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

[flibbertyjibber]

Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's play. Good batting from both sides and a fascinatingly poised match now. Big first session for both sides.

 

[Uppercut]

OMFG Cricket Writers on TV calling for Prior in the OD side again FFS.

Is that Gough being a tool again?

 

[superkingdave]

Is that Gough being a tool again?

To be fair to Goughy I don't think even he would ever consider trying to write about cricket.

The likes of Steve James and Mike Selvey. Basically blaming Priors record on having to open again. The alternatives 'haven't nailed their places down'

 

[Uppercut]

To be fair to Goughy I don't think even he would ever consider trying to write about cricket.

CW's Goughy should put that in his sig.

 

[wpdavid]

So at what point do we realise that England could quite conceivably lose this match?

 

[TopCat]

So at what point do we realise that England could quite conceivably lose this match?

I don't think the SL attack has enough teeth to dismiss England's in-form batsmen cheaply on that flat batting paradise at Lord's. Sri Lanka also have to bat last when any turn in the pitch will be at a maximum and any vagaries in the pitch that might have developed will make batting quite difficult.

 

[Spark]

You're right too, about Strauss needing to set the right fields. He should show more confidence in Swann and give him a close fielder in front of the bat on both sides as Paranavitana edged onto his pad a few times and the ball looped to where silly point would have been.

I know you can't have fielders everywhere, but when the best finger spinner in world cricket is bowling, you have to give him every change to take wickets, and after all England had a sizeable lead.

More to the point it was the last over before tea when all-out attack should always be on the cards.

 

[Furball]

You're right too, about Strauss needing to set the right fields. He should show more confidence in Swann and give him a close fielder in front of the bat on both sides as Paranavitana edged onto his pad a few times and the ball looped to where silly point would have been.

I know you can't have fielders everywhere, but when the best finger spinner in world cricket is bowling, you have to give him every change to take wickets, and after all England had a sizeable lead.

Can't just blame the captain for that, Swann should be pestering him for more attacking fields.

 

[Spark]

There we are. That's the carry Tremlett wasn't getting yesterday.

EDIT: I reckon a good fast bowler would give England problems on this deck. It's starting to really fly through and England have struggled on such decks in recent times.

EDIT2: Is deep backward square really necessary?

 

[BoyBrumby]

So at what point do we realise that England could quite conceivably lose this match?

I think if SL get to lunch at 320-ish/1 we might start to man the barricades a bit.

 

[Spark]

Swann will have Sanga in a bag if he keeps pushing at the ball with bat away from pad like that, either like in Cardiff or with the arm ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I don't think the bowlers will be too disappointed in seeing Sanga unfurl the drive there.

 

[BoyBrumby]

150 from the skipper. Treating Swann with absolute disdain.

 

[Spark]

Finn starting where he left off, then.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Might be tempted to give Trott a couple of overs before new ball is due.

 

[vcs]

England don't look like taking a wicket right now. Really good batting from the Lankans here. I don't how much that has to do with the flatness of the pitch, but credit nonetheless.

 

[hazsa19]

Awful bowling. It's almost as if they expect to turn up, bowl anywhere, and take wickets. The pitch may be flat, but if you can't bowl more than one ball on a good length in an over you haven't got a chance anywhere.

The Sri Lankans may have been negative, but at least they had a plan. We're not attacking or restricting Dilshan. I don't want to take anything away from his century, but he still is all over the place just outside off stump.

Shocking stuff, and if we're not careful we'll be batting in a horrid situation by tomorrow evening.

 

[BoyBrumby]

England don't look like taking a wicket right now. Really good batting from the Lankans here. I don't how much that has to do with the flatness of the pitch, but credit nonetheless.

I think it's all three, myself. England have undoubtedly been poor, but SL have been rarely troubled, a couple of drops aside.

New ball will be absolutely vital.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't think the SL attack has enough teeth to dismiss England's in-form batsmen cheaply on that flat batting paradise at Lord's. Sri Lanka also have to bat last when any turn in the pitch will be at a maximum and any vagaries in the pitch that might have developed will make batting quite difficult.

What makes you so sure Sri Lanka will have to bat last?

 

[vcs]

Follow-on successfully avoided. SL are rotating the strike really well in this quiet-ish period with the field spread out.

Sanga gone! Great ball from Tremlett, bit of bounce, great line. Hmm.. Sanga's big innings in England will have to wait a bit longer.