*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Would that mean Collingwood opening the bowling? :O

Can't wait.

I wouldn't say that. I don't see why a spinner can't open the bowling in spin friendly conditions. I doubt that Collingwood is going to do anything more than take some shine off the ball, so why not let one of the spinners take the shine off? They may take a wicket or two whilst doing so! Surely it won't be worse than Collingwood's efforts.

I like to see spinners get an over or two with a hard ball. A bit more bounce and a bit quicker, could make something happen.

 

[Craig]

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.

Vaughan and Trescothick bat the other way around.

The thing that annoys me is that England went and played for a draw from the outset when their second innings started. They should at least make an attempt to go for the runs - they have the players who can do so.

If you find you cant win, fine shut up shop and block for the day but not make an attempt to win. I would rather see England lose going for a win then lose playing for a draw.

 

[Rik]

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.

Not irrelevant. Form is scoring runs, at the moment Collingwood looks like he's either not a Test batsman and is scraping through, or is out of form and scraping through...

As for Nass, you seem to have a very poor memory if you've forgotten all the times he's saved us with the bat. Quality player, unless you forgot...

 

[Rik]

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.

One Test doth not a career make or break. Sorry but I'd go for Nass any day of the week over Collingwood in any situation. To drop him wouldn't be unfair, it would just be the typical "horses for courses" approach, IE we don't want to draw this time so we will pick someone who can actually play shots instead of block...

 

[luckyeddie]

Not irrelevant. Form is scoring runs, at the moment Collingwood looks like he's either not a Test batsman and is scraping through, or is out of form and scraping through...

As for Nass, you seem to have a very poor memory if you've forgotten all the times he's saved us with the bat. Quality player, unless you forgot...

I'm not disputing Nasser's talent - I'm not suggesting that he should be dropped in favour of Collingwood either. Where on Earth did you get that idea from?

I was merely intimating that Collingwood's efforts in the last two tests were crucial in ensuring that England were still in the series, and that the runs he scored were largely irrelevant in the circumstances but the time spent in accumulating them wasn't.

 

[Rik]

I'm not disputing Nasser's talent - I'm not suggesting that he should be dropped in favour of Collingwood either. Where on Earth did you get that idea from?

I was merely intimating that Collingwood's efforts in the last two tests were crucial in ensuring that England were still in the series, and that the runs he scored were largely irrelevant in the circumstances but the time spent in accumulating them wasn't.

Ok, sorry for assuming you did, my mistake (don't mention Clarke...shhhhh)

Yeah I know he played a key role, but so did others, and blocking 2 Tests out seems a quite odd way of claiming someone is in form, let alone form warrenting kicking a proven batsman out. I just can't see the logic, he's not shown he can score runs in Test cricket, so untill he does, Nass plays ahead of him if they don't want to play 7 batsmen...(if you count Read as a batsman...)

 

[luckyeddie]

Ok, sorry for assuming you did, my mistake (don't mention Clarke...shhhhh)

My lips are sealed

<quack> mine aren..... (choke)

All better.

 

[PY]

180/5 (58.5 overs)

Flintoff 36* (44)
Batty 4* (37)

Flintoff isn't being shy with the willow.

 

[luckyeddie]

197-5 at tea.

Freddie's coming off - what a difference when England bats first (although shot selection still a little iffy).

Another sound start, then the familiar middle-order collapse.

I'm delighted to see they've gone in with a balanced side, although I would definitely have chosen Croft as a spining option. Batty's heroics with the bat in this series seem to have earned him his place - and I'm not arguing.

 

[Tim]

Well the reason why Flintoff has come off is because he's decided to stay in his crease against Murali & attack the other weaker bowlers.

 

[Craig]

He made 77. His first significant contribution with the bat.

Had a check on the PwC that he is ranked 46 in the world with the bat in Test cricket. he dropped two places.

Michael Vaughan is at 8 and Trescothick in the 20s but I cant remember Trescothick's ranking.

Attapatu's in the 30s.

 

[chris.hinton]

Give Batty a Chance he will be better in England than Giles would

 

[Tim]

Sri Lanka only 1 run behind with 8 wickets to spare in their first innings.

400+ looks odds on, unless we see the typical jitters when a team is in such a commanding position.

 

[marc71178]

Give Batty a Chance he will be better in England than Giles would

Based on?

Giles has been superb in this series, and Batty rather less so.

Why will the roles reverse when the conditions change?

 

[Langeveldt]

Based on?

It's all to do with Flight...

 

[marc71178]

It's all to do with Flight...

So Batty's problems are because he's scared of flying?!

 

[Craig]

Not good for England.

455/4 with Jayawardene 134 b Flintoff c Collingwood (sub)
Samarweera 142 run out.

Flintoff has perhaps been under bowled.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Not good for England.

455/4 with Jayawardene 134 b Flintoff c Collingwood (sub)
Samarweera 142 run out.

Flintoff has perhaps been under bowled.

Perhaps. Then again, England might be resting him waiting for the new ball in about 12 overs' time...with the dark coming on as well, could be interesting. It's pretty hot out there as well, so pacemen have to be careful not to be exhausted.

Think it's more a case of overbowling of Gareth Batty (37.5-4-111-0, to continue on his poor statistics)

Tillekaratne bowled cleanly by Giles for 12...SL at 457/5, with mighty Dilshan pairing with Chandana.

 

[marc71178]

Flintoff has perhaps been under bowled.

According to the commentary he has been very very unlucky (yet again!)

And he has a groin injury.

And Butcher a hand injury.

What a great day to be English!

 

[Craig]

Especially since Ferdinand got banned.