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

[Gnske]

So, Siriwardena is dropped.

Bit of a mistake that even if he is out of form, Mendis has no business being in international cricket.

 

[weldone]

Bit of a mistake that even if he is out of form, Mendis has no business being in international cricket.

Nah Mendis is better than both Siri and Thiri. The real question was between Siri and Thiri. I thought SL could go with Siri because that'd give them the 2nd spinner - but the current combination is not too bad either as that has 6 bowling options.

 

[Gnske]

Nah Mendis is better than both Siri and Thiri.

Mmh not sure about that, I remember from the NZ series he looked rather hackish albeit being overshadowed by Jayasundera.

Is there something to him beyond a 50+ score every seven innings?

 

[91Jmay]

Reckon the Lankans could skittle us here if we aren't careful. Not a batting line up designed for these conditions.

 

[YorksLanka]

Bit of a mistake that even if he is out of form, Mendis has no business being in international cricket.

Have to disagree, mendis is still young but has shown promise and I think will do well in the future for us...

 

[weldone]

Mmh not sure about that, I remember from the NZ series he looked rather hackish albeit being overshadowed by Jayasundera.

Is there something to him beyond a 50+ score every seven innings?

Mendis is better than Jayasundera and Alex Hales combined.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Hales just doesn't strike me a as a player who is cut out for Test cricket. Sure, he's a good batsman, but I don't think he's technically all there and neither is his mental game completely up to code. Won't last the summer IMO.

 

[Stapel]

Hales not looking good. Slow rate is fine, but that LBW shout was not a bad one, he had a wild swing&miss, and he was saved by Mathews not using a third slip in English overcast conditions.

 

[YorksLanka]

Going ok for us with the ball at the moment..could do with a couple of wickets in this session..

 

[Stapel]

Hales just doesn't strike me a as a player who is cut out for Test cricket. Sure, he's a good batsman, but I don't think he's technically all there and neither is his mental game completely up to code. Won't last the summer IMO.

His 2014 FC record suggests otherwise. I felt he was quite promising. But surely not living up to it so far.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Borthwick should be close to getting a call-up, has averaged 40+ and scored 1000+ runs in each of the last 3 seasons, has also batted in NZ and Sri Lanka and done okay.

Bats at 3. If he played for a more fashionable team there'd be a lot of pressure to pick him. Obviously just scored two hundreds v Lancashire so has a good record for this season too.

The Home of CricketArchive

 

[Gnske]

He finally learned the middle of a bat can be used, grand.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Would have taken this before play started, solid if unspectacular start in tricky conditions.

 

[weldone]

If Hales gets out now, the Compton-Cook partnership may take England to 100-1 after 75 overs, before rain ruins the match.

 

[StephenZA]

Good start from England.

Is the SL keeper/cordon about a metre to far back? It seems with the pace of the SL bowlers the ball keeps on dipping just in front of the keeper. No problems yet, but can see some edges dropping short..

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah Borthwick would be my preference at 3 if Compton fails this series.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Looks a bit like it.

Sometimes speeds up as the day goes on, but no reason why they couldn't adjust themselves as that occurs.

Think the keeper wants to give himself more time with the wobbling ball too.

 

[YorksLanka]

Chameera showing his inexperience with the poor length..come on lad, bowl it fuller, and get your bouncer targeting the neck when you do bowl it..

 

[Groundking]

Hales looking a lot better with the sun now out, but that was quite poor from Cook, just so sloppy.

I don't expect Compton to do much here TBH.

 

[Gnske]

Well at least there's a chance at making it past 100 today now