Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test Match Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Not too early for this is it? After their 'heroic' defeat last Thursday, England will need a win to tie the series and preserve their no.1 ranking while Sri Lanka need a win or tie to win the series.

England's preparations haven't been helped by the fact that Broad will miss out due to injury while Sri Lanka's have been boosted by the news that Mathews will return from injury. Cricinfo predicts the following line-ups with two changes for each team:

Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Lahiru Thirimanne, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jaywardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene, 8 Suraj Randiv, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Dhammila Prasad, 11 Suranga Lakmal.

England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steve Finn.

The pressure is really on Andrew Strauss, for his batting (justified) and his captaincy (unjustified). England's batsmen will also be feeling the heat as well - they haven't made over 400 so far this winter!

Keep an eye out for the rain, some is predicted on the first day. Game starts at 5:30 BST. Come on England!

[Mike Selig]

Not many boundaries you feel on this wicket, this is where Cook's endurance and ability not to sweat could really come to the fold.

[mystiroakey]

Cook surviving a very dificult half-chance of Herath, he has to make his luck count.

wasnt close to being a half chance- therefore i wouldnt really call it luck

[Mike Selig]

Wonder if Herath should come around the wicket? With the ball turning, and the lack of real variation England's left-handers will surely just get themselves outside the line and play to leg. Or they should do.

[msp83]

I think Suraj Randiv has to take more responsibility, and if needed, take a relatively newish ball. All these overs from Dilshan, might just help the batsmen to settle down, although he at times can be a tricky customer.

[eirebilly]

Sometimes a little luck has to go your way, god knows that England didnt get much in the first test.

[Mike Selig]

Ah, Herath is around the wicket. This could be testing...

[Mad for Chelsea]

hasn't got his line right yet though, too far outside off so far. Don't know why Randiv doesn't like bowling with a new-ish ball.

[Biltong]

That is not a shabby start by Strauss and Cook
They are doing this by the book
Strauss gets a thick edge past the slip
And Cook gives the ball an almighty clip
Will Herath be able to get a wicket
Or will Strauss be able to pick it.

[Mike Selig]

See, that's what I meant, from this line he can beat both sides of the bat. Strauss edges centimetres short of slip. Couple of slices of fortune for England this morning, which is fair enough, Sri Lanka had a bit of luck yesterday and in the first test.

[eirebilly]

Its not easy going out there but Strauss and Cook are doing very well.

[Mike Selig]

My point more though was that the mental state England now seem to be in, I find it hard to visualise them recovering from 30-3 to a decent score regardless of improving batting conditions. Whilst my view is immaterial, my concern is that the England batsmen lack self-belief and hold a similar view.

Hopefully, I'll be proved wrong or, better still, the 30-3 scenario won't arise.

You're right, but you shouldn't blame England's bowlers for their batsmen's failures.

48-0 so far, so no 30-3 thankfully. Now can England get their way to 350+?

[eirebilly]

Lets first focus on getting to 275 before getting 350

[mystiroakey]

more inclined to go for an innings win- 500 plus

[Mad for Chelsea]

another good hour for England, Cook and Strauss struggling a little at times, but battling well.

[eirebilly]

If England get to 150/1-2 by the close then that will be some effort from them and have them in pretty good shape.

[mystiroakey]

i can see closing on 130/0

[Mad for Chelsea]

leg slip now in to Cook, but does Herath really need long-on to him?

[Mad for Chelsea]

woops, dodgy bit of fielding by Prasad there

[alfie]

Afternoon all

So far so good. Bowlers did their job this morning and Cook & Strauss have been watchful without missing any chances to score ...

... And a rare loose ball and a boundary

Certainly their best opening stand of the two tours ... Just got to keep playing sensibly ... Won't be able to relax with the ball spinning.

[eirebilly]

Oh god, alfie is here, wickets to follow

Morning alfie

[mystiroakey]

wow what an amazing delivery!! omg, happy for it to be not out- but that sure had some movement"!!

[Mad for Chelsea]

thought that looke a pretty good shout actually (similar in a way to the Swann one yesterday), a bit surprised SL didn't appeal more vigourously (they usually do )

[alfie]

Hi billy

Will try and be on my best behavior

[eirebilly]

It nearly worked immediately alfie

Going well here.

[Mad for Chelsea]

is it me, or is the outfield quite a bit slower than yesterday? As Mike said, probably not going to be many boundaries here, so will test England's fitness (and SL's I guess).

[alfie]

thought that looke a pretty good shout actually (similar in a way to the Swann one yesterday), a bit surprised SL didn't appeal more vigourously (they usually do )

Hawk eye says just grazing top of stumps ...

...you'd feel very roughly treated being given out to that.

[Guest]

Nice to see this partnership going along nicely. Happy happy happy.

[eirebilly]

Whats the highest opening stand from these two in the last 6 tests?
They must be close to their highest partnership for a while.

[Mad for Chelsea]

first fifty partnership of the winter billy. They did have a big one at the Oval just before that.

[eirebilly]

Cheers MfC, i thought that it was one of their best in recent times.

[alfie]

Careful Strauss ... That little flick to leg was a bit risky ...

got away with it all right , but I really hope he doesn't give it away this time after doing al that hard work getting set

[eirebilly]

It will be very impressive if these two see out the day. England would then find themselves in a very strong position.

[alfie]

First things first...ten minutes to tea still...

[eirebilly]

Yeah, i should'nt tempt fate

[Stella]

Morning

Every thing is fine and dandy in kandy.........er Columbo.

[eirebilly]

Stella. Its been a while mate. Hows you?

[Stella]

Stella. Its been a while mate. Hows you?

Good thanks and yourself?

The Cricket is getting better. Four matches to late but hey.

[alfie]

Well the follow on is avoided at least...

[mystiroakey]

You lot and your old wifes tales lol

[Stella]

England are going to need a 50-100 run lead at least on this pitch.

[Mad for Chelsea]

excellent session for England

[eirebilly]

Yeah sound here stella

Over the moon with that session from England, excellent stuff.

[Duty281]

Sorry we're 83/0. Really? For none?

Well batted Strauss and Cook, stay at it. We trail by 192 so we need another 300 runs plus on top of this to set it up nicely. Get to stumps at 150/0 or 150/1 and then bat through all of day three tomorrow and the battle's halfway done.

[Mike Selig]

The sri lankan spinners haven't got half as much out of this pitch as Swann did.

Agree with MfC, the outfield does look a bit slow today.

That's tea, good effort from Cook and Strauss. More of the same required, but England have done about as well as they could have hoped for today. Sri Lanka will want at least 3 wickets in the evening session. I still believe this pitch will get worse. Some balls will start keeping low and wicket to wicket seamers should come into their own (that'll be Finn then).

[eirebilly]

The all important start is there. Confidence is a funny thing and can do wonders for a team.

[mystiroakey]

Sorry we're 83/0. Really? For none?

Well batted Strauss and Cook, stay at it. We trail by 192 so we need another 300 runs plus on top of this to set it up nicely. Get to stumps at 150/0 or 150/1 and then bat through all of day three tomorrow and the battle's halfway done.

we do that we cant lose, however we got to go for a win. I feel get to 350 then go mental

[Mad for Chelsea]

pretty much what Duty said, if we bat through to stumps tomorrow we should have 400+ and with the pitch deteriorating that should do.

[Mad for Chelsea]

has Randiv got long-on out? madness!

[eirebilly]

The thing is not to rush, there is plenty of time left (although slightly favouring Sri Lanka) to force a pretty good result.

This, to me, could be the most important session of this match.

[eirebilly]

I am willing STrauss to a 50 here

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