*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[GoodAreasShane]

Just for the record, Eranga is over here in Adelaide playing first grade this season.

 

[Woodster]

England are big favourites for this ODI leg of the tour, not entirely sure with their record in SL that is absolutely correct. We are ranked number one and we are so much improved from the teams that have travelled here previously but they are still conditions we’re not wholly comfortable in and SL do possess the kind of mystery spinners that we continuously struggle against. SL, I appreciate, are in a degree of turmoil themselves and while all logic does point to a comfortable series victory for us, I don’t necessarily think it’ll be all plain sailing.

Am I being unnecessarily pessimistic ? I’m not suggesting we’ll lose the series exactly but I still think we’re going to have a real battle on our hands to overcome SL in their own conditions.

 

[theegyptian]

Sounds like Stone debuting and Dawson playing as well.

 

[YorksLanka]

why does waiting for this series to start feel preferable to what I perceive a prostate exam would? Obviously we are huge underdogs but as a SL fan, all I want is for us to compete- I agree that England will win. My SL XI:

1.Tharanga, 2. KP, 3. DDS, 4.Sadeera, 5. Chandimal, 6 Dickwella, 7. TP, 8. Akila , 9. Shanaka, 10. Sandakan, 11. Malinga

 

[Woodster]

The inclusion of Olly Stone is exciting, let’s hope the grind of county cricket doesn’t see him reduced the bowling early-mid 80’s, let him loose in short bursts bowling quickly! Manage him well and hopefully he gives us something we’re clearly missing.

 

[Agricultural]

I feel like England need to swap Buttler and Morgan. Morgan can hit a big ball if he's forced too. I'd like to see him lower. Buttler gets more balls then if he comes in at four.

 

[Agricultural]

The inclusion of Olly Stone is exciting, let’s hope the grind of county cricket doesn’t see him reduced the bowling early-mid 80’s, let him loose in short bursts bowling quickly! Manage him well and hopefully he gives us something we’re clearly missing.

Let's see. He averages over 40 in List A. This is a left field pick. England tend to pick a seamer in ODIs with a 40+ average of some sort though, has to be said.

 

[Woodster]

Let's see. He averages over 40 in List A. This is a left field pick. England tend to pick a seamer in ODIs with a 40+ average of some sort though, has to be said.

He took 12 wickets at 28 for Warwickshire in the season just gone so he has some recent good form behind him. He may be expensive but I’m sure he’ll be used as a wicket-taking option. I appreciate pace isn’t everything you still need the necessary skill, but he does give us that bit of something different, an aggressive option that can take wickets in different ways to the rest. Helps give us even greater balance.

 

[EmJo]

Who exactly considers SL a big outfit right now in LOI's ? Have you seen how terrible they are right now in the shorter formats? They are ok at home in Tests, but for how long ? Herath is probably ( I think he has already confirmed it) going to retire after the Eng series. They are in free fall right now.

I was talking in terms of results and general stature, basically I feel Sri Lanka is one team we should be building up would be a shame not to continue all their good work.

 

[Tom Flint]

Talk sport covering this. They been out there since the weekend and has rained every day. Surely should have been arranged not in the rainy season. Even though the rain helps to even the balance for the seamers

 

[YorksLanka]

Talk sport covering this. They been out there since the weekend and has rained every day. Surely should have been arranged not in the rainy season. Even though the rain helps to even the balance for the seamers

spot on about the tour dates but I think the problem was that SL are due to tour NZ and SA soon so not sure if that got in the way and England couldn't come earlier due to the length of the indian series..

 

[Starfighter]

spot on about the tour dates but I think the problem was that SL are due to tour NZ and SA soon so not sure if that got in the way and England couldn't come earlier due to the length of the indian series..

The Indian series wouldn't have mattered as much had they not filled up the summer with trash ODIs.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Talk sport covering this. They been out there since the weekend and has rained every day. Surely should have been arranged not in the rainy season. Even though the rain helps to even the balance for the seamers

Might sneak a draw in the test series then.

 

[weldone]

Lol for dropping Amir for Wahab

 

[Starfighter]

Lol for dropping Amir for Wahab

lol (full stop)

 

[Adders]

So I just found out you can't post links in VM's? Anyway this is for Essexboi's info as he was asking about the ticket situation for the tests in SL. Really, really poor move on the part of SLC, IMO. YOu can only milk the cash cow for so long before they say **** You.....

https://www.barmyarmy.com/news-sri-lanka-test-tour-ticket-update-end-of-the-line.html

 

[YorksLanka]

So I just found out you can't post links in VM's? Anyway this is for Essexboi's info as he was asking about the ticket situation for the tests in SL. Really, really poor move on the part of SLC, IMO. YOu can only milk the cash cow for so long before they say **** You.....

https://www.barmyarmy.com/news-sri-lanka-test-tour-ticket-update-end-of-the-line.html

tbh mate, not surprised at anything that SLC do but you can buy the tickets on the day as stated. Rrest assured that its not only the tourists that get ripped off by SLC, we went to watch Sl v SA T20 this year and arranged for a family member to buy tickets prior to our arrival and although the tickets stated 500 rupees on them, the ticket office sold each one at 750 rupees.. I know that the tickets being offered to the tour companies were hospitality tickets (hence the cost of them i.e air conditioned box and drinks etc) but I also know that at RPS the year before last, we bought upper tier stand seats for 1500 rupees ( just under 8 quid)..
If It were me, I would stop at a food stall, beer shop and head up to the fort and watch..

 

[Essexboi]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Such shortsighted thinking and quite frankly greediness from the SLCB and 'partners' Outrageous but I will not be deterred. If I can't get into the ground at Galle for a reasonable price I'll join the thousands on the ramparts. Pallekelle and Colombo could be tougher to watch tho as I'm too old to climb a tree. F*ck it, sure it'll be a good month or so whatever....apart from watching our top 3 (from naturally elevated areas).
Cheers all... Any more info greatly received

 

[Daemon]

Dire. Hope you still have a great time as I'm sure SL has a lot more to offer than just the cricket.

 

[Adders]

The Sri Lankan tour used to be by far the most popular tour for the BA regular travellers, but sadly the SLC just seem to think they are all rich white dudes who are there to be exploited. It will bite them in the arse big time for future tours.......Guarantee numbers will be well down this time and for the future it would not surprise me in the least if the BA (as in the tour group) boycott it all together.

But total mismanagement by a cricket board?? Why would anyone be surprised?