.

Well had zaheer played the series.......

 

[Xuhaib]

Well had zaheer played the series.......

Had Arvinda played the series...

Zaheer was injured hence unavailable Murali was in a condition to play but just decided to call it quits in the middle of a series which tbf had happened before.

 

[centurymaker]

Had Arvinda played the series...

Zaheer was injured hence unavailable Murali was in a condition to play but just decided to call it quits in the middle of a series which tbf had happened before.

Murali had been avging 45+ for 1.5 years.

 

[Xuhaib]

Murali had been avging 45+ for 1.5 years.

.I made a post just based on a random thought that crossed my mind as I saw Jono and TT discussing the SL-India series then you end up coming up with 1001 reasons to refute my post.

All I remember is Murali winning a test match and then retiring in the middle of the series which looked strange to me especially as the series was still undecided and the test they lost got tight which they could have won with Murali in the side.

 

[centurymaker]

.I made a post just based on a random thought that crossed my mind as I saw Jono and TT discussing the SL-India series then you end up coming up with 1001 reasons to refute my post.

All I remember is Murali winning a test match and then retiring in the middle of the series which looked strange to me especially as the series was still undecided and the test they lost got tight which they could have won with Murali in the side.

His fitness had gone down as well btw.
**** I'm just annoyed that murali's doing well in the CPL....

 

[hang on]

England news: Ravi Bopara disappointed by England snub | England Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

Seriously, where did cricinfo get this idea that Bopara was "widely tipped" to play in the first test, and in what way was Morgan "not in the frame for selection until his breakthrough innings" against Sri Lanka. So much pointlessly pro-Bopara nonsense in this article.

Not a massively important point, but it is a little irritating.

there was quite a bit of speculation in the media that bopara, by dint of his county performances coupled with his decision to explicitly indicate where his priorities lay, would get the nod ahead of morgan.

 

[TopCat]

I hardly think that it counts as 'news' that Bopara was disappointed not to be selected. Surely it's a natural reaction to be disappointed when you're not selected for a test match. So was Steve Finn no doubt disappointed when he learned he wasn't going to play at Cardiff.

A case of the media stating the blindingly obvious IMO.

 

[Howe_zat]

Bopara wouldn't even have been on the page if the media hadn't spent article after article suddenly talking him up. Just trying to cover for themselves by acting like it's a surprise he wasn't picked.