***Official*** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2014

[Maximas]

Got a game starting in two hours, An English attack of Bresnan, Jordan and Anderson looks pretty good if that's what they go for, probably a little more fearsome than Kulasekara, Lakmal and Malinga anyway, although SL might go with two spinners and pick Mendis, I hope they don't. Important game to set-up the rest of the series, England might find it hard to come back if they suffer yet another loss, but if they win they could push on and find that confidence once again and Sri Lanka's old insecurities outside the SC could come right back.

 

[theegyptian]

Doubt Bres plays as he's been released to play for Yorkshire tomorrow.

 

[Maximas]

Gurney then?

 

[theegyptian]

Duno. You'll have to wait to find out. The suspense is killing me

 

[Maximas]

hmm, no Kusal, I love watching him bat but we need a steady partner for Dilshan and it looks like Thirimanne will take up that role, not a bad move, they've gone with Lakmal too, he's got a chance to prove himself as an option for the WC

 

[theegyptian]

I know I'm in the minority but I actually think James Taylor is a better OD bat than Ballance and that Ballance is a better first class bat than OD. Ballance for me for can use up a few too many dots at the start of the innings and whilst he can clear the rope later he is a little limited in his strokeplay. Top 4 here still is too one paced. Carberry should have played imo. He hasn't shown it but I do feel he has the game to prosper and his OD and T20 games are completely separate from his 4 day game. Guess if you want alternatives you've got Hales or Vince and Hales has looked a little more solid technically this season.

Cue Ballance ton at run a ball with strokes all round the wicket.

 

[Maximas]

There you go, with Kula nibbling it away from Cook at that not quite drivable length all summer it'll be interesting to see how Cook deals with it, not so well this time, dropped then caught behind

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Crap shot from Cook.

 

[wpdavid]

There you go, with Kula nibbling it away from Cook at that not quite drivable length all summer it'll be interesting to see how Cook deals with it, not so well this time, dropped then caught behind

Aye, and I think we've seen that before. Maybe some folks will revise their rather patronising view of the SL team that we read too often before the series started.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah I think Hales/Vince should be in the top four. Other than that I quite like the make up of this ODI team.

 

[wpdavid]

Yeah I think Hales/Vince should be in the top four. Other than that I quite like the make up of this ODI team.

The batting looks better than the bowling. We really need Anderson to get among them at the start of the innings, or SL could bat very comfortably. That being said, I know very little about Gurney, beyond his respectable figures in the 2020 game. I think Tredwell could go for lots, and Root's part-time offies may not be lethal against a SC side in conditions where it won't turn much. We're a bowler short afaics.

 

[91Jmay]

Maybe we are, think Root/Boppa are good enough to get through 10 though.

 

[viriya]

Why should he bowl out if our best XI has better options than him?

They only have better options than him in the death overs. This discussion started on Mathews vs Lakmal, and everyone agrees Lakmal bowled out for experience. Of course Malinga and Kula should bowl out over Mathews.

 

[Maximas]

time for a bit of Sachi IMO, England making it look pretty easy against the seamers

 

[91Jmay]

Looks a 300 pitch to me. Lanka won't be worried about a 280 I don't think.

 

[viriya]

Based on one over from Sena, too bad SL doesn't have more spin options.. Herath isn't in the ODI squad for whatever reason.. Hard to say what you'd get with Ajantha on a given day.

 

[Maximas]

ehh, this looks legside,

 

[Maximas]

That's a classic Matthews review, loves to use them when he's bowling

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good 50 by Bell, weather may deny him a ton.

Ballance looks ok, bit dodgy at times but seems to have the head for international cricket.

 

[91Jmay]

Poor review. Never looked out.