*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[luckyeddie]

Off for bad light.

20 minutes to go before the scheduled end of play.

Giles is an absolute hero - if the light doesn't improve

 

[JohnnyA]

Must've been exciting ... bitchy girlffreind would let me watch Sky in the main room ...

 

[luckyeddie]

And now it's raining!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnnyA]

Looks like it's finished????

 

[Tim]

Well good work from the English tail..although its arguable that had those 4 overs been bowled that Hoggard may have gotten out considering that from what i've seen of him, he doesn't really know how to use a bat.

 

[luckyeddie]

Well good work from the English tail..although its arguable that had those 4 overs been bowled that Hoggard may have gotten out considering that from what i've seen of him, he doesn't really know how to use a bat.

So what?

If it hadn't rained on other days, there would have not been 7 hours of play on the fifth.

If Sri Lanka hadn't have bowled their overs so quickly throughout the day, there might well have been more wickets in hand when it came to the end.

If Tresco hadn't been given out in the first innings when he missed the ball by more than 3 inches, he might have made 381*.

All supposition.

Draw.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Well good work from the English tail..although its arguable that had those 4 overs been bowled that Hoggard may have gotten out considering that from what i've seen of him, he doesn't really know how to use a bat.

Not seen too much, have you?

Attacking strokeplay is not his forté but he can stick about. He's improved no end in the last couple of years.

If he has to come out and bat this one is over!

The all-knowing Aussie strikes again

 

[Tim]

Well, yeah I have because we get to see the English home series here in NZ.

2 overs of Murali would have been tough, thats IF Hoggard had faced him.

But as has been said, it's a draw & a pretty good fight at the end. Sri Lanka should be annoyed though for their slow over rates, had they moved a little faster they may have got 2 or 3 extra overs to try & bowl England out.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Well, yeah I have because we get to see the English home series here in NZ.

2 overs of Murali would have been tough, thats IF Hoggard had faced him.

That was what? Nearly two years ago now? He's much, much better now.

 

[Tim]

No Neil I mean we get to see the England international's IN England...we got some coverage of the Zimbabwe & South African matches...infact we've had it for a number of years now.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Apologies, can't read

Anyway, evidence of him being able to bat:

Century partnership between himself and White against India in 2002

http://statserver.cricket.org/link_...N_ENG/SCORECARDS/IND_ENG_T2_08-12AUG2002.html

 

[Tim]

Well I did not see that match but 32 is a huge improvement from what I saw of him in NZ.
Facing Murali on a turner would have been a good test as to how far he has come.

 

[Neil Pickup]

That it certainly would

 

[Craig]

How well did Batty bowl?

 

[Gaijin-san]

Hoggard the hero! I'll concede I was wrong on that one, happily so!

 

[raju]

Was Batty's swipe when he got out to Murali just about the worst shot I have ever seen? Yes.
Shame really because (along with Giles and Collingwood) I thought he stuck around pretty well.

 

[luckyeddie]

Sri Lanka should be annoyed though for their slow over rates, had they moved a little faster they may have got 2 or 3 extra overs to try & bowl England out.

I'm sorry, but that's nonsense.

England's first innings - 101 overs, 360 minutes - 17 overs an hour

England's second innings - 108 overs, 376 minutes - 17+ overs an hour.

Sri Lanka's innings (combined) - 225 overs, 933 minutes. 14.5 overs per hour.

Sri Lanka are to be applauded for bowling their overs at a reasonable clip throughout the entire match.

In test cricket nowadays, 15 an hour is a rarity. Sri Lanka averaged over 17 - a staggering rate nowadays, even allowing for the high number of overs bowled by spinners (2 official drinks breaks a session, many other impromptu ones, 39 wickets falling in the game). Other sides take note.

 

[marc71178]

I have a feeling England will hold on for the draw, and considering how much they were on the backfoot in this match...that would be a very good result.

Definitely agree.

For me the weather saving England is hiding some of the facts.

SL crawled along in their 2nd Innings and wasted time.

Also, they faced far more than a normal days cricket on the Final Day and survived.

Much respect to Giles, Collingwood and Butcher.

Some respect to Johnson, Batty (before that last shot!)

Didn't catch most of the early innings to comment though.

 

[marc71178]

Oh dear, he's such a bunny. If he has to come out and bat this one is over!

In recent times, he's batted very well - some great knocks last summer (02)

 

[marc71178]

No Neil I mean we get to see the England international's IN England...we got some coverage of the Zimbabwe & South African matches...infact we've had it for a number of years now.

Did he play against Zim and SA?