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

[91Jmay]

Anyone think Hales/Vince could bat in the middle order? Root/Ballance both need runs. If they struggle through the India series I'd look to try Hales/Vince against Sri Lanka away.

 

[viriya]

Eng need to figure out a way to bring Hales into the ODI line-up.. I think Root is the odd man out. Too many "builders" not enough "dashers". The WC will have batting strips (Aus definitely, NZ maybe not), so a Sehwag/Warner-type player at the top will make a big difference. The current line-up works in Eng but isn't the best outside of Eng imo.

 

[91Jmay]

Eng need to figure out a way to bring Hales into the ODI line-up.. I think Root is the odd man out. Too many "builders" not enough "dashers". The WC will have batting strips (Aus definitely, NZ maybe not), so a Sehwag/Warner-type player at the top will make a big difference. The current line-up works in Eng but isn't the best outside of Eng imo.

Vince will get a go first IMO. He is nearly as destructive as Hales but is in way better form at the moment.

 

[grecian]

Anyone think Hales/Vince could bat in the middle order? Root/Ballance both need runs. If they struggle through the India series I'd look to try Hales/Vince against Sri Lanka away.

Ballance scored a 72 ball 64 two Innings ago.

You have a point with Root though, should be playing County Cricket for a bit, get runs under his belt #Digin#Plodon for Yorkshire.

Wait a minute I've turned into Fred Boycott momentarily, still point stands. Vince can certainly bat down the order can't he? He does in 4-day stuff, so won't be a big adjustment. Yet hey he's not in the Squad. I would prefer Moeen play ATM from the squad. Yet Root not playing at all isn't going to turn things round.

so to sum up, I dunno.

 

[91Jmay]

I know but as I said if Ballance/Root haven't scored runs by the end of the India series we have to be looking for other options. Ali in for Root would be fine with me (better bowling option as well) but I'd prefer Vince/Hales.

 

[viriya]

Hales should open with Cook, Bell dropping to 3 and everyone shifting 1 position down with Root dropped. Hales has the license to go for it with Bell coming in and calming things down once the first wicket falls.

 

[SOLID MATTIC]

The Elephant in the room here is that Cook's batting atm and for a while really aren't justifying his place in the team. If Cook wasn't captain we'd be talking about dropping him for Hales at the top of the order. While he has played some good innings in ODI's he's never really looked at home in limited overs cricket. You just can never see England making a truly big score with guys like him in the team. With low scoring matches in English conditions he can work fine but around the world, not so much.

 

[91Jmay]

The Elephant in the room here is that Cook batting numbers, both runs scored and his SR aren't justifying his place in the team. If Cook wasn't captain we'd be talking about dropping him for Hales at the top of the order.

Since taking over as captain he has scored 2052 runs in 54 games @ 41.04 at a SR of 81.98. He has been a bit leaner in the last two years but not near there being pressure on him at this point. He has sat out a lot of ODI cricket recently, which shouldn't happen in the 20 or so games leading up to the World Cup. So we will get a better reflection of his form.

 

[Adders]

The Elephant in the room here is that Cook's batting atm and for a while really aren't justifying his place in the team. If Cook wasn't captain we'd be talking about dropping him for Hales at the top of the order. While he has played some good innings in ODI's he's never really looked at home in limited overs cricket. You just can never see England making a truly big score with guys like him in the team. With low scoring matches in English conditions he can work fine but around the world, not so much.

Jeez this pisses me off. As captain Cook averages over 40 with a strike rate of 82........those figures are comparable to Matthew Hayden's FFS.

Edit:Beaten by Jmay

 

[marc71178]

Anyone think Hales/Vince could bat in the middle order? Root/Ballance both need runs. If they struggle through the India series I'd look to try Hales/Vince against Sri Lanka away.

Didn't Ballance get a 70odd last week and Root a 40odd following on from a ton with a broken finger in the West Indies?

 

[Daemon]

Can't find any highlights for the 3rd ODI, anyone know where I can watch them?

 

[Watson33]

Can't find any highlights for the 3rd ODI, anyone know where I can watch them?

If you're in the UK, should be on channel 5's on demand service either now or soon.

 

[91Jmay]

As I keep saying, if they fail throughout the next 8 matches their spots should be under threat.

 

[grecian]

Sri Lanka being a very strong team as they have grip not only on batting but their bowling and fielding is also remarkable which makes them an all-rounder team. Whereas the England is under pressure for this tour because, first this series is being played in London and secondly in their previous [

I really wanna click that link, but I feel i probably won't.

 

[Dan]

Cook not convinced that Prior will be fit, and more doubts being cast over Bairstow/Buttler's glovework.

While I want Jos, no complaints from me if they go for Foster.

 

[marc71178]

As I keep saying, if they fail throughout the next 8 matches their spots should be under threat.

If anyone fails throughout the next 8 matches then their place should come into question - saying that 2 players need runs when they've actually got some in the very recent past is just bizarre.

 

[91Jmay]

If anyone fails throughout the next 8 matches then their place should come into question - saying that 2 players need runs when they've actually got some in the very recent past is just bizarre.

One innings and now Ballance is somehow untouchable? He averages 28 after 9 ODIs. I thought he looked good, the kind of player we need to replace Trott but not sure whats bizarre about requiring him to perform.

 

[marc71178]

It's bizarre saying he needs a score immediately after he's gone out and got one.

 

[Gnske]

Cook not convinced that Prior will be fit, and more doubts being cast over Bairstow/Buttler's glovework.

While I want Jos, no complaints from me if they go for Foster.

I'm surprised Foster or Read haven't been discussed really. Very tidy glovemen with (traumatic) England experience in the past. Maybe it's just this whole "Looking to the future" shtick the ECB and press have going atm.

 

[YorksLanka]

i have to say Buttler looked competent on wednesday and given his batting abilities, i cant see why England dont go with him as he will only improve in the future..