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!

[eirebilly]

Good 50 from Trott

Starting to find the boundary now, that has really lifted any pressure that Sri Lanka may have built.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Cook

[eirebilly]

Oohh Cooky, just short. Massive breakthrough for Sri Lanka

[eirebilly]

Lets hope that KP can find some good form here as well. England are in a very good position here.

[Mike Selig]

Dilshan does the trick with the new ball. A bit of turn there.

[ShahenshahG]

ARGH COOk oh no

[eirebilly]

This may sound very weird but i would not object to a swashbuckling 30-40 from KP here.

[ShahenshahG]

Hop skip jump, David shepard

[eirebilly]

Kp does look in some form here

[ShahenshahG]

Billy dont curse him mate, this could be a genuine opportunity for a leveller, don't precipitate a collapse!

[eirebilly]

Yeah, should not tempt fate

[eirebilly]

85/1 that session. Great stuff from England and Sri Lanka (although with still a lead) is on the backfoot.

[Mad for Chelsea]

England will once again be very happy with their session's work there, 85 runs added for just the loss of Cook, and they're now only 36 runs behind SL's total. More of the same this afternoon please lads.

[mystiroakey]

great stuff - Kp should naturally sort this rr out.

cook did his job perfectly mind

[Mike Selig]

So a good session for England.

Pietersen will bat aggressively by nature.

Jayawardene has missed a trick or two. I think Herath should have taken the 2nd new ball from the start.

[Carrotdude]

Just woke up - great first session! Can't believe Dilshan has 2 wickets though...

[eirebilly]

Ok, second session. I hope England can pass Sri Lankas score without any further losses.

[Guest]

Saw the play this morning. Cook looked it great touch before falling on 94. KP looks settled at the crease. Let's hope for another high scoring partnership.

[eirebilly]

Hee hee, KP

[Mad for Chelsea]

BOSH! KP down the track and launches Dilshan back over his head for a glorious straight six!

[eirebilly]

You have to admire KP when he is in a confident mood

[Mad for Chelsea]

Trott gone, lovely delivery from Herath, turn and bounce, and Trott edges straight to slip. Nice knock from Trott of 64, but SL have a bit of a sniff here.

[Mike Selig]

More turn and bounce. England really want to get a decent lead here. Crucial partnership coming up.

[eirebilly]

Trott gone

[eirebilly]

KP is the man now. Hopefully he can have a big innings, he is due one.

[Guest]

KPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[eirebilly]

Again KP

[Guest]

KP is taking the attack to the Sri Lankans. What a man!

[Mike Selig]

I'll tell you what say what you like about Pietersen but not many other players in the world could bat like that on this pitch. Come on KP, make it one to remember.

[eirebilly]

Jeebus, KP doesnt do things by halves does he

[eirebilly]

I tell you, its amazing what a confident start gives the rest of the team. A great opening partnership has given the boys loads of confidence.

[mystiroakey]

so glad KP has been listening to my advice and thoughts on this in game position.

Kp you legend!!

We are gonna take the draw out of the equation at this rate.

All the talk of getting to 450 midway through the 4th day isnt my idea of winning cricket!

this is good cricket, now that KP has pushed fielders to the boundaries we can pick up single after single and still keep the rate up!

[eirebilly]

KP has pretty much put on 1/2 a run on the RR single handedly, thats an impressive thing to do.

[Mike Selig]

Pietersen has simply done what the other players were doing and played his natural game. It just so happens that his natural game is quite so fun to watch.

[eirebilly]

Its sessions like this where England have taken a team apart in one session that has led England to be so successful.

[mystiroakey]

Pietersen has simply done what the other players were doing and played his natural game. It just so happens that his natural game is quite so fun to watch.

and that his natural game is a winning game and why test teams have openers and no.4's..

[hodge]

Great stuff from KP, fun to watch as well before heading off for a day at Taunton in a bit

[Guest]

KP has woken up this morning and realised exactly what a class attacking batsman he is!

[mystiroakey]

the first test were every player has done well so far!!



the england team is like a single living being isnt it- when one does well the rest follow, when one does bad the rest follow!!

[Guest]

This partnership 59 of 61. Superb

[mystiroakey]

thats the problem i suppose. Jay and hearth are the only two SL players that won them the last game. the rest of the team are quite abject.

Dont wanna put a downer on anything - however its all about having those couple of players that play winning crciket when others around you dont!!

[eirebilly]

On a side note, Bell is looking good out there as well even if he is being over shadowed by KP.

[Mad for Chelsea]

another good hour for England, KP looking in fine form.

[eirebilly]

77 runs in that hour

[eirebilly]

Thats what you get when you use up your reviews

[guildfordbat]

A match winning lead looks on as KP hits another boundary.

Oh well, off now to watch some proper cricket at the Oval.

[eirebilly]

Come on KP, get your ton

[Mad for Chelsea]

KP gets the switch hit out

[alfie]

Afternoon all ... Another good day for England so far.

Funny the way players like KP can make a mockery of predictions : I don't mind admitting I was one of many suggesting another slow day of accumulation might be the best we could aspire to on this pitch ... But along comes Pietersen and destroys that theory.

Fun to watch indeed !

Worth noting though that he probably wouldn't have been able to do this if Sri Lanka's bowlers hadn't been "Cooked" first...

Teamwork...

[mystiroakey]

Not mine alfie

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