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.

[Mike Selig]

Finn for Broad does lengthen England's tail quite a bit is the only issue. Bowling wise I think Finn will do well.

Not sure on Panesar, I can see the chain of thought which says Sri Lanka are far less comfortable against pace than spin, on the other hand he was England's best bowler in Dubai, and does keep an end tight allowing the seamers to rotate. If you pick Swann as your only spinner and Sri Lanka get after him you're in trouble.

Bresnan for Patel would be the really attacking move: given England may as well lose as draw and that Patel didn't really look like scoring a lot of runs, I'd be severely tempted by it.

[eirebilly]

Why not go attack? Show some intent. Swann is good as the only spinner and with four quicks/seamers you have a pretty potent attack.

[Mike Selig]

Why not go attack? Show some intent. Swann is good as the only spinner and with four quicks/seamers you have a pretty potent attack.

There aren't 4 seamers to pick with Broad out though...

[eirebilly]

Thats why i wrote quicks/seamers

[alfie]

Since England have to win I think three pace bowlers is a must. The issue then is whether Patel or Panesar is left out.
As any change involving the exclusion of Monty automatically strengthens batting and fielding I would normally advocate he be the omission. I think I would still lean that way , especially as it seems harsh to ditch Patel after just one game , but if the pitch appears to be very batsman-friendly there is a case for retaining the extra specialist bowler. The tail would be a bit longer than I like , but in truth unless the top order batsmen play properly this time the runs made by numbers 9 and 10 are likely to be of limited relevance anyway...

[Liam]

Finn for Broad, Patel out for Bresnan. Finn to be our strike bowler, I think he will prove to be a real handful for the Sri Lankan batsmen. Bresnan comes in as the bowling all rounder, solid batsmen and used to the set up, unlike Patel.

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3.Trott
4. KP
5. Bell
6. Prior
7. Bresnan
8. Swann
9. Jimmy
10. Finn
11. Monty

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