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

[vogue]

Well just passing Headingly station as we speak and it's lovely weather for ducks....and it's set showery for today.

 

[YorksLanka]

my starting XI( and order) for us: 1: Silva 2.Dimuth 3. Mendis 4. Chandimal 5. Mathews 6. Siriwardena 7. Dickwella 8. Shanaka 9. Herath 10. Chameera. 11. Lakmal.

For me it was a close run thing as to having just one spinner in Herath and adding Thirrimanne at six to bolster the batting or this line up but I chose this as I feel that one spinner(even if it is Herath) doesn't give enough variety in the bowling..Having said that I cant see us bowling England out so may have been better to bolster the batting and try and get the draw- which I don't think will happen if I'm honest..Dilruwan for me is a decent option but I haven't seen enough in his batting to convince me that he isn't a limited overs player and take the place over Siri..

 

[fredfertang]

Looking at Vogue's post and Auntie Beeb's forecast it seems unlikely there'll be enough play for either side to need worry too much about losing

 

[weldone]

The weather forecast for Thu and Friday is not great and it's worse for Sat :-(

Good for SL - it increases the chance of a draw. I don't think they can take 20 wickets without Prasad. Maybe draw this one and then try to win the next one?

 

[Pratters]

Seems like ages since the last test cricket I have watched. Been a while too with all the hit and giggle getting in the way. Just start yearning for test cricket when that happens.

 

[StephenZA]

Agree with Pratters.... been wanting to watch Test cricket since the end of the T20 WC.... really looking forward to this series hoping its not a blow-out (or rain-out).

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, looks like rain will kill this one. At least it is a 3 test series though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Hope we get some play atleast. Feels like it's been ages without test cricket.

 

[GIMH]

Just seen they are trialling a points system in this series?

 

[Kippax]

No rain worries atm. Webcams showing a cloudy day though.

https://www.wunderground.com/sports/ICC/hometeam/:England.html

 

[Howe_zat]

Should be fine until this evening, but days 3-5 look very damp.

 

[vogue]

Well it's dull,misty and overcast...but it's not raining...will be passing through Headingly in about 20 mins so this being England in spring...anything could happen....

 

[fredfertang]

If it's going to be overcast maybe England can do to Sri Lanka what they did to Australia at Trent Bridge last summer

 

[flibbertyjibber]

If it's going to be overcast maybe England can do to Sri Lanka what they did to Australia at Trent Bridge last summer

Look up not down when they do the toss.

 

[Adders]

Yeah, certainly sounds like a bowl first day.........but **** I'm itching to see Ali Cook punch out 36 runs, so I wont be too disappointed if we lose the toss tbh.

 

[YorksLanka]

I hope we win the toss and bowl otherwise we could be rattled out for hardly anything I like t20 but SO glad to see the return of proper cricket...

 

[Daemon]

It's been months since we've seen a quality spell of test match fast bowling, hopefully England win the toss and Anderson gets going.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Look up not down when they do the toss.

Pitch looks green too, definitely a bowl first day if the clouds remain.

 

[fredfertang]

I hope we win the toss and bowl otherwise we could be rattled out for hardly anything I like t20 but SO glad to see the return of proper cricket...

I think if you bat first there'll be a clatter of wickets, and then your skipper will make it look like a different game

 

[weldone]

So, Siriwardena is dropped.