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

[Spark]

What kind of scores would England and Sri Lanka be satisfied with respectively (taking into account England's attack, SL's short batting lineup, Swann bowling last on this wicket etc.)?

320-330 would suit both teams tbh.

EDIT: Well that's out of the blue.

 

[keeper]

The most recent 1st inning scores at Lords (all by England) - 505, 446, 337, 425.

Mind you, the first two were against the Bangas and a weakened Pakistani attack.

Good effort by SL this. Think England will still be looking for 350-400.

 

[vcs]

Nass. Wish we had Test match commentators 10% as good as this in India.

 

[Spark]

Nass. Wish we had Test match commentators 10% as good as this in India.

He's been absolutely brilliant today.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Morgan may fail but i feel more confident with him at the crease than i ever do Bloopara.

We need a 150 from Cook to get us a decent score here as Prior is totally out of nick for Sussex.

 

[Spark]

Think Morgan likes Herath tbh. Great batting.

EDIT: Terrible response by Dilshan though, he's faced 15 balls ffs

 

[vcs]

And that is why Morgan is one of the best batsmen to watch in world cricket. Hope he converts this into a substantial score.

 

[keeper]

Nass. Wish we had Test match commentators 10% as good as this in India.

Was on top of his game after the mid-week T20 with all the Cork/Lumb aggro...

 

[TopCat]

Go Morgan.

It's a Sixer!

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

Ok English (and Irish) fans, I don't watch ODIs and this is the first time I'm seeing Morgan in action.

I'll be honest in my assessment. The guy is poorly balanced at the crease and IMHO, quality swing bowling would expose him miserably in tests.

He would like to make hay while the sun is shining, but surely there should be worthier batsmen in the ranks. More technically and temperamentally suited to the rigours of five-day cricket.

 

[Spark]

Ok English (and Irish) fans, I don't watch ODIs and this is the first time I'm seeing Morgan in action.

I'll be honest in my assessment. The guy is poorly balanced at the crease and IMHO, quality swing bowling would expose him miserably in tests.

He would like to make hay while the sun is shining, but surely there should be worthier batsmen in the ranks. More technically and temperamentally suited to the rigours of five-day cricket.

That's sort of what happened last year against Pakistan but I don't really think that was a swing issue, more a off-stump judgement issue.

 

[TopCat]

Ok English (and Irish) fans, I don't watch ODIs and this is the first time I'm seeing Morgan in action.

I'll be honest in my assessment. The guy is poorly balanced at the crease and IMHO, quality swing bowling would expose him miserably in tests.

He would like to make hay while the sun is shining, but surely there should be worthier batsmen in the ranks. More technically and temperamentally suited to the rigours of five-day cricket.

You forget. He took 193 off Sri Lanka for the Lions in the warm-up game. He batted for a good long while then, but still scored at almost a run a ball.

 

[Howe_zat]

Ok English (and Irish) fans, I don't watch ODIs and this is the first time I'm seeing Morgan in action.

I'll be honest in my assessment. The guy is poorly balanced at the crease and IMHO, quality swing bowling would expose him miserably in tests.

He would like to make hay while the sun is shining, but surely there should be worthier batsmen in the ranks. More technically and temperamentally suited to the rigours of five-day cricket.

His technique is questionable but his temperant isn't. He's played matchwinning one-day innings from some dire situations and paced them brilliantly, keeping his cool right to the end.

 

[Spark]

Fernando comes on, Fernando bowls rubbish. Like clockwork.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

You forget. He took 193 off Sri Lanka for the Lions in the warm-up game. He batted for a good long while then, but still scored at almost a run a ball.

That's what I said in the end about making hay while the sun shines. He could be successful against this attack but quality pace/swing bowlers (read Steyn, Zaheer, the good Johnson or Morgan's own mate Jimmy) would have him groping without a clue.

 

[Outswinger@Pace]

His technique is questionable but his temperant isn't. He's played matchwinning one-day innings from some dire situations and paced them brilliantly, keeping his cool right to the end.

ODI "cool" is different from test match temperament. The ability to leave balls judiciously and sometimes letting the opposition drill it into you is required. Michael Bevan would be able to explain the difference better than most.

 

[TopCat]

Fernando comes on, Fernando bowls rubbish. Like clockwork.

Rubbish indeed, two wide long hops get smashed to the boundary by the imperious Cook.

 

[Spark]

That's what I said in the end about making hay while the sun shines. He could be successful against this attack but quality pace/swing bowlers (read Steyn, Zaheer, the good Johnson or Morgan's own mate Jimmy) would have him groping without a clue.

Nah I think he could still do well in Tests.

 

[pskov]

That's what I said in the end about making hay while the sun shines. He could be successful against this attack but quality pace/swing bowlers (read Steyn, Zaheer, the good Johnson or Morgan's own mate Jimmy) would have him groping without a clue.

A lot of good batsman have real trouble facing Steyn, Zaheer and Anderson. That's why they are the three best fast bowlers in the world after all.

Though i broadly agree, Morgan's technique at first glance isn't that of a great test player. But he wouldn't be the first player with an unconventional look about him to make it, and he certainly has the raw shot making ability, so we will see.

 

[TopCat]

ODI "cool" is different from test match temperament. The ability to leave balls judiciously and sometimes letting the opposition drill it into you is required. Michael Bevan would be able to explain the difference better than most.

So far he's been leaving balls in the corridor very well and smahsing long hops to the boundary.