England vs Sri Lanka 1st test debate

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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

Herath smacks Tremlett for 4,brilliant shot!

Sri Lankan tail-enders hanging around.

woeful over from Tremlett, England running out of ideas. Come on Strauss, pull them together!

Can't see why Broad didn't continue his spell was starting to get into a rhythm and look threatening.

massive mishit from herath, lands... safe. sigh

Pietersen brought into the attack,Strauss having the two spinners bowl in tandem.

decent start by KP, beats the bat once too.

Gone, Swann tosses it up outside off and Herath drives straight to Trott at short cover. SL 8 down, but I fear their first innings score could be too much for England to force a victory here (forecast is dodgy for monday)

Anderson is off with a sore back apparently, they're sending him for a precautionary scan tonight, but I think it's probably just stiffness from bowling long spells which he hasn't done for a while...

Sri Lanka now 9 down Broad takes his second.

and Prasana is gone, he has a drive at Broad and edges behind to Prior. Well done Broad, you deserved that. And well batted Prasanna, you rode your luck at times but it was a splendid innings...

Can't see a side winning this,signs so far is that it's going to be a draw.

Depending on Englands first innings though.

England have been quite lucky to get a recent flurry of wickets and as i am typing the sri lanakan innings is all over

fantastic catch by broad restricts sri lanka to 400

Sri Lanka all out for 400,Swann takes it. Cracking catch from Broad aswell.

All out for exactly 400, Swann takes the last wicket with a fine diving catch by Stuart Broad at mid-on. So Swann and Anderson share the spoils with three wickets each, now let's see what England can do on this pitch. They'll be wanting a first innings lead...

you have to say that is a good score on this pitch, it will turn a lot more as the game will go on

could be tricky for the openers with 20 overs left to bat

If England are only 1 or two wickets down by the end of play they'll be reasonably pleased.

yes and no CF, the fact that four guys made it past 50 suggests it's a pretty good batting pitch, as does the way the tail enders were whacking it around at the end. I'd say 400 is about par, but runs in the bank are always good...

yes mfc, but we have to bat last on a pitch that will spin a lot on day 4 and 5.

Whole side chipped in. Well played Sri Lanka.

that depends on how well we bat first time around CF, if we make 600 it'll be SL batting last Just checked the forecast, it seems OK for monday but pretty dodgy for the week-end. I think the draw is still favourite...

Mendis doesn't seem to spin as much CF. Only threat I see is coming from Herath.

if we make 600 then it will be a draw

Mad for Chelsea wrote:that depends on how well we bat first time around CF, if we make 600 it'll be SL batting last Just checked the forecast, it seems OK for monday but pretty dodgy for the week-end. I think the draw is still favourite...

I can only see Sri Lanka winning if they bowl England out for around 200. Otherwise the match is sure to be a draw.

Strauss away with four through the gully. If you're a batsman that's a good shot, if you're a bowler it's a lucky edge... Looking at hotspot, pretty close to the middle really. Doesn't have to play at the rest of the over

no silly misjudgements from either of the batsmen yet which is a good sign

lakmal wayward

sight screen is a bit of joke.... there is a better one at my local village club

Englands batters started gently but confidently.

Knowing me,I say that then Sri Lanka take a wicket.

been quite loose though the sri lankan bowlers

News from the England camp is that Jimmy Anderson has back problems and side strain and will be going for a scan later on in the day. Hopefully he's alright to bowl in the 2nd innings. Or at least fine to bowl in the next test.

Likely option if he's not fit is Steve Finn to bowl in the next test.

Lakmal bowling far too wide so far, needs to make them play more.

trouble is, the field isn't right, he has a 7-2 field which discourages you from bowling straight. Cover should be brought across to the leg-side to provide some cover in case he gets too straight. As it is he's wasting the new ball by allowing Strauss and Cook to leave three quarters of his deliveries.

Would imagine Finn would be the next choice, after that I would go for Onions personally

Dilshan has a twirl, I suspect in memory of the WC QF where Strauss had trouble with him. Tests are a different beast though and Strauss square cuts for four before dabbing two through square-leg.

not a bad start at all by the england openers

England batting well.

Cook just seems to be playing himself in while Strauss is a little more attacking.

Can see a 50 partnership plus from this pair.

hopefully a 100 run+ partnership

solid stuff from our openers

strauss

Poor shot selection it must be said

not what we wanted really

Match well poised with draw the most likely outcome....

shame Strauss got out, but pretty solid start by England. Jimmy to frustrate them for an hour or so tomorrow would be good, and then Trott and Cook to carry on from Australia...

Weather forecast for tomorrow doesn't look brilliant, seems it will rain in the morning and maybe clear up in the afternoon. Draw still the most likely outcome I'd say, especially if England can bat well tomorrow...

Sri Lanka have gone in with the wrong off spinner in this match.

They should've played Randiv, spins the ball huge and gets bounce with his height.

Liam_Main wrote:And my prediction for today is a middle order collapse from Sri Lanka and England to bowl them out around the 270,300 mark. Then for England to make a solid start with the bat before loosing a wicket just before the end of play.

Well at least a got one of them was right.:P