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

[Raffski]

There's not much value wherever you play Thirimanne. Shocking Test record.

Oh I agree, but you might as well make the most of what you've got. He's looked a bit more solid than mendis and chandimal so I'd probably swap him with one of them.

 

[Grumpy]

Don't worry guys - we got Shan Masood touring next. Should get the competitive juices going.

 

[Compton]

Surely the only chance of avoiding two consecutive innings defeats is to bat long enough to tire the bowlers. Stop Cook from enforcing the follow on. He's definitely going to be offered it.

 

[Grumpy]

The question should be "How in blazes did Moeen ever score two Test hundreds?

Epic Beard is epic.

Haha. Certainly got egg on my face today. Haven't seen today's play so I can't comment on the quality of his innings.

But I still dont think Mo is Test quality. If Bayliss and Cook are adamant on having a spin all rounder in the XI, then I think Rashid is a better option. Out performed Mo in both departments in the UAE. I rate Rashid's batting technique superior to Mo's, and as bowlers, a leggie has a higher ceiling than an offie.

 

[fredfertang]

I hope the top order are watching Herath - he certainly puts them to shame

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Surely the only chance of avoiding two consecutive innings defeats is to bat long enough to tire the bowlers. Stop Cook from enforcing the follow on. He's definitely going to be offered it.

He will bat again to get the 5 he needs.

 

[fredfertang]

I claim the credit for that one

 

[Howe_zat]

I've just tuned in. I hear we just about shaded the day?

 

[fredfertang]

I've just tuned in. I hear we just about shaded the day?

Actually there wasn't much shade around, so they haven't even got that excuse

 

[grecian]

Haha. Certainly got egg on my face today. Haven't seen today's play so I can't comment on the quality of his innings.

But I still dont think Mo is Test quality. If Bayliss and Cook are adamant on having a spin all rounder in the XI, then I think Rashid is a better option. Out performed Mo in both departments in the UAE. I rate Rashid's batting technique superior to Mo's, and as bowlers, a leggie has a higher ceiling than an offie.

How did he out-perform Moeen in bowling, the guy averaged close to 70. Surely we aren't picking people on what skill-set is potentially better. That's utter madness Ian Salisbury and Chris Schofield better than Jim Laker and Murali clearly. The fact is he scores runs and takes wickets, as Marc said the only way you can be pushing for Rashid is on the old, he isn't playing so could be doing better thing.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I am a huge Rashid fan but no way should he get selected ahead of the Beard. In a way I am delighted Moeen got that big ton today as it stops most of the chat about him for the rest of the summer. He isn't needed to bowl much at present so the runs are very handy after a poor year for him with the bat.

 

[andruid]

Have Sri Lanka showed up yet?

 

[Grumpy]

How did he out-perform Moeen in bowling, the guy averaged close to 70. Surely we aren't picking people on what skill-set is potentially better. That's utter madness Ian Salisbury and Chris Schofield better than Jim Laker and Murali clearly. The fact is he scores runs and takes wickets, as Marc said the only way you can be pushing for Rashid is on the old, he isn't playing so could be doing better thing.

I'm not sure on the averages of that series, but from what I watched, Rashid seemed to trouble the Pakistanis more than Mo. I use the term 'trouble' very loosely here, but from the two, I was more impressed from Rashid. And Adil is the better Test batsman. This innings from Mo was very flukey, and against decent attacks he has failed. And in conditions when he is expected to strike with ball, he's gone missing.

Mo is the very definition of a bits and pieces cricketer. Those types of cricketers do have a role to play in LOI sides, but not in Tests.

 

[Grumpy]

Have Sri Lanka showed up yet?

They did in the first day when England were 83/5. They had to build on that momentum, but alas, Bairstow.

 

[Pothas]

I'm not sure on the averages of that series, but from what I watched, Rashid seemed to trouble the Pakistanis more than Mo. I use the term 'trouble' very loosely here, but from the two, I was more impressed from Rashid. And Adil is the better Test batsman. This innings from Mo was very flukey, and against decent attacks he has failed. And in conditions when he is expected to strike with ball, he's gone missing.

Mo is the very definition of a bits and pieces cricketer. Those types of cricketers do have a role to play in LOI sides, but not in Tests.

There is absolutely no evidence of this whatsoever.

As for the bit and pieces player, well you can think that but generally since Moeen has come into the side England have won quite a few matches and he has played a role in that. I will be the first to admit that a lot of us are biased when it comes to Moeen, he is such a likeable cricketer, but even if that were not the case he had done a pretty good job for England.

 

[marc71178]

I'm not sure on the averages of that series, but from what I watched, Rashid seemed to trouble the Pakistanis more than Mo. I use the term 'trouble' very loosely here, but from the two, I was more impressed from Rashid. And Adil is the better Test batsman. This innings from Mo was very flukey, and against decent attacks he has failed. And in conditions when he is expected to strike with ball, he's gone missing.

Mo is the very definition of a bits and pieces cricketer. Those types of cricketers do have a role to play in LOI sides, but not in Tests.

Rashid was total gash in the whole series except for one mad half hour. The only real problems he caused the Pakistani's was in remaining patient enough to wait for the inevitable loose ball or 2 he bowled each over.

 

[grecian]

I'm not sure on the averages of that series, but from what I watched, Rashid seemed to trouble the Pakistanis more than Mo. I use the term 'trouble' very loosely here, but from the two, I was more impressed from Rashid. And Adil is the better Test batsman. This innings from Mo was very flukey, and against decent attacks he has failed. And in conditions when he is expected to strike with ball, he's gone missing.

Mo is the very definition of a bits and pieces cricketer. Those types of cricketers do have a role to play in LOI sides, but not in Tests.

Well trouble is an interesting term, as apart from one innings he was carted unmercilessly, and as Pothas has said how the hell you can say definitively Rashid is the better test batsmen on a few innings where he performed well in about one I'm not quite sure.

Has the beard always gone missing when he's expected with the bowling, pretty sure he's won a few matches with the ball.

Look despite myfanboyism I do realise Moeen is not perfect if we had another Swann, I would be happy to say, yeah bye Moeen fun whilst it lasted, but we just don't and Rashid is not any better in any way.

 

[Grumpy]

There is absolutely no evidence of this whatsoever.

As for the bit and pieces player, well you can think that but generally since Moeen has come into the side England have won quite a few matches and he has played a role in that. I will be the first to admit that a lot of us are biased when it comes to Moeen, he is such a likeable cricketer, but even if that were not the case he had done a pretty good job for England.

Just from watching the two, Rashid has a much tighter technique is and more likely to succeed against decent attacks. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the guy. Far from it, he seems a very decent and likeable bloke, and from various interviews, is not deluded and knows his strengths and weaknesses. I just don't see him lasting long in the Test arena - I don't rate either his bowling or batting. I'm sure he will fail in both in the Pak series and the India tour coming up.

I'm not a big fan of Rashid either btw. But Baylisss and Cook seem to prefer a spin all rounder at 8, and I just think Rashid is better placed for it than Mo.

 

[Grumpy]

Has the beard always gone missing when he's expected with the bowling, pretty sure he's won a few matches with the ball.

Not when he was expected to. The only series where he really contributed was in the summer when India toured. And it was a surprise to everyone that they kept gifting him their wickets. He was expected to play a big part against Pak in the UAE, and failed.

 

[Grumpy]

Rashid was total gash in the whole series except for one mad half hour. The only real problems he caused the Pakistani's was in remaining patient enough to wait for the inevitable loose ball or 2 he bowled each over.

Still seemed like more of a threat than Mo did.