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

[Furball]

You could well argue that this isn't great preparation for India though, given their propensity to manufacture close contests and their proficiency in doing just enough to win (or draw if they're behind) by standing up in pressure situations. England don't have a lot of experience in those sort of situations.

Actually, quite a lot of India's wins in the Strauss/Flower era have been thrashings as well.

And as Jake reminded me, in 3 pressure situations England have scraped a draw when 19 wickets down.

Equally, you could well argue that India have yet to come up against a side that really makes pressure and momentum within a Test match count, and that their previous two years experience has been largely worthless because they've not faced a side of the quality and ruthlessness that England possess.

 

[MW1304]

Christ that was boring. These types of game really do kill test cricket.

To give Cardiff its due it does know how to bring life to day 5 of a test after 4 days of rain and averageness

 

[Burgey]

I take it the ICC will look into this result? Or is that only if Pakistan is involved?

 

[MW1304]

Come to think of it i can now change my avatar.

Although i do like the Sri Lanka flag.

Maybe tomorrow.

 

[Zinzan]

^ Apart from this man, where da hell are all the CW Lankan's these days?


Edit: Sensational victory that

 

[Top_Cat]

England's bowling attack has to be one of the most potent in world cricket at the moment, and the strength in depth is considerable too. Anderson, Onions, Bresnan all injured or just recovered from injury. Shahzad, Woakes and Dernbach also of an excellent standard and Finn almost certain to play in the next Test.

Amazing really.

Cool avatar.

 

[Furball]

Cool avatar.

Yours still bugs the bejeesus out of me

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Wow. Well done England. Woke up to hear Radio New Zealand saying how England had won the game and was properly shocked. Given that only one (well, effectively two given how soon England declared) innings was complete and it was pissing down when I went to bed, very shocked. With only 3 fit proper bowlers too. Great stuff.

 

[Austerlitz]

I'm not sure I've ever heard of KP being described as a grafter before...

I meant strauss,bell,cook,trott.More afraid of these guys than KP.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bell's not really a grafter either. If he had the determination and concentration of a Trott or a Cook he'd be amongst the world's best five batsmen IMO.

 

[Cevno]

Cook and Strauss versus Zaheer would be a pretty good contest.

He is exceptional to left handers when it is swinging.

 

[Frakstar]

So this result doesn't smell? At all? To anyone?

 

[NasserFan207]

Not really

If you watched the innings it was mostly down to good bowling, at least to begin with. Some of the lower order batsmen played stupid shots but thats to be expected with pressure

 

[Prince EWS]

So this result doesn't smell? At all? To anyone?

It's really sad that this is a legitimate question within our game now and not just a wacko conspiracy theory. Really sad.

Personally I'll never, ever suspect dubiousness in a sporting result merely because an unlikely outcome was achieved, but I can see why some would.

 

[NasserFan207]

It's really sad that this is a legitimate question within our game now and not just a wacko conspiracy theory. Really sad.

Personally I'll never, ever suspect dubiousness in a sporting result merely because an unlikely outcome was achieved, but I can see why some would.

Whats worse is some people will toss it out to try and excuse their team's shabby performances.

 

[Frakstar]

It's really sad that this is a legitimate question within our game now and not just a wacko conspiracy theory. Really sad.

Personally I'll never, ever suspect dubiousness in a sporting result merely because an unlikely outcome was achieved, but I can see why some would.

I don't wish it either, and yes you are right to say that it's sad that it even crosses my mind, 5 years ago it wouldn't have. But if it walks like a duck...etc. Fair play to the English boys though, must have bowled well, just doesn't sound like much of a fight was put up by the Lankans.

 

[NasserFan207]

I just don't think they came to the final day mentally prepared to play a match. Just assumed it would be rained off and noone would bother.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

Not really

If you watched the innings it was mostly down to good bowling, at least to begin with. Some of the lower order batsmen played stupid shots but thats to be expected with pressure

I agree with this. I can understand, these days (sadly) why someone would think of that, if they didn't watch the match and just saw the result after knowing the build-up to the final day of play.

If they did actually watch Sri Lanka's innings I'd question their sanity a little.

 

[TumTum]

SL, i went to sleep after the 1st over thinking it would be a boring. What a bunch of HTBs

 

[Athlai]

SL's woeful batting depth was exposed tbh.