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

[keeper]

Trott it is then.

Still, something for him to smile about...

 

[Howe_zat]

Besides, who needs Colly's hands when we have Trott's pockets?

Mendis won't trouble top class batsmen until he develops a proper off break and starts to function as a off spinner than a "mixed bag of ****".

Randiv will be difficult to get away anyway, because he's a bowler who beats batsmen on the vertical plane than the horizontal plane. Most of his dismissals come when batsmen misjudges the length of his. Senanayake has almost all the attributes of Randiv (being tall, and accurate), and gives the ball a serious rip. If he gets going, expect to see some batsmen looking up as fools. But with select suckers of SL, who has been ignoring him for two years, I'll be surprised if he's ever picked in the squad, yet alone playing XI.

Interesting. Well, if he's as good as you say he is, there must be a chance of the brand new selection panel giving him a look-in.

 

[Migara]

Interesting. Well, if he's as good as you say he is, there must be a chance of the brand new selection panel giving him a look-in.

He may not set world ablaze, but to average sub 20 for four straight seasons and to be the best bowler of FC cricket should mean something.

 

[Spark]

So, if everyone's fit, what XI do we play?

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Morgan
Prior
Broad
Swann
Tremlett
Anderson

Or does Bresnan keep his place? Hard choice.

This looks a bloody good side I have to say.

 

[tooextracool]

SL seamers may not necessarily have to move it, the red ball is perfectly capable of doing that itself at this time of year - the fact that it's currently 20 degrees and glorious is guaranteed to not last... there must be a decent reason why the bloke averages so poorly in Championship cricket.

Bopara's bowling must be a tempter, even given the horlicks he made of playing Australia in 2009 - he has shown that he can make runs against other Test attacks, and number six may well suit him more than three ever did. I think a lot will depend on the way Ravi and Eoin start the season - anyone else (Hildreth, Taylor, Lyth, Gale) will need to set the grounds on fire to get noticed. Possibly literally.

No thanks on Ravi. He hasnt shown he can score runs against any half decent pace attack. AFAIC, scoring runs for the Lions should be considered a prerequisite for playing for England and given that neither Bopara (who I dont think is capable of it) or Morgan have done so, Im going to pass on both and vote for Hildreth.

 

[Kylez]

Migara, would Weledgadara ( spelt incorrectly ) be in the frame for these test matches? I can remember him running through India's top order with a nice display of left arm swing bowling. Taking into the account the conditions and SL's need for a decent swing bowler, I thought his name would of popped up by now.

 

[tooextracool]

Broad doesn't deserve to get dropped if he's fully fit, so he'll come back in. There's less need for a long-game bowler like Bresnan on home wickets so I daresay he'll miss out. Hard on him but fair.

I'd like to see Hildreth play in the XI but there's almost no question Morgan will get it despite a lack of county appearances. There's a small chance of Bopara finding his way in but only if he has a fantastic run for Essex over the next month.

Yeah Bresnan would be my last option in England. Fitness and early season form permitting I'd have Onions ahead of all the replacements followed closely by Shahzad.

 

[Neil Pickup]

No thanks on Ravi. He hasnt shown he can score runs against any half decent pace attack. AFAIC, scoring runs for the Lions should be considered a prerequisite for playing for England and given that neither Bopara (who I dont think is capable of it) or Morgan have done so, Im going to pass on both and vote for Hildreth.

Won't argue there. I hope Sky show the Lions v Sri Lanka game.

EDIT: Which they aren't doing. We're getting WI-Pakistan instead.

 

[mrcheek]

I honestly think Hildreth will get the nod over Morgan and Bopara. He's a proper batsman, with the full range of shots, whereas the others are more suited to ODIs.

Hildreth has been marked as a future England player for years. The trouble has been that he always seemed to hit his best form when there were no vacancies in the England top order. But he successfully captained the England Lions on tour, and is in top form. Unless he has a disastrous start to the season, I think he will get the spot. I hope so anyway, even if it will weaken Somerset!

 

[Isura]

IMO best side for the conditions

Dilshan
Parna
Sanga
Mahela
Samaraweera
Mathews
Kausal Silva
Randiv
Kulasekara
Thusara
Fernando

Silva > Prasanna. no Murali in the side, and we need to strength the lower order batting in case of collapse on English wickets. Worried Fernando can even get through a day of test cricket though

 

[Jarquis]

Migara, what do you know about Seekkuge Prassana?

Also, I'm sincerely hoping we don't opt for Morgan at #6.

 

[grecian]

Onions playing for Durham 2nd XI, took a couple of wickets too. Could be a contender, with almost two months to go.

 

[Furball]

Why don't you suggest the correct one?

Or is that England / Ireland thing?

For your benefit:

 

[four_or_six]

I like this video

 

[Migara]

Migara, would Weledgadara ( spelt incorrectly ) be in the frame for these test matches? I can remember him running through India's top order with a nice display of left arm swing bowling. Taking into the account the conditions and SL's need for a decent swing bowler, I thought his name would of popped up by now.

His form has deserted him, and has not taken much wickets in Premier league. TBH, the best swing bowler SL has is Vaas, albeit bowling at 125k. Kulasekara would be a close second. Nippier ones like Lakmal and Prasad tend to spray it around, Peter North esque.

If fully fit, Mathews and Kulasekara would most probably be SL's two swing bowlers. SL might go to Fernando's pace, bounce and wildness. A fit, firing Thushara would have been a real test in England, but he also injured. SL's pace cupboard for English conditions is empty.

 

[Migara]

Migara, what do you know about Seekkuge Prassana?

Also, I'm sincerely hoping we don't opt for Morgan at #6.

He's an unorthodox legspinner, bowls at pace, and gets a bit of deviation off the pitch. Uses a different grip. Has been knocking on the door, but is about 5th in the pecking order in spinners. Knowing SL selectors, they would go for the reliable option than the gamble, and hence will select Randiv or Herath.

 

[vcs]

Migara, has Vaas announced his international retirement in any format?

 

[GIMH]

Migara, has Vaas announced his international retirement in any format?

I'm sure Rich Dickinson wrote a feature on Vaas's retirement a couple of years ago, cricinfo quoted an extract in 'The Surfer'

 

[vcs]

His cricinfo profile says:

In July 2009, Vaas announced his retirement from Tests but said he will continue to play one-dayers and Twenty20s till the 2011 World Cup.

 

[TT Boy]

Also, I'm sincerely hoping we don't opt for Morgan at #6.

I hope they do. Hildreth = Road Warrior.