***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[chaminda_00]

If Harmison's not going to make it then it looks like a lot depends on how Simon Jones comes through his two games for Glamorgan. If he can't find form, or worse gets injured, we might find ourselves with an attack of Hoggard, Anderson, Plunkett, Flintoff and Udal.

I'm not sure about that one.

Still too good for us, also wouldn't Monty play infront of some 30 plus has been (or never been).

 

[JASON]

The way things are emerging SL will have to stack the side with batsman to try and secure draws as much as possible. Its between drawing or losing as I see it from the outset.

 

[William]

Still too good for us, also wouldn't Monty play infront of some 30 plus has been (or never been).

I don't think so.

This early in the year a spinner usually has little to do yet you'd probably still want one in your side just in case. It makes more sense to include someone who can contribute with the bat in these situations.

 

[TheEpic]

I'd hope that if Giles isn't fit, which he probably won't be, we won't play a spinner at all. We don't need one against Sri Lanka, who would probably have no difficulty against him, and on a pitch in early May. Play an extra batsman to protect against English-style collapses I'd say.

Trescothick
Strauss
Bell
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
G Jones
Hoggard
S Jones
Anderson

 

[marc71178]

Still too good for us, also wouldn't Monty play infront of some 30 plus has been (or never been).

Not if it puts Hoggard at 8.

 

[chaminda_00]

Not if it puts Hoggard at 8.

With the bowling attack that William put up Plunkett would be 8.

 

[marc71178]

That's just as bad!

 

[chaminda_00]

That's just as bad!

Who else do you guys have if Jones, Harmison and Giles are all injured?

 

[marc71178]

The 4 seamers and extra batsman is an option.

But if they're looking for a spinner then I think Swann must be due a go now - he can't be worse than Blackwell!

 

[luckyeddie]

Who else do you guys have if Jones, Harmison and Giles are all injured?

Tremlett and Cork

/runs

 

[DanielFullard]

Anyone going to any of the games?

I am going to the match up at the Riverside on the 24th June. Looking forward to it.

 

[pskov]

Shouldn't this be stickied by now? Only a month away...

 

[DanielFullard]

Not too bothered. At least its still in front view. Its sensible to only have the one England thread stickied at a time and seeing how discussion is still going strong for the India series we might as well leave it a few more days

 

[aussie]

Trescothick
Strauss
Bell
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
G Jones
Hoggard
S Jones
Anderson

Even if Gilo comes back or not, IMO England should keep this side (excluding Anderson for Harmy of course) for most conditions except on maybe a big turning sub-continet pitch.

 

[Scaly piscine]

England are just completely wasting their time if they pick a spinner, they don't have anyone good enough to win England a game even on a 4th or 5th day pitch - balance for the sake of it is pointless. It should be just a choice between 4 and 5 front line seamers, if Collingwood and/or Bell are going to be a realistic option at this time in the season then 4. If it's 4 then Flintoff should bat 7, if 5 then he should be bowled more sparingly.

 

[chaminda_00]

Has Shah impressed so much that Cook has fallen down so far the list that he can't get a game even when Vaughan is injuried, or it more of a case of looking for an extra middle order batsmen?

 

[dinu23]

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/244610.html

As a medic and despite not being a specialist on back injuries , I have little doubt that if Atapattu does undergo Back Surgery as Tony Simsek has suggested, that would definitely be the end of his career .

As far as I know very few people recover well enough after back operations to play sport !!

Which is why surgery for back problems are usually the last resort and only a means of relieving pain and recovering mobility and not a means of recovering well enough to participate in sport.

if that is the case it will be a major blow for SL not only for this series but for the world cup as well. the selectors should've sent Arnold instead of Mubarak. Kaluperuma is an idiot, I wish Asantha de mel was the chairman.

 

[JASON]

if that is the case it will be a major blow for SL not only for this series but for the world cup as well. the selectors should've sent Arnold instead of Mubarak. Kaluperuma is an idiot, I wish Asantha de mel was the chairman.

I have previously criticised Arnold , but in this instance I would have preferred his experienced head over Mubarak .

 

[William]

Has Shah impressed so much that Cook has fallen down so far the list that he can't get a game even when Vaughan is injuried, or it more of a case of looking for an extra middle order batsmen?

Bell is probably still ahead of both Cook and Shah at this stage, regardless of his poor series in India.

 

[TheEpic]

I'd honestly prefer Shah as although I rate Cook I think he needs another season of county cricket before he comes near the side again.

Also, I'd prefer Shah as he is a specialist middle order batsman, and I think better equipped to deal with spin at this stage than Cook.