England - the winter tours thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

After the perfect ending to the summer, with Alastair Cook riding into the sunset with a hundred and James Anderson breaking Glenn McGrath's record to wrap up a 4-1 series win over the #1 side in the world...England head into a brave new world (in a mere 3 weeks time!) post Cook

Tour of Sri Lanka (Oct-Nov)
5 ODI's played between 10th October and 23rd October
1 T20i played on 27th October
3 Test matches played between 6th November and 23rd November

Tour of West Indies (Jan-Mar)
3 Test matches played between 23rd January and 9th February
5 ODI's played between 20th February and 2nd March
3 T20i's played between 5th March and 10th March

As ever there are many rumblings in the media on potential selections ahead of the Sri Lanka tour...

Rory Burns seems set to take Cook's spot
Will Jennings keep his place? Or will a Vince/Denly or complete wildcard be picked to open with him?
Which spinners do England take along with Moeen/Rashid?
Do Anderson/Broad get rested?
What pace options will be taken?

All questions that will be debated and answered in the coming weeks...so I start with a little competition between us selectors on v2...

Name your test squad for the series in Sri Lanka. Whoever gets the nearest to the actual squad, gets a pair of Ed Smith approved sunglasses

[alfie]

I don't want to be too critical of captain Lakmal , as he is somewhat at the mercy of his bowlers and their (lack of) control ; but these deep set fields have played into England's hands...just been too easy for Jos to pick up runs : 64 from just 79 balls with only a few boundaries...though he's gone now ! Stumped down the leg side ...and Sandakan just kept something behind the line.

Hmm. That came out of the blue. Now Foakes enters and still has some work to do...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Think england have plenty enough already, although they’d like another 50 or so just to be absolutely certain

[alfie]

Unusual that England have only nine boundaries in total in this innings ...contrast to their normal approach. Shows Sri Lanka have been way too conservative in their approach for my taste.

Good catch now sees Moeen gone for 22 ! Wickets falling in clumps again ?

They probably do have enough as there is certainly help there for the spinners ; but England will want at least another fifty or so. Their own spinners (aside from Leach perhaps) can be guilty of giving away easy runs...

Chance now for Rashid to give himself a few more to play with.

[guildfordbat]

Hi folks - just been catching up on today's play. Seen some brief highlights but mainly without the benefits of replays or slomos.

Didn't see much in the deliveries that did for Jennings and Burns - batsman appeared slow and playing around the ball. Very disappointing. Did I miss something?

As Alfie said, criminal overstepping by Sandakan. We and Stokes got the luck there but the bowler was entirely the author of his own misfortune. He even almost overstepped again when Buttler was out to his bowling. That was a neat legside take for the stumping by Dickwella who sums up much of this current Sri Lanka side - possessing talent but overly excitable and lacking consistency.

Currently 177/7, a lead of 273. I think that'll be enough already but I would ideally like to get it up to 336, eh Olly?  

[alfie]

Apparently only one successful run chase over 200 at this ground...and that 326 can perhaps be disregarded as it was against Zimbabwe .

Foakes and Rashid both collecting runs in singles worked to leg...England have progressed largely in unspectacular manner in this innings (except from a bit of enterprise from Stokes during his stand with Buttler) ; but good use of the feet - and some loose bowling - enabled Jos to keep scoring quite steadily ; and this pair are also doing so.
The more they can build this lead the more Rashid - and the other England spinners looking on - will fancy bowling on this . Balls are doing things ; but Sri Lanka are having to be too conscious of saving runs to put enough pressure on.
Will be different chasing 300 you'd think...and the lead is now 280

[alfie]

Hi folks - just been catching up on today's play. Seen some brief highlights but mainly without the benefits of replays or slomos.

Didn't see much in the deliveries that did for Jennings and Burns - batsman appeared slow and playing around the ball. Very disappointing. Did I miss something?

As Alfie said, criminal overstepping by Sandakan. We and Stokes got the luck there but the bowler was entirely the author of his own misfortune. He even almost overstepped again when Buttler was out to his bowling. That was a neat legside take for the stumping by Dickwella who sums up much of this current Sri Lanka side - possessing talent but overly excitable and lacking consistency.

Currently 177/7, a lead of 273. I think that'll be enough already but I would ideally like to get it up to 336, eh Olly?  

Hi guildford...

Yes I'd agree both openers were largely to blame for their dismissals - a distinct lack of footwork or intent. As if they'd not quite woken up this morning

But it didn't look easy for the hour or so after that , when the bowlers were in full cry and getting a few balls to spin pretty sharply. Had they taken their chances ...

Once that partnership of 89 had put things back on track the belief seemed to go out of the home team. And cameos from Moeen and these two have put England firmly in command.

A difference in style of this game ; but a lot of similarities with the previous match.

Which is why I want a few more runs : I didn't expect Sri Lanka to ever threaten that chase and yet we did have a few anxious moments in that one !

[alfie]

And I see guildford referencing his mantra (one I wholeheartedly support) about the benefit of setting a team the task of making the highest score of the match in the fourth innings.

Thirty-six more to go...

[guildfordbat]

Very useful 8th wicket partnership between Foakes and Rashid to calm any nerves going into tea.

Unbeaten so far and currently amounting to 39. Whilst Foakes is now England's top run scorer in the series (what odds on that before the series started? ), Rashid has contributed valuable late order runs and featured in other partnerships too. A couple of 30s and a couple of 20s so far (both undefeated as of now in this Test) from his 5 knocks in this series. Even if he's out now, he'll still end up averaging more than Burns - hmmm.

[LondonTiger]

A lot of talk tn the radio about how many singles England have scored, especially when the ton was up. At that point over 60% of the runs were from singles, more than double the test mAtch average for this decade.

I also understand that at one point 40% of Sandakan's deliveries had overstepped!!!!

[alfie]

Not watching right now but I see from text Rashid has gone...

311 ahead ...can they make it 337 ?

[alfie]

Tail folding up again...won't get the 336 lead , alas.

Shouldn't have rested Jimmy

[guildfordbat]

Foakes survives an lbw review on umpire's call. Ball from Dilruwan was level with leg stump which I thought but too high to reverse the original decision. Not for the first time today, I was surprised by the height and bounce being shown to be generated.

[VTR]

I think England have got enough here. Broad should bat at 11 though. He can be okay sometimes but usually utterly awful with no application whatsover

[alfie]

Foakes and Leach eking out a few more runs...and injuring fielders while they're at it...

Bit boring. Have a bash or get out and bowl !

[guildfordbat]

I think England have got enough here. Broad should bat at 11 though. He can be okay sometimes but usually utterly awful with no application whatsover

Willis was saying that about Broad yesterday.

[guildfordbat]

230 all out. England fall 10 short.

[alfie]

This is going to be over by lunch tomorrow...

[LondonTiger]

Runs, wickets and catches from Ben Stokes. His best all round performance since the Bristol incident, and a real contender for MotM

[Duty281]

Sri Lanka have been a bit clumsy and have, pretty much, surrendered.

3-0. Don't underrate it. This is England's finest series win in many a long day.

[VTR]

Yes, barring a miracle it's a whitewash. I don't care if its a weaker than usual Sri Lanka, England barely even compete in Asia most of the time. Other teams would certainly not asterix such a result eg do the Aussies care that the last Ashes they were up against the likes of Stoneman, Vince, Malan and Overton. Very much doubt it

[Duty281]

From what I can see, this is only the second time that England have won three test matches in a series in the sub continent - the other time being in 1976/77 when England beat India 3-1.

[KP_fan]

--Lankan cricket has been shoddy, disorganized & lacking " Bouncability"
I saw it in Asia cup and I think I made this comment during this series too

Once they are down...they go out...that they have lost all the tosses haven't helped their cause

Currently BD stands ahead of Lanka in home conditions

--Eng's quality of organizaton, game planning, mental preparation is a few notches higher and only SA and Ind are probably in same league

I feel 3 tight games Root won as captain against Ind were his "coming of age" and he's been a much more confident & "In-charge" captain...remarkable transformation.

It has shown in confident team selections and batting orders

At the end Eng now has "workable openers" multiple solutions for No.3 , Root himself and optimal No.4.....Nos 5 thru 9 were never a problem
And Eng wins tosses at will

Seam bowling outside of English conditions is the next area they need to strengthen

& can these spinners be a force in Pak & India can only be tested when the tour Pak and Ind next...and I guess pak tour must be next winter


*FootNote* Of all English WKs including Sam Billing who I saw in IPL....Foakes looks the cleanest & stood very well to spinners on spitting pitches....surprisingly for one so tall

[JDizzle]

Will never for the life of me understand why they never progressed with that experiment they did a few years back of the third/fourth umpires calling no balls from the technology - it worked brilliantly and then seemed to just fade into the night.

From the BBC Sport interview with Buttler, where he says the same thing - apparently only 0.3% of deliveries during the trial were no-balls so the ICC decided the cost of the technology was too much and wasn’t worth progressing with.

[alfie]

Sri Lanka dominated the first session ...only lost the night watchman and rattled on 110...

Did England think they only had to turn up this morning ? Haven't been able to watch yet but it appears both Moeen and Rashid have been a bit loose . Which I guess is what one expects anyway but when they haven't taken wickets - not so good.

Still a long way for Sri Lanka to go , and you'd think they will lose wickets at some point ; but with Dickwella to come they have a theoretical chance - which should at least make this an interesting session to watch...

[alfie]

So it's Leach and Rashid after the break...

Lots of turn ; but the same issue as in the second Test...the pitch is so slow that batsmen can play it , with care. Batting against the spinners when the ball is new tends to be difficult ; but once it gets a bit old and soft batting is a whole lot easier. I thought yesterday watching the Stokes and Buttler stand in its early stages that if they survived for half an hour or so they'd prosper...and so it came to pass. And batting was easy enough even for the last few - except Broad ( He's a bit out of practice)

Hope England don't fall into just waiting for a mistake now , as Sri Lanka did : might not happen until too late !

Still fancy a break will come : but need to stay pro-active.

Here's a review ! Leach thinks he's found an edge...but he hasn't. Review burned...

[alfie]

And there's the stroke of luck that England needed ! (And fair to say they've had a few breaks go their way on this trip)

Great throw from Leach ; but careless running from the batsmen...and a fine innings ended : Mendis an excellent 86


Leaves a lot for Roshan Silva and Dickwella to do...

[alfie]

Funny thing ...I thought Leach might be the man to get the break ; but didn't expect it to be with a throw.

And that is not a suggestion that his action should be scrutinized

Dickwella likely to go for it so we might be in for a lively period now...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dickwella dropped by Jennings - tough chance, but he made the ground so will be disappointed not to hang on once getting there. Silva almost holed out to Root too, some half chances now...

[guildfordbat]

And there's the stroke of luck that England needed ! (And fair to say they've had a few breaks go their way on this trip)

Great throw from Leach ; but careless running from the batsmen...and a fine innings ended : Mendis an excellent 86  


Leaves a lot for Roshan Silva and Dickwella to do...

Hi Alfie and all - just started viewing. Possibly like England, I thought it might be all over by now.

Caught up with the run out  on replay. Everything as Alfie says although I wonder if some credit also goes to Foakes - as Leach gathered the ball, I noted the keeper pointing to the bowler's end.

[alfie]

Dickwella dropped by Jennings - tough chance, but he made the ground so will be disappointed not to hang on once getting there. Silva almost holed out to Root too, some half chances now...

Would have been a great catch...suppose if it had been at short leg he'd have swallowed it

Dickwella will give chances. You'd think another will be along soon...but he will hit boundaries too.

Leach gets him ! Good bowling change.

That's the game , I think.

[Duty281]

Dickwella gets his usual brisk start and departs.

England can relax now.

[alfie]

And , of course , it was another one for the Jennings bat- pad collection...

He might be inconsistent - well basically "occasionally successful" - with the bat ; but on this tour at least you'd say Jennings has played a big part in the team's success with his close catching. How he will fare in different conditions where there won't be wall to wall spin and a permanent bat-pad placement remains to be seen ...ditto for his batting ; but he's been a good choice for an Asian tour

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The debate over Man of the Series could be ended here if Leach finishes this up on his own

[VTR]

Well I'm sure we all wanted some excitement on the final day of the series! England are favourites from here but SL could take it close

[alfie]

New ball in eight overs...that should suit England...though might not need it as Moeen strikes...Jennings again !

Eight down and not much support left for Roshan...

[guildfordbat]

The debate over Man of the Series could be ended here if Leach finishes this up on his own

Man of the Series, eh? I'm not going to judge that until the Series is over but an interesting one for later today. The majority of players England have used are currently on at least 7/10.

[Duty281]

I'd give Foakes man of the series, to be honest. Average of 69, over 20 runs higher than the nearest other player, highest run scorer and one of only four batsmen to hit a century (no Sri Lankans have done that this series, interestingly enough).

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It's got to be between Foakes, Leach and Mo, although I see Aggers put forward Stokes.

[alfie]

Both these Tests have been taken quite surprisingly deep in the last innings...at least some credit due to Sri Lanka for their willingness to fight it out.

But as Roshen finally departs lbw on review to Moeen it is clear that England are getting their whitewash...cue celebrations tonight

Will Moeen get another five to finish a Test Match ?  Well not this over...unless this is another great review  ?  No , not out , still nine down...

Or will Leach equal his haul of 18 for the series ?

[guildfordbat]

Both these Tests have been taken quite surprisingly deep in the last innings...at least some credit due to Sri Lanka for their willingness to fight it out.

But as Roshen finally departs lbw on review to Moeen it is clear that England are getting their whitewash...cue celebrations tonight

Will Moeen get another five to finish a Test Match ?  Well not this over...unless this is another great review  ?  No , not out , still nine down...

Or will Leach equal his haul of 18 for the series ?

Don't worry on that score, Alfie! I'm sure the Corporal has only been missing from action on these boards as he's been busy restocking the bar.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Agree with Duty - Foakes man of the series for me. Not only a great average and amount of runs, but magnificent wicket keeping too.

Although I'd have no qualms if it went to Moeen or Leach too - a good sign when you have many contenders for man of the series

[alfie]

Last wicket pair keeping the on hold ...

Now is this out or not ? No ... Sri Lanka overturn the "out" decision : umpire Ravi must be getting sore arms changing his calls.

Take the new ball , Joe.

[alfie]

Agree with Duty - Foakes man of the series for me. Not only a great average and amount of runs, but magnificent wicket keeping too.

Although I'd have no qualms if it went to Moeen or Leach too - a good sign when you have many contenders for man of the series

Been a team effort , really : Bit of a raffle the MoTS this time. Foakes /Stokes/ Moeen / Leach ...Jennings ? I don't mind who they give it to as they've all done a good job ...

New Ball at last ...Moeen shouldn't mind that. Fifty partnership ? Enough , I think...they only need 47 more !

I'd bowl Stokes.

[alfie]

Broad will do : that rattled Pushpakamara . Bit different from whacking spinners ...he will be a bit groggy now so a straight one might do the trick...

[alfie]

Hmm. Tea taken and the game remains alive ... Root will be just a little uneasy over his cucumber sandwiches with just 43 more needed...

[Duty281]

58 off 71. Some counter attack from Pushpakumara. You'd still expect England to win from here, but another six or seven overs of batting and it gets awfully close.

[alfie]

Leach to resume after tea with the new ball , I think a sound move.

I'd bowl pace the other end though.

Won't need it...out ! Pending review but looks good...

Four for Leach ? Yes ...all over.

[Duty281]

Phew! Never in doubt, haha.

[alfie]

Credit to Sri Lanka for battling it out - especially after being four for very little overnight - but a deserved win for England

Reckon the fielding was the decisive difference in this match.

[alfie]

Phew! Never in doubt, haha.

Wasn't , really ...these late partnerships thrive while everybody on both sides knows its hopeless : once the chase becomes possible the pressure comes back...and then...

I wasn't concerned.

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