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

[Howe_zat]

Not sure why they continue to bring up this "turgid" top order thing. When England were at their best, we had Strauss, Cook and Trott at the top, they were hardly forcing the pace. In Test cricket I couldn't give a **** if they bat slightly slowly at the top so long as they're scoring runs. I'd take a bloke that bats slowly and averages 50, than some T20 slogger that gets a score away every now and then and averages <40.

Sri Lanka's dropping of Kulasekara is looking a worse decision by the over.

I think, if I'm being generous as possible, there's something to be said against having a batting order that plays every ball on its merits, because if you play like that against a good attack then the runs will dry up completely. There are times when proactive players are more likely to get the runs because they are being proactive, not necessarily because they're better.

It's true though, that more often than not, complaints about 'turgid' batting are more examples of people confusing what they'd like to see with what England should do. And there's the ever-present people who think that the scoring rate is solely down to the approach of the batsmen.

 

[Spark]

Yeah what people often mean by "being proactive" is basically David Warner, when in reality all you need is just to rotate the strike a bit more.

 

[Maximas]

Herath needs some luck at some point this series, it could have been so so good for him if a few things had gone his way

 

[Maximas]

re: proactive batting or whatever, it's not a bad ploy in a situation like this where the bowlers aren't good enough to nip you out in this sort of mood and you have time to build a massive score, doesn't work as well against the top attacks though

 

[Viscount Tom]

Well that came somewhat out of nowhere.

 

[King Pietersen]

WTF? Matthews just got a wicket. That's a rare occurance. Average booster!

 

[Maximas]

noted 3rd seamer Matthews gets the breakthrough

 

[Howe_zat]

Plenty of set up for Bell to ton up on his 100th test. Pitch, platform, attack, the lot. Last time Sri Lanka toured he averaged 100+ iirc.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So why did Mathews wait so long to bowl then?

Ballance probably didn't deserve a ton so not moaning. The partnership has put us in total control though.

 

[Spark]

Plenty of set up for Bell to ton up on his 100th test. Pitch, platform, attack, the lot. Last time Sri Lanka toured he averaged 100+ iirc.

Didn't everyone?

 

[Maximas]

Didn't everyone?

I suspect the Sri Lankan bowlers did at least

 

[King Pietersen]

Robson 98* at Tea. Gonna be a long 20 minutes for him.

 

[Howe_zat]

Poor Bell, was trying so hard to get Robson on strike

 

[King Pietersen]

Ton up for Sam Robson. Superb knock. Great comeback after his struggles in the first. Selectors have done alright in this series!

 

[grecian]

Well done Sam. I'm not going to say get a big one now, because TBH it might be better if we get a few stroke-players in, but it's another promising performance.

 

[King Pietersen]

That six from Robson was beautiful, such a composed, clean strike. 53 off 73 for the partnership, Bell's brought a nice injection of intent and scoring. Be nice if these two can bat the day, though Bell is looking a little sketchy outside his off-stump.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Been a good start to the summer for the selectors. There will be some who will say it is against a weak side but you can only do it against who is front of you.

With 20 overs to go we can hopefully push the lead towards 80 or so overnight and then push on tomorrow.

 

[Prince EWS]

Been a good start to the summer for the selectors. There will be some who will say it is against a weak side but you can only do it against who is front of you.

Yeah indeed, and it's a step up from county cricket all the same.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good ball to get the wicket. SL need a couple more now with the new ball or they will be out of the game by mid afternoon tomorrow.

England will be happy the three century makers this summer so far are aged 23, 24 and 24. A base to build from for the future.

 

[Maximas]

Good ball to get the wicket. SL need a couple more now with the new ball or they will be out of the game by mid afternoon tomorrow.

Bit late for that already I think