***Official*** England vs Sri Lanka 21st August-10th September 2024

[Molehill]

This Oval pitch looks a good deal more straw coloured than those I have seen in the County Championship. I'm off there tomorrow.

They said it was cut to 4mm rather than the usual 8mm, which is probably why it's not doing as much (although could be the bowlers).

SL have not exactly been great so far. Just need to stick to off stump, but it's all over the shop.

 

[Chin Music]

They said it was cut to 4mm rather than the usual 8mm, which is probably why it's not doing as much (although could be the bowlers).

SL have not exactly been great so far. Just need to stick to off stump, but it's all over the shop.

It makes sense. I did say further up the thread that I doubted it would be as seam friendly as for the CC. However, it should be said that the bowling from nearly everyone rather than Asitha has been poor, and even he hasn't been as good as other games so far.

 

[Molehill]

Lawrence has managed to take himself from next cab off the rank to probably not even going on tour this Autumn.

 

[The Brian Hardie Stance]

Crawley's injury has practically destroyed Lawrence's test career.

 

[Chin Music]

Lawrence has managed to take himself from next cab off the rank to probably not even going on tour this Autumn.

Never an opener, it was nigh on destined to fail and I didn't just say this in hindsight.

 

[BazBall21]

I think it was there to pull and he hesitated because he was in an uncharacteristically tentative mode. He doesn't have the technique to play traditionally so should probably always play positively. I don't think he's test class, but he's a no5. Opening with him is ridiculous. They probably didn't want a natural reserve opener to smash the series out the park due to being very invested in Crawley and Duckett.

 

[Molehill]

Never an opener, it was nigh on destined to fail and I didn't just say this in hindsight.

True, but he's not even made a half decent fist of it, and it's not like it's against a high quality seam attack either. Has generally found ways to get himself out than get good ones.

 

[honestbharani]

Have a feeling for no reason that Pope is gonna go well today.

 

[King Kane]

Another failure for Lawrence, that was an awful shot that got him out, he makes Crawley look like Graham Gooch.

 

[Silver Silva]

Another failure for Lawrence, that was an awful shot that got him out, he makes Crawley look like Graham Gooch.

The irony is that Gooch averaged less than Crawley in test cricket when he was 26 years old.

 

[King Kane]

The irony is that Gooch averaged less than Crawley in test cricket when he was 26 years old.

Yeah I know Gooch started badly in his test career with a pair on his test debut, I was talking about the older better Gooch when he was in his 30s.

Lawrence is playing like the younger worse Gooch, maybe Lawrence will get better with age too but I doubt it.

 

[GIMH]

Feel like Duckett needed this score.

My laptop screen is playing up a bit - is it dark, or is it just my screen?

 

[King Kane]

A good fifty for Duckett, he is earning his keep unlike Lawrence.

 

[Howe_zat]

Duckett needed the score but he was never really in trouble, he's looked good a few times this summer and just never kicked on.

 

[Howe_zat]

Feel like Duckett needed this score.

My laptop screen is playing up a bit - is it dark, or is it just my screen?

You appear to have summoned a thunderstorm

 

[The Brian Hardie Stance]

A test venue is required in Suffolk.

The amount of times I sit watching a test at home, having to draw my curtains due to sunglare, while they go off for light on my TV.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Just as pope was looking good bad light brings play to halt

 

[Gremlin]

Did the Umps give Sri Lanka the option to bowl their spinners?

 

[Howe_zat]

Since accurate balls faced recording began (which appears to be the mid 90s), these two are the fastest scoring pair in tests with 1000+ runs. The three fastest scoring such partnerships are all this team

 

[mackembhoy]

Lawrence has managed to take himself from next cab off the rank to probably not even going on tour this Autumn.

I mean it's completely unfair on him. Arrogance from the setup to play him there.

I know you ain't going to say no to playing to England but I'm not sure what he expected either.

The Jason Roy saga all over again, who if we'd just picked in the middle order, might have actually had a test career.