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!

[ShahenshahG]

get matthews his 50 then get him out although i got a ba dfeeling this is gonna drag on

[ShahenshahG]

hahaha cursed

[Mike Selig]

You called it alfie, Finn does the trick! Less than 100 to chase and last wicket stand not withstanding that's a good morning's work for England. Won't have to bat before lunch either.

[Mike Selig]

Swann shows just how ridiculous this talk of Panesar being England's no1 in the summer is. Excellent match for him.

[msp83]

So that's it, England has to score 94 to win the test and draw the series!. Angelo Mathews gone for 46, Finn gets the breakthrough in his first over of the new spel!.

[alfie]

Glad to see Strauss listened to us at last ... And Finn did the trick.

94 to win.

Well bowled all...Swann top figures , Anderson deserved much better figures than he got too.
And a second handy fighting innings from Matthews to leave England with still some batting to do ... But they really should make this without too much angst...

[alfie]

Swann shows just how ridiculous this talk of Panesar being England's no1 in the summer is. Excellent match for him.

Indeed. Just on this subject , I think it was Vic Marks who suggested on TMS that Swann might actually be more comfortable when Panesar doesn't play , as it leaves him clearly as the man responsible for spinning out the opposition.

I had wondered something similar myself , as at times in UAE Monty was apparently preferred in terms of first use of the ball , perhaps choice of ends ... and although he took wickets , the combined return of the two spinners seemed perhaps a shade less than one might have expected.

They both say they like bowling together , but I am not sure they really do combine as well as , say , Edmonds and Emburey did in their time . (to say nothing of Laker and Lock , but that really was another time...)

Think it is academic for home matches , but the question will arise again in India. And Patel has done just
enough here to keep in contention.

[mystiroakey]

Where is everybody ?

Patel gets the ninth

Anderson safe hands at slip.

Asleep!!

anyway good morning for england- job done.

an easy 94 to get, cant see that being a problem

[mystiroakey]

Swann shows just how ridiculous this talk of Panesar being England's no1 in the summer is. Excellent match for him.

Indeed. Just on this subject , I think it was Vic Marks who suggested on TMS that Swann might actually be more comfortable when Panesar doesn't play , as it leaves him clearly as the man responsible for spinning out the opposition.

I had wondered something similar myself , as at times in UAE Monty was apparently preferred in terms of first use of the ball , perhaps choice of ends ... and although he took wickets , the combined return of the two spinners seemed perhaps a shade less than one might have expected.

They both say they like bowling together , but I am not sure they really do combine as well as , say , Edmonds and Emburey did in their time . (to say nothing of Laker and Lock , but that really was another time...)

Think it is academic for home matches , but the question will arise again in India. And Patel has done just
enough here to keep in contention.

yes swann is a cast iron test player- just like anderson,broad,trott,cook and kp

however i dont think patel has down enough- and the fact is we only used him to strengh the batting - because our top order hasnt been performing.. i think we should trust the top order next time in the sub and go with two front line spinners- if swann is playing worse because of abit of in game competition- he needs to sort that 'mental' problem out and sharpish

[alfie]

How can you sleep in on a Saturday morning with a Test to win , roakey ?

Luckily Mike and I were on hand to supervise the bowling effort ...

Bowlers have done their bit (again) and one hopes the batsmen won't be causing too many nerves in doing their part

[mystiroakey]

How can you sleep in on a Saturday morning with a Test to win , roakey ?

Luckily Mike and I were on hand to supervise the bowling effort ...

Bowlers have done their bit (again) and one hopes the batsmen won't be causing too many nerves in doing their part

because the us masters was on late!! - anyway didnt miss to much- luckily

[mystiroakey]

lol anyone just hear what nasser said instead of Cook..

[alfie]

Dilshan to open the bowling.

Not a surprise.

Fair enough too - after all , Prasad opened the batting

[mystiroakey]

captain calamity- lol!

come on trotty

[alfie]

And he bowls Strauss for a duck ! Ouch.

Alarm bells ?

[Mike Selig]

Ah... surely not?

[msp83]

Goodness, horrible start for England. Strauss gone for a duck. Hopes Trott would have his resolve full, and See them through this.

[Mike Selig]

Come on. All it takes is one 50 run stand. If England can't manage that, there's a problem surely.

[alfie]

Seriously not really concerned at one early wicket ... But with spin - predictably - from the start I think it will be far from a carefree waltz to victory.

Perhaps more of a slow foxtrot...

[mystiroakey]

doesnt even take a 50 run stand..

[Mike Selig]

No mysti but one 50 run stand ought to make it safe.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

England doing their best to commit suicide here

[alfie]

Main thing is not to get bogged down. Look for singles , rotate the strike ... There is no Ajmal here.

That first over was notable for two or three neat saves in the field which denied Strauss the nerve- settling runs to get off the mark. Little things , but it shows Sri Lanka are really up for this...

Review for lbw ?

[Mike Selig]

I immediately said not out down leg, but sure am happy to see Hawk-eye come up green...

[mystiroakey]

mike i thought the same.. the commentators went nuts- the umpire called it perfectly and there were leg byes!!

[msp83]

Seems cricinfo commentator has gone mental,! or it might be a case of Herath having something interesting in his lunch,!!! seems like he bowled his first over at an average pace of 140! KMPH!!!!.

[alfie]

Wouldn't be England if there weren't some alarms...

For once I enjoyed Greig & Botham on commentary just then

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Cracking stuff 4 edge 4 from Cook.

[alfie]

Nice on drive from Cook ... And now a cut for another four...

Few more of those will steady the nerves...

[mystiroakey]

cook might as well reallly go for a not out score- it will make his figures this year back to decent

[msp83]

Cook and Trott have done enough to negate the immediate danger, but there is a fair few way to go.

[alfie]

Just saw the replay of the Strauss dismissal again ... He won't enjoy seeing that footwork himself I fancy ... Didn't look good.

Pity he failed there after that good 1st innings knock , but as long as we win I don't expect too many knives wil be out for him just yet.

Sri Lanka staking their last review here ...

[mystiroakey]

this could have been out

[mystiroakey]

it is out- looked out!

decision against the umpire there

[alfie]

And they get Trott !

Still need 63

[msp83]

Randiv into the attack now, interesting how KP would go about dealing with him.

[alfie]

Halfway home ...

[mystiroakey]

It all feels like we are going through the motions with cook and kp in the crease- which offcourse is a good thing!

[alfie]

Fifty up.

Cook seems to have his mojo back...

[mystiroakey]

could someone explain the point in not opening with kp in this scenario?

[alfie]

KP restores perspective in quick time...

On the downhill run now.

[LivinginItaly]

the real race is will cook reach 50 before kp knocks off the winning runs?

[mystiroakey]

yipee- engaland win a test! and draw the series!

[alfie]

the real race is will cook reach 50 before kp knocks off the winning runs?

Should do ... One to go ..if KP will give him the strike back ...

Or maybe not ...five to win and KP facing. .???

And now just three to win...

SIX and over

Cook will be happy at 49 not out

Still number one ...

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

I notice Greggers has been absent fro this one.....

[mystiroakey]

yeahhhhhh!!!

where is everyone-- They are all here when things go bad!!

come on celebrate forum style

[msp83]

Terrific from Pietersen, He's always an attacking batsman, and when his head is clear, this is what can happen!. On the way he might make a mistake or to, don't eat his head then or sit on it, just let KP be KP, and England will win a lot many matches!!. What a champion performance from England's best batsman of his generation!!!.
And now I have a problem who should be the Man of the Match, dificult choice between 2 of my most favorit England cricketers, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann!. Swanny was superb, but sorry man, this one should go to KP!.

[alfie]

Terrific from Pietersen, He's always an attacking batsman, and when his head is clear, this is what can happen!. On the way he might make a mistake or to, don't eat his head then or sit on it, just let KP be KP, and England will win a lot many matches!!. What a champion performance from England's best batsman of his generation!!!.
And now I have a problem who should be the Man of the Match, dificult choice between 2 of my most favorit England cricketers, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann!. Swanny was superb, but sorry man, this one should go to KP!.

[trebellbobaggins]

Horray! Good to see them get their act together. 5 days and a win in these conditions.

Good stuff.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

England really stuck to their task well in Sri Lank second innings. In the end a convincing victory.

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