Sri Lanka vs England 1st test - Match thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

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.

[Guest]

Just watched the highlights. The top order need to be more positive. What I saw with Herath that the players just got pinned back into their crease and eventually they were going to get trapped. Prior and Patel both got trapped. KP tried to play positive and when he went back into his crease he wafted after a wide one turning in and dragged onto his stumps. Trott I have no idea what he was doing. Bell, Swann and Broad showed that with the right aggression that runs are to be had on this pitch.

What can be said is that the bowlers have got England back into this match and if they chase 280+ there is so much time in the game that England could chase it down. I would hope if England have 2 days worth of batting that they would and should be able to chase it down.

More positive?! We were doing the exact opposite of Pakistan and being too positive. We need to be less positive and more selective.

Strauss hit 2 boundaires off 40 balls.

KP out for 3 from 18. Patel 2 off 21.

Their intent was aggressive, they then curled up and LBW came into play. Not point going all aggressive only to go way back into the crease.

[eirebilly]

Sneaky beggers moving this to a sticky in the night. Not cool when just awake and looking for the thread

Happy for Monty to get a wicket but England really need to outs Sri Lanka for under a 300 lead.

[eirebilly]

Swann with his 5th, things are looking up for England

[ShahenshahG]

280 might be beyond england if they do that infuriating habit of playing back although it wasnt infuriating in the last test series

[eirebilly]

Swann with his 6th now. 280 may be beyond England shah but it is a target

[ShahenshahG]

It might be even beyond sri lanka

[eirebilly]

Just two more quick wickets and England will have a very big chance here.

[eirebilly]

I would bring Broad or Jimmy on now to replace Panesar.

[ShahenshahG]

I would replace both to be honest. Tailenders are usually mopped up by english pace. The spinners have much less success usually. With such a brilliant attack - england dont half waste it.

[eirebilly]

Patel it is then

[ShahenshahG]

Is that guy playing the one who scored 70 odd in the odi series against australia and india?

Patel. good lord

[eirebilly]

Do you mean HAPW Jayawardene shah?

[eirebilly]

Jaysus Strauss, get Broad or Jimmy on...

[ShahenshahG]

I dont think so mate - he scored at 200+ strike rate. started with a k i think.

[eirebilly]

Then i am not sure who you mean.

[Biltong]

Morning all.

So how is the pitch behaving this morning?

What is the maximum you guys think england can chase here?

[eirebilly]

Morning biltong. There is some turn in the pitch but not alot.

anything between 220 and 270 would have been my choice of a chase but i think that Sri Lanka may just have enough already.

[ShahenshahG]

Its Nuwan Kulasakera i think eirebilly and hes not playing. I reckon they can chase about 200. Now Ive said that probably chase down anything.

[eirebilly]

Ahh Kulaskera, yeah he is a decent player

[eirebilly]

I cant help but think that Strauss has his tactics worng here again. In the first innings he didnt take Swann off when he was not bowling well and Sri Lanka profited by getting around 50 more runs than they should have. Now he is making the same mistake in not bowling Jimmy or Broad i feel.

[Biltong]

I would think england should make a better fist of the chase than they did in the first innings, nothing better than to have a little pressure on them and knowing the target in mind.

[eirebilly]

I am not so sure that they will biltong. I think that they will struggle to reach 250 here. They really should have had Sri Lanka out before lunch. Broad or Jimmy should have been introduce much earlier.

Patel is like Panesar, will bowl tight and will pick up the odd wicket but are not very attacking.

[ShahenshahG]

Pacers should do the trick but strauss really needs to help himself and his bowlers. Giving them batsmen who have played a little while against mild pace is unnecessary. Slap in a fast bowler one end as soon as the tail is exposed. When tail enders are new to the crease they arfe jumpy and tend to give you their wicket without much effort from you. When you put em in against spin then they have the opportunity to play themselves in. I dont think he should have removed swann straight away but panesar definately. Now the target is slowly drifting out of sight and the mental blocks might lead the batsman to implode. Come out of the lunch break firing on all cyclinders so you get the momentum in your favour - dont let the opponent drag it out because it saps at your own reserves.

[eirebilly]

Well hopefully England can knock Sri Lanka over fairly quickly after lunch and 'not panic' in their chase.

[Duty281]

Watched the first session and the pitch is barely doing a thing bar the odd ball. I would say you should be able to chase 350 on this but 28 wickets have fallen in 7 sessions so what do I know!

[eirebilly]

I would have had a Broad/Jimmy - Swann combination for the last 10 overs leading up to lunch shah. I think that Strauss, in staying with Panesar and swapping him for Patel has made a little mistake.

[eirebilly]

There is some turn out there Duty but a stump to stump bowler, like Herath, will be very difficult to play. I think that England will struggle.

[Biltong]

by eirebilly on Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:33 am

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

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 boat 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.

And there both Swann and Morkel takes 6 wickets each in their next innings.

Swann 6/74
Morkel 6/23

Next time you guys want to know anything about cricket from the rugby guy, just PM me with your requests.

[eirebilly]

In fairness this is the first innings in 8 where Swann has looked dangerous biltong

Lets wait and see how he bowls in the rest of the series before we proclaim you a visionary

[Biltong]

Might be so billy, remember I haven't seen any of it. I saw this in my crystal ball.

[mystiroakey]

just get em out england!!

[eirebilly]

biltong, do you agree that Strauss should have had pace at least at one end for a few overs leading up to lunch?

[Biltong]

Billy I haven't seen any of it, I am just reading what you guys say here and the commentary on cricinfo.

Why was swann not bowling, he seems to be the danger man in this innings or was he taking a break?

If the other spinners aren't being effective then he might as well let Anderson bowl.

[Biltong]

The other question is what is Strauss' field placings like, is he attacking or just defending?

[eirebilly]

Swann was bowling but was replaced by Broad for one over before lunch.

Strauss never really sets an attacking field biltong, you should know that by now

[liverbnz]

Anderson has bowled 8 out of 66 overs. Astounding.

[eirebilly]

Jimmy and Broad to continue after lunch, i hope

[mystiroakey]

I like strauss- but if we loose this series i hope he is out the picture, time for cook to be given the captaincy

[eirebilly]

Oh great Panesar. I am not sure what Strauss is doing here.

[eirebilly]

Nothing against Monty but speed and attack is needed here to get these boys out quickly.

[eirebilly]

Come on Broad

[Biltong]

Swann was bowling but was replaced by Broad for one over before lunch.

Strauss never really sets an attacking field biltong, you should know that by now

sorry boss, you are correct, I should know this, but as mitigating circumstances I will provide the follwing evidence. I haven't seen any of england's tests for a while now.

[eirebilly]

Swann was bowling but was replaced by Broad for one over before lunch.

Strauss never really sets an attacking field biltong, you should know that by now

sorry boss, you are correct, I should know this, but as mitigating circumstances I will provide the follwing evidence. I haven't seen any of england's tests for a while now.

No probs

[eirebilly]

Damn ODI's and T20 cricket, now everytime i hear 'no ball' i almost expect a free hit

[eirebilly]

Over the 280 mark. Already too much for England i feel.

[eirebilly]

Can we please have Jimmy at the other end now Strauss?

[mystiroakey]

yesssssssssir wicket !!

[eirebilly]

Finally...

[mystiroakey]

basically england need to bat for 120 overs and we should win!

[Biltong]

That is still going to be a tough ask for england.

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