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.

Yeah i just saw that too. Well done Finn on 50 test wickets at a very decent average as well

Sainty - if we do declare, I'm sure it won't be until the match is completely safe for us meaning - unless there is another total SL collapse - that it will be a draw.

Strauss will be more than happy going into the last test one- nil up and won't want to jeopardise that. SL, on the other hand, need a win to level things and will be desperately after England wickets tonight ....

Now Im far from a chop and change / drop em all bandwagonner... but assuming Andersons fit for the next text (pending second innings peformances) its increasingly hard to justify picking Broad ahead of Finn. The guys wicket taking record is quite remarkable, whereas Broads form is horrible.
Both are inconsistent within an over, but one is taking wickets and has a lot more potential to improve long term. Broad has had a lot of cricket for England with only breif spells looking this threatening.
In a 4 man attack batting shouldnt be considere except as a "tiebreaker".
This isnt based on a one innings reaction, but on Finn and Broads respective records, currnet form, and likeliehood to improve into the future.

Edged, and Strauss sticks out a left hand at slip to take the catch, nonchalant as you like!

Finn working his opposite number over pretty well here...Just as well for Lakmal he was wearing a helmet.

Reckon it'll be pretty well even on first innings now

Strauss nice slip catch - 100 for him !

I am with you there Peter, Finn is taking wickets whereas Broad isnt. I think that he will be rested if Jimmy is fit but i would also like to see Dernbach given a go as well.

Another wicket

f1 doing the trick

some good hostile stuff from Finn, making the tail enders feel uncomfortable...

1 to go

A fast straight one might do it ...they aren't exactly moving into line...

Can't blame them

England prob don't want a wicket for the next ten minutes, as otherwise they face an uncomfortable little session before tea. Lakmal not getting much in his half...

I dont think that England will want to get into bat to be honest.

Gone, swanny finishes off as the good old heave only finds the safe hands of Stuart Broad at deepish mid-on. Swann finishes with three wickets. England have a seven run lead...

A first innings lead, who would have seen that coming at the start of play today.

Swann wraps it up ...

7 run lead for England.

Result still possible but unless England collapse this afternoon I suspect the draw is still strong favourite.

And it works again...

I go away for 15 minutes and 2 more wickets fall!

Congrats to Finn on reaching 50 Test wickets and taking Botham's record in the process.

As I type this Swann gets Welegedara...SL are 479 all out. A very slender 7-run lead for England.

Looking forward to some solid, sensible accumulation. Shouldn't think we'll need more than 200-250.

Just came in England have done well,surprised we have the 1st innings lead especially after the start Sri Lanka had. Time for Englands batsmen to do the job now.

So now what should we do?

Presumably about 3 hours of play left today (light could be an issue this evening) and then a full day (hopefully - forecast is not bad) tomorrow. Can't really see a result happening if we just play normal cricket - getting a lead of say 275 by lunch tomorrow isn't enough to declare and put SL under pressure (unless they have another total collapse), but looking to push the scoring rate along opens up the possibility of being out too cheaply and increases the risk of losing.

Personally, I'd like Strauss and KP to get some quality time out in the middle and just play for a bit of confidence (accepting the draw) rather than looking to push things too hard. After all, we lead the series, so not losing is good enough.

I doubt that England will be in any hurry to push the scoreboard along. They will be more happy with a draw than Sri Lanka.

Strauss <doh>

Strauss goes in the first over,least thing England wanted. Wastes a review aswell.

Strauss gone second ball! lovely delivery and that's absolutely plumb as you like.

What were you saying about Strauss, dummy half?

2nd ball........

Why did he review it? Plumb as you get.

At least Trott is in now, he will do the job

Any thoughts of going for fast runs surely gone, even Trotts trying to give his wicket away. England have the luxury of not needing to win this, just bat sensibly and give teh SRi LAnkans the chance of losing it like the last one rather than giving them the chance of winning.

Oh Lordy!

Strauss gone 2nd ball!

SL bowling looking dangerous. Total contrast to the 1st innings.

As i said earlier, England would be the happier side with a draw that Sri Lanka so i would be extremely suprised if England went on the attack.

strange field they had to Cook there. leg gully, fine leg, three in the ring on the leg side, and just two slips cover mid-off on the off side...

Difficult batting out there but Trott and Cook should see England out of any trouble.

bouncer, and Cook hooks it majestically through square leg for his first boundary of the innings.

Back to back 4's from Cook.

Tea, England 18-1, lead by 25, and despite the loss of Strauss will be pretty pleased by that long session I think after a strong bowling performance.

I am actually very happy with the proceedings. I had imagined much worse to be honest.

England should just make the game safe. Bat till tomorrow afternoon if possible and then reassess their position.

Good steady start so far by England.

Sri Lanka are unlikely to have another collapse like they did in the fist test especially with these conditions so England should really bat through the rest of today and tomorrow. Then maybe give the bowlers a few overs at the end of the day. This depends if England are trying to win or just settling for the draw.

Trott does love that leg side doesn't he, happily working balls off his off stump through square leg. These two have bedded in nicely so far I'd say.

Cook is such a lovely timer of the ball.

hmmm, England are 41-1, SL are prob the team who has most chance of winning this, Trott hasn't looked like hitting one through the off side so far, yet SL drop back a deep point. Puzzling

England going along well now after a iffy start.

cook just feeling for the ball

Very relaxed going right now. These two are so good in these situations.

heya CF, liam. How're things going? have you answered the middle-order poll yet? England recovering nicely here, lovely shot down the ground from Trott brings him four.

mfc was about to do it now mate.....


fernando working up some good pace here

SL bowlers really look toothless when the ball stops swinging. Cook and Trott in control now

light meters out :/

Mad for Chelsea wrote:heya CF, liam. How're things going? have you answered the middle-order poll yet? England recovering nicely here, lovely shot down the ground from Trott brings him four.

Just have now, I went with Lara and Tendulkar. I'm fine thanks mate yourself? Where you been over the last few days?

Never a good sign when the light meters are out. Players could go off shortly.

I give it another 20mins before they go off.