***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

Harmison

Haven't seen much of young Broad. Is he worth a shot for the next match ?

Nah, neither of them (as you know with Harmison ), they're both totally reliant on getting something in the pitch. Seam-bowlers, both, I don't think I've ever seen either bowl a deliberate off-cutter or leg-cutter in their career. Hoggard is going well with the cutters currently though, which is encouraging.

 

[biased indian]

What the Maximum Score England will like to chase Down aganis the World Record Holder ???

 

[Richard]

Anything up around 200 I'd not be optimistic, but this pitch is playing really strange. Could get worse again at any minute, but it's really good for batting right now.

 

[JASON]

What the Maximum Score England will like to chase Down aganis the World Record Holder ???

I think 200 is the max they can chase on this difficult low scoring track which is starting to die already....But 200 gives both sides an equal chance in the last innings...anything else either way gives the other team the advantage...

 

[Prince EWS]

Anything up around 200 I'd not be optimistic, but this pitch is playing really strange. Could get worse again at any minute, but it's really good for batting right now.

Only because Panesar really hasn't bowled well at all, though. It has really turned for him all day; he's just bowled poorly.

 

[Richard]

TBF on him he's been bowling at left-handers, both of whom have played well. I'd like to see him throwing it up more, though, as I thought about Murali earlier. The ball's turned so much more when spinners have thrown it up on this pitch. He's bowled too flat for the most part.

 

[biased indian]

How many overs have been lost in this game.......Still 24 overs left..the game in india has already been stopped for bad light,,how long can this game go on..we are in the same time zone rite may be half hour difference at most !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Richard]

Well the scheduled start is about an hour and a half apart IIRR. Certainly an hour.

Light looks like it won't last a hell of a lot longer tho. Hopefully the game will have a result.

 

[Smudge]

Hi Voltman, Is Tamaiti your idol or a relative ?

Why is he your Avatar ?

He completes me.

 

[pasag]

Jayasuriya just announced the retirement from Test cricket, said he'll continue with ODIs.

 

[Richard]

Yeah, probably for the best. Let's hope he might manage the 2011 WC.

 

[gettingbetter]

Yeah, probably for the best. Let's hope he might manage the 2011 WC.

What was your theory/policy on 'oldies' retiring after a WC? Re: Hayden.

If there was a hypothetical clause that you may of mentioned such as - 'if there is no one who can take the job x should continue,' I understand you wanting him to continue.

 

[Richard]

If Jayasuriya thinks he can make 2011, even if he only thinks there's a chance, he should go for it IMO. He's still going strong as ever at 38, there's little difference between that and 42, and he's been a superb ODI opener for a long time now.

If, however, he doesn't think there's any chance, I'd prefer him to step down now or very soon, naturally.

 

[Richard]

I think this really is the worst match report in history having read it.

Much happier with this.

 

[NUFAN]

If Jayasuriya thinks he can make 2011, even if he only thinks there's a chance, he should go for it IMO. He's still going strong as ever at 38, there's little difference between that and 42, and he's been a superb ODI opener for a long time now.

If, however, he doesn't think there's any chance, I'd prefer him to step down now or very soon, naturally.

Well I think 4 years is a massive time. Especially at that sort of age, you don't see too many athletes in any athletic sports play at the top level once they hit 40.

I think he can do it though, with the next world cup in asia it could mean that he continues as not just his batting, his spinners will be suited.

So good on him, he's had a very good Test Career.

 

[Francis]

I just wanted to note something about Kevin Pietersen's dismissal. While I have no doubt it was out, it really highlights how hard batsmen have it in Sri Lanka. It's impossible to have any ascendency over Murali when the pitch is reacting like that. Pietersen's a big guy and he has the biggest stride in world cricket. Yet that meant nothing because the ball spun rapidly and kept incredibly low.

I really hated that dismissal because Murali vs. Pietersen is a great duel each time they play each other, yet with an advantage like that Murali's going to win every time. I might suggest a lot of bowlers, for example Kumble, would easily have it over Pietersen when the ball is keeping that low.

Such a shame the pitches in Sri Lanka are dust bowls that make it incredibly hard for batsmen who don't deserve to go out. Pietersen did everything right and yet he had to be given out.

 

[Richard]

Just goes to show, really, the old adage: if the bowler's good enough, there ain't nouwt the batsman can do. The bowler has the ball in his hand, and hence controls the game.

 

[Richard]

Well I think 4 years is a massive time. Especially at that sort of age, you don't see too many athletes in any athletic sports play at the top level once they hit 40.

You don't see many, no, but those few who do tend to be a bit extraordinary, and Jayasuriya certainly is that.

You don't see that many playing at 38 TBH, and it's pretty well as surprising to see someone playing at one age as the other, IMO. I honestly believe if he can make 38 he could probably make 42.

If I had to bet, though, I'd go for he won't rather than he will.

 

[Lostman]

I just wanted to note something about Kevin Pietersen's dismissal. While I have no doubt it was out, it really highlights how hard batsmen have it in Sri Lanka. It's impossible to have any ascendency over Murali when the pitch is reacting like that. Pietersen's a big guy and he has the biggest stride in world cricket. Yet that meant nothing because the ball spun rapidly and kept incredibly low.

I really hated that dismissal because Murali vs. Pietersen is a great duel each time they play each other, yet with an advantage like that Murali's going to win every time. I might suggest a lot of bowlers, for example Kumble, would easily have it over Pietersen when the ball is keeping that low.

Such a shame the pitches in Sri Lanka are dust bowls that make it incredibly hard for batsmen who don't deserve to go out. Pietersen did everything right and yet he had to be given out.

lol thats such a crock of ****

 

[silentstriker]

I just wanted to note something about Kevin Pietersen's dismissal. While I have no doubt it was out, it really highlights how hard batsmen have it in Sri Lanka. It's impossible to have any ascendency over Murali when the pitch is reacting like that. Pietersen's a big guy and he has the biggest stride in world cricket. Yet that meant nothing because the ball spun rapidly and kept incredibly low.

I really hated that dismissal because Murali vs. Pietersen is a great duel each time they play each other, yet with an advantage like that Murali's going to win every time. I might suggest a lot of bowlers, for example Kumble, would easily have it over Pietersen when the ball is keeping that low.

Such a shame the pitches in Sri Lanka are dust bowls that make it incredibly hard for batsmen who don't deserve to go out. Pietersen did everything right and yet he had to be given out.

Get a better spinner yourself, or learn to play Murali like Lara did. The slow, low pitches on the subcontinent are fine, as are the bouncy fast pitches in South Africa. Welcome to Test cricket.