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

[dermo]

ali deserves a ton here though

 

[Spark]

Really weird that they decided to have Moeen face Mahela though

 

[Dan]

Really weird that they decided to have Moeen face Mahela though

I get the feeling that Moeen wants all of the strike, but just couldn't find a single late enough in the last over, so the status quo prevailed for at least one more Herath over.

Don't overcomplicate things for Jimmeh by trying to get him to work a single when he's stuck against Herath, I guess.

 

[Dan]

If the rain does effect things and end the game soon, I'm not sure whether I'll be more sad for the lack of SL win, or the lack of Moeen ton.

 

[Daemon]

dat review

 

[Dan]

What the? Insane review.

 

[Spark]

I get the feeling that Moeen wants all of the strike, but just couldn't find a single late enough in the last over, so the status quo prevailed for at least one more Herath over.

Don't overcomplicate things for Jimmeh by trying to get him to work a single when he's stuck against Herath, I guess.

Nah, Broad was turning down singles early in the over. It was clearly the plan

 

[Dan]

In that case, very weird.

 

[Cabinet96]

Urgh, another six of Herath for Jimmy to face.

 

[GIMH]

Swann's decent on TMS

 

[Cabinet96]

How ****ing ****e does Plunkett's shot look now? A dropable offence. An extra wicket in hand here would be invaluable.

 

[Daemon]

Don't bowl short you ****s

 

[Dan]

How ****ing ****e does Plunkett's shot look now? A dropable offence. An extra wicket in hand here would be invaluable.

While I understand this is probably just a method of you getting Woakes into the side, dropping Plunkett -- England's best performed bowler in the Test -- for a batting indiscretion is strange, even if it was a catastrophic error of judgement/**** up.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Why has there been a sudden spike in frequency of these epic rear guards in the last 2 years or so. Been so many in such a short time.

 

[Cabinet96]

While I understand this is probably just a method of you getting Woakes into the side, dropping Plunkett -- England's best performed bowler in the Test -- for a batting indiscretion is strange, even if it was a catastrophic error of judgement/**** up.

I was being slightly facetious, but it does genuinely piss me off. Spend all day making SL work their socks off for wickets (even the tail) and it'll probably be in vein because of shots like that.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Called it, called it, called it. It's a ****ing draw. **** this ****.

 

[Cabinet96]

Why has there been a sudden spike in frequency of these epic rear guards in the last 2 years or so. Been so many in such a short time.

The theory that you have to go out blazing at a run a ball in these situations has been debunked?

 

[Dan]

Why has there been a sudden spike in frequency of these epic rear guards in the last 2 years or so. Been so many in such a short time.

Tailenders #canbat these days. No more Martins or McGraths of the world -- most have at least a good defence, or can belt them out of the park.

I was being slightly facetious, but it does genuinely piss me off. Spend all day making SL work their socks off for wickets (even the tail) and it'll probably be in vein because of shots like that.

Yeah, fair point, but at the same time, if you're relying upon Liam Plunkett's batting discipline to save a Test, odds are you don't really deserve it. If Plunkett plays a dumb shot, the batsmen should be more than capable of covering for him; it's their job.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, fair point, but at the same time, if you're relying upon Liam Plunkett's batting discipline to save a Test, odds are you don't really deserve it. If Plunkett plays a dumb shot, the batsmen should be more than capable of covering for him; it's their job.

Fair. But dismissals like that go beyond skill. It's about application and putting all on the line to save the test. If he'd come into bat today it would have been dead batting everything, so why the change in mindset just because the end isn't as near?

 

[indiaholic]

Why has there been a sudden spike in frequency of these epic rear guards in the last 2 years or so. Been so many in such a short time.

Roger Bannister effect IMO. Plus batsmen have realized that playing their natural game is not the smartest strategy in these cases.