Sri Lanka vs England 1st test - Match thread.

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:07 am

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welegedara

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Samit Patel, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:18 am

Good man biltong

Not a bad start by England here and i feel that another wicket may see the Sri Lankens in some trouble.

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:24 am

Well billy, Samawareera is not a bad batsman, during their series against us at the beginning of the year, he got some good scores against us and two centuries. Jayawardena struggled and didn't get past 40 if I remember correctly, so not too sure of his form at the moment.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:28 am

Yeah Samawareena is a decent batsman and whilst Mahela is out there, anything can happen. These two have done very well so far after they were 15/3 and rocking. Tidy partnership.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:33 am

Swann really is not in great form is he. I really like the guy but he is having a rotton run of form.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:37 am

66/3 at lunch. Very much Englands session but Sri Lanka fought back well.

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:40 am

It happens to bowlers, they get a hot patch that gives them top reward for their efforts and it seems they can do no wrong, then they hit a patch where wickets dry up.

Morkel is in the same bat at the moment, he still bowls well, but for the last 6 or so tests he just isn't getting the wickets.

It turns though.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:41 am

It does happen. I would love to see Swann back at his best soon though Wink

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:53 am

wow just when i think there is no sport left - the crocket starts!

great start by england!! woop woop

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:03 am

mystir there is always Super rugby. Ok!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:15 am

Ok, lets see if Jimmy and Broad can nick a couple here and put the Lankans back on the back foot.

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:19 am

super what!! However i did enjoy abit of the 7's at the weekend!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:20 am

Panesar instead of Broad, my mistake.

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:21 am

Samaraweera run out!!!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:24 am

Have to feel sorry for Samaraweera though, thats an unfortunate way to get out.

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:24 am

thats a good wicket.

That ground looks abit rural doesnt it!! I have seen bigger village greens with more people floating about in the crowd

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:29 am

Well now england can bowl them out for less than 200.

That should set them up nicely for this test.

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:30 am

mystiroakey wrote:super what!!

Oh, well, it is just a bunch of guys playing a bit of rugby over in the SH, nothing to get too excited about. Whistle

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:31 am

Mahela

Really taking Jimmy apart

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:34 am

He's probably a little upset now. boxing

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:38 am

20 runs between these two in 4 overs Shocked

by hodge Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:49 am

was made to get up to go with my dad to put the car in for mot and service boxing

but now I get to watch the cricket where I would have been asleep till 1 ish otherwise laughing

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:56 am

biltongbek wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:super what!!

Oh, well, it is just a bunch of guys playing a bit of rugby over in the SH, nothing to get too excited about.

Oh ok, not muchcoverage /hype for that over here.

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:57 am

hodge wrote:was made to get up to go with my dad to put the car in for mot and service but now I get to watch the cricket where I would have been asleep till 1 ish otherwise

ermmm sleepy sommerset boy!! get a job..

Nah just kidding enjoy the cricket

by **Biltong** Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:01 am

mystiroakey wrote:
biltongbek wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:super what!!

Oh, well, it is just a bunch of guys playing a bit of rugby over in the SH, nothing to get too excited about.

Oh ok, not muchcoverage /hype for that over here.

Nah, wouldn't expect it to get much hype over your way, this is a bit new age for the NH, dry grounds, fast tracks, no ice, little rain, it's like a kinda hybrid, it plays under the Rugby nion rules, but if O'Neill had his way it will be the same as Rugby League, for now it just has a resemblance to it due to the speed it is played at. Whistle

by hodge Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:03 am

mystiroakey wrote:
hodge wrote:was made to get up to go with my dad to put the car in for mot and service but now I get to watch the cricket where I would have been asleep till 1 ish otherwise

ermmm sleepy sommerset boy!! get a job..

Nah just kidding enjoy the cricket

Student

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:08 am

Chandimal can hit the ball cant he.

Mahela brings his 50 up with a boundary clap

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:12 am

Ermm we need to do something about Jay and chand or our good start could be wiped out shortly!!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:21 am

Yep, a wicket is needed. These two now have 55 runs in 15 overs and are slowly taking the advantage away from England.

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:29 am

woop woop- Crucial wicket!!!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:29 am

Patel strikes on his debut, Chandimal caught Bell bowled Patel clap

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:42 am

Just one more wicket and i feel that England may be able to bowl the Lankans out today Very Happy

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:48 am

Sri Lankana tail is pretty weak, not quite on a par with NZ one though

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:49 am

Exactly, one more wicket and England could possibly restrict them to under 200.

by Carrotdude Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:53 am

England have done brilliantly today but these two are very impressive and this partnership will take some breaking. The odd ball has started to tunr and bounce as well so it's important to get into bat asap before batting beceoms very tricky against the spinners (and we all know how crap we are against spinners!).

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:56 am

Yeah, its not going to be fun batting last on this track.

by Mike Selig Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:57 am

Good move to bring Broad back on, the ball may start reversing and these two are more comfortable against the spinners.

Swann's problem is not that he's bowling badly, it's that he's a bit slow through the air on these slow pitches. Panesar bowls with less flight and more defensively, so is always going to do better.

by Mike Selig Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:07 am

Really poor field placements. Broad's looking for the LBW, why have a deep square-leg? Two poor singles conceded...

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:08 am

These two are starting to look very comfortable now.

by Guest Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:12 am

very intresting, that when the make up of the side was being discussed, not many people mentioned finn...

it was always either, ravi or samit...or bresnan and samit etc......

finn was hardly mentioned..

by Mike Selig Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:14 am

Good time for a tea break from England's point of view. Break a bit of momentum, have a bit of a rest.

Would like to see Anderson given a quick spell just after tea, see if he can find some swing as well as a bit more pace than Broad.

Pitch hasn't done all that much, the question is what have England learned from the Pakistan series?

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:16 am

That was definitely Sri Lanka's session. 102/2. Much needed break and recoup for England here.

by Guest Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:17 am

Mike Selig wrote:Good time for a tea break from England's point of view. Break a bit of momentum, have a bit of a rest.

Would like to see Anderson given a quick spell just after tea, see if he can find some swing as well as a bit more pace than Broad.

Pitch hasn't done all that much, the question is what have England learned from the Pakistan series?

well we'll find out when we bat!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:22 am

Strauss is due some decent scores so lets hope he gets in and does it. Perferably today at some stage Very Happy

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:23 am

cricketfan90 wrote:very intresting, that when the make up of the side was being discussed, not many people mentioned finn...

it was always either, ravi or samit...or bresnan and samit etc......

finn was hardly mentioned..

Batting.

I did wonder if they would be tempted to go for 5 bowlers once Bopara was injured but I guess they are still worried about the problems England had in Pakistan, and Bells form. So far they are taking wickets in benign conditions, so its hard to critisize the makeup of the side.

by mystiroakey Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:26 am

the others are all rounders are almost allrounders cf

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:27 am

cricketfan90 wrote:very intresting, that when the make up of the side was being discussed, not many people mentioned finn...

it was always either, ravi or samit...or bresnan and samit etc......

finn was hardly mentioned..

I was calling for Finn CF. I honestly would have started him over Anderson. Shows you how much i know Wink

by Carrotdude Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:37 am

Wicket for Jimmy straight after tea, great stuff!

by eirebilly Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:39 am

Huge wicket that for England Very Happy

by Carrotdude Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:43 am

Randiv averages under 7.... although he does have a first class hundred to his name.

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