***Official*** England vs Sri Lanka 21st August-10th September 2024

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

If its a torn hamstring i'd be surprised if stokes is fit for the mini ashes in september or the pakistan tour.
is atkinson playing in the 100 circus?

He’s in the Oval Invincibles squad but hasn’t played, some England players have had their playing time managed, some fatefully not so much, but I’d have thought a fast bowler who has had injury problems in the past will be allowed to sit it out

 

[Prince EWS]

Stokes being ruled out of this due to participating in the crappest and most pointless competition imaginable is so annoying.

As said before though, "cricketer injured playing cricket" should probably be treated more as what it is. He could have easily been injured bowling in the nets if he wasn't playing that game. It's lot like he's just tired - he pulled a hammy.

 

[sledger]

As said before though, "cricketer injured playing cricket" should probably be treated more as what it is. He could have easily been injured bowling in the nets if he wasn't playing that game. It's lot like he's just tired - he pulled a hammy.

It's more like "cricketer injured taking part in garish and pointless circus exhibition" though.

 

[Silver Silva]

They are already playing the backup bat in Lawrence that they like so they'll probably go a straight swap for Stokes->Woakes. It looks like a long-ish tail with Woakes batting behind the keeper, but batting him at #7 at home against Sri Lanka should be well in his wheelhouse, and it lets them tryout more bowlers.

Last time Stokes got injured mid-summer was 2020 where they played Woakes at #7 in a five man attack.

Woakes at No.7, Crawley injured, captain injured , Anderson retired, rookie spinner ..

England are there for the taking !

 

[Howe_zat]

Crawley being injured is required to give the opposition some hope, I suppose. Always the case.

 

[Silver Silva]

Crawley being injured is required to give the opposition some hope, I suppose. Always the case.

Has Lawrence ever opened in FC ?
If not it has to be seen as a risk , Crawley has been impressive since Bazball era began

 

[Chin Music]

Has Lawrence ever opened in FC ?
If not it has to be seen as a risk , Crawley has been impressive since Bazball era began

It's more true to say that he's been closer to international quality since the start of the McCullum era, but an average of circa 35 is hardly "impressive", it is more that he has a reasonably regular impact, rather than a whole host of bungalows surrounding a skyscraper so to speak.

 

[Howe_zat]

Has Lawrence ever opened in FC ?
If not it has to be seen as a risk , Crawley has been impressive since Bazball era began

Nah Crawley was terrible up to the 2023 Ashes, he's only actually been delivering for about a year.

I agree that Lawrence coming in doesn't help, it breaks up a now working opening partnership and he's not exactly accomplished. It's just funny to see opponents pleased to see the back of Crawley when all the England supporters wanted nothing to do with him for ages.

 

[Prince EWS]

Has Lawrence ever opened in FC ?
If not it has to be seen as a risk , Crawley has been impressive since Bazball era began

I randomly noticed that Lawrence opened in County Seconds in Anthony Ireland's last game (about ten years ago). They were probably pepping him to open in the CC at that time.

But aside from that - nah I don't think so.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I dunno if there's an element of "it's Sri Lanka at home" in the decision. Let the guy who's been reserve bat for ages get a go even though it's not his natural position. If this was for the Ashes would they want a proper opener? (Might just be that Jennings isn't Bazball enough for the team regardless...)

 

[Migara]

Woakes at No.7, Crawley injured, captain injured , Anderson retired, rookie spinner ..

England are there for the taking !

Mark Wood is there. Other than for Dimuth and Chandimal, i don't see any one technically capable and has the nerve to get hit. Mathews, although has heart to play quick bowling, is awfully slow now, and would be a sorry sight. DDS does have time to play any quick bowler, but has no heart to take the heat. Nissanka is yet to be tested. If he comes out playing Wood well, he would be the next SL batting superstar.

 

[Silver Silva]

Mark Wood is there. Other than for Dimuth and Chandimal, i don't see any one technically capable and has the nerve to get hit. Mathews, although has heart to play quick bowling, is awfully slow now, and would be a sorry sight. DDS does have time to play any quick bowler, but has no heart to take the heat. Nissanka is yet to be tested. If he comes out playing Wood well, he would be the next SL batting superstar.

Yes it won't be easy, but the good thing is there is experience in the side, something that the West Indies lacked ..

Dimuth, Angelo and Chandimal were in the side that won a series in England back in 2014, there aren't many active test players that can say that. We've only had 1 tour to England since that win.

Also a lot of these players were part of the side that won a series in South Africa in 2019 against good fast bowlers , plus we are on a 3 test winning streak with the top 6 getting plenty of runs so confidence should be high ..

We are definitely underdogs but we shouldn't back down from the challenge..

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Beeb saying that we won’t call up anyone to the squad, so it must be either Cox or Potts to come in. While we do have two decent part-time spin options, McCullum and Stokes clearly like Bashir so I don’t think he’ll give way, I suspect it’ll be Potts to come in and Smith and Woakes to move up

 

[Silver Silva]

Beeb saying that we won’t call up anyone to the squad, so it must be either Cox or Potts to come in. While we do have two decent part-time spin options, McCullum and Stokes clearly like Bashir so I don’t think he’ll give way, I suspect it’ll be Potts to come in and Smith and Woakes to move up

I reckon Atkinson and Wood won't play all 3 tests due to workload management

 

[Blenkinsop]

He was a "next cab off the rank" kinda pick which is normal and there are no openers making case for selection.

This isn't quite true, it's been a productive year for openers in the championship. I could get why England don't want to return to Jennings, Lyth or Davies but Emilio Gay for example has scored buckets of runs at 60+.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Also wtf is this Lions side all about? There are two players I've literally never heard of!

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Also wtf is this Lions side all about? There are two players I've literally never heard of!

Clearly selected on the basis of "who isn't playing in the Hundred" but yeah it's been used as a developmental XI rather than an England A side here.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

I reckon Atkinson and Wood won't play all 3 tests due to workload management

Fully expect Stone to come in for Wood for one of the Tests, Atkinson did play all 3 Tests against the Windies tbf

 

[Molehill]

Seems like most are viewing Stokes more as a bowler than a batsman which is surely not the case. Still think Cox is the most likely replacement.

 

[mackembhoy]

Sri Lanka 58/3 from 18.1 overs after being put into bat by the Lions.

Was a delayed start due to rain. Zaman Akhter of Gloucs taken Sri Lanka's top 3