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

[Cabinet96]

This is going to sound wise after the event, but why didn't Chris come in earlier, I mean we know he hits a long ball.

Anyway, reckon the weather will save us here.

Not like the people above him did terribly. Except for Bopara obvs.

 

[theegyptian]

yes gotta back the batters unless they are blockers.

Imo one of the biggest successes of Giles reign as coach was the improvement in Jordan and Bresnan's hitting at the end of the innings.

Jordan even though he was useful with the bat had never really shown any great aptitude with the bat as a lower order bat with Sussex or Surrey. It looks like they've worked a bit on the technical side and harnessed his power and a good eye and he now looks a promising lower order bat who can clear the boundary. Always more than useful.

Even Bresnan as much as I hate has turned himself into a more than credible no.8 bat in ODI cricket with decent skills.

 

[viriya]

I still don't get why Hales isn't in the team..

 

[grecian]

I still don't get why Hales isn't in the team..

.....they didn't pick him

 

[BoyBrumby]

Skinny lad, Gurney. Arms like pipe cleaners. Not often Jimmeh the stockier bowler.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Jos's keeping remains a work in progress then.

 

[viriya]

.....they didn't pick him

Yes, but why? Only Eoin Morgan should be picked ahead of him in ODIs imo. I realize he doesn't have experience aside from T20Is, but is it that much of a stretch to think he would be successful in ODIs?

He has a 36.76 avg with a 136.37 strike rate in T20Is, if he does even remotely close to that in ODIs he would warrant a place. England should be looking to get him experience in ODIs before the world cup..

 

[BoyBrumby]

Man has a point; I'd like to see one basher in the top three at least. Whether it's Hales, Lumb or whomsoever.

 

[theegyptian]

Leask hit the ball better than anyone in the whole game. Not a big bloke but hit the ball really cleanly. Really surprised he hasn't played any second team cricket for any of the counties. I for one would like to see Gloucestershire pick him up as an option for the T20 and 50 over on the basis of the one innings. Certainly has talent and at 23 still plenty of time to mould his game.

 

[Furball]

Gave us Ferguson, ffs.

&, yes, I know he's from Govan before some clever **** points it out.

Ferguson was quite a happy go lucky chap before he spend 7 years up there.

 

[FBU]

Yeah, he's been picked specifically for this reason.

Is that to replace Dernbach? Woakes' name was down to play until it became a 23 over match.

 

[Woodster]

The mighty Essex host the touring Sri Lankans today in a 50-over game. Good to see Reece Topley back and fit for Essex who have had a terrible run of injuries in the pace department so will be depleted in this area with Masters, Napier and Mills all missing out due to injury. Matt Salisbury is being given his first-team debut in light of the injury list, and the other bowlers in action include Monty and loan player Oliver Newby. On the plus side, England skipper Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara will get a close look at the Sri Lankans today, hope James Foster goes well aswell to strengthen his outside claims of a possible Test call (different format I know but good performances in these games never go amiss).

 

[King Pietersen]

Carberry is back then. Very interesting selection, thought his time with England was up!

 

[theegyptian]

England T20 Squad: Morgan (Capt) Ali Bell Bopara Bresnan Buttler Carberry Gurney Hales Jordan Root Tredwell Woakes

England ODI Squad (match 1-3): Cook Anderson Ballance Bell Bopara Bresnan Buttler Carberry Gurney Jordan Morgan Root Tredwell Woakes



I actually like Carberry coming back into these teams as long as he isn't selected for test cricket. They may have finally got the right versions of the game. Didn't show much of it against Aus last summer but I like his short form batting and I think he is a better and more consistent bat than Hales. Wish they had got it right this winter as we're now 9 months further down the road and with no greater understanding of whether Carberry is good enough in the shorter formats.

Bowling is awful but there are no obviously better candidates. Bresnan and Woakes predictability and lack of pace make them hittable. Gurney is meh for the 50over stuff but the other left armers are all injured.

 

[theegyptian]

listening to the essex game. Cook hacking it around. Although he did just play a scoop of the seamer for a 6 which must be a first.


And a second scoop for six.

 

[grecian]

Foakes getting a 50, means we're ever closer to Foakes, Stokes, Woakes, it'll happen people, keep-the-faith.

 

[Howe_zat]

Taken a couple in the Lankans' hashed up chase as well. Oliver Newby I quite like, but failing against Greg Smith's a bit of a shocker.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah, not too bothered about losing a rain affected match on a ****ty English evening but it's not exactly encouraging, elsewhere Sanga is 30 not out for Durham, hoping he gets some good time in the middle under his belt.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Sangakkara has apparently hardly middled anything in his innings so far, been put down twice already and edged plenty of deliveries. Still out there though, which is great for him. He absolutely needs to spend some more time out there. If he flops in England once again, I do t think I'll be able to put him up in the Ponting, Dravid class.

Pretty sure he'll do well though, because he's shown determination and the fact that many edges haven't carried to the slips means he's playing with soft hands. Good sign.

 

[Maximas]

It's why having the ODIs before the tests is a good thing, players get more time to prepare for the real thing