England vs Sri Lanka 2nd test debate

First topic message reminder :

So the 2nd test is upon us,Will England make another tremendous win or will Sri Lanka fight back to win the 2nd test? All will be known in 5 days time.

The 12 man teams are as follow:

England
Andrew Strauss (C)
Alistair Cook
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior (W-K)
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Chris Tremlett
Steve Finn
Jade Dernbach

Sri Lanka (Can't find the 12 man squad anywhere)

Tillakaratne Dilshan (C)
Tharanga Paranavithana (Spell check!)
Lahiru Thirimanne
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardene
Thilan Samaraweera
Dinesh Chandimal
Prasanna Jaywardene (W-K)
Thissara Perera
Suraj Randiv
Ajantha Mendis
Rangana Herath
Dilhara Fernanado
Chanka Welegedara
Suranga Lakmal
Farveez Maharoof

Once again like the 1st feel free to discuss the action

And updates of the match will be up on the thread.

Dilshans in the mood to get 200+ here he's playing superb. England need the break through desperately.

What I don't understand is how 3 bowlers can bowl out Sri Lanka but 4 can't even take 2 wickets in 75 overs.

Really poor and loose stuff here from England.

Getting a bit of a pasting here it must be said.

Sri Lankas match at the moment. Missing Jimmy badly.

They were smart to put us in then. Any variable bounce has gone. We did our best to get out though a few times sadly.

@Liam:

Quite a lot of things different in this match.

Different pitch, different conditions and different psychology from both teams.

The Cardiff pitch was livelier, SL were under pressure to save the match. Lords is a better batting track and SL are determined to make up for their collapse in the last match.

God only knows whats up with England's bowlers though. They're not helping at all with their mostly poor bowling.

guys chat box is on for the cricket at the bottom of the page as well

This is not much fun. England bowling poorly in reasonable conditions. India will not be shaking watching this.

Actually, having thought about it for a few minutes, I think thats whats wrong with our bowlers.

Having skittled SL out so easily on the last day in Cardiff, they're probably frustrated they haven't been able to do it again and are just losing concetration and discipline.

You'd think they'd know better.


How's this for a prediction? Sri Lanka declare on 600, leaving England to save the match on the last day, or chase down 120 or so and we crumble, just like SL did.

cricketfan90 wrote:guys chat box is on for the cricket at the bottom of the page as well

Whats this chat box you speak of? I can't see anything...

Tremlett gets the breakthrough!,Sangakkara out for 26.

dyrewolfe wrote:

cricketfan90 wrote:guys chat box is on for the cricket at the bottom of the page as well

Whats this chat box you speak of? I can't see anything...

Scroll to the bottom of the page,theres a chat box just log in on it.

AT LAST!

Tremlett strikes with the new ball! Sangakkara gone for 26.

Still SL are nearly 300-2. Still not great. England really need to run through the rest of their batting in short order to save the situation.

@Liam:

I have - there's nothing there.

dyrewolf: Go to the home page and scroll down to the bottom.

It said I was disconnected. I'm a bit hurt. My friends have been saying so for years, but it's a bit much when random machinery insults you too.

New ball does the trick.

Need a couple more though.

Dyre,Cowhot,Billy you's willing to come on the chat then?

Cowshot wrote:dyrewolf: Go to the home page and scroll down to the bottom.

It said I was disconnected. I'm a bit hurt. My friends have been saying so for years, but it's a bit much when random machinery insults you too.

There's only one thing you can do when that happens...

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!

dyrewolfe wrote:

Cowshot wrote:dyrewolf: Go to the home page and scroll down to the bottom.

It said I was disconnected. I'm a bit hurt. My friends have been saying so for years, but it's a bit much when random machinery insults you too.

There's only one thing you can do when that happens...

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!

(Cowshot heads to the kitchen to insult the fridge)

Dammit! It's not as if the Sri Lankans aren't trying to get out!

Lady Luck is definitely smiling on SL today, in addition to England doing themselves no favours.

Suspect England are trying too hard.

I'm going to hide behind the sofa for a bit. Catch you later.

Alot of edges going Sri Lankas way.

Another edge but doesn't carry to slip.

England persisting in bowling the wrong line to Jayawardene

Just looked at the pitch map. Presume Saker has too ... will have a word at lunch but really these chaps should work it out for themselves...

Would have thought the overcast conditions would be helping more...but then the bowlers need to help themselves more as well.

Lol. Close-up of Jayawardene's face says it all. They have had some luck today.

I go outside for 40mins to sit in the garden and England take a wicket.. typical.

When was the last time England have collectively bowled so badly? They have been terrible with both new balls.

Finn's last over was excellent - more of that after lunch please...

Another fine session for Sri Lanka : 110 in 28 , and at this rate they will be thinking of getting England back in sometime tomorrow and putting them under pressure in their second knock.

However , unlike 1998 , they don't have Murali , so I still fancy the draw.

With the ease that they are scoring runs, i would'nt be suprised to see a declaration this evening to let their bowlers have a go at a very suspect Strauss to be honest.

In trebell's absence, I'll repeat my earlier prediction:

SL to declare on 600 and England to collapse spectacularly on the last day (basically a reverse of Cardiff).

:run2:

Nice one dyre

Better bowling from Finn. Keep it nice and tight please chaps - build up some pressure...

YES!!!

Finn bowls Dilshan for 193. Fantastic innings but a great delivery to get him out.

Very much agree , dyre , really need to work hard here to get a wicket through attrition.
Finn has been good in bits. He is still a work in progress but I'm actually not too displeased with what he has done in this match. Though he'll doubtless lose his spot when Jimmy is fit again - hopefully for the 3rd Test.

I've not seen it all , but I've been rather disappointed with what I've seen of Tremlett this time. Perhaps that's because he's been so good in the last 4 Tests.

And as I type that the break is made! Well done Finn !

Great knock , Dishan


Really well played..

Dilshans finally out!,well bowled Finn.

I go away for a bit again and another wicket falls. Maybe i should just not watch the cricket.

Well played Dilshan, i was actually willing you on to a double ton.

Now let's try to manufacture some pressure. If (IF) we can knock them over for 100 from here it's still game on.

Says he, hopefully.

Ah now we have rain ...bother , in the middle of some good bowling...

Might be time to go to Paris for a bit...

Rain...hhhmmm lucky or not for England??

Doesn't look too bad. Wouldn't have thought the delay will be too long.

Yeah they could be back soom dyre.

And the rain returns again

I think I should just keep my mouth shut.

Between us we're not doing England much good.

eirebilly wrote:Rain...hhhmmm lucky or not for England??

Only lucky if they stay off. SL are going along nicely but they will have to speed up if too much time lost.


Hopes England are discussing how poorly last 100 overs have been played by them !

And back

And off again

Bad light this time.

Have to agree with Boycott. Whats the point in having floodlights if you're not going to use them? Seems good enough for ODIs and T20 matches...

Pointless, i bet Sri Lanka are not too happy about this.