***Official*** England in Sri Lanka 2014

[ImpatientLime]

moeen and ravi are guns

the rest can gagf

would rather jordan got a game than stokes or woakes. if you're gonna pick a leaky seamer then for the love of god pick the one who is at least likely to snare a few poles.

cook has to trust bopara with the ball more ffs. the man can do a good job in odis

 

[Pothas]

Only managed to catch some of this on the radio but how great is Moeen? Ravi the valiant as always.

 

[smash84]

wow...the Scorecard is a shambles except for Moeen contribution. Moeen just seems to get better and better

 

[viriya]

Can someone explain to me why Hales does not get a spot in this side? It really boggles my mind.. like wtfffff

 

[Pothas]

Do we think there is any chance of Cook moving to 3 so we could try Moeen and Hales opening? Obviously Bell would need to be dropped to make this happen.

 

[Maximas]

Didn't watch but glad to see we did ok, the opening partnership probably helped, but it doesn't solve any problems because I don't think that kind of performance is likely to be repeated regularly from Kusal, good on him though.

any idea why Jeevan Mendis was not picked for Indian tour?

Seekkuge Prasanna filled his niche, but it seems he's been dropped now - probably because he can't justify his spot with the bat, as I've said before Jeevan Mendis is handy but I don't think he can handle non SC conditions with any conviction, would love to be proved wrong.

England make Thisara Perera look like a world class bowler...

Yeah he takes bags sometimes and bowls really well, has good days and bad days with his action/rhythm

Beaut of a spell from Herath in all fairness

No doubt it was

Sri Lankan fielding has generally been top notch as well

Was it really? Good to hear

These horns are really getting on my **** now

Haha I usually don't mind them too much

 

[grecian]

My man, is the man.

 

[viriya]

Any chance of Mahela opening for the WC is gone I guess.. Sanath has to keep his protege opening even if he rarely if ever kicks on to get a big one... Kusal did ok yesterday but for a supposed basher 59 from 74 after making jack**** in runs for months doesn't really convince me...

 

[Julian87]

Any chance of Mahela opening for the WC is gone I guess.. Sanath has to keep his protege opening even if he rarely if ever kicks on to get a big one... Kusal did ok yesterday but for a supposed basher 59 from 74 after making jack**** in runs for months doesn't really convince me...

I don't know what the best option is for Sri Lanka but I don't know if I'd want to move Jayawardene back to the top. The current Sri Lanka 3-8 in the batting order is their strong point, I don't think I'd want to change it.

 

[Maximas]

Mahela is a mediocre ODI player for a guy with his talent, opening is the only position where he has truly flourished consistently. Also, the opening combination has been a real problem of late and there are no real good options apart from MJ.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah it makes a tremendous amount of sense to open with Jayawardene now. The opening spot has become problematic, Mathews has added some insurance to the lower middle order, Jayawardene has gone on the record saying he wants to do it now, and Sri Lanka are picking Thirimanne who is going to be pretty useless down at six but may have some utility at four.

The problem is.. who actually does bat six if this happens?

 

[Maximas]

I rate Thirimanne as an ODI player in particular, I think a role at 4 will suit him nicely, he's a good guy to come in after losing early wickets and he can be moved around if the situation calls for it. As for number 6 I've always said Tharanga could work well there, he's done it in the past with some success - in Australia too, Kandamby, Jeevan Mendis, Priyanjan and Chandiguns are the other options, and I don't particularly like any of them

 

[cnerd123]

Drop Mathews to 6 and play someone like Chadimal at 5?

 

[Cabinet96]

Ball in and they're already talking about the possibility of more short balls. Urgh.

 

[Cabinet96]

Urgh this is grim. The scoring options are so limited.

 

[Spark]

Well this is inept.

 

[theegyptian]

Morgan then root. Can't afford to give the seamers gifts like that.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Just drop Morgan and select Taylor and be done with it...

 

[Spikey]

no surprise to see those sad sacks letting down Ravi the Rad again

 

[theegyptian]

That would have been a brilliant way to have been run out. Kinda wish it happened.