**Official** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2016

[TheJediBrah]

Sri Lanka have really nose-dived in quality. First time I really noticed was the NZ tour but I'm guessing it's been going on longer than that?

Wouldn't be surprised if Bangladesh provided stiffer competition than them these days.

 

[harsh.ag]

SL to win the next test resulting in a grand total of 0 people retracting their statements.

 

[StephenZA]

SL to win the next test resulting in a grand total of 0 people retracting their statements.

Well Leicester City won the Premiership and Trump is going to be Republican nominee so technically anything is possible this year...(even though both those events had a better chance than SL winning the 2nd test, based on this last result).

 

[YorksLanka]

I would like to see Kusal Perera come straight into the team as keeper and no7. Then I suppose question is,do we give the openers one last chance or change it..if we keep it then I think Kusal mendis showed a little of his promise in the second innings at headingley so for me, keeps #3 slot.Chandi and Mathews 4&5 maybe Siriwardena at 6 , KP at 7 , shanaka/ dickwella at 8 , Herath 9 , Pradeep & Chameera..

If we change the openers, then possibly mendis & silva with everyone moving up and both shanaka and dickwella playing..hopefully our boys will be using the extra days using a bowling machine with the swing setting on until they actually develop some kind of defence to the swinging ball...looking forward to being at Durham on Sunday- just hope the game is still on by then!!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Woakes added to squad as Stokes is out.

 

[YorksLanka]

Woakes added to squad as Stokes is out.

Good move for England, I do rate him..shame for stokes not playing at the riverside or Emirates ICG Durham as I should say..

 

[91Jmay]

Hope he gets some form knocking over Durham later today. Bail us out of the hole the ****ing batsmen put us in, collapsing against one of the greenest seam attacks you could come up against.

 

[91Jmay]

He has 4 for 29 off 13 so far. Doing very well, and bowling quickly if reports from ground are to be believed.

 

[Prince EWS]

Woakes has scored lots of runs this season but didn't seem in great form with the ball until now (still taking some wickets but leaking lots of runs in an Unwoakeslike fashion) so that's a really good sign.

 

[91Jmay]

5 for 30 now. Yeah sounds like he has put it together today.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

8-36 is taking the piss a bit. Will be harsh not to play him after that but I want Ball to play.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, stunning day with the ball. Some runs in 2nd dig should secure his place.

9-36 now. Amazing work.

 

[Compton]

Woakes finishes with 9-36.

Welcome back to the England side, Chris!

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Yeah, ridiculous figures. Hard not to pick him now.

 

[Howe_zat]

No hoax no jokes
Always one of these blokes

 

[Tromperie]

Wasn't Woakes always considered better in four-day cricket (and consequently with the potential to be better in tests) than in one day and 20/20 formats? Don't remember any outstanding, or even excellent performances by him for England in the shorter formats.

 

[grecian]

Wasn't Woakes always considered better in four-day cricket (and consequently with the potential to be better in tests) than in one day and 20/20 formats? Don't remember any outstanding, or even excellent performances by him for England in the shorter formats.

Always should have been the way, but the selectors as ever wrongly use ODI's as a rehearsal for picking Test players, particularly if they have an all-round game. Particularly ridiculous with Woakes as his record in List a is appalling and he's managed to play 43 ODI's.

Has to be said the current management do seem to be a bit better at realising this blatantly obvious fact, Topley and Willey in ODI's, Ball, Footit and Wood in Test reckoning. It's only taken us about 40 years.

 

[91Jmay]

Woakes ODI record is ok. Not that dissimilar to Broad's, who many have called to be recalled on numerous occasions.

 

[YorksLanka]

Oh ffs, just read that chameera has a stress fracture in his back and is returning to SL .apparently he has been told to rest for four months.I did state earlier jokingly that I was worried he would break in half..#balls

 

[Gnske]

Injury to insult that is, Lakmal/Eranga/Pradeep is going to be so much fun.