***Official*** England in Sri Lanka 2012

[LegionOfBrad]

While i can't see us winning this i just don't want to see us 60-7 and then making it to 150 with some lower order bosh. Again.

At least show some bloody fight.

 

[Pothas]

Cook to get these all himself.

 

[NUFAN]

Overall, CWB, I just feel as though you are being extremely harsh on Ian Bell. Obviously, he had a bad series in the UAE and Ajmal made him look ordinary, but Bell is an experienced campaigner nowadays who should be given some grace.

Just having a look at Cricinfo now and Bell averages a solid 44 in Sri Lanka, lets not just assume that every country in the SC is the same.

Sri Lanka's attack on the whole is ordinary. Let's not forget that they've only won one Test since Murali retired, so it will be a big effort for them to claim 20 English wickets, particularly if Herath is handled reasonably well (say 4-130, roughly his career figures).

Of course I can't say for certain how a young bloke would go on debut, he could do a Strauss, or he could end up doing a Hamilton (sorry Furbull) but it's up to the selectors to pick who they feel as most likely to do the job and Bell isn't even a question mark for me now/yet.

I don't agree with Patel, I would pick an extra batsman (perhaps a young one to make you happy).

 

[CWB304]

Overall, CWB, I just feel as though you are being extremely harsh on Ian Bell. Obviously, he had a bad series in the UAE and Ajmal made him look ordinary, but Bell is an experienced campaigner nowadays who should be given some grace.

Just having a look at Cricinfo now and Bell averages a solid 44 in Sri Lanka, lets not just assume that every country in the SC is the same.

Sri Lanka's attack on the whole is ordinary. Let's not forget that they've only won one Test since Murali retired, so it will be a big effort for them to claim 20 English wickets, particularly if Herath is handled reasonably well (say 4-130, roughly his career figures).

Of course I can't say for certain how a young bloke would go on debut, he could do a Strauss, or he could end up doing a Hamilton (sorry Furbull) but it's up to the selectors to pick who they feel as most likely to do the job and Bell isn't even a question mark for me now/yes.

I don't agree with Patel, I would pick an extra batsman (perhaps a young one to make you happy).

Thanks for taking the trouble to explain your POV.

 

[Jono]

A guy is bagging the England team and Burgey isn't friends with him. What the?

 

[Burgey]

A guy is bagging the England team and Burgey isn't friends with him. What the?

Not when he wants them to improve, ffs!

 

[Dissector]

This is a very average Sri Lankan attack so England can still win this. I think SL will need a bit of deterioration in the pitch by day 4 to win. Those extra 80 odd runs that England conceded today will force them to bat well into day 4 though, so SL should have enough time to build pressure through spin and hope the pitch does something.

 

[Pothas]

I know it's a minor point but I don't like Prior coming in before Patel. Purley from a psychological point of view having Patel at 6 shows that you consider him a batsman who can bowl rather than just a bit part player.

 

[stumpski]

At what point do these runs from the 10th wicket stand stop being "handy runs" and become "bonus runs"? [/cliche confusion]

I'm not sure, but they'll be "crucial runs" if we end up losing by 40.

27-0 at tea, long way to go, but can't complain. Let's hope Herath keeps going for 5 an over.

AWTA re Patel, he's a replacement for Morgan after all, not Panesar.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I know it's a minor point but I don't like Prior coming in before Patel. Purley from a psychological point of view having Patel at 6 shows that you consider him a batsman who can bowl rather than just a bit part player.

Does contribute to the feeling that you're playing a bits and pieces player rather than a man that you have super confidence in.

Always thought that Adil Rashid was England's Steve Smith, tbh.

 

[Pothas]

Does contribute to the feeling that you're playing a bits and pieces player rather than a man that you have super confidence in.

Always thought that Adil Rashid was England's Steve Smith, tbh.

Yeah, which I think is to do Samit a disservice, Enlgand have always rather limited his batting opportunities in his international career so far.

 

[Dissector]

I know it's a minor point but I don't like Prior coming in before Patel. Purley from a psychological point of view having Patel at 6 shows that you consider him a batsman who can bowl rather than just a bit part player.

There is no shame in batting below Prior. What will really hurt Patel's confidence is batting below Trott, Pietersen and Bell in these conditions.

 

[stumpski]

I know it's a minor point but I don't like Prior coming in before Patel. Purley from a psychological point of view having Patel at 6 shows that you consider him a batsman who can bowl rather than just a bit part player.

Hey I've been to Purley, I wouldn't want to view it from any point tbh.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Opening with Dilshan

Hmm...

 

[smash84]

dil**** is just ****

 

[stumpski]

Why aren't they using Hotspot?

 

[Cevno]

Given. Interesting.......

 

[smash84]

lol cook

 

[Viscount Tom]

Trying to spot this nick Cook got, only sound I heard was when the bat hit the foot.

Don't think there was enough to overturn that at all.

 

[stumpski]

"The umpire upstairs must have heard something." Eh? That the onfield umpire couldn't?

Bizarre, but probably the correct decison.