*Official* England in Sri Lanka 2021

[TT Boy]

Just finished the highlights, and boy was the Sri Lankan's shot selection just as dire as had been painted here. Surely Zimbabwe would have done better.

Also I note that if Bairstow goes onto a hundred here that'll earn him three more years in the test team.

Subcontinent specialist. Already has a hundred in Sri Lanka and decent record in India as well. Plays well in these conditions. Very onside heavy, always looking for a single and plays the sweep well (as does Root).

 

[Woodster]

Root’s sweeping today was really impressive, whether it was was deft sweep fine, a firmly struck one square of the wicket and I think he even got one through wide mid-on at one point to a fuller delivery.

 

[Chubb]

It is interesting that the current England team is more comfortable against spin, and in the subcontinent, than against pace. Though that may be a reflection of Sri Lanka's current weakness/inexperience as Eng have not been tested in India recently.

 

[cnerd123]

It is interesting that the current England team is more comfortable against spin, and in the subcontinent, than against pace. Though that may be a reflection of Sri Lanka's current weakness/inexperience as Eng have not been tested in India recently.

I saw the Sky Cricket Show and they mentioned how the likes of Root, Bairstow, Woakes etc all came through the England Lions, which included tours to places like SL in order to help the develop as players in these conditions. A lot of work has gone into preparing the current generation of cricketers for tours like these, and it shows.

 

[Tom Flint]

That's a really great catch, unlucky jb good knock though

 

[Gnske]

Is Joe Root really on Test Match no.98?

The **** was a lesbian looking pipsqueak just yesterday.

 

[Prince EWS]

Is Joe Root really on Test Match no.98?

No it's just a joke bro.

 

[Gnske]

Your life is a joke

 

[Pothas]

Well this is encouraging.

 

[GIMH]

Honestly expected to wake up in the midst of a collapse

 

[Prince EWS]

Honestly expected to wake up in the midst of a collapse

Rain probably saved you a bit. Collapse is yet to come.

 

[TT Boy]

Lawrence has looked completely untroubled. Perera averaging about 200 since 2019 with the ball. He only averages sub 50 with the ball thanks to home exploits and he can't even string a couple deliveries together here. Leach has been the best spinner on show.

 

[GIMH]

Rain probably saved you a bit. Collapse is yet to come.

No spoilers ffs

 

[Prince EWS]

Lawrence has looked completely untroubled. Perera averaging about 200 since 2019 with the ball. He only averages sub 50 with the ball thanks to home exploits and he can't even string a couple deliveries together here. Leach has been the best spinner on show.

Was going through some stats for a sim database I was making and Dilruwan across his career seems like a totally pointless bowler to right handers.

He's dead set Lyon to lefties but Travis Head to righties. England's top six all being right handed made him an entirely pointless selection given that. I imagine he'll get Curran out though.

 

[Gnske]

Surely there's a better spinner than Perera trapsing about? The dude has been filler between overs for Herath almost his entire career and he's almost as horribly old.

 

[Prince EWS]

Surely there's a better spinner than Perera trapsing about? The dude has been filler between overs for Herath almost his entire career and he's almost as horribly old.

They should have just picked a second quick imo. Three spinners really takes the piss when they're as **** as the three they picked.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah Hasaranga looks like a 5th bowler at absolute best.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah Hasaranga looks like a 5th bowler at absolute best.

His club side usually agrees. He was the seventh bowler used after three other spinners in his last domestic game.

I kind of got it in South Africa given his batting, Shanaka's selection, the horrible batting of all the other bowlers, the conditions etc - it was a bit of a perfect storm for him to get a Test - but it doesn't really make sense at home as a third spinner. Neither does Perera against a top order of right handers.

 

[BoyBrumby]

England's top six all being right handed

Must be quite a while since that's happened.

Given Cook pretty much never got injured, before him we generally had one or more of Thorpe, Trescothick or Strauss and since there's been Stokes and Burns, can't have been too many times this century.

 

[harsh.ag]

Do SL selectors even watch their domestic comp. Doubt it.