Champions Trophy - England and Wales 2013

First topic message reminder :

We have had a few prediction/ speculation type threads but this will be the discussion thread for matches in the Champions Trophy which starts this morning.

The first game is India v South Africa at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff.

I believe that Warner will be sent home. The decision is made easier by the fact that he's in poor form anyway and might have had to make way for the Tests. It will probably allow them to add a much needed extra middle order batter to the squad (probably either Steve Smith or George Bailey).

I also think the media shouldn't be too one-eyed. Whilst it is right that England players aren't kept under strict controls on the evenings after wins it was probably ill advised to go for the fake beards and still be out at 2am. Had it been KP I wonder if everybody would have been so far on the side of the Englishman.

Apparently it was their first day off for a while so they got time off.

GSC wrote:Apparently it was their first day off for a while so they got time off.

Yes, and it is totally correct that players are given freedom after matches. I just think 2am/ Birmingham bar/ fake beards is a recipe for disaster.

Probably more than valid. 

How times have changed for the Aussie team. Almost sad

Graeme Swann's fit for today's game. Interesting selection decisions for England. Who will Swanny replace? Tim Bresnan's wife is due to give birth to their first child any time, so there is a questionmark over his availability. While Bresnan could find a place in the England ODI side under certain combinations and permutations, dropping Steven Finn was an extremely harsh call. James Tredwell has done well for England in the limited opportunities he has got so far. Will England go in with 2 spinners and 2 seamers? Will Bresnan be available? Will Finn get his chance?

I'd expect it to be Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn

Probably not 2 spinners against Sri Lanka. In fact, Swann and Tredwell are probably too similar, which is why Tredwell is the best replacement for Swann (IMO even in test matches) but not a particularly good complement.

Bresnan did well against Australia, but I'm always keen on the extra pace of Finn. Not too fussed either way on that one.

I don't think we'll see any change of approach from the England top-order (even more so given how apart from India - helped by two appalling bowling performances - every other side has struggled completely with the bat), so can we call an early truce rather than rehash all the same arguments again?

"so can we call an early truce rather than rehash all the same arguments again?"


haha.. Maybe..

Warner suspended until the first ashes test

The 'until the first ashes test' part must give England another mental boost.

Mike Selig wrote:Probably not 2 spinners against Sri Lanka. In fact, Swann and Tredwell are probably too similar, which is why Tredwell is the best replacement for Swann (IMO even in test matches) but not a particularly good complement.

Bresnan did well against Australia, but I'm always keen on the extra pace of Finn. Not too fussed either way on that one.

I don't think we'll see any change of approach from the England top-order (even more so given how apart from India - helped by two appalling bowling performances - every other side has struggled completely with the bat), so can we call an early truce rather than rehash all the same arguments again?

Hoping for an early truce with England's approach might be stretching optimism levels a touch too far!!!.
I don't expect England to radically change their approach, but I hope Cook bats up to the 40th over. That in itself will take care of a lot of criticism. He can show greater intent with the bat, and get a move on as his innings progresses. Lot of criticism that the England top order is getting in a way is down to Cook not quite converting a number of starts that he's been getting in recent times. And I hope Joe Root also plays a substantial innings today.
And while we are at it, I agree both South Africa and the West Indies were poor with the ball in their respective matches against India. But at the same time, from ball one, the Indian batsmen capitalized on bad balls, showed good intent throughout, and put the pressure right back on the bowling unit. With England, even the likes of Voges could bowl without coming under a lot of pressure.

England batting, Swanny in for Tredwell.

Pitch looks very slow.

Bell looks in good touch (kiss of death?) whilst Cook seems to be searching a bit.

Ok start this from england.

I will be happy with 270 on this pitch v these batters..

Malinga trying to get early wickets

Leg byes in good form...

6 overs gone so far so good

For me though it looks like Malinga has Cook right where he wants him and im fearing a wicket soon.

COME ON ENGLAND!

Alot of dots.. Come on lads get in quick..

Bell is a lucky man there. Very poor shot. If that had carried a little bit more, he would be on his way.

England looking to see off Malinga at the moment.

Pressure tells and Bell plays a release shot, but Eranga not aware enough at mid-on to take advantage. Poor fielding and field placing - against Kulasekara you know down the ground is a good option, so need to get your good fielders there.

Only 38 from the opening power play. But no damage...and after being sent in in dull conditions I 'll take that.

No doubt Malinga will be dangerous with the older ball later. But glad to see off his first four.

Ok lads- Whats the score we need to defend?

I would be happy with 260.

I still think we will bowl them out for sub 200. But we need to bat well to take pressure of the lads..


Bells gone..

Bell gone for 20

Sloppy shot, but good opening IMO from Bell. He has done enough, got the team going to a healthy position. Time for Trott and Cook to now do the business!

Bell chips one straight to mid-wicket and looks at the pitch...

Crucial Cook or Trott bat through now.

On what I've seen so far 260 should be plenty.

Are my eyes deciving me or is Trott on a 100 RR !!!

Bell goes for 20 of 37, a poor shot really. Needed to bat big after that slowish start. They had seen Malinga off, to get out to Aranga with the kind of shot he played, Bell has to be very disappointed.

Probably can't blame Mike for Bell's dismissal ...took half an hour from the "good touch" comment 

Great to see some early intent from Jonathan Trott. Into double digits at better than a run-a-ball.

Trott looking busy (that can't be a kiss of death can it? in any case Bell had ceased to look in good touch by the time he got out). Cook still struggling somewhat, but important he hangs in there.

Could be key to get a LHB/RHB combo at the end, as very strong cross winds will make hitting 6s into the breeze quite tough.

Surprised we haven't seen Herath yet.

A few surprises with Sri Lanka today. No Herath into the attack as yet as Mike pointed out. Even more surprising that Thisara Perera is dropped. Of course Perera didn't have a good game against New Zealand. But if the batsman do their job properly, he's their best bet to provide the spark at the end and make a 260 total into a 280 one. He's handy with the ball as well. I also think perhaps they should have had a look at Senanayake as well.

Herath on now.

This slow pitch may actually suit a player like Trott better than the hitters. Might be a lot of running today.

Cook does seem to have lost his timing lately...though saying that he gets a nice three off his pads...

Now trial by spin

Ooh very nearly a runout there.

265+ should be match-winning here for England. It's quite a slow pitch, and England's bowlers should do well on it. Semi-Finals in sight if we keep nudging and nurdling.

Not exactly peppering the boundaries , but these two have been going along quite briskly - 53 off eleven since the power play finished.

Trott seems to be much busier today. I wonder if the coach has spoken to him about his run rate at the beginning of his innings.

Its been an excellent start from Trott today. Not too many boundaries, but the intent is there and he's scoring at fine clip. That's all that the many critiques have been asking for.

Yes they do seem to be really trying to get on with it , taking a few risks in fact.
Obviously still want to bat long , but they may suspect the late over dash might be a little less productive today in view of the nature of the pitch and the Malinga factor. Will be a different sort of challenge for the likes of Morgan and Butler.

More spin now as the hundred comes up from 23.

It may not make exhilarating viewing, but 100-1 off 23 is very close to precisely where England would want to be. Target 130-135 off 30, then look to push on somewhat.

I don't think it's the kind of conditions where you can comfortably score 10 an over at the end, so England should probably realise that 80 off 10 is standard rather than 100.

Cook enjoyed that over from Dilshan !

Good fifty , just the early chance.

These two looking increasingly comfortable (now that IS a kiss of death). I think Mahela could be a bit more creative with his field settings - too many easy singles given away at the moment, maybe bring up mid-on and/or mid-off at least to Trott who looks like he's happy to just knock singles around all day.

Trott:OK:

Dilshan going for a few here. Mathews too wasn't maintaining great control. The 5th bowler shaping up to be a problem for Sri Lanka.
Not sure Thirimanne at 7 gives them great value for that spot. Would rather prefer Thisara Perera.

sri lanka seem content to let england accumulate a lot of singles.  Could be a risky strategy.

Run-rate going up to 5. Apart from Malinga, do Sri Lanka have a genuine wicket-taking threat?

msp83 wrote:Dilshan going for a few here. Mathews too wasn't maintaining great control. The 5th bowler shaping up to be a problem for Sri Lanka.
Not sure Thirimanne at 7 gives them great value for that spot. Would rather prefer Thisara Perera.

 I agree, the absence of Perera is a real surprise to me.

Mike Selig wrote:These two looking increasingly comfortable (now that IS a kiss of death). I think Mahela could be a bit more creative with his field settings - too many easy singles given away at the moment, maybe bring up mid-on and/or mid-off at least to Trott who looks like he's happy to just knock singles around all day.

Agree with the too many singles argument, but blame Angelo and not Mahela.

Think Mike's run rate suggestion is about right. Though they may be hoping now for a bit over 135 from the 30.
Whichever way they get there , if they can get up to 270 or so I fancy it would be enough in these conditions.
Just want to make sure the innings doesn't get the stutters around the power play overs , which is apparently England's Achilles heel.

Must be Cook's lucky day...