***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[silentstriker]

Another thing is that last summer England was red hot going into the Ashes. Now, they'll be dead cold...barring a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan.

 

[Sanz]

If we could win it last time, we can win it this time. If we don't go over there thinking that we can win, then we might as well stay home.

England don't have that choice. They have to tour Australia, regardless of what players think of their chances.

 

[Neil Pickup]

England don't have that choice. They have to tour Australia, regardless of what players think of their chances.

Dammit. My masterplan of Ashes retention has been foiled.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Dammit. My masterplan of Ashes retention has been foiled.

 

[a10khan]

England got too happy after beating Australia last summer. They stopped thinking that their was life after Ashes. Plus, they miss Vaughan's captaincy, they need him back for sure.

 

[aussie]

Only pretty convinced now?

When did England last not have a spinner in the team?.

Well even though England haven't played without a spinner since probably the 2000 home summer vs West Indies, i haven't really had a problem with the main spinner who has been Gilo all these years since he has done a fair job, plus hsi batting & fielding have added value. But up until the end of the ashes & the emergence of other good batsmen i.e Cook & Collingwood i think England would look much stronger without picking a main spinner in the side.

That ranks alongside the Geraint Jones should keep his place ahead of Read comment.

Dont understand what relevance this statement has..

 

[aussie]

You need the spinner.

No they don't, after all it wasn't the spinner that caused Australia problems during the ashes & in conditions that assisted Giles i.e last day at Old Trafford he wasn't effective.

With Panesar now he may have ability but for dead sure the way the Sri Lanka's played him is going to be far different to the way how the aussie top order will play him & if they get on top of him his confidence will be severly damaged plus we all know about his fielding & if that doesn't improve by the ashes, imagine him having to cope with crowd taunt plus constant attack from the aussie batsmen..

I have said it again & again in Australia once fit the 4-man attack should be England main offence vs the aussie batsmen..

 

[aussie]

Dont want to start another Murali/Warne argument but looking at Murali on the last day at TB compared to Warne on some of his destructive days vs England last summer it really hard to separate these two when at their best when the pitch is tailor made for them.

 

[silentstriker]

With Panesar now he may have ability but for dead sure the way the Sri Lanka's played him is going to be far different to the way how the aussie top order will play him

SL batsmen are no bunnies when playing spin.

In any case, I was thinking: What if you had Murali & Warne bowling in tandem against the English batsmen? I would actually feel sorry for them.

 

[Sanz]

What if you had Murali & Warne bowling in tandem against the English batsmen? I would actually feel sorry for them.

Yeah I would feel sorry for the bowlers, as they would have to share the wickets..

 

[steds]

Dont understand what relevance this statement has..

It's Marc's way of saying

 

[aussie]

In any case, I was thinking: What if you had Murali & Warne bowling in tandem against the English batsmen? I would actually feel sorry for them.

Ha, yea it would be a real struggle for the England batsmen, the only batsmen who i reckon might come out of that challenge commendably may be Pietersen & to some extent Trescothick.

 

[steds]

With Panesar now he may have ability but for dead sure the way the Sri Lanka's played him is going to be far different to the way how the aussie top order will play him

Indeed. They'll give him more of a chance.

if they get on top of him his confidence will be severly damaged

 

[steds]

Dont want to start another Murali/Warne argument

Don't bring it up, then.

 

[Gloucefan]

Oh Please - Dont post crap like this. You have a habit of taking credit away from SriLanka.

How did england deserve to win the series ? They were playing at home and their performance was pathetic. England has better bowlers, but SriLanka have Murali and that evens out. Batting side I think SriLanka are at par with England.

And no they were not FAR better as you have been trying to portray for a while.

In all fairness SL could have lost the first test easily, good 2nd innings stand but following on with only a lead of 178 and just 1 wicket remaining SL were saved by bad light.

2nd test good performance by Murali again but SL still lost by 6 wickets.

3rd test was won by very impressive batting in the second innings which should give SL hope but the real performer was Murali.

I wouldn't say SL batting is on a par with England full-stop but arguably was in the 2nd and 3rd tests of this series.

*Replace all 'you' with SL

 

[James]

The Cricket Web Fantasy Cricket points really do show just how far ahead Murali was of the rest of the bowling attack on both sides.

 

[Lostman]

how did vaas manage to get so high?

 

[Neil Pickup]

how did vaas manage to get so high?

184 runs @ 92.00!

 

[Gloucefan]

184 runs @ 92.00!

Certainly wasn't his bowling, 5 wickets at 53.00.

 

[James]

Those points include batting/bowling/fielding, but that list only includes bowlers and all-rounders.

The batsmen's list is here - http://www.cricketweb.net/fantasycricket/playerpoints.php?Type=BatTest