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.

Excellent stuff from Bell

Well done Bell. One for the team, so any luck is deserved.

Weather: More cloud than there was, but still mostly sunny. There might be the possibility of a shower later.

Declaration as I type.

And we have us a declaration. Lead of 342

Good to see the top order all do their bit too..

Broad is out caught behind, confirmed by the third umpire, and Strauss has seen enough, SL will need 343 to win, or more reallistically 59 (I think) overs to survive.

Broad gone? More wretched camera check - that's out for mine...

And the declaration now - waste of a ball/over in my book but OK , now to see what the bowlers can do.

My money's on a draw...

Your a hard man to please carrot .

Good declaration. Big pressure on Sri Lanka now.

Early wickets are key here, nip a couple out in the first 10 overs and it really is game on, and a huge test of Sri Lanka's resolve.

[quote="Carrotdude"]

eirebilly wrote:If we have them 9 down at the close of play then I personally would ask questions.

The question Id be asking is why is Sri Lankas batting coach still in a job.

To be fair though we have been here before with England and assumed its going to be draw. I just feel people are a bit spoilt by events last week. Just try and remeber how historicaly rare that was. It was always going to be an outisde chance at best.

Lets not froget that game a few years ago when Vaas batted for 6 months when England supposedly had the win wrapped up. ( OK ive forgotten the exact deatils but you get the idea)

England is in a very good position - SL won't try to chase at just under 6 rpo...and 58 overs is a long time to survive if 2 or 3 wickets fall under 50. Pressure will mount steadily if that happens.

Other scenario - SL sail along safely for a while, then the first tiny hole appears...and then another few in quick succession.

Thats not my quote Peter????

Bell gets another 50...nice one Ian.

Broad is out for 3 and Strauss declares. SL need 343 to win from 58 overs.

Given this means they'll have to score at 6 an over I highly doubt they'll bother even trying. It'll be match-saving mode for them I suspect.

Can England's bowlers pull off another Cardiff?

You're right there , fists

With no Dilshan , a couple of early strikes will have them all thinking of Cardiff..

Maybe I'll hedge those bets

Agree with the comment about Bell - was always a very good technician and a naturally gifted batsman, but it took him some time to come to terms with the mental toughness needed for Test cricket. He's certainly got there now and look at how good his form has been over the last 18 months or so.

Anyway, 340+ at just less than a run a ball should be a safe declaration as long as we bowl with discipline. The only way we have a chance of winning though is if SL lose an early wicket or 2 and the jitters set in as per Cardiff - can't see it happening twice.

Actually, with Dilshan's absence and their position in the series, the SLs have a bit of a dilemma with this sort of target - do you start off trying to chase the score and risk the early wickets, or do you just accept the draw and look to bat out time?

Argh! Just boiled the spuds dry listening to the end of innings!

The pressure just has to go on from the off, the boys have to be up for it and lively, pressure brings mistakes, mistakes bring wickets, and as we've seen, one wicket brings a few more.

'Mon the lads!

Agree that a draw is waay the most likely result, but we've created the opportunity, and pressure can make you do funny things.

Suspect it'll be down to Swann. Was most encouraged by Herath's turn and bounce.

Herath showed that there is turn out there so i still expect this to be close if Swann can bowl well.

If the seamers take 2 or 3 early-ish , Swann will finish the job.

He won't skittle them on his own though - he's good , but not a Warne or a Murali...

All about pressure, this innings. Whilst it could well be down to Swann taking the wickets, it is equally important that the seamers can keep asking question at the other end. Relentless pressure could cause the cracks to open a hell of a lot quicker.

Getting a lot of player-type noise over the radio commentary. Sounds like England are trying to inject energy. Just hope they don't try TOO hard, as I think the bowlers have been in this game.

Swann is very good, but yes, a bit of help from the seamers would be nice.

I would be amazed if Sri Lanka even attempted to go for the win tbh. That said at 1-0 down in the series, what have they got to lose?

Well, they could lose the series, whereas they have a chance of squaring it in the 3rd test if they get a draw here.

Saying that, with the tripe that Tremlett has served up so far they might just fancy it! In all seriousness though this is a draw barring another extremely rare catastrophic collapse from the Sri Lankans.

Sangakkara started well...

The bowlers look a bit straighter today : first ten overs will tell a lot.

Sanga will try to play his shots but Tremlett is doing the right thing...just outside off/on middle to off (Sanga defensive) then the odd too wide one (Sanga leaves)...then the perfect tempter - Sanga either hits it clean or edges to slips....or gully!

GONE! Sanga bowled Tremmers, caught Morgan!

YES!

Come on boys!

Yes Tremmers, Sanga gone!

Gift wicket !!!

Short and wide from Tremlett and Sanga picks out Mogs !

Hmmmm....

Great start so far

Wow! Sangakkara gone already...bowled Tremlett, caught Morgan!

Could this be the start?

Jayawardene the key wicket now, get him and Sri Lanka will rock.

If we get Jayawardena quick the win becomes a realistic possiblity rather than the off chance is is at present.

[quote="Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler"]

Carrotdude wrote:

eirebilly wrote:If we have them 9 down at the close of play then I personally would ask questions.

The question Id be asking is why is Sri Lankas batting coach still in a job.

To be fair though we have been here before with England and assumed its going to be draw. I just feel people are a bit spoilt by events last week. Just try and remeber how historicaly rare that was. It was always going to be an outisde chance at best.

Lets not froget that game a few years ago when Vaas batted for 6 months when England supposedly had the win wrapped up. ( OK ive forgotten the exact deatils but you get the idea)

I agree that we should not be expecting a win, which is why we need as long as possible to bowl at them. I still think it'll be a draw but Sanga is out already so who knows?

Jayawardene now the key wicket...get him early and it really is game on...

Ooh! Nearly - that was a peach from Tremlett.

And Sanga's indifferent form on English soil continues. Might have to write a piece on that at some point.

Alot of chat about Prior loosing the plot and breaking a window after being rnu out

It was a ridiculous run out lol!

Come on Broad, Jayawardene will ignore thos balls all day if he has to.

One absolute jaffer from Broad, then two down the leg side. Really needs to sort out his consistency.

Yeah this is a bit of a problem at the moment, between them Broad and Finn just can't keep applying consistent pressure, which is of great importance if we are to force a result here.

Too wide this over Tremlett

Make him play...

Jayawardene is far too experienced to be tempted to play shots at those balls in these situations. You have to make him play. Defensive bowling wont win this match.

Jinx alfie

Run out chance just missed.

I think this Test shows we aren't yet on top of our game. Too much is just not quite there. We are going to need to be better against the Indians if we want to beat them.

...yet again Sri Lanka are giving us opportunities, and we aren't quite taking them.

Ooooh! Swann is on. (I'm never going to get this lunch cooked)

Finn and Swann anybody?

ECB statement:

Prior threw his gloves which then knocked some bats over which then smashed the glass.

Hmmmm?

"Prior threw his gloves which then knocked some bats over which then smashed the glass."

I presume that the gloves still had his hands inside them at the time?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-sri-lanka-2011/content/image/518123.html?page=1

Seems a hell of a smash for that!

Sounds a bit like the Ricky Ponting story...