*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[marc71178]

Have to agree with luckyeddie too, both sides are being far too negative, if either side win it will almost be by accident rather than them having forced the game. Giles and Batty batting before the new ball produced the dullest period of cricket i've ever seen in my life!!

12 overs with a four, a single, a wicket and 69 dot balls...

 

[V Reddy]

You said that deliberately to jinx him didn't you?

Freddi with the bat in subcontinent doesn't need any jinxing :P

 

[Swanny]

12 overs with a four, a single, a wicket and 69 dot balls...

There were that many scoring shots!!

 

[marc71178]

Yes, and the wicket followed the 4, so if you went to the loo you missed almost all the excitement!!!!

 

[Tim]

Interesting match going on now...England still need another 318 runs, they are currently 50/2.

 

[luckyeddie]

Trescothick's dismissals are becoming as predictable as Daryl Harper's umpiring - caught at wide slip or gulley AGAIN playing away from his body.

 

[Tim]

I know you said it had a draw written all over it...but from the scores at Cricinfo, there's very much a chance of a result in this test match.

It's currently favouring Sri Lanka...but Vaughan & Hussain have taken England to 79/2 needing another 298.

 

[luckyeddie]

I know you said it had a draw written all over it...but from the scores at Cricinfo, there's very much a chance of a result in this test match.

It's currently favouring Sri Lanka...but Vaughan & Hussain have taken England to 79/2 needing another 298.

I'm just proaying for rain.

 

[marc71178]

I know you said it had a draw written all over it...but from the scores at Cricinfo, there's very much a chance of a result in this test match.

It's currently favouring Sri Lanka...but Vaughan & Hussain have taken England to 79/2 needing another 298.

They're playing the game very positively here - Hussain in particular is going after the spinners (except Murali)

Butcher sounds very unfortunate to be given stumped (tight line call, the commentary box was split), but then Hussain was given not out to a plum LBW 2 balls later...

 

[marc71178]

I'm just proaying for rain.

On the radio, they pointed out that potentially SL have made problems for themselves by setting the standard of light to go off last night.

In theory England should be offered the light if it reaches that point on either of the 2 days, and no prizes for guessing whether they go off or not (on day 4)

Of course if it's 360-2 on day 5 and they're offered the light...

 

[PY]

Don't really know why but I think they should send Frederick Flintoff in next, maybe it's just to adjust the flow of the innings. It could pay off or back-fire but he's going to more use at the top as opposed to down the bottom of the order.

 

[marc71178]

Interesting theory there - can see the point in it actually - he's not the safest in a rearguard action!

I'd also send Read down to 10 and get Batty and Giles up one.

For me Batty is in danger of being replaced for the 3rd Test, so he needs to do something to justify retention.

 

[luckyeddie]

89-2 - bad light with two spinners operating.

Still, the umpires have been consistent.

Butcher stumped twice in a match. Who was the previous person to suffer such a fate?

 

[Neil Pickup]

My guess would be Wasim

 

[Craig]

Interesting theory there - can see the point in it actually - he's not the safest in a rearguard action!

I'd also send Read down to 10 and get Batty and Giles up one.

For me Batty is in danger of being replaced for the 3rd Test, so he needs to do something to justify retention.

Then Croft may come in?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Then Croft may come in?

Looks that way. Seamers aren't taking wickets, neither's Batty. I expect Croft to start in Colombo.

 

[raju]

All 3 spinners will play the last test. Croft and Giles will do the lion's share of the bowling and Batty will bowl if needed. Batty will bat at 7 replacing Flintoff, who is out of his depth at this level. Jones will replace Kirtley to bolster the threadbare batting and the new ball will be taken by Collingwood and 'The Family' Butcher.
The hosts will prepare a turner for the Murali (3rd only in the world to Croft and Vettori) but this will backfire as the English will start with the best spin partnership in any form of cricket in the last 32 years.
England have soaked the punches up and will strike in the last test in a similar way to when they beat Pakistan away a few years ago.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

All 3 spinners will play the last test. Croft and Giles will do the lion's share of the bowling and Batty will bowl if needed. Batty will bat at 7 replacing Flintoff, who is out of his depth at this level. Jones will replace Kirtley to bolster the threadbare batting and the new ball will be taken by Collingwood and 'The Family' Butcher.
The hosts will prepare a turner for the Murali (3rd only in the world to Croft and Vettori) but this will backfire as the English will start with the best spin partnership in any form of cricket in the last 32 years.
England have soaked the punches up and will strike in the last test in a similar way to when they beat Pakistan away a few years ago.

If the England selectors listen to that, I'll yell "Norway have the best cricket team in the world, all the others are s*ckers" at a packed Lord's.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Batty will bat at 7 replacing Flintoff, who is out of his depth at this level.

So what you're trying to say is that Batty is a better batsman than Flintoff? Blimey, you're a genius!

 

[Tom Halsey]

Batty should bat ahead of Freddie, as Freddie can't play spin (unless it is the tripe of Paul Adams) but he still is a class allrounder