***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[adharcric]

Wow, this is really poor stuff from the Sri Lankans.

How's this for an England squad?
A Flintoff*, M Trescothick, A Strauss, I Bell, A Cook / R Key, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, O Shah / E Joyce
G Jones+, M Hoggard, S Mahmood, J Lewis, L Plunkett, M Panesar

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Wow, this is really poor stuff from the Sri Lankans.

How's this for an England squad?
A Flintoff*, M Trescothick, A Strauss, I Bell, A Cook / R Key, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, O Shah / E Joyce
G Jones+, M Hoggard, S Mahmood, J Lewis, L Plunkett, M Panesar

No argument. Cook any day of the week.

England never pick 13 to a squad, tho, so from those I'd guess Lewis (hope Mahmood) and Joyce would miss out in addition to Key, and that they eventually leave Shah as 12th man.

 

[superkingdave]

Personally i hope Plunkett doesn't play, his batting doesn't make up for the fact his bowling lacks anything other than pace. Of course, he'll probably play and take a fifer...

 

[pskov]

Plunkett bowled pretty decently in the ODIs in India, but hasn't looked too hot in any of his Test matches yet. I do think he has potential, so would be fairly happy with him lining up against Sri Lanka in the first Test. I would pick Lewis above Mahmood however, Mahmood hasn't looked all that good any time I've seen him before, but he must have something to show I guess. Lewis deserves a spot ahead of him anywhow, the guy is on fire at the moment.

I have to say all the talk from the Sri Lankans on here over how they were going to be rolled over by England A I didn't take too seriously. I thought it was just natural pessimissm, subconciously playing down their sides chances so they aren't too disapointed if they lose etc. But they have been consistently shocking on this tour so far. Still, I have to believe they'll pick it up for the Tests. They can't do any worse than they are at the moment anyway.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Read appears to have copped a stinker from Martin Bodenham.

England for Thursday:
Trescothick
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Jones
Udal or Loudon or Panesar
Hoggard
Mahmood
Lewis or Plunkett

I expect the squad to contain all the seamers named, but to make a call on the spinner.

 

[Lostman]

I have to say all the talk from the Sri Lankans on here over how they were going to be rolled over by England A I didn't take too seriously. I thought it was just natural pessimissm, subconciously playing down their sides chances so they aren't too disapointed if they lose etc. But they have been consistently shocking on this tour so far. Still, I have to believe they'll pick it up for the Tests. They can't do any worse than they are at the moment anyway.

the worst is yet to come, i dont think england will win by an innings though becasue SL's bowling is really good. SL top order falls like a deck of cards even on falt lifeless wickets so they will have no chance on moving wickets. infact the only way they might last past 3 days is if they can win teh toss and put england in. (jayawardena has lost 10 straight tosses, now will be a good time for it to start evening out )

 

[adharcric]

Udal or Loudon or Panesar

How will Loudon get picked as the specialist spinner when he hasn't bowled a single over so far for England A?

 

[Neil Pickup]

How will Loudon get picked as the specialist spinner when he hasn't bowled a single over so far for England A?

Is it his fault the seamers have bowled them out before he had a chance?!

It's unlikely that he'll be picked - but not out of the question, given that he went to India, and is obviously still in the selectors thoughts as a spinner who can bat... properly bat, not like that useless muppet Blackwell...

 

[adharcric]

Is it his fault the seamers have bowled them out before he had a chance?!

It's unlikely that he'll be picked - but not out of the question, given that he went to India, and is obviously still in the selectors thoughts as a spinner who can bat... properly bat, not like that useless muppet Blackwell...

Oh my bad then, I was under the impression that Clarke and Bopara are part-timers and if they bowled, why didn't Loudon? But it appears that they are both seamers as well?
Fill me in.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Bopara is a seamer not disimilar to Collingwood in style / pace.

Clarke is a proper Medium / Fast bowler.

 

[JASON]

practice... they really need it.

Now they have had it (practice) in both innings haven't they !!

 

[JASON]

All out 259...then Sri Lanka 0/1. Vandort lasted four balls against Lewis this time.

I guess Read's duck means he won't play, especially as Jones has 51 at OT (with no one else passing 15...Mahmood 8-2-20-2, including *drum roll* David Fulton)

Vandort certainly should not play , having bagged a pair here , and having not scored any runs on tour so far.

Feel sorry for Read. Cricinfo says he got a very very poor decision from the Umpire.

 

[JBH001]

Good thought. Other possible reasons for Beefy's decline, in no particular order:
- soured attitude as a result of his experience of the captaincy
- far too much leeway being given to him under Willis' captaincy
- inherent rebellious/indulgent streak which was was always going to surface after the initial buzz of international cricket had passed

I would also add the stress fracture he received in 1982 (?) and his increase in weight over the same period. Just before the home series against Pakistan, I think, where Imran Khan comprehensively outperformed him. The combination of injury and weight gain resulted in the loss of his ability to swing the ball - especially that beautiful outswinger - and he became, with a few exceptions, a very ordinary bowler. What a waste.

 

[JASON]

Sri Lankan squad for First Test would be something like this IMO-

Tharanga
Kapugedera
Sangakkara
Samaraweera
Jayawardene
Dilshan
Maharoof/Jayawardene (Wkt keeper)
Vaas
Zoysa
Murali
Malinga

I really feel that Vandort is also heading the way of Mubarak and becoming absolutely useless, which is why I have picked neither . But the selectors having failed to send Daniel on this trip will probably end up picking one of those over Maharoof (who is picked here only because he is just as useless albeit slightly better than the other two!!)

 

[dinu23]

I think the joy ride of Mubarak is over after this tour. De Mel has been appointed as chairman of selectors again. now we'll see some good selections. Also I've been really dissapointed with Vandort so far. He's no better than Mubarak.
I agree that Vandort shouldn't play in the first test, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to play Prasana as the wicket keeper to relieve the burden on Sanga. Sanga plays better when he's not keeping.

 

[chaminda_00]

I think you guys are being unfair on Vandort, he did get us over the line against Derby, that more then Prassana or Muburak could ever go.

 

[marc71178]

It's unlikely that he'll be picked - but not out of the question, given that he went to India, and is obviously still in the selectors thoughts as a spinner who can bat... properly bat, not like that useless muppet Blackwell...

His bowling also appears to have improved from his winter away, a lot more tight.

 

[marc71178]

Prasana as the wicket keeper to relieve the burden on Sanga. Sanga plays better when he's not keeping.

So you'd play 6 bats including Sanga, Prassana at 7 keeping then 4 bowlers?

I'd say that's more solid than the 5th bowler batting 7 to be honest.

 

[chaminda_00]

So you'd play 6 bats including Sanga, Prassana at 7 keeping then 4 bowlers?

I'd say that's more solid than the 5th bowler batting 7 to be honest.

How Maharoof is a better batsmen then Prassana?

 

[marc71178]

Is Prassana a real rabbit then?

Because if so I don't think that really helps.