*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[Neil Pickup]

Did he play against Zim and SA?

Made 19 against Zimbabwe in the First Test before being dismissed to a disputed catch by Dion Ebrahim.

Nothing else.

 

[PY]

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

That looks like an absolute pearler of a pitch to bat on that does :O. Even Cork managed to get some runs :P (now I wonder who actually likes this guy )

 

[Craig]

I think a big one from MP Vaughan is looming on the horizens.

Compared to last year heh as benn on crappy form and not really playing all that well although he is still getting used to being cpatain.

 

[Go_India]

England played well to avoid the defeat...but how can they find a solution to Murlis spin, they need it quickly otherwise deafeat fr england is not far away. What does linda think?

 

[Neil Pickup]

The solution against Murali is neutralisation. We've managed it in the last couple of the series.. just need some way of picking the wrong un/doosra/leg break...

 

[marc71178]

I think we dealt very well with him in the second innings - on that pitch, he "only" got 4 out, and the Sri Lankans kept rotating the bowling, rather than bowling him through, which says a lot to me...

 

[Tim]

Well Stephen Fleming reckons he knows how to play Murali..or at least has a better idea of how to play him.
But I guess 274* isn't really good enough for him to suggest anything.

 

[luckyeddie]

Well Stephen Fleming reckons he knows how to play Murali..or at least has a better idea of how to play him.
But I guess 274* isn't really good enough for him to suggest anything.

And so a New Zealand legend is born.

 

[Swanny]

Might be helpful tomorrow if we win a toss as well. Apart from the first ODI against Sri Lanka I don't believe we've won one yet.

I did hear a bizarre story from the Bangladesh tour, that England lost every toss and that coin was a specially designed one, one side had a Tiger and the other a Lion.

Everytime totally unsurprisingly Vaughan called Lion, everytime it was a Tiger. Silly point maybe but it would be a easy way of "fixing" the toss wouldn't it, a weighted coin, i mean Vaughan would hardly not pick the Lion would he.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Well Stephen Fleming reckons he knows how to play Murali..or at least has a better idea of how to play him.
But I guess 274* isn't really good enough for him to suggest anything.

Not meaning to stray further off topic, I feel the need to mention Brian Lara's 1125 runs in 14 innings @ 86.53 with 5 hundreds and 2 fifties... scored against Sri Lanka.

Ignore this comment and proceed.

 

[Neil Pickup]

To be fair, Vaughan's got a worse record than Hussain ever had with the tosses.

And STILL I predict that we'll win the next one.

 

[luckyeddie]

To be fair, Vaughan's got a worse record than Hussain ever had with the tosses.

And STILL I predict that we'll win the next one.

6 on the trot now.

First Day Report

I reckon 55:45 in Sri Lanka's favour, but as near as damnit even.

England's team selection seemed somewhat perplexing to me, bearing in mind that you need to take 20 wickets to win a test match and Daryl Harper (surely the Australian Asoka) can only stand at one end.

Still, if they can dismiss Sri Lanka for under 300, the loooooong batting line-up might just pay off.

 

[James90]

How good's the Dharmasena guy...hopefully he can provide some resistance and Tillekeratne can notch up a reasonable total

 

[luckyeddie]

How good's the Dharmasena guy...hopefully he can provide some resistance and Tillekeratne can notch up a reasonable total

Absolutely perfect for the task in hand - dour, obdurate even, averages 20 or so, top score of 62*.

Doesn't like singing along to 'chin music', though.

 

[Neil Pickup]

By 'eck. Someone born in the 90s. Now I feel old

Welcome James. And beware of the duck.

 

[amits]

welcome james90.

i think u r the youngest here

 

[Legglancer]

Shame on James Kirtley in trying to mouthoff to Vass !!!

Umpire Harper clearly is on the way down .... the only thing he gets right is the counting of 6 balls an "over" which he checks every over from the official scorer.

Still I would say the match is evenly poised as Sri Lanka still are showing effects of their long lay off.

 

[luckyeddie]

Once again, the tail wags more than the dog - 382.

Over 100 runs for the last two wickets - it's getting more than careless now and is indicative of a serious problem in the side - no strike bowler of any sort (well, Flintoff!).

Another excellent performance by Giles - another lacklustre one by the rest of the bowlers.

With Croft waiting in the wings, has Batty done enough to retain his place? Using England selection logic, probably.

 

[Tim]

Good start for England though...94/1 after 18 overs.
Mind you, Murali has only bowled 3 overs & has already taken a wicket.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Aargh... 51* for Dinusha Fernando.

Missing Harmison very badly for this kind of situation. Zondeki anyone?