*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[Tim]

The batsmen may be more than a little concerned of trying to attack Murali...but usually when you try and take on the other 'weaker' bowlers so to speak, thats when you can get yourself into trouble.

 

[marc71178]

just wondering what the english supporters opinion of the English batsmen tactics to play for a draw.

Spot on IMO.

3 match series at 0-0.

Go for it and lose, means 1-0 down, 1 to play, and SL on a roll.

Play for draw and get it, 0-0, 1 to play, and SL beginning to have doubts?

Also Murali must be very tired (his bowling on the last day was a huge amount of overs) and if we win the toss and bat in the Third Test, he'll have to do it all again...

 

[chris.hinton]

Good Show from England!!!!!!

Well done to batty and Read for saving the test, like Giles did in the first

Ashley Giles has played really well and Deserves his place he done what he should have done a flighted the Ball RESULT success and lot of it ( Marc it show he can do it)

For the third test i would make some changes

Collingwood, Krikley out and Anderson and Johnson in

It strange that this thing with James Kirkley is has come up! oh and does Murail do the same!!!!! if James gets banned that so should Murail

 

[luckyeddie]

It strange that this thing with James Kirkley is has come up! oh and does Murail do the same!!!!! if James gets banned that so should Murail

Pure mischief-making by the media, IMO.

report

 

[marc71178]

Ashley Giles has played really well and Deserves his place he done what he should have done a flighted the Ball RESULT success and lot of it ( Marc it show he can do it)

When the conditions are right yes, when not, faltter is the better way to bowl.

For the third test i would make some changes

Collingwood, Krikley out and Anderson and Johnson in

Anderson for Hussain and Croft for Batty for me.

Outside chance of Jones for Read.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'm sure that Hussain will be dropped, but I'm not counting on the same for Batty.

Re: Giles in England. I think England are better playing a wrist-spinner if they must play a spinner. Finger spinners are only ever going to consistently take wickets in Tests when they flight it. That said, if England want to play a spinner purely for variety, perhaps they should consider a genuine swing bowler instead, because I can't see any English spinner doing well in England any time soon.

 

[Langeveldt]

Hussain being dropped???!! No chance, that would be too brave from the selectors! I dont rate him as much of a batsman, so maybe after losing the captaincy this would be the time to discreetly say "thanks"...

 

[Langeveldt]

Ashley Giles has played really well and Deserves his place he done what he should have done a flighted the Ball RESULT success and lot of it

AhhhhH!! I was wondering why he picked up all those wickets! Thanks for filling me in chris....

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Hussain being dropped???!! No chance, that would be too brave from the selectors! I dont rate him as much of a batsman, so maybe after losing the captaincy this would be the time to discreetly say "thanks"...

I heard a report on the BBC that sources say that he will be dropped.

 

[luckyeddie]

I heard a report on the BBC that sources say that he will be dropped.

Yes, but we also heard (from Angus Fraser of all people) that Kirtley was being cited, that Lloyd was calling for 2-year-old videotapes etc - and that turned out to be about as accurate as the UK press usually are.

 

[chris.hinton]

When the conditions are right yes, when not, faltter is the better way to bowl.

Faltter?




Anderson for Hussain and Croft for Batty for me.

Outside chance of Jones for Read.

why drop Batty?

 

[luckyeddie]

why drop Batty?

Whereas Batty has, er, batted really well on tour, his bowling has for long periods been largely ineffectual.

There's a distinct possibility that they might well go in with 3 spinners, though - just got a crazy feeling.

 

[Langeveldt]

Whereas Batty has, er, batted really well on tour, his bowling has for long periods been largely ineffectual.

So he is a bit of an off spinning Ian Salisbury

 

[luckyeddie]

So he is a bit of an off spinning Ian Salisbury

Not quite.

<quack> The following conversation may or may not have taken place last season:

Rikki Hey, Ian. Getting much turn out of the wicket?
Ian Dunno, mate. I'll let you know when I hit it.

 

[Rik]

why drop Batty?

Well because he's been picked as a bowler and hasn't performed. But since he plays for England, any performance will be enough to keep him in the side, even if he's been picked as a bowler and he performs with the bat. Hell, the England selectors managed to keep picking Giles all summer under the pretense that he offered "variation" dispite averaging 70 with the ball.

These are the same selectors who are saying that Nasser Hussain is under pressure to keep is place and might not play in the last Test because of Paul Collingwood's "form." Right, ok, Colly hasn't been too bad, he's helped save 2 games, but still to say his form warrents replacing a proven batsman like Nass, come on! 89 runs in 4 innings at 22.25 with a highest score of 36 and a strike rate of 28.25! That's FORM? Give me a break.

 

[badgerhair]

Well because he's been picked as a bowler and hasn't performed. But since he plays for England, any performance will be enough to keep him in the side, even if he's been picked as a bowler and he performs with the bat. Hell, the England selectors managed to keep picking Giles all summer under the pretense that he offered "variation" dispite averaging 70 with the ball.

These are the same selectors who are saying that Nasser Hussain is under pressure to keep is place and might not play in the last Test because of Paul Collingwood's "form." Right, ok, Colly hasn't been too bad, he's helped save 2 games, but still to say his form warrents replacing a proven batsman like Nass, come on! 89 runs in 4 innings at 22.25 with a highest score of 36 and a strike rate of 28.25! That's FORM? Give me a break.

Well, Collingwood scored twice as many runs as the "proven batsman" in the last Test, and looked to be entirely in control of what he was doing while Hussain looked horribly out of sorts. If the choice is between an unspectacular 25 and a ghastly 12 for what this batting spot will yield, then I would go with the unspectacular 25.

Drivelling on about how few runs he scored at a snail's pace does not impress me in the least, because it was blindingly obvious that runs were entirely irrelevant to what England were trying to do in both second innings, except in so far as taking singles rotated the strike. The judgement should be made on whether he fulfilled what his team expected and/or desired of him, and don't think he let anyone down in that regard.

Of course, with you the selectors have no chance. You've been very vocal about what a raw deal you think Ed Smith has had, yet you have no qualms about unceremoniously dropping a batsman who has done everything asked of him in his first two Tests. Or would you at least concede that if Collingwood is dropped he too has had a raw deal?

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that picking Collingwood over Hussain is the safe choice taken by a team hsit-scared of losing, because I think I'd trust Collingwood to block it out for longer than Nasser in a rearguard action. But if we are trying to win, then I think Hussain is more likely to contribute what we want. (Although I'd much rather have Collingwood fielding in catching positions, because he drops far fewer than Hussain these days.)

Cheers,

Mike

 

[marc71178]

why drop Batty?

In superbly friendly conditions:

83.2 16 259 6

 

[luckyeddie]

Right, ok, Colly hasn't been too bad, he's helped save 2 games, but still to say his form warrents replacing a proven batsman like Nass, come on! 89 runs in 4 innings at 22.25 with a highest score of 36 and a strike rate of 28.25! That's FORM? Give me a break.

Totally and utterly irrelevant.

While Nasser was spending half his time catching a virus and the other half catching the attention of the match referee, Collingwood was going about the business of saving two tests.

That's FORM - and you don't deserve a break.

 

[raju]

My XI for the decider.

1. Vaughan
2. Tresco
3. Butcher
4. Hussain
5. Thorpe
6. Collingwood
7. Batty
8. Flintoff
9. Read
10. Croft
11. Giles.

That batting line up wont get bowled out twice by the jaded Lankans so 1st objective achieved of not losing. And they can afford to take the risk of scoring more quickly as there is strength all down the order...which would then give the twirlers enough time to strut their stuff.
3 spinners and a couple of seamers is enough to do the business...and Butch can bowl a few dolly drops as well perhaps.

 

[PY]

Would that mean Collingwood opening the bowling? :O

Can't wait.