***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[Barney Rubble]

With Punkett on they'll be there by tea.

He has a worse ER than KP this innings....

 

[Sanz]

Thank god for Punkette. SriLanka 221 for 5, common guys 79 more is all I ask for.

 

[Sanz]

He has a worse ER than KP this innings....

His ER is worse than SreeSanth's (current Innings vs. WI ) and that says something.

 

[Autobahn]

. The reason I say that is because everything I read in the media, or hear in the commentary box is someway related to the Ashes. The ashes are undoubtedly the most important event in the English calendar, but you DO have to focus on the other series in the meantime.

I haven't seen all the matches but the only times i've heard the commentary team refer directly to the ashes is:

"Vaughan should be captain"
"Lewis or Mahmood"
"How will Monty cope with aussie crowds who have a habit of targeting people"

Doesn't sound like everyone thinks there's a blackhole between now and the ashes.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Top leave there!

Padding up to a straight one. Hmm. Seven down now, but think Sri Lanka already have enough anyway.

 

[Barney Rubble]

KP and Colly both off the field for England, which is worrying - Samit Patel on for Collingwood, and KP's replacement is none other than the Fresh Prince of Trent Bridge himself, Will Smith.

 

[silentstriker]

I don't think SL have enough. Unless the pitch has deteriorated pretty badly. There is plenty of time left, and to be safe SL need a lead of 300-325. I don't think that will happen, but I don't think that 240 is that safe of a lead.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Rumour has it Flintoff has picked up a slight niggle too....

 

[BoyBrumby]

Rumour has it Flintoff has picked up a slight niggle too....

He was certainly well down on pace before the new ball was taken. Barely up @ 80mph, much less 90.

Still faster than Lewis, like...

 

[wpdavid]

Top leave there!

Padding up to a straight one. Hmm. Seven down now, but think Sri Lanka already have enough anyway.

Agreed. Tomorrow's going to be tortuous from an English pov, and it looks like we'll get exactly what we've deserved in this series. But credit to SL who have shown much more fight than we were led to believe.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I presume it's something to do having to keep things tight.

Yea, just let SL eke out runs while not losing any wickets, brilliant. Plunkett has the best strike rate this series out of all the England players and at a good average of below 27 - despite being incredibly unlucky in the first Test.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Agreed. Tomorrow's going to be tortuous from an English pov, and it looks like we'll get exactly what we've deserved in this series. But credit to SL who have shown much more fight than we were led to believe.

I'm not so sure they do have enough. I think SL are showing that there isn't as much in this pitch for the bowlers as the first innings would indicate. Granted, we have the Murali factor, but it's not like we've comprehensively failed to deal with him so far. If we avoid losing wickets to the seamers we've got a shot at chasing anything shy of 320-odd I'd say.

Ever the optimist, me.

 

[wpdavid]

I'm not so sure they do have enough. I think SL are showing that there isn't as much in this pitch for the bowlers as the first innings would indicate. Granted, we have the Murali factor, but it's not like we've comprehensively failed to deal with him so far. If we avoid losing wickets to the seamers we've got a shot at chasing anything shy of 320-odd I'd say.

Ever the optimist, me.

Very optimistic indeed, imho. I'd be surprised if we get make 200 4th innings against you-know-who.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Very optimistic indeed, imho. I'd be surprised if we get make 200 4th innings against you-know-who.

I like being optimistic - occasionally it pays off. Guess who was the one who predicted an England win in the Ashes.

 

[wpdavid]

I like being optimistic - occasionally it pays off. Guess who was the one who predicted an England win in the Ashes.

Oh OK, I can't argue with that (especially as I forecast 4-0 to Aus last year). I can't even claim that being pesimistic reduces the disappointment, as I'll still be grumpy as hell when we go down by 100+

 

[Barney Rubble]

Oh OK, I can't argue with that (especially as I forecast 4-0 to Aus last year). I can't even claim that being pesimistic reduces the disappointment, as I'll still be grumpy as hell when we go down by 100+

Yeah, that's one thing about optimism - it's a hell of a comedown when you lose.

 

[Jono]

Wow, hats off to SL. Been awesome.

Amazingly Vaas has been better (or at least more important) with bat then ball this series.

 

[aussie]

very unconvincing series performance by England, really a shadow of the side that were so brilliant in the ashes, they need to lift their game for the remainder of the summer againts the Pakistanis and more importantly the ashes.

But credit mus tgo to Sri Lanka they have fought well..

 

[JASON]

It was a hard edge to spot, hence the umpire didn't give it - to call it a shocking no brainer suggests umpires need superhuman powers.

I was referring to the one he gave Sanga out . And I think you are referring to the inconclusive one before.

 

[JASON]

Couple of quick strikes from England to remove Sangakkara and Jayasuriya, and we're back in the game. 152-4 now, needs a good effort from the SL middle order (for once) to put the game back in their favour - another wicket or two soon and England will be favourites for mine.

Sanath decision was another poor one from Darrell.

How Darrell was so sure that a ball pitched outside line of leg stump and hit sanath in line with middle stump while he had attempted a sweep and was so far forward, was going to hit the off stump is a miracle and he would be the only umpire in the world that would give it and that too against the likes of SL, India or even Nassar Hussein of England only .