England vs Sri Lanka 1st test debate

Englands side vs Sri Lanka: 1st test

1) Andrew Strauss (c)
2) Alistair Cook
3) Jonathan Trott
4) Kevin Pietersen
5) Ian Bell
6) Eoin Morgan
7) Matt Prior (w-k)
8) Stuart Broad
9) Graeme Swann
10) James Anderson
11) Chris Tremlett


Feel free to discuss the match under this thread

Interestingly Sri Lanka have left out both Randiv and Mendis from their twelve man squad, with Herath the only spin option in there, so I would dispute your assertion that SL have the edge in the spin bowling department (Swann is a better bowler than Herath). I think this is a "Pietersen pick", i.e. Pietersen struggles against left arm spin so they go with the left arm spinner. Aus did the same with Doherty (and later on Beer) and we all saw how well that turned out (though Herath is a far better bowler than Doherty and Beer). I just don't think picking your team based on the opposition is a good move, I think they tred this in the WC final and they don't seem to have learned. Am I reading too much into this pick? Do they genuinely believe Herath is the best option?

Back to the original article, I expect England to pick Tremlett ahead of Finn, and looking at the two teams SL may have a slight edge in the batting (though that's debatable in England conditions), but England certainly appear to have the edge in the bowling, especially at home. As I'm a firm believer in the saying "bowlers win matches", I expect England to take this one. Would like to see Strauss bowl first if he wins the toss, particularly if conditions are overcast.

As for the major performers, I can see Strauss and Trott both having good summers with the bat: Strauss has started in fine form with two hundreds in two matches, including 150 against SL, while Trott is a run machine. With the ball, Anderson will have a big part to play, in English conditions there is no better bowler around.

I can see England winning the series. Although a couple of tests could boil down to batting attrition as both sides seem strong. Sri Lanka's attack has taken a blow with retirements so they'll be wanting to prove themselves.

I always back England in English conditions though.

This Sri Lankan side look to not have the firepower in the bowling to win this series. England DO, so personally I would have left Pieterson out of the Sri Lankan series and played both Bopara AND Morgan. Pieterson could do with some time in the county game - it is there that technical deficiencies are corrected for test players, not in Test matches, and if England really are serious about becoming the top Test match side in the world then Pieterson needs to sort his game out before we run into the Indian series and beyond. It would also give us a larger pool of match hardened players over the coming couple of years.

I would also pick Finn before Tremlett for the first match at Cardiff - Tremlett is a terrific bowler, but I just feel that Finn will be more useful on the typical flat lifeless pitches that are common at the Gardens.

It's surprised me how Sri Lanka haven't played 2 spinners especially with the lack of experience in the seam department. Can see Sri Lanka making more than 1 change as the series goes on.

i can see sri lanka winning the series, with their batting line up, and with the first test being at cardiff, spin will be key and the lankans have plenty of spinners.

cricketfan90 wrote:i can see sri lanka winning the series, with their batting line up, and with the first test being at cardiff, spin will be key and the lankans have plenty of spinners.

There only playing one main spinner,Herath. Which has surprised me. I'm liking England's chances abit more now.

I'm of school today ill so it looks like a day of Cricket for me

Luckily I don't have a exam today.

Actually, Liam, according to cricinfo, they've picked Herath no Randiv. What do you think Strauss should do at the toss? Usually in Cardiff you'd say bat first, but if it's overcast I'd be tempted to stick em in, and try and bowl them out cheaply. Remember that in their last four tests against Australia England bowled first and got them out for under 300.

I seen somewhere that it said Randiv aswell,nevermind.

I say bat first get runs on the board and put the Sri Lanka batsmen under pressure. England have only one swing bowler which is Anderson so even if it's nipping around abit I would still bat first.

Been some rain last night and this morning play to be delayed slightly. Covers too be take off around 11.

if it stops raining

Forecast looks good for 11.

Doesn't seem alot of rain either around the ground just abit of drizzle.

8mm

Interesting debate from Bumble and Ian Botham before,they think that Broad should of been T20 and ODI captain.

im going to create an argument about it lol cos i made point on chat box i dont agree with cook or broad being skipper.

I don't think Broad should be one-day captain maybe in a few years but not just yet. T20 captaincy is enough.

For me I would of had Ian Bell as ODI captain experienced and in the best form of his life.

i would have had kp as odi captain, and swann as 20-20 captian.

they were never going to go back to KP CF, I think Cook was the logical choice, he'll replace Strauss in the side and as captain. I'd have liked to see Swann captain the T20 side though. The argument against Broad being captain of both is that he may well be rested for a few ODIs as England look to rotate their bowlers to avoid burnout...

KP needs to focus on his batting more than anything else he's on the verge of falling out the England side. If KP was batting well I would probably agree but he's not the main thing for him is to stay in the England side and score some runs.

mfc, i dont get how cook can go from not even being in the squad a month ago, to suddenly being captian.

cricketfan90 wrote:mfc, i dont get how cook can go from not even being in the squad a month ago, to suddenly being captian.

Cook's the likely option too take over Strauss for the test captaincy. I think England are handing him the one-day captaincy too see how he reacts and to see if he bats well with the added pressure.

well then i have to agree with one of the pundits on sky sports, i cant remeber who said it but they said...

'well then they are putting test cricket first, and just giving cook an audiition for the job'

because Strauss retired CF, it's a simple swap. Basically take Strauss out of the equation and Cook has a place in the starting XI (that's how the selectors feel at least), but you can't have both of them in the same team (too similar?)

Rain has stopped but it's going to take a while to get the covers off apparently, inspection at 11:10

lets get back onto topic, we can create a new thread for the captaincy debate

Hopefully players to be out for around 12 depending on the inspection.

cricketfan90 wrote:lets get back onto topic, we can create a new thread for the captaincy debate

Doesn't bother me if we talk about on it here. But yeah might aswell create a thread on it.

well it keeps us busy while waiting for something exciting to happen CF... Anyhow back on topic, the rain should have freshened the pitch up somewhat, do you still think England should bat first Liam? Cf, any thoughts?

lol liam btw i sent u a twitter message...

tough decision for the toss, cos u dont wanna bat first, cos conditions scream bowl first, but if u do bowl first then the new ball will get wet on the outfield

Maybe a good toss to lose, I suspect SL would want to bat first anyway, there strength is in their batting, and by bowling they could be seen to be saying "we don't fancy facing an England attack in their conditions". For England, Strauss is usually a bat first captain, but that changed in Aus where he got more adventurous. I could see him choosing to bowl.

its going to be intresting to see what the captains decide to do..

I'll have a look CF.

I would still bat first the rain certainly won't help out the bowlers and could affect the pitch just abit if it's wet.

finn isnt playing, tremlett is in.

right, off to grab some food, see you guys later

cya later mate.

Thought they would pick Tremlett ahead of Finn his performances in the Ashes were exceptional and certainly deserves his place in the side.

Cya in a bit MFC.

i wanted finn in the side lol

If the conditions are overcast I can't see either side making more than 300.

Both sides are decent batting sides on flat pitches.

It would of been very harsh too drop Tremlett though.

did u see my twitter message mate??

Pieterson should be out of this squad, he is out of form and needs county cricket for the next few months. Its a disgrace he gets picked regardless

Yeah mate,responded.

Gregers,I think if he doesn't turn up in the first two tests he will be dropped. Totally agree he needs county cricket to recapture some of his form.

liam i will look soon

The dilemma is Pieterson in form is one of the greatest test batsmen in recent years. Out of form he's one of the worst

lashing down with rain in cardiff

Play to be delayed even more. Players probably not going to be out for a hour or two.

Gregers wrote:The dilemma is Pieterson in form is one of the greatest test batsmen in recent years. Out of form he's one of the worst

Pietersen one of the greatest Test batsmen in recent years? Behave.

Even at his best he was only par with guys like Mahela and Sangakkara.

He was never in the same league as Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis etc

Pietersen made a double hundred a few tests ago, so he's not exactly in horrible form. However he needs to perform in this series otherwise his place will be under threat, especially with guys like Hildreth and Taylor enjoying excellent seasons so far.