*Official* England in Sri Lanka 2021

[theegyptian]

January

14-18 1st Test, Galle (04:30 GMT)

22-26 2nd Test, Galle (04:30 GMT)

Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Minod Bhanuka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Santhush Gunathilake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dilshan Madushanka, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera (wk), Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Thirimanne.
England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Reserves: James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

 

[theegyptian]

Intrasquad game tomorrow.

England will go into this test series severely undercooked. Starts in less than 7 days. Moeen all but out out of the series, probably Woakes too.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Not likely to be a high scoring warm up game with Ollie & Olly batting 7 for their respective teams.

And speaking of Ollie's, how come Pope is down to play? Thought he was ruled out the tour with injury.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Pope is in as part of his recovery process. He won’t play in the Series.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Pope is in as part of his recovery process. He won’t play in the Series.

Thanks, I guess if he's out in SL now they must be hopeful he can play a part in the India series which follows. Seems strange that they'd let him open the batting of all things here, even in an intra squad game, if he's weeks away from full squad consideration.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

what do we do now if someone wants to make an official thread

 

[Tom Flint]

I'd go with

Sibley
Crawley
Bairstow
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Woakes
Bess
Leach
Broad
Anderson

 

[Pothas]

Woakes isolating isn't he? Moeen missing as well makes selection fairly straightforward with Curran at 7. Expect they will want to find a space for Wood and then maybe Broad and Anderson will play a game each.

 

[Tom Flint]

He has been yes and tested negative yesterday, he has to continue to isolate but if he tests negative again in the next round in a couple days time then he can join the sqaud again and will have enough time to get up to speed for the test.
This is the team I would pick not what I think the selectors will go for.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

England warm up seems to be favouring Team Root - declared at 184-2 off 50 overs with Crawley (46), Root (74*) and Lawrence (46*) making scores.

Pope didn't get to open for Team Buttler in the end - seems like Foakes got the gig after not getting chance to bat for his own team - but he is batting now on 36* with Team Buttler slipping to a miserable 91-6 off 30 overs. Doesn't seem like much of a warm up for a Test series after several months off, but such are the times we're living in I guess...

 

[theegyptian]

 

[Pothas]

The Pope thing really is a bit strange.

 

[grecian]

Oh look the best First-class spinner in England, bowling the best of the spinners, shock. Think England will probably go for Crane and Parkinson coz they're leg-spinners with the X-factor, and Bess because he can bat a bit...

Heavy sarcasm aside, I just guess Pope has recovered quicker than expected, all seems a bit silly though, when Bairstow plays instead.

 

[theegyptian]

Rained off today. Squad moved onto Galle. Test starts Thursday.

 

[cnerd123]

That ball from Anderson to Bairstow was beautiful. What balls do they use in Sri Lanka? SG?

 

[Starfighter]

That ball from Anderson to Bairstow was beautiful. What balls do they use in Sri Lanka? SG?

Kookaburra

 

[Flem274*]

stokes and archer injured?

 

[grecian]

stokes and archer injured?

Both rested.

 

[Flem274*]

oh ok, thought england might be in with a chance to sweep an injury ravaged sri lanka here if their spinners bowled well. with all the injuries and restings around both squads though it's hard to pick.

 

[Migara]

oh ok, thought england might be in with a chance to sweep an injury ravaged sri lanka here if their spinners bowled well. with all the injuries and restings around both squads though it's hard to pick.

Roshen Silva is back, and that will give an indication how the pitch is going to play. It is going to spin square, and Roshen is an expert on playing those tracks.