***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[aussie]

Was at the game today up to when Jones got out & before i moan about England poor performance let me start by comending SRI's ODI outfit, after the VB series earlier this year i didn't really give them a chance to go far in the WC, but based on this series & what i saw of them today they have got a great balance & have a side that can really challenge in the world cup.

England bowling firstly was horrible, Ali surely wont get picked in the WC squad so his bowling performance wasn't surprising, Plunkett after bowling so well in the test just has just gone south, Bresnan also looked lost when Jayawardene & Thangara where going guns blazin. With the bat Cook looked pretty good but dont think he would be the answer to partner Trescothick at the top looks like another Vaughan in the making IMO based on what i've seen of him on TV in the C&G trophy & TS league Joyce could be that man, other than that Dalrymple again was impressive all round.

 

[marc71178]

More inspired captaincy from Strauss. I'm not defending Ali, who's once again bowled like an idiot, but anyone who's watched England over the last couple of years knows that although he can sort of do a job in the middle of an innings, he's always an absolute disaster at the death. So who does Staruss bring back for the 48th over?

The problem is, he could hardly bring back Plunkett or Bresnan and Bell and Solanki are definitely marmite and bovril respectively.

 

[marc71178]

The selection of the one day team is a beyond a farce. Alastair Cook was not even a first team regular for Essex’s one day team last season yet somehow he will now open for us.

To be fair to Cook though it is hard to break into a successful side (and in spite of allegedly having the worst OD bowling attack in the country - doubtful looking at the current England team - Essex lost only 1 of 16 last summer)

He has played this season and not without success.

 

[marc71178]

I think playing the last two of a 5 match ODI series isn't that bad.

If we'd any sense we'd not have played the first 3 either!

 

[marc71178]

4-0 it is I hope this sends a message to the england selectors!

6-1 (or was it 5?) in SA didn't, so why should this?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Gough and Wharf in the 4th team is very, very harsh

I'm going by who was in the ECB development squad released at the beginning of the season. Neither Gough nor Wharf were there - the only one I've picked ahead of them who also wasn't included (or who hasn't played international cricket this summer - Bresnan and Chapple weren't in it but were picked regardless) was Tremlett.

And as regards Law and Knight, these things are supposed to be (as much as is possible) from the selectors' POV - my own choices would be very different - so I've assumed that Knight is still retired, and that Law isn't available, because I don't think he's actually confirmed his willingness to play for England yet. I might be wrong on that though.

 

[Lostman]

6-1 (or was it 5?) in SA didn't, so why should this?

most teams get hit hard away, but to get thrashed like this at home is really bad.

 

[steds]

Time to send Plunkett and Bresnan basck to their respective counties and Kabir back to club cricket, methinks.

I got sunburnt, too

 

[open365]

Time to send Plunkett and Bresnan basck to their respective counties and Kabir back to club cricket, methinks.

I got sunburnt, too

Didn't you listen to those annoying sun-cream pusher before play started?

 

[superkingdave]

Dalrymple did well.

actually imo Darylmple and Solanki's batting (and Kabirs last 2 overs) cost us the match. We were in with a decent chance if they could have picked up 4 or 5 runs an over in singles because as we saw, at about 45,46,47 overs we were within 3 runs of the SL score at the same stage, so if we'd have picked up 10-15 extra runs between 28-36 when we scored 22 from 8 overs we could have had a chance . At one point Dalyrymple had 7 off 24 balls or something similar. Solanki's policy was block*12, wild slog.

It took until Jones came in for someone to try to hit over extra cover - which was the are ripe for a boundary, and the running between the wickets was generally lethargic. Bresnan actually looked ok batting but unfortunately he was run out by Dalrymple.

He (Dalrymple) bowled pretty well though.

 

[superkingdave]

I'm going by who was in the ECB development squad released at the beginning of the season. Neither Gough nor Wharf were there - the only one I've picked ahead of them who also wasn't included (or who hasn't played international cricket this summer - Bresnan and Chapple weren't in it but were picked regardless) was Tremlett.

And as regards Law and Knight, these things are supposed to be (as much as is possible) from the selectors' POV - my own choices would be very different - so I've assumed that Knight is still retired, and that Law isn't available, because I don't think he's actually confirmed his willingness to play for England yet. I might be wrong on that though.

Law has confirmed he doesn't want to play for England

 

[steds]

Didn't you listen to those annoying sun-cream pusher before play started?

I got there one over in.

 

[superkingdave]

Time to send Plunkett and Bresnan basck to their respective counties and Kabir back to club cricket, methinks.

I got sunburnt, too

unfortunately i was sat behind a group of louts who didn't like cricket - although they did look at the field when Malinga came on to bowl - "there's that chucker, lets all shout no ball every time he bowls" prats.

a couple of them were wearing st helens polo shirts, i assume it wasn't you sean!

 

[steds]

a couple of them were wearing st helens polo shirts, i assume it wasn't you sean!

Unless the others looked like my mum and grandparents, probably wasn't.

 

[marc71178]

Law has confirmed he doesn't want to play for England

Is he currently playing as an overseas player?

 

[TT Boy]

Is he currently playing as an overseas player?

Does he not have an English passport?

 

[Goughy]

Is he currently playing as an overseas player?

No he is classed as a British citizen. Im just not sure whether he wants to play for England or if he is fully eligable yet. If he is not and does want to play they got to get a move on as he is not getting any younger

 

[marc71178]

I wonder how the ECB will treat this.

If he has no intention of playing for England, he shouldn't be classed as an England-qualifed player - same as happened to Symonds.

 

[tooextracool]

most teams get hit hard away, but to get thrashed like this at home is really bad.

yet thats exactly what happened to them in the natwest series of 2004( remembered fondly for the selection of rikki clarke, robert key,geraint jones, ian blackwell and anthony mcgrath).
and one must really question how long England are going to stick with collingwood when has hasnt done anything meaningful with the bat outside of his performances against india since the last world cup.

 

[tooextracool]

Law has confirmed he doesn't want to play for England

when did he do that? im certain that not long ago both graveney and law expressed interest in the possibility of him playing for England once he was eligible.