*Official* England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

I doubt you would find many advocating that England play 2 spinners in Sri Lanka.

England selectors to name 2 spinners in side in 5....4....3....

After Giles' performance in Bangladesh, I have certainly changed my mind about 2 spinners in Sri Lanka. I was hoping to see Giles average about 25 in Bangladesh, then see him and Croft in tandem in Sri Lanka, but now I would like to see Croft by himself. I still think he's unlikely to get the call, though.
As for Batty, well, the sooner he's dropped the better, too. If he plays in Sri Lanka I predict he'll be "flippin' murdered".
However, I still don't think Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson, Flintoff, Saggers or even Johnson will offer-up much of a chance of dismissing Sri Lanka cheaply.
Why did Goughie have to get picked when he was? Why? Why couldn't he have got the recall at Trent Bridge? Then I bet you he'd still be there, and with him in the side, even without White, Sri Lanka are a totally different prospect. Johnson's as good as him on green seamers but nothing like him on flat, dry, grassless surfaces.

 

[Tim]

I think England are going to rely alot on their spinners who returned some ordinary figures against Bangladesh.

 

[Craig]

I have seen Batty bowl in two one-day internationals when England toured Australia and to me, he looked out of his depth.

I dont know what he is like at his FC level without looking at his stats, but I presume is like any other finger spinner?

 

[Richard]

Interestingly not - and shame on you, Craig, for not having looked it up - Batty's First-Class record is impressive; his List-A LO record last season was excellent too (3.97-an-over).
I actually rate Batty as a one-day bowler at domestic level, but I don't think he's international standard. As david said a while ago, more of his wickets than not have been lower-order - 2 for 70 turned into 4 for 90 or so. This has happened quite a bit, and it's very similar to Giles' situation in his Test career from 2002 to early 2003. Late wickets (almost exclusively wickets 9 and 10 to fall in the innings) regularly improved his figures in that period - just a shame it didn't happen in Bangladesh!

 

[shamz]

Eng in SL

Yep, looking forward to enjoying two competitive teams while spending a few days on the beautiful beaches. I think we can expect a good, tough series...figure it'll end in a draw

 

[luckyeddie]

Welcome to the forum, shamz.

 

[LankanPrince]

One up all,

England better watch out cause the Sri Lankan boyz are gonna come at you harder than before. You think Murali is only threat, wrong you have to contend with one of the World Cup 2003 leading wicket takers, my man Chaminda Vaas. Also Marvan and Kumar are great test batters. I admit our recent form hasn't been great but under new management and playin in front of the good old home crowds England cannot take it easy. The key to our success is not due to few individuals, this time I am certain our team will pull together and fulfill the great potential. This time we'll get our revenge in the test series vs. our dear old rivals. I hope for a more competitive and exciting series than the previous encounters.

 

[JohnnyA]

I think it's unfair to say England Sri Lanka matches have been boring. I have some great memories of recent matches: the series in SL last time was excellent, the one-off match at the Oval was a classic (Jayasuria double Ton & Murali's demon bowling).

I can't wait to see Murali weave his magic again ... Is he 100% fit ... I hope so ... although i'm sure a few English batsmen might disagree

 

[luckyeddie]

One up all,

England better watch out cause the Sri Lankan boyz are gonna come at you harder than before. You think Murali is only threat, wrong you have to contend with one of the World Cup 2003 leading wicket takers, my man Chaminda Vaas. Also Marvan and Kumar are great test batters. I admit our recent form hasn't been great but under new management and playin in front of the good old home crowds England cannot take it easy. The key to our success is not due to few individuals, this time I am certain our team will pull together and fulfill the great potential. This time we'll get our revenge in the test series vs. our dear old rivals. I hope for a more competitive and exciting series than the previous encounters.

No doubt, Lankan Prince. Good to see you back again. I think that Sri Lanka have a pretty nice balance in theside - and if Murali really fires, it's going to be an incredibly difficult series for England. I'd walk away with a draw gladly.

 

[LankanPrince]

There have been some classic encounters between the 2 sides especially 1998 Oval test match with the awesome batting of Sanath Jayasuriya and Graeme Hick and not mention Murali's 9 wicket haul. 2001 series in Lanka was also exciting with Engalnd just edging out Sri Lanka. It was in the 2002 series in the UK that I was most dissappointed with our boyz. To be honest England and India annihalated us. I don't want repeat of that series just a close fought encounter with both teams giving 100%. Also do not want C**p umpiring and aggression to spoil series.

:P

 

[marc71178]

Also do not want C**p umpiring and aggression to spoil series.

As a Sri Lankan, Asoka can't officiate, so that's 1 down immediately!

 

[LankanPrince]

No I think that is a bit unfair. Asoka is fairly decent compared to the likes of useless guys like BC Cooray and Billy Bowden. Asoka has had to officiate in some very high key series. We must remember that even umpires who you guyz think are great like David Sheperd and Steve Bucknor can occasionally make shocking decisions. They are just human. But I cannot stand Bowden. He jokes around too much and makes big mistakes not mentioning the SL v Windies ODI series. :!(

 

[Rich2001]

No I think that is a bit unfair. Asoka is fairly decent compared to the likes of useless guys like BC Cooray and Billy Bowden.

I have to disagree with Billy Bowden, I hadn't seen much of him and I was hearing horror stories about how bad he was... but I think either he has improved of the face of this earth or noone likes his way of doing things, as I've seen him alot now and I can't seriously think of a bad Match all through the World Cup, Australia vs West Indies, England vs Various Teams, Australia vs Zimbabwe etc and his been one of the best umpires him and Simon Taful (where's Eyes ) have been among the best umpires this year IMO.

And above all I respect Billy Bowden's attitude, some of you take the game way way to serious at times and he is a bit of light relief with his humorous look on things.

 

[LankanPrince]

Quite a good point Rich. Sometimes unnecessary tension and aggression between players ruins a match. After all cricket is a game to enjoy so humor is important. However professionals play cricket to earn a living and do not always appreciate humor when the umpire does not do his job properly. Cricket is a business. Just imagine a manager or executive who treated workers unfairly but was a humourous guy. I don't think his humor would be well appreciated if it came before him doing his job properly.:duh:

 

[Mr. P]

I saw Billy Bowden umpire recently in Australia and he was very good. I like the man and the eccentric part of his umpiring is just a bit of fun.

 

[marc71178]

Asoka is fairly decent compared to the likes of useless guys like BC Cooray and Billy Bowden. Asoka has had to officiate in some very high key series.

I wouldn't mind betting that Asoka has been responsible for more shockers since the introduction of the panel than any other member of the panel!

 

[JohnnyA]

I saw Billy Bowden umpire recently in Australia and he was very good. I like the man and the eccentric part of his umpiring is just a bit of fun.

Bowden's good ... too pedantic with little issues like light etc. Made some howlers in that department this last summer (ask Trescothick and Butcher LOL). Decent umpire though.

Asoka is VERRRYYYY dubious. Especially if the ball is seaming about. He looks bemused up there sometimes.

 

[Top_Cat]

No I think that is a bit unfair. Asoka is fairly decent compared to the likes of useless guys like BC Cooray and Billy Bowden. Asoka has had to officiate in some very high key series. We must remember that even umpires who you guyz think are great like David Sheperd and Steve Bucknor can occasionally make shocking decisions. They are just human. But I cannot stand Bowden. He jokes around too much and makes big mistakes not mentioning the SL v Windies ODI series.

So on one hand you point out that umpires are human and occasionally make bad mistakes and then criticise Bowden for making big errors? Could it be that he just had one bad series? I've seen him officiate in several series' and he's been outstanding with very few mistakes.

Asoka on the other hand has been disgraceful. His umpiring has been SO bad that he seems almost afraid to make the correct decisions now for fear that he's not really sure. Some of the decisions in the Aus vs WI series coupled with the the home series in South Africa where he made some howlers as well as his performance in England leads me to believe that he must be the absolute worst umpire in Tests currently standing (not the worst ever; that's Darrel Hair).

 

[Neil Pickup]

I wouldn't mind betting that Asoka has been responsible for more shockers since the introduction of the panel than any other member of the panel!

Or the rest of the panel put together.

Corey, hate to correct you on another technicality, but Darrell Hair is currently standing. He stood in the 3rd (?) Test at Trent Bridge (?) this summer with Daryl Harper.

JohnnyA - Trescothick chose to go off for light...

 

[LankanPrince]

Ok Ok guys enough with the cussing of Asoka, just lay off him. Who do you think would be a better replacement for him on the panel?. I don't think the ICC are made up of a crew of idiots. Asoka would have been selected for a good reason (according to the ICC). Asoka may not be the best but he must stand out above umpires outside the panel otherwise he would not have been chosen.:!(