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

[Maximas]

Yeah decent hit out for the batsmen once again, although the bowlers seemed pretty horrendous and the pitch is quite good to bat on apparently, I wouldn't be reading much into it. None of the seamers have presented much of a case thus far, but Dilruwan Perera was able to control the run-rate and pick up a wicket.

As for picking 2 spinners, you should only do it in these conditions when you have 2 good test quality spinner available, like Ajmal/Rehman or Kumble/Harbi and only if your pace options are weak. Dilruwan Perera might be a better bowler than some of our other quicks - but you have to way that up against the conditions and the needs of the team, with Herath, Matthews Kula and Eranga all able to control the run-rate reasonably well, I don't think we need another bowler who is good at keeping things quiet but struggles for impact in these conditions. What is missing from our attack is a strike bowler who bowls in short spells and can get wickets, but also may go for runs. Personally I think Prasad goes for too many runs and doesn't get enough wickets, so it comes down to Welegedara and Pradeep, I'm still undecided atm

 

[Migara]

If they can handle Anderson's opening spell, they can possibly post a decent total at Lord's. But I'm pretty sure Sanga will be batting within the first 5 overs.

Less likely to happen if he bats at 4. Chandimal, Silva or Thiri are much tighter players than Dilshan, Tharanga or Paranavithana.

 

[Migara]

If Kule and Eranga plays, I would prefer seeing Prasad or Pradeep rather than Welegedata. Prasad had been in decent nick. Although he is expensive, can be used in short sharp bursts to un settle batsman. He can get up to 90mph in shorter spells, so should be used with care. Pradeep's fitness doesn't cut in. Struggled bigtime to play back to back tests. May be, play Prasad in one match and Pradeep in other.

 

[Maximas]

Perhaps, still think that might be missing a trick with Welegedara being a decent reverse tang bowler, honestly don't think Prasad is going to be unsettling too many batsmen, Pradeep might though

 

[viriya]

Less likely to happen if he bats at 4. Chandimal, Silva or Thiri are much tighter players than Dilshan, Tharanga or Paranavithana.

Sanga will come in at #3.. when has he batted at #4?

 

[YorksLanka]

Perhaps, still think that might be missing a trick with Welegedara being a decent reverse tang bowler, honestly don't think Prasad is going to be unsettling too many batsmen, Pradeep might though

not sure on that one(pradeep that is) as Prasad bowled with good pace at the odi in Durham, he was regularly getting the ball up 85mph and bowling some accurate short balls..i was actually surprised as didnt realise that he was that quick..i do like pradeep but my worry as has been mentioend before is a) his fitness and can he make it through two tests and b) his accuracy. I still favour both spinners as i do think lords will turn afterday three...having said that given that England havent got a full time spinner in their squad, i would presume we will see a greener bouncier wicket prepared
in terms of our openers, i do back Dimuth as from what i saw last time we toured here,he played the swinging ball better than most-yes i know he didnt score in the tour match but my jedi skills are backing him lol..

 

[NUFAN]

Cook, Ali, Anderson, Balance, Bell, Broad, Jordan, Plunkett, Prior, Robson, Root, Woakes

Interesting lineup. I know England have had trouble finding a number 3 since Trott left, but I think Anderson is batting probably a couple spots too high. Prior justifiably at 9 given his recent test form. Root in the team for his useful off spin and handy batting from 11.

 

[Migara]

Sanga will come in at #3.. when has he batted at #4?

Because of the guys ego he will retire batting at #3. But It's high time to let Thirimanne bat there and Sanaga to move down, and perhaps to drop MJ.

 

[Migara]

Perhaps, still think that might be missing a trick with Welegedara being a decent reverse tang bowler, honestly don't think Prasad is going to be unsettling too many batsmen, Pradeep might though

Prasad do get useful reverse swing. And when he gets that will be mighty effective than Welegedara due to brisk pace and low trajectory.

 

[Maximas]

I haven't had the chance to see Prasad bowl since the Australia tour but he's presumably improved a bit under Vaas while Welegedara probably hasn't given his injuries and distance from the national squad. The sheer amount Welegedara moves it as well as his ability to get it going consistently negates his lack of pace IMO, again, I haven't seen Prasad bowl in a while but I've never seen him get much reverse swing at all.

 

[Migara]

Prasad is basically a Pakistani type bowler. Trash with the new ball, but has pace, and skiddy. He used to get some big reverse swing early in his career. If handled properly, I think he would be very useful with the old ball. But haveing said that his yorker has regressed alarmingly.

 

[YorksLanka]

just read on CI that Lakmal's recovery is coming on better than expected and he is going to have a fitness test in SL with a view to rejoining the squad for Headingley..If passed he will obviously come straight back into the team and i would look forward to seeing him and Eranga as the new ball bowlers..

 

[Maximas]

hmm, that's good news, he would enjoy the conditions up there I suspect, I can't help but feel our attack lacks a bit of firepower with him Eranga and Kula all playing though, we really need to develop Pradeep.

 

[Prince EWS]

Pradeep has a truly abysmal record for someone of his talents.

Sri Lankan domestic First Class cricket is played over three days on some very bowler-friendly surfaces in general and is of a poor overall standard because of the dilution of talent over so many teams in a small area, so to average 30+ as he does really should put you completely out of Test contention. When you combine that with the fact that he averages over 50 for Sri Lanka A, an average of almost 90 over six Tests really should've been exactly what the selectors expected.

It's easy to forgive them after you watch him bowl though, even when he's sending down no-balls and half volleys. He's almost un-Sri Lankan in everything about his bowling -- his approach, exaggerated follow-through, pace, bounce, genuine outswing and even just his physique make him stand out amongst his competition and all give hope for a genuine Test spearhead, something Sri Lanka lack even in theory amongst their other bowlers.

 

[viriya]

Because of the guys ego he will retire batting at #3. But It's high time to let Thirimanne bat there and Sanaga to move down, and perhaps to drop MJ.

Thiri has not shown anything to merit coming in at #3 and getting SL's best ever Test batsman to move from his usual position.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah, with Sanga in the form of his life batting at three it makes zero sense for him to move, I wouldn't mind seeing Thirimanne move up to four and Mahela down to 5 though, when Mahela retires (which could come shortly before or straight after the Pakistan tests later this year I suspect) then Matthews would rightly move up to 5 and open up a spot for Chandimal or someone else at 6 and then Sanga's retirement (in about a year and a half methinks) would allow Thirimanne to move up to three and Chandimal or Matthews will by then hopefully be ready to move up to four and no 6 opens up again. I think that is the plan SL are working towards

 

[Migara]

Pradeep has a truly abysmal record for someone of his talents.

Sri Lankan domestic First Class cricket is played over three days on some very bowler-friendly surfaces in general and is of a poor overall standard because of the dilution of talent over so many teams in a small area, so to average 30+ as he does really should put you completely out of Test contention. When you combine that with the fact that he averages over 50 for Sri Lanka A, an average of almost 90 over six Tests really should've been exactly what the selectors expected.

It's easy to forgive them after you watch him bowl though, even when he's sending down no-balls and half volleys. He's almost un-Sri Lankan in everything about his bowling -- his approach, exaggerated follow-through, pace, bounce, genuine outswing and even just his physique make him stand out amongst his competition and all give hope for a genuine Test spearhead, something Sri Lanka lack even in theory amongst their other bowlers.

SL FC pitches are notoriously unresponsive for pacemen with genuine speed. It's dibbly dobblers like Kulasekara who top averages in FC bowling when it comes to non-spinners. I can't recall any fast bowler who tend to hit the pitch hard did well on SL in test matches, except Ambrose and Donald. Even in that limited show Ambrose bowled slower and up to the bat, wicket to wicket. Swing bowlers tend to do well and it is Wasim, Waqar, Asif and Hadlee who had done best in SL.

 

[Prince EWS]

The Test pitches would obviously be a fair bit different to the ones that are used for three-day domestic games, as would of course the standard of batting. I don't think it really makes sense to extrapolate the Tests there.

 

[Maximas]

Well, they'e got play going today in the final day of that tour game, hopefully we can bowl Nothants out before lunch, get a bit more batting practice under the belt for the top order and then have a final shootout for about 15-20 overs late in the day for the seamers

 

[grecian]

Willey tonking the ball about a bit, as he's wont to do. Bowled as well, but only 12 overs. Still better than nothing.