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.

[mystiroakey]

Four losses in a row...not good.

That No 1 ranking seems to have become a millstone ...

Just hope we don't panic and start making mass changes now when Boycott and Co announce " HEADS MUST ROLL" etc

is everyone trying to take Trebblebaggins role because he isnt here!!

this game is not over

[BuLioli]

Although it's proved a bit risky already, it's good to see that England are at least trying to keep the runs coming off Herath's bowling

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

I think Bopara will be the only change for the next Test, depending on his fitness of course. He's likley to get a run in the side before anyone else gets a look into the top 6.

Not after Patel's match winning century

That would be something to behold!

Close throw for a run out as he ambles down the pitch gets lodged in the rolls of fat on his body, he walks the next 99 runs over the course of two days (stopping once in a while for a VAT free pastie) whilst the Lankans desperatly try and find the ball in there.

It could happen

[mystiroakey]

a vat free pastie- LOL

[Fists of Fury]

Unfortunately, I share Sir Fred's train of thought. Fully expect a late loss or two.

[mystiroakey]

And you surprise me fists!

[mystiroakey]

Starting to wonder if certain posters would rather be prooved right rather than celebrating an england win

i think the pitch and batting is showing that this game is very much in the balance(not 50/50) but not completly outweighed at all!

Gotta also understand that if england close at 2 down they are on the assendancy not SL..

[Fists of Fury]

Mystir, ignore me mate I switch seamlessly between eternal optimist and downright miserable pessimist.

Today is the latter. Tomorrow, who knows?

[mystiroakey]

i know you do- your a typical england fan

[liverbnz]

To be fair, trebell found reason to be negative in the most promising of positions.

In this instance, I think people have the right to be pessimistic. England are in poor form with the bat, their top 6 are seizing up at the sight of spin and chasing 340 in any situation is a tough ask. Having said that, they have started reasonabley well.

[Fists of Fury]

Come on England, please hold out for this last over. Solid, stoic defence is the order of the day, Trotty.

[Fists of Fury]

Nelson in the last over...please God no...

[BuLioli]

Yay they survived!!

[Guest]

Come on England!!

FOF I have a large hat collection. Hope you hungry!!

[Biltong]

Mystir, ignore me mate I switch seamlessly between eternal optimist and downright miserable pessimist.

Today is the latter. Tomorrow, who knows?

Your mood is like a sinus wave gone wrong, only the frequency varies.

[mystiroakey]

Come on England!!

FOF I have a large hat collection. Hope you hungry!!

yeah lol- i have a mexican hat - id like to see him eat that one!!

[Fists of Fury]

Ha!

Sri Lanka still big favourites, I'd say. Tomorrow morning is so crucial now. If we can get through that first session without loss then we are very well set. If we can get through the first hour without loss it is in the balance. If we lose one early then my pessimistic mood will resume its dominance and we are certain to lose.

I don't believe I'll be eating any hats, but who knows.

[sirfredperry]

Really pleased my dire prediction of a late wicket proved wrong. I thought I would reverse the curse of the commentator who says: "He's looking in complete control...he's GONE."
Don't think England really have much a chance, as even 250 would have been difficult to get. Yet.....

[BuLioli]

Come on England!!

FOF I have a large hat collection. Hope you hungry!!

yeah lol- i have a mexican hat - id like to see him eat that one!!

I've got a Russian-style fur hat - that could clog up someone's insides for days!

[Guest]

Come on England!!

FOF I have a large hat collection. Hope you hungry!!

yeah lol- i have a mexican hat - id like to see him eat that one!!

He has to dance round it first then eat it

[Guest]

I agree FOF. Get through the morning session without loss would put them in the driving seat. I would love it if they could reach the close of play tomorrow with 100 in sight.

[Fists of Fury]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

[mystiroakey]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

you are really pushing this arnt you lol- you do realise we are gonna hold you to it!!

[Guest]

Can't wait to hear Charles Colville's views later. Slaughtered England yesterday. I am sure he has a dig somewhere hidden.

[Biltong]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

you are really pushing this arnt you lol- you do realise we are gonna hold you to it!!

I've got this leather cowboy hat, the stitching on it will be difficult to chew through, I hope you have very sharp teeth.

[mystiroakey]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

you are really pushing this arnt you lol- you do realise we are gonna hold you to it!!

I've got this leather cowboy hat, the stitching on it will be difficult to chew through, I hope you have very sharp teeth.

He is gonna need alot of gravy for that hat!

Fists get yourself down costco and order in a box of jerky, your gonna need the training

[BuLioli]

Speaking of eating hats, I think it was in the book "Penguins Stopped Play" that one of the characters lost a bet and had to eat his cricket pads, flambeed in whisky with some ice cream. He ate the lot apparently!

[Biltong]

Speaking of eating hats, I think it was in the book "Penguins Stopped Play" that one of the characters lost a bet and had to eat his cricket pads, flambeed in whisky with some ice cream. He ate the lot apparently!

Couldn't have been very good quality pads then.

[Fists of Fury]

I agree FOF. Get through the morning session without loss would put them in the driving seat. I would love it if they could reach the close of play tomorrow with 100 in sight.

It'll be over tomorrow one way or another, you'd think. 229 behind, if they're going to win they'll probably get that within three sessions. If Sri Lanka are to win then England will certainly be all out tomorrow.

Huge morning. Trott and KP will relish this situation, let's just hope they get a bit of luck (which will be much needed in order to complete this chase).

[Biltong]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

you are really pushing this arnt you lol- you do realise we are gonna hold you to it!!

I've got this leather cowboy hat, the stitching on it will be difficult to chew through, I hope you have very sharp teeth.

He is gonna need alot of gravy for that hat!

Fists get yourself down costco and order in a box of jerky, your gonna need the training

Just don't buy any jerky, ask the butcher to make you some sinewy biltong and let it dry nicely, then chew every day for the next 3 days.

My hat will be on the DHL plane by tomorrow afternoon

[mystiroakey]

the plus we have is that we have our two best batts in, if they can get another 100 on- we have a shot and it is gonna be nail bitting- i may get up super earlly tommorow

[mystiroakey]

I'll eat them live on Skype if we win this, don't you worry.

you are really pushing this arnt you lol- you do realise we are gonna hold you to it!!

I've got this leather cowboy hat, the stitching on it will be difficult to chew through, I hope you have very sharp teeth.

He is gonna need alot of gravy for that hat!

Fists get yourself down costco and order in a box of jerky, your gonna need the training

Just don't buy any jerky, ask the butcher to make you some sinewy biltong and let it dry nicely, then chew every day for the next 3 days.

My hat will be on the DHL plane by tomorrow afternoon

lol i didnt realise bitlong was a dried meat!!


whats it like? i take it you love it!!

[Biltong]

Mystir it is the best snack you can have. If you like savoury snacks of course.

But you can make biltong salad, biltong sandwhiches, biltong potjie (pot food), you get game biltong, beef biltong, barbeque biltong, chilli biltong, pepper biltong...

Geez I sound like that guy in forrest gump with the prawn fishing trailer, bubba.

[mystiroakey]

nice , yum yum

[alfie]

Full marks to KP and Trott for this partnership

Batted sensibly. Haven't missed a chance to score but nothing too rash ( at least by KP standards) and gives a glimmer of hope for tomorrow. I think batting is still quite possible provided you play with a bit of patience - and a lot of skill of course - and don't try to force it too much. As the bowlers tire there will be more chances to score. I know Mike doesn't agree with me but M Vaughan does - Strauss should have kept the lofted drive in his kit bag for later. Trott seems to have gone back to the way he normally plays , scoring when they bowl where he likes it , and it seems to be working.

Still 230 to get and Sri Lanka still very much favorites , but if these two were to bat through lunch tomorrow ... at least there is still scope to dream...

[sirfredperry]

Very, very few Tests have been won by a side making the highest score of the match in the fourth innings. But for that infuriating last-wicket stand, England would not have been looking at more than SL's 318 in the first innings.
Strange how the game contracts/expands to the number of runs required. England could end up tomorrow, being all out for, say, 250.
But if they had actually been SET 250 would they have got anywhere near it ?

[mystiroakey]

sirfred- i think they would have got to 250, and i think that will be prooved by the fact that they will get to 340 tommorow anyway

[alfie]

Really admire your positivity , roakey

Would like to join your party but I am sworn to cover for Trebell until he gets back on duty.

Sir Fred has a point ...had Sri Lanka folded and left England say 230 , would we have been surprised to see a stumps score of 135/7 ? Partly it is the way expectation shapes pressure , is it not? How often we see a team struggle in a chase to the point where all hope seems gone, until a late partnership brings a rekindling of hope - and the fielding side tense up and suddenly the boot is on the other foot...until of course only a few runs are left to get , whereupon the pressure goes back on the batsmen who proceed to throw their wickets away...

At the moment England are still so far away batsmen can just play and not really think about targets. If wickets are still in hand after tea tomorrow it will be interesting to see who feels the weight more.

[Fists of Fury]

A perfect summary of the situation, Alfie. At present there is little to no expectation, but let's say England reach 250-4 I'm sure it would be very, very different.

[alfie]

Well I hope they do reach 250/4 , Fists...


...the next session would be a cracker!

[Guest]

All depends on what the wicket does. Trott looks like he has settled in. All it takes is a majestic knock from these 2 and the match will be England's. There are runs to be had. A lot of people go back to the recent Tests against Pakistan, but let's not understate the impact Ajmal had on our batsmen. England after the Australian Ashes Tour won in Bangladesh and yes it is different, but it is an Asian pitch! Even Bresnan got something out of dead wickets.

Let's just hope England can turn this one around. Can't wait for the first hour's play.

[Fists of Fury]

Oh I'd take 250-4 in a shot! That'd be a terrific effort. Unfortunately I see a couple of early wickets and the wind being taken out of our sails (the batsmen need to get themselves in again, remember), but it would be a wonderful achievement if they could manage the (almost)impossible.

Trott and Pietersen, should you be reading this, these innings are the ones that, when all is said and done, when you're retired and people reflect back upon your career, are remembered. We often talk of defining innings in a players career when assessing greatness. Rest assured, should you see England home tomorrow, or get them a good deal of the way there, it will certainly be one of those defining innings.

To quote Achilles (Brad Pitt) in Troy...Immortality, take it, it's yours!

*Plays national anthem* (England's for one minute, South Africa's for 30 seconds)

Now if that doesn't inspire them, I don't know what will.

[mystiroakey]

Really admire your positivity , roakey

Would like to join your party but I am sworn to cover for Trebell until he gets back on duty.

Sir Fred has a point ...had Sri Lanka folded and left England say 230 , would we have been surprised to see a stumps score of 135/7 ? Partly it is the way expectation shapes pressure , is it not? How often we see a team struggle in a chase to the point where all hope seems gone, until a late partnership brings a rekindling of hope - and the fielding side tense up and suddenly the boot is on the other foot...until of course only a few runs are left to get , whereupon the pressure goes back on the batsmen who proceed to throw their wickets away...

At the moment England are still so far away batsmen can just play and not really think about targets. If wickets are still in hand after tea tomorrow it will be interesting to see who feels the weight more.

he does have a point- its all about the mentality of players pacing the innings- however they allways seem to play tests well one minute and understand pacing and then mess up limited overs and then vice versa. However its quite simple if you just go out there and play winning cricket- as soon as you start looking at what is needed and 'worrying' about it then it seems to be game over when it comes to england

[mystiroakey]

A perfect summary of the situation, Alfie. At present there is little to no expectation, but let's say England reach 250-4 I'm sure it would be very, very different.

I still have expectation- i have the feeling that as a no.1 test team 240 runs with 8 wickets should be a breeze!!!

yes i have simplified it completely- however when it boils down to it- it really is that simple!

[Guest]

Engerlan Engerland Engerlandddddddd!!

[alfie]

Day one. 289/8

Day two. (mad Tuesday) 306/17

Day three 241/7

Granted the pitch is wearing , but really the second day appears an aberration due to England's rather over excited approach.

Only need 229/7 tomorrow ...

[Mad for Chelsea]

I don't actually think the pitch is doing all that much. There's some spin but it's not extravagant, and more importantly the bounce is pretty true (anyone remember anything that's kept low? I certainly don't. Randiv is getting some bounce but you'd expect that anyway). KP and Trott have played sensibly and haven't looked unduly troubled (sure there were a couple of dodgy moments but again, you expect those on these pitches).

Cook's dismissal was disappointing. Strauss needs to start converting his starts (which he seems to be getting regularly) into decent scores. Not much wrong IMO with his shot selection today (though maybe a tad unwise) but he was done in by a good bit of flight.

On the whole, I thought England's approach with the bat was pretty sound today, they looked to score whenever possible without necessarily playing the big shots.

Was a bit surprised at the defensive fields SL set, not so much the three boundary riders for Randiv (you're cutting out the "get out of jail" shots), but the absence of a slip was a bit odd I felt (basically meant Randiv had to bowl a pretty negative line)

[dummy_half]

The comment about pressure and expectations in run chases is interesting - of the highest successful chases, most have been achieved with 5 or more wickets in hand and based on one big partnership.

We still have a chance in this game, but it depends on these two plus Bell getting us to within 50 of the target, which on recent form appears an unlikely prospect at this stage - get to lunch tomorrow without losing a wicket and we can start to hope.

[Mike Selig]

Agree with MfC re lack of slip, not so much in what line it made Randiv bowl (I think that was a plan) but it meant England could play inside the line with confidence, particularly when he came around the wicket. Pietersen edged one through there.

Vaughan and Botham are the 2 commentators who really annoy me, so the fact Vaughan thinks it was a poor shot makes me feel better that I think it wasn't TBH.

[sirfredperry]

M'oakey - 240 with eight wickets in hand is certainly NOT a breeze when it's part of an attempt to score THE HIGHEST FOURTH INNINGS WINNING TOTAL IN ENGLAND's HISTORY.
I think even if England DID get to 250 for four it would still be a tall order. Remember how well placed the Aussies were in their fourth innings chases in the two London Tests in 09. But they were looking to get 500 which had never been done.
Similarly, England will have to make a record score to win.

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