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!

[mystiroakey]

well the truth is patel is only in the team for his bowling- even if he is a batter and.. if he didnt bowl he wouldnt be close to this england team.. anyway i cant see it casuingg to many problems its ours to win and win well!

never know we could need 100 plus last innings and the top order could be skittled and patel could end up with the winning runs!!

[trebellbobaggins]

These two look well set. I can see Eng getting a nasty 200 chase tomorrow and i can't see them coping, they don't in these conditions as they've proved already.

We're not really best in the world are we, you have to be best in all conditions to be that. Thing is nobody seems to master all conditions at the mo.

[eirebilly]

Good man trebbs

[eirebilly]

Mahela is playing a very controlled innings here, its great to watch

[alfie]

Missed most of today's action ...

What has been happening? I caught the Dilshan wicket earlier but not much else.

Sri Lanka seem to be digging in here pretty well , the next wicket wil be the big one perhaps? Where is it coming from?

[eirebilly]

Sri Lanka were going at a very decent pace but have got themselves bogged down alfie. Swann has bowled very well and as has Finn in my opinion. I think that th next big wicket will come with the new ball.

[Guest]

How good is Pietersen as a spin bowler? He always seems to bowl a few for next to zero runs.

Anyway England are still favorites and I suppose a draw would be an improvement on recent results. I wonder if there are any future Warnes or Muralitharans in the England junior ranks?

[eirebilly]

Pietersen started his career as a spin bowler Nole. He is very accomplished but not what you would consider a solid spinner. In fits and bursts he may get the odd wicket but rarely.

[Liam]

Nowt much happening but just one wicket here and England are almost certain to win if they weren't already.

[Guest]

The BBC are not maintaining the match scorecard today for some reason: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/latest_scorecard/default.stm

[alfie]

Suppose on current run rate Sri Lanka won't have much of a lead when the new ball comes ... But if they are only 4 down England will really need to make that new ball count !

[mystiroakey]

How good is Pietersen as a spin bowler? He always seems to bowl a few for next to zero runs.

Anyway England are still favorites and I suppose a draw would be an improvement on recent results. I wonder if there are any future Warnes or Muralitharans in the England junior ranks?

a draw is immaterial to us- we dont want one, its like a loss to us- we need a win to draw the series. a draw is a win for SL.

I would be more annoyed at a draw than a loss in this game..because by losing it would mean we would have given ourselves the chance to win the thing and draw the series!!

[eirebilly]

You have to admire Sri Lanka here, they have fought back exceedingly well. Mahela is far and away the player of the series with nearly 400 runs already.

[eirebilly]

Approaching the last hour now, this could be interesting especially if Jimmy gets the new ball for a few overs.

[mystiroakey]

i just think the pitch is batting friendly and it hasnt deteorated, nothing more to say than that really- we just need to get em out within this sesision or the next and we have won. if we dont we draw

[Liam]

New ball needed desperately so Finn and Anderson can have a go at these two. One wicket and they'll send a night watchman in most probably and England will be right in there. Drinks break is perfect for the bowlers atm, have a rest and re group and come back strong, always a chance of a lapse in concentration from a batsmen after a short break.

[eirebilly]

Sri Lanka will not send in a nightwatchman if a wicket falls today, i really cant see that unless its in the last 3 overs.

[alfie]

You have to admire Sri Lanka here, they have fought back exceedingly well. Mahela is far and away the player of the series with nearly 400 runs already.

No argument there , billy

Jayawardene has been fantastic. The difference between the teams in the first Test (OK , a bit of help from Herath )

Real class.

[Guest]

... Anyway England are still favorites and I suppose a draw would be an improvement on recent results...

a draw is immaterial to us- we dont want one, its like a loss to us- we need a win to draw the series. a draw is a win for SL.

I would be more annoyed at a draw than a loss in this game..because by losing it would mean we would have given ourselves the chance to win the thing and draw the series!!

Yea, okay that's a good point. A draw here, is a series win for Sri Lanka and that is what history will record ... so England have to do everything possible here to win to stop Sri Lanka winning the series.

[mystiroakey]

... Anyway England are still favorites and I suppose a draw would be an improvement on recent results...

a draw is immaterial to us- we dont want one, its like a loss to us- we need a win to draw the series. a draw is a win for SL.

I would be more annoyed at a draw than a loss in this game..because by losing it would mean we would have given ourselves the chance to win the thing and draw the series!!

Yea, okay that's a good point. A draw here, is a series win for Sri Lanka and that is what history will record ... so England have to do everything possible here to win to stop Sri Lanka winning the series.

yep and i think we have so far - however we need a wicket- pitch is batting friendly and that JAY dude is one hell of a thorn in our side

[mystiroakey]

KP isnt a bad spinner lol- come on dude

[eirebilly]

Mahela has been immense alfie. Head and shoulders above the rest this series (with the exception of KP's innings yesterday).

[mystiroakey]

ermm patel getting involved now.. getting some movement!

[msp83]

Somebody has to get a wicket here, and get it soon. Who knows, one might bring 2, or even 3. England just have to keep the belief levels up.

[eirebilly]

Well Sri Lanka have the lead now

Come on with the new ball, not long now.

[ShahenshahG]

Think alot of the part time spinners are usually fair but no better - that includes pietersen, the object has always been to make the batsman relax and let them make silly mistakes. Its why the part timers either get the breakthrough because the batsman has thought - ah a feast and has misjudged it in his haste to cash in, or the runs just dry up because the batsmen try to guard against that very temptation and bog themselves down. The only time they usually get a battering is when the batsmen are whacking all the other bowlers around the park and the Part timer has been sent in desperation. England has a marvelous bowling attack and are bowling reasonably well but both Sam and Jay have been playing watchful cricket and its unlikely the part timer can do anything to stem it.

Cue Patel and Pietersen getting 3 wickets a piece.

[mystiroakey]

Naughty JAY...

good 50 though(begrudgingly)

[ShahenshahG]

Congrats Mahela - another well earned knock.

[eirebilly]

50 for Mahela

[trebellbobaggins]

well they are well and truly stuffing us now.

at this rate it'll be 300 behind and a pathetic all out for 50 and lose tomorrow.

don't deserve to be anywhere near the top spot, we're only good at home.

shambles.

[ShahenshahG]

I think the heat kills our curses before they reach SL.

[trebellbobaggins]

about as wasted an effort as englands over there

[mystiroakey]

give the ball to bresnan

[dyrewolfe]

Patient, stubborn knocks from M-Jay and Samaraweera. These two have really dug in and made England work. Hope this stand is broken when the new ball comes, or else England could be in real danger of having to save the game.

[Liam]

new ball please!!

[mystiroakey]

patel really is mr buffet isnt he- in more ways than one

[alfie]

OK they are in front , but a couple of wickets with the new ball would change the way the game looks

Pitch hasn't turned into a minefield , so no reason England wouldn't be able to chase down a 150-200 ...

[mystiroakey]

OK they are in front , but a couple of wickets with the new ball would change the way the game looks

Pitch hasn't turned into a minefield , so no reason England wouldn't be able to chase down a 150-200 ...

offcourse but only if we have the time!!

[trebellbobaggins]

seeing how eng bat again now? they couldn't chase a one legged cat.

[alfie]

OK , 150 tops , wouldn't be time to chase 200 ...

[eirebilly]

New ball now, come on Jimmy

[alfie]

Come on Jimmy ...

[Liam]

Big hour like Beefy just said

[Liam]

hope finn can rough up samareweera here like the 1st innings, you don't forget a knock on the head like that in a jiffy. Great ball from Finn!

[alfie]

Better get Samaraweera because Mahela doesn't look like getting out this week...

[dyrewolfe]

seeing how eng bat again now? they couldn't chase a one legged cat.

LMAO!

[dyrewolfe]

The way these 2 are set now, it looks like they'll pick up the pace and declare on 400+, giving England 200+ to chase.

[alfie]

Just four more overs today

Beginning to look like no more wickets tonight , which means a lot of work tomorrow to get a result ...

Not saying Sri Lanka have saved it yet , but it has been their day , and unless things start to happen quickly in the morning a draw may well be the final result.

[alfie]

Some fine new ball bowling from Jimmy here , but still can't get a break through...

[mystiroakey]

sweet- go swann!!

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