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

[keeper]

Haven't heard the commentators but guess they're talking about giving SL a chance in terms of enhancing England's chances of victory rather than for sporting reasons.

Re the no-balls. Light allowing, this adds to the days play potentially.

By the way, is there a cut-off time on the last day?

 

[Woodster]

I honestly think we've got more chance of winning if their batsmen have no target, like in Cardiff. They don't do defensive batting well.

Even if it means leaving them only 35 overs before we believe we cannot lose the game ?

 

[four_or_six]

That's an excellent move by the match referee if correct.

EDIT: Do people seriously think SL would have any hope whatsoever of reaching a target of 300-odd at 5+ rpo with 5 specialist batsmen including Piranha and Prasanna, Roof, Herath, 3 #11s and Dilshan who will only bat in an emergency?

What's the match ref done?

 

[Woodster]

That's an excellent move by the match referee if correct.

EDIT: Do people seriously think SL would have any hope whatsoever of reaching a target of 300-odd at 5+ rpo with 5 specialist batsmen including Piranha and Prasanna, Roof, Herath, 3 #11s and Dilshan who will only bat in an emergency?

Yes if the floodlights are on, let's play.

The Dilshan injury would seriously hamper their ability to score at five runs an over, I'd be confident we would at least draw the game with that equation.

 

[Xuhaib]

SL bowling is looking like Pakistan's batting last summer.We kept on collapsing innings after innings they keep on dishing pies innings after innings undoing all the good work of their stronger suits..

 

[Woodster]

Haven't heard the commentators but guess they're talking about giving SL a chance in terms of enhancing England's chances of victory rather than for sporting reasons.

Re the no-balls. Light allowing, this adds to the days play potentially.

By the way, is there a cut-off time on the last day?

With the amount of time lost in the Test match, you would hope we can play till the 98 overs have been bowled. Not sure of any exact cut-off time though.

 

[Spark]

What's the match ref done?

According to Botham he told the umps "if the floodlights are on and there are spectators in, play"

 

[keeper]

That's an excellent move by the match referee if correct.

EDIT: Do people seriously think SL would have any hope whatsoever of reaching a target of 300-odd at 5+ rpo with 5 specialist batsmen including Piranha and Prasanna, Roof, Herath, 3 #11s and Dilshan who will only bat in an emergency?

Hugely unlikely I think. As I said before England could revert to very defensive measures if it wasn't going their way (like Zimbabwe vs England when we, ahem, murdered them). Still, I can sort of see why the England camp would get twitchy if the runs/overs ratio changes to any significant degree.

I do want to see aggression today from England.

 

[Spikey]

no doubt there's a bit of hyperbole in there. more "the amount of light needed to play isn't as much today as it was in the other 4 days" i reckon

 

[keeper]

With the amount of time lost in the Test match, you would hope we can play till the 98 overs have been bowled. Not sure of any exact cut-off time though.

Thanks. Certainly hope so, don't think there should be one on the last day.

 

[Spikey]

please declare with KP on 90 odd

 

[Woodster]

Cook and KP - two very different styles with two very similar records at this stage. Both have registered 17 Test centuries, Cook has 26 half-centuries to KP's 22. About 300 runs difference in overall Test runs but KP has had eight more Test innings. Both similar Test high scores, Cook's 235* plays KP's 227, and their averages just over a run difference in favour of Cook.

The obvious differences are the strike rates, Cook just over 49 and KP a tick over 62, and around a four and a half year gap in age.

Pretty dull stuff, just thought I'd mention it.

 

[Woodster]

please declare with KP on 90 odd

Have a heart mate.

 

[four_or_six]

According to Botham he told the umps "if the floodlights are on and there are spectators in, play"

Oh I really hope that is correct, so sensible.

 

[Spikey]

Have a heart mate.

 

[hazsa19]

This is ***y batting from Cooky, absolutely love it.

 

[keeper]

Guess lunch may be a bit early for a declaration. Presumably we'd win 2 overs by doing this?

 

[Xuhaib]

Cricket must be a very depressing game to watch if the best batsman in the world (on current form) is such an eyesore.

 

[Spark]

Lunch would be very early given there would be about 65-70 overs left.

 

[Spark]

Heh. Terribad review.