**Official** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2016

[Prince EWS]

Don't underestimate the SL tendency to inexplicably leave out Kaushal Silva despite him being one of the more consistent opening batsmen in the world

Mathews did specifically say those two were going to be the openers.

 

[Niall]

The Lanka posters here are good lads so not saying this to troll, but a clean sweep in all the formats is possible, England's test side is on the rise while Lanka not awful really shouldn't get near them unless Matthews goes into beast mode.

England have finally figured out limited overs cricket and Lanka lost a home series to Pakistan thus deserve little respect and have been slipping for a while in white ball cricket which is understandable when you remember the quality of players they have lost.

Howeever,I did say that Arsenal would win the league this year so go bet Lanka

 

[YorksLanka]

I reckon prasad could clean up this series, very underrated and nips the ball around nicely. Can see him having plenty of joy with England's fragile top order

Prasad will do ok but I reckon it will be Chameera who will step up. He has the pace and is quickly learning about the right areas to bowl..Just hope that he doesn't go mad trying to bowl excessive short stuff due to having wickets that help quick bowling..As everyone knows, batting will be our struggle so I do think a lot depends on kusal mendis at #3. he is still young and I am not sure he is ready yet but he is probably better than most others we have for that spot. I also agree with Prince EWS team apart from I reckon Pradeep will get the nod ahead of lakmal..Am going to Durham on the sunday so hope it doesn't rain and will be at the first ODI so looking forward to it..

 

[OverratedSanity]

Don't underestimate the SL tendency to inexplicably leave out Kaushal Silva despite him being one of the more consistent opening batsmen in the world, and the tendency to randomly recall Thirrimanne.

This is the team I'd go for, ftr.

I like Silva but he was really, really bad in that home series vs India. Don't know if he's turned it around since then.

 

[91Jmay]

The JB in 91Jmay's team is Bairstow rather than Buttler. There's a chance Bairstow will move up to five and Buttler will come back in but I don't think it's the most likely outcome at this point.

Can't see Buttler getting back in before the Pakistan series. IPL contract + lack of FC games before then.

 

[Niall]

I like Silva but he was really, really bad in that home series vs India. Don't know if he's turned it around since then.

He isn't that good to be honest. He averages 31 in 24 tests with one fifty in his last five tests 2 of which were against the imperious West Indies, its not exactly the stuff of legends is it?

He was decent last time in England so I wouldn't be surprised if they went with him this time around, but you'd totally understand if they looked elsewhere

 

[weldone]

I dislike the idea that Thirimanne has to play either at no. 3 or not at all. For instance, if we think he's a better batsman than Dickwella then what's the harm in giving him a go at no. 7 especially given SL are starting the series as severe underdogs (i.e. quick scoring is not likely to be a requirement for their no. 7)?

 

[OverratedSanity]

I dislike the idea that Thirimanne has to play either at no. 3 or not at all. For instance, if we think he's a better batsman than Dickwella then what's the harm in giving him a go at no. 7 especially given SL are starting the series as severe underdogs (i.e. quick scoring is not likely to be a requirement for their no. 7)?

The one thing Thirimanne can do is eat up deliveries. That doesn't have much value at no.7 tbh. He'd just get stranded on 8*.

 

[Prince EWS]

I dislike the idea that Thirimanne has to play either at no. 3 or not at all. For instance, if we think he's a better batsman than Dickwella then what's the harm in giving him a go at no. 7 especially given SL are starting the series as severe underdogs (i.e. quick scoring is not likely to be a requirement for their no. 7)?

The main purpose of Dickwella is to prevent having Chandimal both bat 4 and keep wicket -- it's too big of a burden long-term -- and I think the rest of the batsmen are better than him.

 

[weldone]

Oops I didn't know that Dickwella is a keeper - it makes sense then

 

[weldone]

The one thing Thirimanne can do is eat up deliveries. That doesn't have much value at no.7 tbh. He'd just get stranded on 8*.

Or, he'd help Chandimal or Mathews convert what could have been a 39* to a 93*.

Anyways, if Dickwella is a keeper then playing him ahead of Thirimanne makes sense.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Oops I didn't know that Dickwella is a keeper - it makes sense then

He's Sri Lankan ffs man of course he's a keeper

 

[91Jmay]

I hope Thirimanne plays again, maybe he can get his average below 20.

 

[Furball]

The Lanka posters here are good lads

Spot who has Migara on ignore

 

[TheJediBrah]

The one thing Thirimanne can do is eat up deliveries. That doesn't have much value at no.7 tbh. He'd just get stranded on 8*.

Nah not if Matthews is at the other end carving up 150

 

[OverratedSanity]

Or, he'd help Chandimal or Mathews convert what could have been a 39* to a 93*.

Anyways, if Dickwella is a keeper then playing him ahead of Thirimanne makes sense.

Nah not if Matthews is at the other end carving up 150

Yep. Fair point now I think about it.

The keeper argument makes more sense.

 

[YorksLanka]

i know this will be as popular as a fart in a spacesuit but I do think that Thirmanne will do okay in English conditions..He tends to do ok on faster wickets and has a reasonable record in Aus too.. Personally I am not convinced about Dickwella but I suppose time will tell..

 

[91Jmay]

Whilst he could do well because he is surely drinking in the last chance saloon, he averages 8.6 in England in 6 innings. Isn't he a massive bunny of Anderson as well?

 

[YorksLanka]

yes but then again there are quite a few ppl you could say that about..thing is personally, I think he is a good player he just hasn't proved it..i think the reason is that he tries to force the pace of his batting instead of accumulating runs (which I think he is more suited to) .To be fair I think Dickwella will probably get the nod ahead of him due to keeping but as I said, I am not yet convinced about his abilities with the bat...

 

[vcs]

When it comes to any optimistic predictions about Thirimanne, I'll believe it when I see it.