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

[OverratedSanity]

The sad thing is they're not even playing that badly, they just don't look up to it at all.

Yeah, it's not like they're throwing it away with truly atroccious shots. They're trying to play properly but they're terrible. It's been sad to watch.

 

[fredfertang]

This series SL batting is just lambs to the slaughter. I cab't bear to watch.

the sad thing is if they were due in August it would be rather different - if we must play Test cricket in May it should only be against NZ or Ireland

 

[Scaly piscine]

the sad thing is if they were due in August it would be rather different - if we must play Test cricket in May it should only be against NZ or Ireland

Why is Test cricket only viable when the ball barely does anything for five days?

 

[fredfertang]

Herath reminds me of Inzi - would be nice if he could bat like him for a couple of hours

 

[fredfertang]

Why is Test cricket only viable when the ball barely does anything for five days?

Because the balance between bat and ball has to be right

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Because the balance between bat and ball has to be right

But do other nations care about that if they produce a bunsen burner etc...?

Make use of home advantage and swing and seam is something we can exploit so why not use it?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Because the balance between bat and ball has to be right

It would be if the Lankan batsmen were any good tbh

 

[fredfertang]

But do other nations care about that if they produce a bunsen burner etc...?

Make use of home advantage and swing and seam is something we can exploit so why not use it?

Fair points but, ultimately, this is far from gripping stuff

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good to see Finn get a wicket, might give him a boost. Looks out of rhythm this week though.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Fair points but, ultimately, this is far from gripping stuff

That's because England are far superior, not because the pitch/conditions are too much in favour of the bowlers.

You don't blame the pitch for Sri Lanka being shite and therefore not creating a spectacle.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Almost over inside two days... pathetic stuff.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, agree with earlier posts. Sri Lanka are trying to stick it out, it isn't like other sides who have collapsed in England who do so playing loads of shots. They just don't have the technique.

 

[fredfertang]

That's because England are far superior, not because the pitch/conditions are too much in favour of the bowlers.

You don't blame the pitch for Sri Lanka being shite and therefore not creating a spectacle.

The pitch seemed to help the Lankan seamers as well - perhaps a Kookaburra is the answer - anyway you're putting a spin on what I said that wasn't what I intended - my point is simply that we shouldn't timetable Tests in May against countries who are bound to struggle - if these matches were played in August they would be whole lot better and it doesn't help the game at all - I mean Scaly, what are your bean counters going to think if the second Test goes the way of this one?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeah, agree with earlier posts. Sri Lanka are trying to stick it out, it isn't like other sides who have collapsed in England who do so playing loads of shots. They just don't have the technique.

I guess this was inevitable, you can't lose all the experience of Dilshan, Sanga and Mahela and not feel it. Feel for them a bit.

Only Bairstow has played comfortably all game though so we can't be too critical of Sri Lanka.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

The pitch seemed to help the Lankan seamers as well - perhaps a Kookaburra is the answer - anyway you're putting a spin on what I said that wasn't what I intended - my point is simply that we shouldn't timetable Tests in May against countries who are bound to struggle - if these matches were played in August they would be whole lot better and it doesn't help the game at all - I mean Scaly, what are your bean counters going to think if the second Test goes the way of this one?

Ok, we shouldn't go to countries where the temperature is over 25 as that isn't fair on us unless we play them in their cooler periods to give us more of a chance.

 

[Grumpy]

Sigh.

Going to be a very one-sided summer. Can't see Pak posing much of a threat either.

 

[MW1304]

Get Jimmy on before they run out of wickets pls

 

[StephenZA]

I think Pakistan will do better....

SL have just lost so much experience lately that there probably was nothing else that was likely to happen. The batsmen just have not got the technique to deal with the movement and bounce. They do look like they have some promising young players.... Maybe some stints in county cricket would help SL team.

 

[fredfertang]

Ok, we shouldn't go to countries where the temperature is over 25 as that isn't fair on us unless we play them in their cooler periods to give us more of a chance.

That's not what I said, or meant

 

[Prince EWS]

I guess this was inevitable, you can't lose all the experience of Dilshan, Sanga and Mahela and not feel it. Feel for them a bit.

Only Bairstow has played comfortably all game though so we can't be too critical of Sri Lanka.

Yeah the difference has been England having two players go on with starts, really. And I think that comes as much from Sri Lanka's bowlers not being as threatening as Broad and Anderson to set bats as it does from the technique of the Sri Lankan batsmen.