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

[Lostman]

Bit selfish, but mostly inability to play to the situation.

Also, IIRC he had a couple of outs in the 90's including a 99 before that innings.

 

[Cabinet96]

Took 110 balls to get his final 31 runs batting with the tail.

 

[Lostman]

Mahela's record as captain. Cricinfo
Shame there is one hack ahead of him.

 

[Spark]

14 hundreds including a triple in 30 Tests... fmd.

 

[Lostman]

It was so easy he gave up the captaincy to watch Sanga and Dilshan try it.

 

[weldone]

It was so easy he gave up the captaincy to watch Sanga and Dilshan try it.

I was surprised when he did that. Sanga, in spite of being a cool character, didn't turn out to be a very good captain. Dilshan was a **** captain. Mahela is

 

[Cabinet96]

Mahela's record as captain. Cricinfo
Shame there is one hack ahead of him.

I want them to re-apoint Dilshan

 

[vic_orthdox]

Remarkable record as captain. Awesome.

 

[Howe_zat]

Hard slog today. Honours even, looking at the scoreboard you'd say SL are a bit short of a day's runs for the typical six down, but no friggin idea what's goiong to happen to England's batting, especially batting last.

Got a good feeling about tomorrow though. It's easy to see the first Test repeat itself and see the Lankans drag it out towards 300 or so, but Mathews has on several occasions messed up when guiding the tail.

 

[Prince EWS]

Hard slog today. Honours even, looking at the scoreboard you'd say SL are a bit short of a day's runs for the typical six down, but no friggin idea what's goiong to happen to England's batting, especially batting last.

Got a good feeling about tomorrow though. It's easy to see the first Test repeat itself and see the Lankans drag it out towards 300 or so, but Mathews has on several occasions messed up when guiding the tail.

I actually think England would take 300 or so, or rather Sri Lanka probably wouldn't. It'd be about par from here. Sri Lanka have a naff tail after these two but Randiv can certainly bat; he looks a lot better than his figures to me and he was highly rated youth batting prodigy as well. Reckon he has some proper runs in him.

 

[Howe_zat]

I actually think England would take 300 or so, or rather Sri Lanka probably wouldn't. It'd be about par from here. Sri Lanka have a naff tail after these two but Randiv can certainly bat; he looks a lot better than his figures to me and he was highly rated youth batting prodigy as well. Reckon he has some proper runs in him.

You're probably right but this winter has trained me to believe we need to bowl them out for about 3.

 

[Furball]

You're probably right but this winter has trained me to believe we need to bowl them out for about 3.

I see we're gunning for GIMH's 'eternal optimist' title.

 

[Migara]

Damn impressive on this tour, good stuff by him.

Hope SL can put up 300 tomorrow morning. However, I am not very confident if Mathews can shepherd the tail against spin like Mahela did at Galle.

With Randiv, Herath and Prasad, he need not, because these are guys who are good dealing with spin. Mathews should look after himself against spin and let above trio take chances. Obviously when seamers come in, Mathews is a different creature.

 

[Jacknife]

Hard slog today. Honours even, looking at the scoreboard you'd say SL are a bit short of a day's runs for the typical six down, but no friggin idea what's goiong to happen to England's batting, especially batting last.

Got a good feeling about tomorrow though. It's easy to see the first Test repeat itself and see the Lankans drag it out towards 300 or so, but Mathews has on several occasions messed up when guiding the tail.

Yes pretty much how I see it, we really could of done with winning the toss today and then getting first use of the batting strip. Tomorrow morning will be crucial though, quick wickets and then knock out the tail would be ideal, keeping them hopefully under about 270.
Wicket does look better than the last test though and you would have thought a couple of players were due a score.

 

[MW1304]

Why do all my favourite batsmen keep playing majestically against us, sometimes after a massive barren period as well. First Hussey, then Dravid and now Mahela. Hardly fair.

Everything set up perfectly for Hashim Amla to destroy this summer.

 

[Lostman]

With Randiv, Herath and Prasad, he need not, because these are guys who are good dealing with spin. Mathews should look after himself against spin and let above trio take chances. Obviously when seamers come in, Mathews is a different creature.

haha you have some confidence in Herath. The man has converted to the Murali school of batting, i.e close eyes and swing.

Only reason he lasted long in Galle, Mahela was in all likelihood yelling at him to defend.
Don't think Mathews gets the same respect.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Mathews against spin is not pretty...

Apparently direness against slow bowling extends to English surnames too now...

Great knock from the skipper again tho. Must admit I had his dismissal down as more marginal than Hawkeye did as well. I'd have guessed it was just clipping the top of the stumps.

Can see 350 for SL tomorrow; we've been awful finishing innings off of late.

 

[benchmark00]

Apparently direness against slow bowling extends to English surnames too now...

Great knock from the skipper again tho. Must admit I had his dismissal down as more marginal than Hawkeye did as well. I'd have guessed it was just clipping the top of the stumps.

Can see 350 for SL tomorrow; we've been awful finishing innings off of late.

Your missus complains about the same problem iirc.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Apparently direness against slow bowling extends to English surnames too now...

Great knock from the skipper again tho. Must admit I had his dismissal down as more marginal than Hawkeye did as well. I'd have guessed it was just clipping the top of the stumps.

Can see 350 for SL tomorrow; we've been awful finishing innings off of late.

So with any luck we can expect runs from KP and Strauss.

 

[Lostman]

Never gets old