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

[Howe_zat]

Is the Northants attack anywhere close to decent?

*checks scorecard*

Coezter 2nd change, 13 overs on day 1

No.

 

[91Jmay]

Coezter 2nd change? Jesus.

 

[social]

*checks scorecard*

Coezter 2nd change, 13 overs on day 1

No.

<shock, gasp horror, cue public outrage as per pre-Ashes whinge> Don't tell me that English counties are fielding sub-standard attacks vs touring side

 

[Pothas]

Totally agree with that last sentence, could end up having two bowlers spraying it around, and if Broad has one of his mediocre days, which occur fairly often, we'll end up getting slapped around. For me, with this squad, Anderson, Broad and Woakes have to play, and then you pick one of the two quicks. Crazy to play both of them.

This is still a potential problem when Stokes is back as well.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Early English summer is the conditions most likely to suit Woakes, so wouldn't have a massive issue with him playing.

Not too convinced with the "abandoning spin" thang (all due respect to Moeen's mildly better than fill-in stuff & Root's mildly worse than fill-in stuff) but whichever way we go we do have serious depth to the batting.

If Plunkett misses out I guess we'll have Jordan or maybe even Broad at #10.

 

[Maximas]

**** attack or not, it's always nice to have some time in the middle and confidence before a test series, I was surprised to see Herath and Eranga not getting a run though

 

[hendrix]

Has James Taylor suffered a form slump or are the selectors still being weird?

 

[Pothas]

Just don't think they rate him much, he has been decent the last couple of years but has not done anything special. Ballance has certainly put in a stronger claim over the last year so it is only Root who he could have an argument to play instead of and England quite clearly still have a lot of faith in him.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, I don't think not playing Taylor here should really be considered "weird"; he's not been unjustly left out for anyone. He should probably be next in line but probably isn't, and I suppose you could call that weird, but he's not been absurdly left out of that eleven.

 

[Daemon]

Is Mathews being rested? Bit weird to see Thirimanne captaining.

 

[YorksLanka]

Is Mathews being rested? Bit weird to see Thirimanne captaining.

yes Angelo is mate,probably to give those a chance that havent finalised a place in in the test team. Thiri is someone that SLC are grooming for future captaincy and he has been appointed as the VC in all three formats.

 

[Flametree]

So what's the SL side for the test going to be? Chandimal or Jayawardene to keep? Thirimanne or Karunaratne to open? I assume Eranga, Pradeep and Herath will play so who's the fourth bowler likely to be? It looks a long tail so one of Prasad or Kulasekera to bat at 8?

 

[Maximas]

Karunaratne
Silva
Sanga
Mahela
Thirimanne
Matthews
PJ
Kula
Herath
Eranga
Pradeep

That's what I suspect they'll go with, Welegedara and Prasad have a shot at the 3rd seamer though too, Chandimal did score a century in his last test too, but with Thirimanne being VC he'll almost certainly play and his struggles against Anderson with the new ball would suggest they'll bat him in the middle order, they also probably don't want to disturb a solid opening partnership that Dimuth and Silva have developed recently.

 

[91Jmay]

The weird thing about Taylor is him being reserve batsmen during the home Ashes, scoring buckets of runs on the A tour to Sri Lanka and now isn't even in the extended squad. His form this season has been decent but not spectacular.

 

[YorksLanka]

Karunaratne
Silva
Sanga
Mahela
Thirimanne
Matthews
PJ
Kula
Herath
Eranga
Pradeep

That's what I suspect they'll go with, Welegedara and Prasad have a shot at the 3rd seamer though too, Chandimal did score a century in his last test too, but with Thirimanne being VC he'll almost certainly play and his struggles against Anderson with the new ball would suggest they'll bat him in the middle order, they also probably don't want to disturb a solid opening partnership that Dimuth and Silva have developed recently.

I think similar with a slight change:
Karunaratne,Silva, Sanga,Mahela,Thirri,Mathews,PJ,Dilruwan,Kula,Eranga/Welegedara,Herath

Given that's its lords, I think we should look to play both spinners(dilruwan also adds batting depth), with three medium pacers

 

[Migara]

Chandimal, Silva, Thirimanne, Sangakkara, MJ, Mathews, PJ, Kule, Prasad, Eranga, Herath

 

[andruid]

I see Sri Lanka are in good nick 500+ at Trent Bridge.

 

[91Jmay]

I see Sri Lanka are in good nick 500+ at Trent Bridge.

*The County Ground

 

[viriya]

I see Sri Lanka are in good nick 500+ at Trent Bridge.

If they can handle Anderson's opening spell, they can possibly post a decent total at Lord's. But I'm pretty sure Sanga will be batting within the first 5 overs.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Depends on which Broad turns up. Can be punishing even with the old ball