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

[keeper]

Cook's strike rate now somewhat slower than Boycott's during the double hundred against India that got him dropped for slow scoring.

Good thing he's not in our ODI team or anything

 

[flibbertyjibber]

KP out to SLA again, i await the press outcry.

 

[Spark]

Well this last half hour has been utterly pathetic and ridiculous so I don't know what to suggest now.

Yeah I have no idea what England have tried to achieve since drinks.

 

[Himannv]

Lol @ KP.

 

[Woodster]

Beauty to get rid of KP, maybe not a bad thing as we're currently not going anywhere too quickly. Ideal time for Morgan (albeit not just befor lunch) in terms of game situation, he can come in bat freely and get the run rate going in the right direction again. Still it will be Bell first.

 

[_Ed_]

Pietersen.

 

[keeper]

So we move on from wondering whether Pietersen can beat Cook to a hundred to wondering whether Bell can do the same.

Ok, I'll leave AC alone now

Anyone see KP's back foot toes twitching before the ball was delivered?

 

[Spikey]

 

[Woodster]

This declaration talk is doing my head in.

When you're leading in a series, there is absolutely no point in being generous with a declaration. Strauss should only declare once England reach the point where losing the game is extremely unlikely.

Gower is right to be critical of Strauss' declarations in the West Indies, as we were behind in that series and should have been willing to risk defeat more in order to try and win the Tests, but with a 1-0 series lead and 1 Test to go, risking defeat is absolutely pointless.

So what is safe then ? What is a generous declaration ? No-one is suggesting setting SL 250 in 60 overs, so when is the game safe, when we have a lead of 450 but only 30 overs left in the day ?

Any further thoughts GF? You clearly oppose a declaration till we lead by plenty but what is the lead/overs left in the game you have in mind ?

 

[Spark]

Haha interesting shot.

 

[Woodster]

Not quite getting all the KP stuff, has he not just shown a big form improvement and made 72 ? Would take that more often than not.

 

[Spark]

That's a quality shot. Bell making up for lost time, I think.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I think the problem is they don't want to get too many in front if they are going to declare but also don't want to give them too many overs to chase down any target they set.

For example if they had set 320 in 70 overs then it might go wrong but if they only get 55-60 overs to get the target then realistically only England can win.

 

[hazsa19]

Anyone heard of the story where Beefy was sent in to run Boycott out in New Zealand? Apparently Boycott hasn't spoken to him since!

Reminds me somewhat of this situation.

 

[Woodster]

I think the problem is they don't want to get too many in front if they are going to declare but also don't want to give them too many overs to chase down any target they set.

For example if they had set 320 in 70 overs then it might go wrong but if they only get 55-60 overs to get the target then realistically only England can win.

Not sure it would go wrong, just don't see SL scoring at the required rate for the rest of the day without Dilshan against Swann on this pitch. Just don't see it. We need to do what's best for us to win the game, not to avoid defeat, imo.

 

[Spark]

If England declared right now then I would say they are three times more likely at a minimum to win than SL.

 

[Jayzamann]

Any chance of a declaration? (ed: declaration right now) Cook's SR would suggest otherwise...

Can see him not out at the end of this innings with a 50+ average, though. Top stuff.

 

[keeper]

Strong words from Nasser...

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Strong words from Nasser...

What he said, went into kitchen and suck TMS on

 

[Furball]

Any further thoughts GF? You clearly oppose a declaration till we lead by plenty but what is the lead/overs left in the game you have in mind ?

6 rpo.