***Official*** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2014

[flibbertyjibber]

Finn was considerably quicker and a hell of a lot more threatening when I saw them both bowl at Lords in the CC this year.

Trouble is Finn has the black mark of the winter against him and they want him to play far more county games before bringing him back to let him get full confidence in himself again.

 

[Prince EWS]

Come on Cook, run a ball 100 will do you the world of good.

The last thing this game needs from a spectator's perspective is a Cook ton against Sri Lanka's bowlers though. Getting a good look at the newer players and/or watching Bell bat would have its advantages, but after three and a bit days of runs upon runs on a slow but consistent surface, a Cook ton at this point would be too much.

 

[Maximas]

It's very much a new ball wicket, gotta cash in when the ball is moving a little to try and put a bit of pressure on the English and keep them in two minds about whether to bat positively and set a target or simply try to ensure a draw

 

[Riggins]

Cook's helmet is ****ing disgusting.

 

[Adders]

What England need here is a couple of openers not afraid of failing.......we've got a debutant with a score of 1 in the first dig and a skipper in desperate need of runs.

This is not an easy situation to bat for either of these two IMO.

 

[Cabinet96]

Robson looks far too much like Bairstow under a lid for my liking.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Robson looks far too much like Bairstow under a lid for my liking.

Nothing like him, Robson moves his feet at the crease.

 

[stumpski]

Camera picks out KP in the crowd. "Supporting his ex-team mates" says Strauss. Not necessarily, Andrew ...

 

[Flem274*]

ooh look a box of douches

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Camera picks out KP in the crowd. "Supporting his ex-team mates" says Strauss. Not necessarily, Andrew ...

I think Strauss was being a bit cheeky saying that. The com box burst into laughter when he did.

More pressure on the captain with another failure.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

From cricinfo again:

Daniel: "Those two wickets have bought Sri Lanka back into the game, they can chase a target of 350 in 60 overs on this pitch." ???!!!!!

 

[Spark]

Decent spell this, given the deck

 

[stumpski]

Belly flops.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Ooops, good job we have a 122 run lead going into this innings, looks like we will need them.

 

[Viscount Tom]

From cricinfo again:

Daniel: "Those two wickets have bought Sri Lanka back into the game, they can chase a target of 350 in 60 overs on this pitch." ???!!!!!

Cricinfo isn't to be used seriously in terms of its comms. You'd get a more fair and balanced and sensible commentary with Jono if Kohli was batting horribly.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Where's Michael Vaughan when you need him? "In fact Sri Lanka have nothing more than a glorified county attack..."
There might be a lead of 190 (and counting) but this is against a side with a world-class spinner and statistically the best batsman since Bradman.

 

[Riggins]

this would be so amazing if england lost this.

 

[Spark]

That's beautiful bowling

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Just a few signs the pitch is playing up a bit, not much but the odd ball.

 

[Pothas]

This could probably be going better.