*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[andmark]

Someone suggested that coaches should stand on either side of the balcony depending on whether their team's ahead or behind on DLS. It might be clever, but strikes me as something which could explode into a big scandal.

 

[wpdavid]

Someone suggested that coaches should stand on either side of the balcony depending on whether their team's ahead or behind on DLS. It might be clever, but strikes me as something which could explode into a big scandal.

I don't have an issue with the players being made aware of the DL position. It should be on the scoreboard really.

 

[wpdavid]

This is what I was thinking maybe a chance for Hales to work himself into the team.

Or a chance for Hales to go cheaply after dropping a catch.

 

[andmark]

I don't have an issue with the players being made aware of the DL position. It should be on the scoreboard really.

Yeah, I agree but doing some weird thing of standing on balconies to do it could cause controversy. It shouldn't, but it could.

 

[marc71178]

I don't have an issue with the players being made aware of the DL position. It should be on the scoreboard really.

I thought it was on there?

 

[YorksLanka]

congrats to England on a predictable series win..irrespective of the weather, this was always going to be the result. Whilst never being pleased to see SL lose, I was pleased with the fight we put up in the last game. Good batting from Dickwella, Shanaka and also Thisara… Akila has bowled well and Aponso has had some good experience against the top team.. We need to get Gunathilake and Matthews into this team and it will be as good as we can get at the moment..

 

[theegyptian]

England weren't great the other day and were a little lucky to get the win.

Sounds like Bairstow may not be fit for the first test due to his football injury.

Last ODI tomorrow. Sounds like there may be a few changes to the England team to give those on the periphery a chance.

 

[Maximas]

England weren't great the other day and were a little lucky to get the win.

Sounds like Bairstow may not be fit for the first test due to his football injury.

Last ODI tomorrow. Sounds like there may be a few changes to the England team to give those on the periphery a chance.

Talking about Sri Lanka?

 

[theegyptian]

Ha no periphery of the England squad.

England with the 5 seamers and 2 spinners today. Basically giving everyone a game and the team balance way off as a result.

 

[YorksLanka]

liking the start from our batsmen today. Sadeera needs to keep relaxed and just play his shots rather than try and slog..

 

[YorksLanka]

Abeysinghe on commentary..time for the mute button..

 

[Cabinet96]

Ben Stokes in one day cricket: still unconvinced.

 

[YorksLanka]

well batted KM, keep going kid..

 

[Prince EWS]

Ben Stokes in one day cricket: still unconvinced.

He's averaging 33 with the bat and 249 with the ball in his last ten games. He's really offered precious little with the ball in ODIs for a while (at least since his comeback), and he's probably not quite good enough for this team on batting alone if he were to stop bowling totally.

 

[Cabinet96]

He's averaging 33 with the bat and 249 with the ball in his last ten games. He's really offered precious little with the ball in ODIs for a while (at least since his comeback), and he's probably not quite good enough for this team on batting alone if he were to stop bowling totally.

I think he's definitely not as good as Hales with the bat, who he effectively keeps out of a full strength side. Feels like his purpose in the side is basically just being a safety net for if one of the five main bowlers has a bad day.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think he's definitely not as good as Hales with the bat, who he effectively keeps out of a full strength side. Feels like his purpose in the side is basically just being a safety net for if one of the five main bowlers has a bad day.

Yeah, and I basically think that's fine as long as he actually does that, given that he'd make every other ODI side on the strength of his batting alone. If he's going to average >50 and go at >6rpo then you might as well just bowl Root for three overs every game and play the better batsman though.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah the only thing that would concern me with Root is that if one of your seamers gets smashed then you're suddenly relying on more than 20 overs of spin in the innings which probably isn't the ideal balance in England. But it's minor really, and it's more likely to be Moeen or Rashid who will be in need of relief.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah the only thing that would concern me with Root is that if one of your seamers gets smashed then you're suddenly relying on more than 20 overs of spin in the innings which probably isn't the ideal balance in England. But it's minor really, and it's more likely to be Moeen or Rashid who will be in need of relief.

Yeah I still definitely think that Stokes fits the balance better if he can bowl vaguely competently in this format, given:

- Someone of Stokes's quality not being one of the best six batsmen available is a very England-specific problem -- he's good enough for the role in a broader sense
- The strength of the rest of the batsmen can cover for a marginally weaker batsman being selected to offer bowling cover
- The batting strength of the lower order/bowlers also does the above
- The bowling lineup is comparatively weak and could do with the extra cover
- The other sixth bowling option bowls spin, as does two of the frontliners, as you said above

... but for all that to matter, Stokes's bowling has to be somewhat viable in the first place. If he bowls as poorly in this format as he has done since his little break from the game then you could argue that giving a seamer who had a poor few overs a rest and then bringing him back on from the other end and bowling him out anyway would be a better call than bowling Stokes. He needs to bowl better to justify bowling at all, and he needs to bowl to justify selection.

 

[theegyptian]

Stokes averaging 46 @ 98 sr since last wc with the bat, 44@6 rpo with the ball, probably the best fielder in the side also. Bowling isn't great but you've got Wood playing who is only a bowler who is averaging a shade under 50 since the last wc -it's average generally. Also allows you the 4 seamers and 2 spinners to cover the conditions, spread the burden across 6 average bowlers rather than 5 average bowlers. Not at outstanding ODI player but vital for the team imo

Seems strange to pick out Stokes when you got Ali in the side. 57 wickets @ 46.77 avg @ 5.2 econ, and 22.4 @ 106 sr with the bat since the last WC.

 

[YorksLanka]

some silly cricket from us here two in two..even if we get to 350, we will still lose but happy with the batting performance..