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

[Adders]

I just don't see how we've gone massively backwards.

I don't either, it's early to be making this call under the new regime but ODI cricket is probably our strongest suit right now. Just like the Ashes 3-0 result in England flattered to deceive us, the 4-1 ODI loss in Aus was not a real reflection in the difference in the two sides.......but for some key moments we could have won that series and it was played without the players thegyptian is talking about (KP, Trott, Swann and Finn)

England will be competitive in the World Cup next year.

 

[Pothas]

We are also playing in blue again. This is a vital development.

 

[grecian]

I don't either, it's early to be making this call under the new regime but ODI cricket is probably our strongest suit right now. Just like the Ashes 3-0 result in England flattered to deceive us, the 4-1 ODI loss in Aus was not a real reflection in the difference in the two sides.......but for some key moments we could have won that series and it was played without the players thegyptian is talking about (KP, Trott, Swann and Finn)

England will be competitive in the World Cup next year.

Hey, I'm not saying anything strongly because I've been disappointed so often, but I'd much rather be riding on promising newcomers than proven failures.

In the end though you see guys bowling fast like Gurney and Jordan, and I don't care about the readings, they look dangerous that excites and must make the batsmen worry. I know Bresnan Dernbach and others have clocked good speeds but when do they harry batsmen. theEgyptian is a top poster but to dismiss Jordan really scaring the Lankan batsmen seemed wrong to me, did he watch it? it was proper nasty fast-bowling with attitude.

 

[Prince EWS]

We are also playing in blue again. This is a vital development.

It's more Scotland blue than England blue though; looks off IMO.

 

[viriya]

Eng should play in red with blue/white borders... too many blue team kits already..

 

[Adders]

I don't like the Waitrose sponsorship tbh......

 

[wpdavid]

Hey, I'm not saying anything strongly because I've been disappointed so often, but I'd much rather be riding on promising newcomers than proven failures.

In the end though you see guys bowling fast like Gurney and Jordan, and I don't care about the readings, they look dangerous that excites and must make the batsmen worry. I know Bresnan Dernbach and others have clocked good speeds but when do they harry batsmen. theEgyptian is a top poster but to dismiss Jordan really scaring the Lankan batsmen seemed wrong to me, did he watch it? it was proper nasty fast-bowling with attitude.

On the subject of Gurney, I could help noticing some of the kids practising during my son's game last night. The usual 12 year old 'commentary' had 'Gurney' running into bowl, which wasn't something I'd have predicted a few weeks ago.

Got to admit that Tredwell went way better than I expected the other night.

And obviously I'm very happy that Dernbach isn't in the side any more.

I still think that the bowling is a man light, but perhaps it's better to try and ensure runs on the board, and at least our lower middle order isn't relying on one batsman to provide the fireworks.

tbh I'm just happy to see some new faces doing well after the winter debacle. If nothing else, it distracts from the endless claims and counters wrt KP.

 

[grecian]

Interesting, if Cook misses this match and Hales scores big could make for interesting selection problems.

 

[viriya]

Interesting, if Cook misses this match and Hales scores big could make for interesting selection problems.

Hales for Cook is actually the best line-up for Eng - if he does well Cook will have Chandimal at World T20I-like issues coming back.

 

[marc71178]

If Cook is unfit, then Carberry plays surely?

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah that's not comparable at all; Cook is a very good one day cricketer whereas Chandimal has never done anything of note in T20 criket at all. If Hales forced his way into the side it'd be Ballance who missed out with Bell batting three, regardless of whether we considered Cook's captaincy to be of value or not.

 

[grecian]

Nah that's not comparable at all; Cook is a very good one day cricketer whereas Chandimal has never done anything of note in T20 criket at all. If Hales forced his way into the side it'd be Ballance who missed out with Bell batting three, regardless of whether we considered Cook's captaincy to be of value or not.

Agreed, and Cook since he's comeback into the ODI set-up has been pretty damn brilliant, scoring 100s, and doing a great job.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Nah that's not comparable at all; Cook is a very good one day cricketer whereas Chandimal has never done anything of note in T20 criket at all. If Hales forced his way into the side it'd be Ballance who missed out with Bell batting three, regardless of whether we considered Cook's captaincy to be of value or not.

Agreed and Ballance after the last game deserves a chance to cement a place in the side anyway.

Hales has to wait. Not sure he will make the WC squad.

 

[wpdavid]

If Cook is unfit, then Carberry plays surely?

Because?

 

[marc71178]

Because?

He was named in the original squad.

 

[Neil Pickup]

That would require transitive logic from the selection panel.

In other news, some momentum on twitter for a James Foster recall if Prior remains unfit. Would be great for the pure keepers of this world!

 

[grecian]

That would require transitive logic from the selection panel.

In other news, some momentum on twitter for a James Foster recall if Prior remains unfit. Would be great for the pure keepers of this world!

I can't tell you how happy this would make me, and I started the Jos-appreciation thread. Yet c'mon taking catches is quite an important part of being a 'keeper isn't it?

I think everything went ****ed up for England with the Stewart-Russel thing. It actually kind of worked because Alec was actually a good 'keeper, and people forget that. He was infinitly better than the likes of Davies, CK, Buttler, Bairstow, Mustard Etc. Etc.

and yet even with him being a decent Wicketkeeper did it really work in tests, did the number 6s do that much better than Russel in that position, and how many runs were lost by Stewart not opening. I can't be arsed to look up the averages but wasn't he really world-class as an opener, and just average batting down the order as 'keeper.

Foster can actually bat too, so it's not that ridiculous.

 

[marc71178]

For the majority of his career he averaged under 35 when keeping and although he was ok by the end, he wasn't anywhere near that good when he started doing it.

Russell should've been a must pick at 7 for a hell of a long time.

 

[Adders]

Hales for Cook is actually the best line-up for Eng - if he does well Cook will have Chandimal at World T20I-like issues coming back.

That's rubbish. Cook is a tragically underrated ODI batsmen, averages over 40 as captain striking at around 90.........there is nothing wrong with that for an opening batsmen

Just because it doesn't look pretty, he gets the job done and there is always room for an anchor role in one day cricket. I do agree though with Cook and Bell opening Eng need someone who can up the ante at 3..........I'm not convinced by Hales yet but if there is a place for him in the side that is where it should be. Baring injury he won't open for England while Cook and Bell are around.

 

[grecian]

That's rubbish. Cook is a tragically underrated ODI batsmen, averages over 40 as captain striking at around 90.........there is nothing wrong with that for an opening batsmen

Just because it doesn't look pretty, he gets the job done and there is always room for an anchor role in one day cricket. I do agree though with Cook and Bell opening Eng need someone who can up the ante at 3..........I'm not convinced by Hales yet but if there is a place for him in the side that is where it should be. Baring injury he won't open for England while Cook and Bell are around.

IYeah, I've never really understood why Hales is always an opener, in fact like Gayle he's a slow starter, him using up PP overs doesn't really help. Number 3 might be interesting.