***Official*** England in Sri Lanka 2014

[Howe_zat]

Sri Lankan fielding has generally been top notch as well

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Entirely down to one player though. The rest of them were pretty much as expected.

Ravi has done well too in fairness. Was expecting us to be 225 all out to be honest.

 

[Howe_zat]

Carn Ravi. Back yourself

 

[Neil Pickup]

It's going to be a typical Bopara innings in a run chase, though, isn't it? Sparks of potential, a few top shots, that brief moment when you start to think that we might get there and then caught in the deep with the end in sight.

 

[wpdavid]

Perera has provided something of a master class today. Very good indeed. Well, far to good for our chaps, anyway.

 

[Howe_zat]

These horns are really getting on my **** now

 

[flibbertyjibber]

These horns are really getting on my **** now

Like watching a football game in South Africa.

 

[Howe_zat]

One thing I'll remember from today is Bopara making Stokes look like an absolute muppet in comparison

 

[wpdavid]

It's going to be a typical Bopara innings in a run chase, though, isn't it? Sparks of potential, a few top shots, that brief moment when you start to think that we might get there and then caught in the deep with the end in sight.

Yeah, my thoughts too. Really needed a single off the last ball of that over, and sure enough Mendis was too much for Tredwell. Can't see Gurney lasting long here.

 

[Howe_zat]

I can't think of many things that would make me happier today than Harry Gurney and Bopara taking it home for England.

If Gurney wasn't a genuine ****kicking number 11 it'd be set up perfectly

 

[wpdavid]

One thing I'll remember from today is Bopara making Stokes look like an absolute muppet in comparison

Brave post mate.

 

[Neil Pickup]

It's been a great effort from Ravi thus far to be fair - he has really started to look at home in this lower order / finisher role lately, particularly in terms of pacing his innings and remaining unflustured by run rates (unlike Stokes, for whom three dot balls was too much).

Still haven't the faintest idea why we stuck with him for X years of underachieving before binning him last summer when he finally started to look at home.

 

[Howe_zat]

Sri Lanka saved way more than 30 runs in the field. Deserved win

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wow, what a catch to win it. Well played SL.

Bad luck Moeen and Ravi.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Yeah, so, like I said...

I am starting to think that Bopara made some kind of deal with the devil to the extent that he would never be allowed to actually finish a game.

 

[wpdavid]

One thing I'll remember from today is Bopara making Stokes look like an absolute muppet in comparison

Brave post mate.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Still haven't the faintest idea why we stuck with him for X years of underachieving before binning him last summer when he finally started to look at home.

Only thing I can think of is they told him his place was safe but they needed to look at other options so playing a couple in the same team gave them a good chance to see. He isn't my favourite but i'd have him in the ODI side for the WC.

 

[wpdavid]

And sure enough ...

Not really his fault though. he didn't have much choice with Gurney at the other end.

I suppose the closeness of the final result might fool a few people, but without Moeen playing out of his skin we'd have been miles short.
Looking forward to one of the press guys asking Cook exactly what he brings to the side ahead of Hales.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Looking forward to one of the press guys asking Cook exactly what he brings to the side ahead of Hales.

His tactical brilliance.

 

[WalkingWicket]

I think Cook should stay at the top of the order. That way, when we do f*** up, we'll have someone to blame.

Also, can anyone recall a 7-0 series whitewash? I recall the Aussies almost did it to us (6-1, England won in the final match) in 2009, but I can't think of a 7-0.