***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[Pedro Delgado]

Who got man of the series? KP or Muralitharan?

Both I think, one from each coach is nominated.

 

[GIMH]

Silly me, forgot that we do that in England

As well as Pietersen batted in the first two matches, I feel let down by his innings today, I know I haven't been watching today, but the entire middle order have cost us a series I reckon. The openers got us off to a decent start, and the tail batted fairly well. 3-7 should be ashamed of themselves. Pathetic.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

England really need to get Harmison and Jones fit for Pakistan and hope that Flintoffs injury isnt too serious.

On a side note, ive been a fan of G. Jones as i thought he brought length to the batting and also was vocal behind the stumps which is always handy from a wicketkeeper. But his batting has been abismal for a year now and i think its time we gave Read at least 1 more chance.

 

[GIMH]

Whilst we've struggled to remove the tail, the bowlers have generally done a decent job, since the 1st innings at Lord's, our batting hasn't been good enough, just as it wasn't good enough in Pakistan. Pathetic, as I said!

 

[Xuhaib]

I must say an inform Murali looks even more destructive than Warne.

 

[Sanz]

I must say an inform Murali looks even more destructive than Warne.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Erm....wow. Went to the pub after failing my exam today and find us 8 down with 156 on the board, then witness Jon Lewis' wicket pretty much as soon as I come in, and see that Murali has 8-46....jaw promptly hit floor.

As luck would have it, I then missed Monty's pyrotechnics () as I was sat outside the pub with some friends, having assumed the game would end very soon. I then returned after hearing he was smashing it around, only to see him get out three balls later. Dammit.

Poor performance by the England batsmen. No-one has stood up and been counted in this game except for Monty, with bat or ball. Work to be done.

 

[luckyeddie]

throw throw throw the ball
gently down the seam
murali murali murali murali
chucks it like a dream

murali, on behalf of australia, i would like to thank you for making a complete twit of 6 poms so far today. we love you!

*cough*Ashes*cough*

 

[wpdavid]

Whilst we've struggled to remove the tail, the bowlers have generally done a decent job, since the 1st innings at Lord's, our batting hasn't been good enough, just as it wasn't good enough in Pakistan. Pathetic, as I said!

The biggest danger from an English pov is that people will look at today's scorecard and assume the problem in this test was we couldn't cope with MM on a track taking some turn. OK, we couldn't, but the game was lost before today really. We've read & heard so much about how good we are but I'm trying to think of one other decent side that would allow Vaas, Malinga & Murali to add 90+ on Friday and then fail to score the 400 plus which would set up an easy win. And yes, I know about the absences, but we still had 2 bowlers in the world top 10 (last time I looked, anyway) and we had all but one of our first choice top 7, so neither of those should have been beyond us.

The frustrating thing is that we keep doing it. Multan wasn't just lost on Day 5 - we threw away a chance to establish an unassailable 1st innings lead there too. We did much the same in Port Elizabeth & Jamaica, but SA & WI were too weak to take advantage. For 18 months or so we got away with our lack of killer instinct, but now it's costing us big time.

 

[superkingdave]

Well done SL and Murali, deserved to level the series.

Well done Monty as well

 

[Lostman]

murali's average for the series was 16 and his SR was 35!! those numbers are just sick and add to that it was for a spinner playing in england in late may/ early june.

 

[luckyeddie]

murali's average for the series was 16 and his SR was 35!! those numbers are just sick and add to that it was for a spinner playing in england in late may/ early june.

1. Trent Bridge might as well be a subcontinent ground - Murali's eyes must have been up like chapel hat pegs when he saw it.
2. England have got a thing about quality spin - we run a mile.

 

[a massive zebra]

1. Trent Bridge might as well be a subcontinent ground - Murali's eyes must have been up like chapel hat pegs when he saw it.

Funny how right until lunch the commentators were saying that the pitch has remained fairly flat and England have a great chance, then suddenly when Murali starts running through us its an absolute dustbowl.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Funny how right until lunch the commentators were saying that the pitch has remained fairly flat and England have a great chance, then suddenly when Murali starts running through us its an absolute dustbowl.

Well they got it right eventually, the pitch was a minefield - look at the ball Collingwood got, there were deliveries like that happening frequently.

 

[luckyeddie]

Funny how right until lunch the commentators were saying that the pitch has remained fairly flat and England have a great chance, then suddenly when Murali starts running through us its an absolute dustbowl.

I'll have to take your word for it.

Some of us have to work for a living

 

[a massive zebra]

I'll have to take your word for it.

Some of us have to work for a living

Don't worry I work - but I also saw the highlights on Five and at the lunch break Boycott said that if England bat sensibly, safeguarding each wicket without worrying about the scoreboard, there is nothing in the pitch to prevent them from winning.

 

[Sanz]

Well they got it right eventually, the pitch was a minefield - look at the ball Collingwood got, there were deliveries like that happening frequently.

Whine Scaly Whine. We will wait for the day when you will congratulate the opposition team for playing well.

 

[marc71178]

Come on, do you really think Giles is going to go all that flash in Australia?

Based on his record over there, have you any evidence that he won't?

 

[marc71178]

Cook - get out man, this is going to be your last test anyway (for a while).

I wouldn't bank on it...

 

[marc71178]

Brilliant, well done England, forget about home advantage and all that, it's the gentlemanly thing to provide tailor-made pitches for the only threat the opposition have. Such generosity that I feel touring sides should be given charity status while they're residing in our country.

Shut up