**Official** Sri Lanka in England / Scotland - 2011

[Furball]

This comes with the qualification that I haven't seen much of this Test, but I'm getting fed up with reading the words 'wasted the new ball' when reading about Broad.

 

[Andre]

Anyone else watch the discussion about the future of Test cricket between Gower, Nasser, Holding and John Stephenson? Was very interesting to watch I thought.

Holding is a very astute judge of the game and the couple of points he raised were outstanding. I don't thin Stephenson handled the questioning well - he seemed to have a bit of a 'of you don't think we should do it my way you can get stuffed' sort of attitude about him.

 

[hang on]

I didn't see what happened yesterday but he was far better than Tremlett with the new ball on Saturday. Beat the bat plenty of times.

for the first 3 overs or so, sure. during that time ie for the first 5 or so overs of the innings the lankan openers could barely play a single convincing shot and were beaten about 80 percent of the time.

 

[Jayzamann]

Morning guys.

Haven't really been right on top of things with this series, but I have some spare time today to watch play when it starts. I'd say a draw looks on the cards if the weather has anything to say, but that's what I said when I was discussing the Cardiff test at this stage over some pints.

Any result will be good besides a draw, imo.

 

[Spark]

Broad's first spell was 5 overs for 5 runs.

4 of those came off a genuine edge to 3rd man.

 

[Jayzamann]

He's still pretty, though. Easy to hate on.

 

[Athlai]

Soooo much rain. So sick of weather ruining Test matches.

 

[Woodster]

Soooo much rain. So sick of weather ruining Test matches.

Yes it's a pain, although should the weather and light not take more time out of the game today we are still scheduled to play 83.4 overs in the day, so shouldn't lose too many overs. However, I realise the key part of that post, and that's if the weather remains fine.

Sri Lanka bat well again today and they become the only side that can win this game on day five. England need to bowl very well and hit back at a few criticisms over their performance in this Test, then we'll see the ambitions of England and whether again they genuinely believe they can still win this Test, regardless of how unlikely that may look at the moment.

 

[social]

Broad's first spell was 5 overs for 5 runs.

4 of those came off a genuine edge to 3rd man.

And the rest they left

This was definitely a case of a low economy rate meaning jack ****

 

[Spark]

Not really, no. He got as many plays and misses as leaves.

EDIT: Geez those wafts that Samaraweera plays look horrible

 

[Spark]

Extras gets to its half-century.

EDIT: Well bowled, important wicket.


EDIT2: And another! Not surprised, Samaraweera (does he have a short nickname of some kind?) looked pretty average out there for his whole knock.

 

[Woodster]

Very good wicket for England, well done Finn that's three in the W column. Hasn't been too impressive so far this morning, but that will do his confidence no harm.

Another wicket!! Full delivery from Tremlett, little movement in the feet from Samaraweera, now England can smell a first innings lead!

 

[wpdavid]

Not entirely sure why Onions wasnt picked IMO. Head and shoulders a better bowler than Finn and its easy to forget that he never got dropped, was in our first choice attack before Tremlett came around. Hes proved his fitness this season and has had a good start so it just seems like a logical decision. Dont know enough about Dernbach to comment.

fwiw Onions was dropped for the last test in SA and then got injured. Shouldn't have been dropped of course, but there you go. I'd certainly be happy to see him in the squad for the 3rd test.

 

[hazsa19]

There's still almost 2 full days of cricket left in this. Sri Lanka certainly are not the only side that can win this.

 

[Spark]

And on to Spark's favourite pet peeve.

Why is there a deep backward square in?!?!

EDIT: Like that. How the hell does a shot like that deserve two runs?

 

[Woodster]

And on to Spark's favourite pet peeve.

Why is there a deep backward square in?!?!

No idea, no short leg in to Jayawardena who has just arrived at the crease. Why not challenge him to see if he can hook early in his innings and do away with the deep backward square, there's a long leg in place for any mistimed hooks.

Also keep the short ball as a surprise delivery anyway.

 

[hazsa19]

I'de give Finn a thump if I were Prior

 

[Spark]

Geez poor Prior. Think he's saved about 40 runs already. After making a hundred too.

 

[Woodster]

Finn and Tremlett really testing Prior out in this session. There's been some excellent deliveries in amongst a fair bit of mis-directed rubbish, of which I'm sure Prior will mention to them in no uncertain terms at the tea interval.

Now for a bit of Broad, figures currently reading 0-102, ouch.

 

[Spark]

Does anyone think the ump was waiting for Broad to, y'know, appeal before giving it? Looked kinda plumb. Good ball though, darting in a long way.