***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

Well, that might be a logical and sensible way to look at things. But, on the other hand, it might be wise to look for good bowlers, rather than poor bowlers that fit the occasion.

Such as? Who are these good bowlers and these poor bowlers who fit the occasion?

Harmison, naturally, would be neither.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Kept very well. The best I've ever seen him keep by some distance.

Yeah, but still found time to horlicks up a pretty straightforward stumping chance, so it's relative.

Has to play out the series at least tho. Impressive knock in the 2nd, particularly in the circumstances.

 

[Richard]

Yeah, but still found time to horlicks up a pretty straightforward stumping chance, so it's relative.

Which are you thinking of?

 

[Pup Clarke]

Vaguely remember it, tough chance as it was a very full delivery, might have been off Sangakkara in the 1st innings?

 

[TT Boy]

Prior failed to stump Eid Mubarak, very costly it was indeed. Can not let chances like that go against quality players.

 

[Stapel]

Such as? Who are these good bowlers and these poor bowlers who fit the occasion?

Harmison, naturally, would be neither.

Well, Anderson is the poor bowler who, according to some, fits the Subcontinent. Imho, he shoudl not be in any England test team.

Maybe I'm too much of a Harmison fan, but he has proven he can win a test. He might not perform, but otoh, he might. At least you have a chance with Harmy. With Anderson you won't have one. And, of course, I simply would like to see him bowl again!

And I'd give Broad a chance.

 

[Richard]

Think the chances of Harmison winning a Test rest squarely on whether the opposition batsmen play abysmally or not.

Anderson has actually, once or twice, taken wickets by bowling well, thereby not reducing things to a pure lottery.

I honestly don't see either of them doing anything much. Nor Broad. So two seamers and two spinners is probably the best option.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Which are you thinking of?

Prior failed to stump Eid Mubarak, very costly it was indeed. Can not let chances like that go against quality players.

That's the one that I was thinking of. Was on 0 at the time, but happily holed out not long after.

 

[Lostman]

Looks like SL are going to pick both Fernando and Mubarak for the second test, hope England uphold the integrity of this game and series by picking Harmison and Bopra. Balances out this way i think.

 

[Richard]

Bopara > Mubarak. Though even I wouldn't argue that Fernando > Harmison. Would say it's much more a =s case.

 

[Lostman]

Bopara > Mubarak. Though even I wouldn't argue that Fernando > Harmison. Would say it's much more a =s case.

Havn't really been impressed with Bopara, i think Shah would have been a better middle order player in these conditions, he seems to be a better player of spin. Then again Im basing this on watching ODI cricket.

Fernando vs Harmison on the other hand would be an interesting poll

 

[Richard]

Havn't really been impressed with Bopara, i think Shah would have been a better middle order player in these conditions, he seems to be a better player of spin. Then again Im basing this on watching ODI cricket.

Shah should have been picked ahead of Bopara, and is at this time a far better batsman, of this I've little doubt. However, he's not as bad as Mubarak! And Bopara certainly might be good in future.

Fernando vs Harmison on the other hand would be an interesting poll

Would be almost certain Harmison would win, by a fair bit, due to the myth that his "good" spell went on about 27 months longer than it actually did.

Though TBF, Fernando never had 7 consecutive Tests where 6 were good-'uns figure-wise and the 1 exception was at St.John's where Brian Lara scored 400*. Harmison's career has been the better, though if you were to exclude that 7-Test period they'd both be equally awful.

 

[JASON]

Looks like SL are going to pick both Fernando and Mubarak for the second test, hope England uphold the integrity of this game and series by picking Harmison and Bopra. Balances out this way i think.

I think its unfair to even mention Bopara in the same breath as Mubarak ...let alone compare...Bopara has promise and he has delivered on and off and if given the opportunity he will deliver more and blossom in an allrounder capacity ...But Mubarak is nothing more than a waste of space....he is a Team sheet Filler ...a Golden child who shamelessly continues to annoy Sri Lankans by irritatingly taking up opportinity after opportunity and prevents others from coming thru....

Fernando and Harmison again is not fair comparison as Harmison was a winner when England won the Ashes against the Best Team in the World...a feat that has yet to be repeated since.....(I mean no Team has done that yet in Tests...)

 

[JASON]

With Mubarak in the side and Jayasuriya's retrement ...I think England really have their best chance of thrashing Sri Lanka in Colombo and evening the series 1-1 ...if they get their Team selection right and the Batsmen can put a decent score first up...(Also avoiding batting last is crucial in Sri Lankan pitches...)

 

[Laurrz]

With Mubarak in the side and Jayasuriya's retrement ...I think England really have their best chance of thrashing Sri Lanka in Colombo and evening the series 1-1 ...if they get their Team selection right and the Batsmen can put a decent score first up...(Also avoiding batting last is crucial in Sri Lankan pitches...)

they'll need Hoggard

i hope Anderson makes way for Harmy though

 

[Salamuddin]

I can't believe England left Shah out....he's impressed me every time that I've seen him and I honestly think he's a much better player than Bopara.

It seems to me that England too a leaf out of Duncan Fletcher's book by picking Bopara, a guy who can bat a bit and bowl a bit, rather than the clearly superior batsman in Shah.
You have to question how much impact Bopara's bowling would really have on a slow Sri Lankan surface....


I'm also increasingly becoming unconvinced by Jimmy Anderson at test level.....I can't honestly see Harmison or Broad being any less effective than Jimmy.
I expect that Anderson will play at Colombo but if his bowling doesn't show marked improvement there, I think its time for Broad.....England picked him on this tour,,,therefore IMO you've got to be prepared to play him if needs be.

 

[chaminda_00]

You can only justify Bopara selection if England picked a 2nd spinner. He adds no extra value to the side with 4 man pace attack, especially with Collingwood in the side.

 

[Salamuddin]

I still think England can salvage a decent result out of this series. But they need to bowl with much greater consistency and agression and bat with greater conviction in their top 4.

Sri Lanka Imo do rely quite a bit on 3-4 players - if you can neuter some of their key performers you have a big chance of beating them IMO.

 

[JASON]

Going by the Cricinfo news item - Hoggard is out. And Anderson has a niggling injury and may not play.. if not recovered...And going by Peter Moores re-emphasising the point re 3 seamers....It could be Sidebottom, Broad, Harmison and Panesar...and it looks like Swann is out and possibly Bopara too...

 

[Smudge]

Ok, I will....but had to make a point here...after listening to a morning of Murali lambasting and hatred on NZ's Radio Sport with a half Wit called Tony Veitch....and his guest buffoons...trying hard to suck up to the Aussies and ridiculing the guy in every possible way without any stats to back what they were trumpeting...

Here's an idea - don't listen to Veitch. He's an idiot. And using his comments as a basis for your rants on CW is a bit strange to say the least, let alone projecting his ideas onto Australians in general.