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]

Prasad is playing really very well. 33 and counting for a Tailender

England may not be wanting to chase much more than 100 - 150 on the final day in these conditions.

[eirebilly]

Prasad gone now, Finn finally gets him

[eirebilly]

How Swann hasnt got a wicket yet i will never know, he has bowled very well.

[eirebilly]

I would bring Jimmy back for a few before Lunch.

[ShahenshahG]

Heres a man who loves the sight of his own words...ahaha. I had a feeling that if Sangakarra could get in, he could make what Pietersen did look like childs play.

[eirebilly]

Thats taking things a bit far Shah

[mystiroakey]

Heres a man who loves the sight of his own words...ahaha. I had a feeling that if Sangakarra could get in, he could make what Pietersen did look like childs play.

good luck with that lol

[ShahenshahG]

(i'm trying to curse him you idiots)

[mystiroakey]

ok shah,

[eirebilly]

Missed it

[ShahenshahG]

Mind you I did get two predictions spot on yesterday - well chuffed about that

[mystiroakey]

I think this is proving how risky it would have been to go till the
milddle of the day at a slow rate, rather than smashin out and getting
quick runs as we did- it would have been a draw- end of story!

at least we know have the chance of a win.. SL digging in ok..

[mystiroakey]

that tall dude on commentary is the most whiney dude i have ever witnessed on telly- he knows his stuff but he is allways so negative!

[ShahenshahG]

Am at work so can't tell who he is?

[mystiroakey]

bob willis

[ShahenshahG]

Grumpy old man syndrome and he plays it up abit too. Love David LLoyd though

[mystiroakey]

david lloyd is a legend!

Id llove to be as happy as he is when i get to his age- i feel i may be more in the willis camp lol

[eirebilly]

Surely thats out?

[Mike Selig]

Gotim! For once I find myself in agreement with Ian Botham.

Lovely ball from Swann...

[dyrewolfe]

Hmm. Dilshan gone for 35 to a possibly suspect decision. Umpire gave him out straight away but replays were inconclusive as to whether he'd actually got any bat on it. Third ump eventually went with the original decision.

SL now 104-3

[eirebilly]

Finally a breakthrough

Hotspot was needed there but he could not overturn the original decision.

[eirebilly]

Thats out as well

[dyrewolfe]

Cripes! Sangakkara possibly LBW. Original decision not out but England review.

3rd ump again goes with the on-field umpire. Looked close. Hawkeye says it would have clipped top of stump...bugger!

[eirebilly]

You win some you lose some

[Mike Selig]

Eh? How could that hit in line but be missing off?

[eirebilly]

It was an odd decision but as i said, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Happy with one wicket last over and Swann is certainly causing loads of issues for the Sri Lankan batsmen.

[mystiroakey]

swann is going be working hard today!!

[dyrewolfe]

Well, as they say in football, these things even themselves out. Dilshan probably should've got the benefit of the doubt, while Sangakkara almost certainly was out.

Anderson and Swann tying up the SL batsmen pretty well. The pressure to score could eventually see some ill-advised shots.

[eirebilly]

I actually think that Bresnan would bowl well with Swann here. There is more than enough swing out there for Bresnan.

[msp83]

I don't know, my position on the DRS is getting confused by the minute. Without using all available technology, it is really going to be more trouble than needed. I am not too sure the Dilshan one could have been given, there was nothing that showed an edge, and even Sanga's, did the tracking really it right? Will there be statements in the evening about a missing video frame or something as had happened in the NZ v SA tests?

[eirebilly]

The more i see Dilshans wicket, the more i think that he is not out but thats what happens

[mystiroakey]

so that ball clearly hit the bat..the red mark is clear as day.

umpires fault, or hd telivisions fault by bringing it to our attention!

maybe decisions should be decided by us home viewers by poll!!

[msp83]

If the UDRS is also just evening things out in the end, I don't know whether we should take all the trouble. Its there to get as many decisions right, and I am afraid it lost the plot with both the calls. Anyways, England has to have these 2 most experienced classy Sri Lankan pair seperated as soon as possible. If they stay in for the long one, it will be trouble for England.

[mystiroakey]

get in swanny!!

[dyrewolfe]

Swann strikes again!

Sangakkara nicks behind to Prior and is gone for 21. SL 125-4.

[ShahenshahG]

bring on anderson sharpish, time to get the wickets, dont let jayawardene dig in.

[msp83]

with the massive wicket of Kumar Sangakkara, England can now seriously think of restricting Sri Lanka to a lowish total and then chase it down. Mahela is still there, and there is Angelo to follow. It won't be easy, but Sanga's wicket has made things far more comfortable from from an England point of view

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

You could colour me amazed if Patel gets one of these two out. Panesar should have been played, I can understand the reasons he wasnt but it does seem to be a mistake.

[mystiroakey]

saying that yesterday peter- however its just sods law isnt it lol.

we still should do this!

[trebellbobaggins]

Probably time to throw this out there:

"England are doomed, impossible to win, impossible to get rid of either of these worlds best ever batsmen".

[mystiroakey]

[trebellbobaggins]

[eirebilly]

You could colour me amazed if Patel gets one of these two out. Panesar should have been played, I can understand the reasons he wasnt but it does seem to be a mistake.

Why is it a mistake? Monty is not an attacking spinner like Swann, he generally gets his wickets due to frustrating batsmen. Patel was brought in as a Batter who would tie down one end, Monty ties down an end but cant bat.

[trebellbobaggins]

it's all academic. Jaya the cricket god can't get out, never will. so nobody would have removed this granite featured god of the green. I'm in the process of building a shrine to him right now after he ends Englands run in world cricket forever.

[mystiroakey]

monty has been getting alot more wickets recently, and this is a spinning track which would suit him.Patel hasnt done enough to justify his place(with bat or ball)- but that is due to hindsight. I think we all understand the decision, i didnt agree with it at the start- but it wasnt a big NO from me, just a 'MAYBE NOT'

[ShahenshahG]

Because sometimes Patel seems to be as inept as monty and without the comic value.

Seriously though, on a wicket that turns, monty could do a fair job holding down one end and the odd one that kicks off or spins could net you wickets. Patel for the most part is innocuous.

[eirebilly]

It was by no means a certainty that Monty should have been rested, i questioned it at the time. I just feel that he is not the most attacking spinner out there and that he would struggle out there, especially with Mahela.

Patel is not a bowler but he was brought in to ad depth to the batting with the loss of Broad. Finn was in for Broad Bresnan for Monty to add even more depth due to Englands struggeling batting.

[eirebilly]

A 55 run session for Sri Lanka, the will want to up the pace a bit if they are going to give England a decent chase.

[ShahenshahG]

True, and the england batting picks this time to perk up , Just seems like england are always taking the safe option and might want to take more risks. I remember that miserable moment when England picked Giles before the ashes and I thought bang, we've lost it. Then harmison banged a wide so wide you could probably squeeze Dwayne Leverock left leg in there and it was all confirmed. Wasn't such a big reaction but it did seem to be a defensive move in a test you have to win its like starting a step behind.

[ShahenshahG]

Last line is meant for this test.

[Sponsored content]