England's Winter of Cricket 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

First winter tour for England confirmed today: three T20s and three ODIs in South Africa from the 27th November-9th December.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/54537709

A possible limited-overs tour of Pakistan, which would be England's first trip to that country since 2005, as well as visits to Sri Lanka and India may also go ahead in early 2021.

Dickwella - must be challenging for Tim Paine's worst reviewer crown.

Think the pitch has spun considerably more today...which makes Root/Lawrence's innings all the more valuable. Embuldeniya is pretty unlucky to only have three so far I think

Poor Kusal Mendis - four ducks in a row, now being absolutely peppered by Buttler and Root sweeps at short leg...sheesh

Cant think of a time England have ever had 5 sessions in a row in Asia this dominant. Sri Lanka are utterly dire but they have batted in a way you just didnt see under the previous regime. Roots apparently been working hard to address his loss of form and its paying dividends. Lots of talk that Lawrence has worked hard to open up a wider scoring arc too which was seen today.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Dickwella - must be challenging for Tim Paine's worst reviewer crown.

Think the pitch has spun considerably more today...which makes Root/Lawrence's innings all the more valuable. Embuldeniya is pretty unlucky to only have three so far I think

Pitch going to spin more and more by the day...Leach will be looking forward to second innings.

Emuldeniya has been pretty good but the other spinners have been a bit off , I think. Not in the class of Bess

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Dickwella - must be challenging for Tim Paine's worst reviewer crown.

Think the pitch has spun considerably more today...which makes Root/Lawrence's innings all the more valuable. Embuldeniya is pretty unlucky to only have three so far I think

Yep, a poor reviewer and too excitable. Particularly behind the stumps, a level head is needed - you'll know that, Olly!

Based on my watching today (from about an hour before this break) and reading through cricinfo, Dickwella's fluffed a chance or two as well. Given Sri Lanka's perilous position, it was imperative they took everything that came their way. Game has surely gone for them now.

Gooseberry wrote:19 runs from 8000, less than 100 and finishing not out to get his average back up to 50 (might be a bit of a push!)


Surprisingly now the highest score by an England player in Sri Lanka


Lawrence out !

Think they said on TMS Root needs to get to 327* to get his average to 50! So a long way to go yet...!

To be fair to Dickwella , he called the Sibley review right yesterday. But that one was a mix of hope and excitement over a good ball...

Plenty of talk about the blows Kusal Mendis has suffered at short leg. He's off now and let's hope he's OK.

HOWEVER.....IMHO, no fielder save the WK should be allowed to wear any protective clothing. Donning helmet, box and shinpads says: "Yes, I want to field in as close as possible but I'm worried about getting hit."

Well, in that case, don't field so close. By allowing fielders to don protection, the lawmakers are giving the fielders an unfair advantage. You have to get in close to snaffle the bat/pad chances or, sometimes, even the defensive pushes.

In doing so, though, you open yourself up to being clobbered - particularly by the sweepshot. Would fielders get so close without protection? Well, in the old days specialists like Mickey Stewart and Peter Walker had to get in there without helmets (although the tentative way spinners were played in the 1950s and 1960s no doubt helped the unprotected short legs).

What's the feeling on protection for fielders?

sirfredperry wrote:Plenty of talk about the blows Kusal Mendis has suffered at short leg. He's off now and let's hope he's OK.

HOWEVER.....IMHO, no fielder save the WK should be allowed to wear any protective clothing. Donning helmet, box and shinpads says: "Yes, I want to field in as close as possible but I'm worried about getting hit."

Well, in that case, don't field so close. By allowing fielders to don protection, the lawmakers are giving the fielders an unfair advantage. You have to get in close to snaffle the bat/pad chances or, sometimes, even the defensive pushes.

In doing so, though, you open yourself up to being clobbered - particularly by the sweepshot. Would fielders get so close without protection? Well, in the old days specialists like Mickey Stewart and Peter Walker had to get in there without helmets (although the tentative way spinners were played in the 1950s and 1960s no doubt helped the unprotected short legs).

What's the feeling on protection for fielders?

Bit of old school thinking there. The same used to be said about helmets for betters etc. If players are getting seriously injured with the protection that is available then theres no way the game is going to go back on allowing it.

JDizzle wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:19 runs from 8000, less than 100 and finishing not out to get his average back up to 50 (might be a bit of a push!)


Surprisingly now the highest score by an England player in Sri Lanka


Lawrence out !

Think they said on TMS Root needs to get to 327* to get his average to 50! So a long way to go yet...!

I got thrown by the inclusion of the runs he's scored so far this innings in his total, would need to be 327. Regardless a good end to whats been a lean couple of years, hopefully he can get back to making big scores regularly again.


Lots of talk about Sri Lankas decline. Worrying thing for them is that this side is not young, most of its over 30 and Mathews and Perara cant have long left in them. The decline has been long term, its easy to blame finances but they built the sides of the 90s and early 2000s without any money.

sirfredperry wrote:Plenty of talk about the blows Kusal Mendis has suffered at short leg. He's off now and let's hope he's OK.

HOWEVER.....IMHO, no fielder save the WK should be allowed to wear any protective clothing. Donning helmet, box and shinpads says: "Yes, I want to field in as close as possible but I'm worried about getting hit."

Well, in that case, don't field so close. By allowing fielders to don protection, the lawmakers are giving the fielders an unfair advantage. You have to get in close to snaffle the bat/pad chances or, sometimes, even the defensive pushes.

In doing so, though, you open yourself up to being clobbered - particularly by the sweepshot. Would fielders get so close without protection? Well, in the old days specialists like Mickey Stewart and Peter Walker had to get in there without helmets (although the tentative way spinners were played in the 1950s and 1960s no doubt helped the unprotected short legs).

What's the feeling on protection for fielders?

I wouldn't be against it personally, the wearing of protective clothing gives player a false sense of security. How often were batsman hit on the head in the pre helmet days?

Looks like we are done for the day...biblical downpour from that picture...

Plenty of time left - expect some quick scoring tomorrow. Goodnight all

Soul Requiem wrote:

sirfredperry wrote:Plenty of talk about the blows Kusal Mendis has suffered at short leg. He's off now and let's hope he's OK.

HOWEVER.....IMHO, no fielder save the WK should be allowed to wear any protective clothing. Donning helmet, box and shinpads says: "Yes, I want to field in as close as possible but I'm worried about getting hit."

Well, in that case, don't field so close. By allowing fielders to don protection, the lawmakers are giving the fielders an unfair advantage. You have to get in close to snaffle the bat/pad chances or, sometimes, even the defensive pushes.

In doing so, though, you open yourself up to being clobbered - particularly by the sweepshot. Would fielders get so close without protection? Well, in the old days specialists like Mickey Stewart and Peter Walker had to get in there without helmets (although the tentative way spinners were played in the 1950s and 1960s no doubt helped the unprotected short legs).

What's the feeling on protection for fielders?

I wouldn't be against it personally, the wearing of protective clothing gives player a false sense of security. How often were batsman hit on the head in the pre helmet days?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raman_Lamba

"Lamba died on 23 February 1998[3] in the Post Graduate Hospital in Dhaka in Bangladesh[19] after he was hit on the temple by a cricket ball hit by Mehrab Hossain[20] off left arm spinner Saifullah Khan while fielding at forward short leg. It is said that Lamba was asked to wear a helmet, but he thought it was unnecessary as only three balls of the over were remaining when he was asked to move to that position. He was known by his teammates not to use a helmet while fielding close in"

Gooseberry wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

sirfredperry wrote:Plenty of talk about the blows Kusal Mendis has suffered at short leg. He's off now and let's hope he's OK.

HOWEVER.....IMHO, no fielder save the WK should be allowed to wear any protective clothing. Donning helmet, box and shinpads says: "Yes, I want to field in as close as possible but I'm worried about getting hit."

Well, in that case, don't field so close. By allowing fielders to don protection, the lawmakers are giving the fielders an unfair advantage. You have to get in close to snaffle the bat/pad chances or, sometimes, even the defensive pushes.

In doing so, though, you open yourself up to being clobbered - particularly by the sweepshot. Would fielders get so close without protection? Well, in the old days specialists like Mickey Stewart and Peter Walker had to get in there without helmets (although the tentative way spinners were played in the 1950s and 1960s no doubt helped the unprotected short legs).

What's the feeling on protection for fielders?

I wouldn't be against it personally, the wearing of protective clothing gives player a false sense of security. How often were batsman hit on the head in the pre helmet days?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raman_Lamba

"Lamba died on 23 February 1998[3] in the Post Graduate Hospital in Dhaka in Bangladesh[19] after he was hit on the temple by a cricket ball hit by Mehrab Hossain[20] off left arm spinner Saifullah Khan while fielding at forward short leg. It is said that Lamba was asked to wear a helmet, but he thought it was unnecessary as only three balls of the over were remaining when he was asked to move to that position. He was known by his teammates not to use a helmet while fielding close in"

Phil Hughes would most likely not have got himself into such a horrible position were he not wearing a helmet. Stokes wouldn't have turned his head at Headingly in 2019 etc.

Flintoff used to play the pull shot with his eyes closed half the time.

Looks like that could be it for today. Early start tomorrow ...poor commentary teams!

Good to see Root making a big hundred. Wonder if he cast an eye on the massive scores Williamson made recently and thought: "That could be me".

sirfredperry wrote:Good to see Root making a big hundred. Wonder if he cast an eye on the massive scores Williamson made recently and thought: "That could be me".

His last century was a double against New Zealand, this is only his 7th highest currently. Its one of the great oddities with Root that hes not passed 100 that often but has got to 149 onwards half the times he has, and remained not out most of those innings and with 3 conversions to double centuries and a 250. His conversion rate of centuries to 150s is better than his 50 to century conversion rate, and his conversion rate of 150's to 200s better again even with a number of n/o's.

The commentators mentioned he'd been specifically trying to address why he didn't convert more to centuries and been working with analysts during the autumn break to see if his batting changed after 50 and how he'd got out each time. Despite the lack of cricket and warm ups he does seem to have come here with a clear plan of how to bat against the spinners and been consistently busy with low risk 1' s and 2's, scoring all round the wicket. There's been a noticeable acceleration in scoring today but no more alarms than yesterday, just seems to be doing the same things slightly better against a tiring attack.

Does seem its that consistency of concentration that's held him back from staying in the fab 4 batsmen, but there's no English batsman who's been able to sustain anything like his returns since Cook and KP.

Good signs from the youngsters Crawley, Pope and Lawrence that they could go on to be a successful core of English batting going forward but there has been a remarkable lack of batsmen coming through who can keep places in the side long term in the past decade. Even Trotts test career was pretty short for a guy who averaged 50 for a time. Stokes only very recently became reliable enough to be considered as a player who could demand a place on batting alone. Vaughn was discussing this at lunch so I had a dive and only two of the last 10 caps were bowlers. Even if you discount the batsmen keepers and put the all rounders in the bowlers camp there's been more batsmen capped since 2010, the opposite was very much the case in the previous decade and whilst I CBA to check I have the impression was the norm through the 90s. (Stats discounting Alan Jones who for some reason is listed on wikipedia under the 2020's despite being 82)

Why are English batsmen finding it so hard to sustain success? There's lots who have had bright starts (including Bairstow and more recently Sibley). Lets hope the young chaps build on that success and go on to be decade players.



Still no rush for England despite losing a session, they can build enough of a lead to not need to bat again. Pitch isnt going to get any easier, Leach could bowl terribly and still be a threat on days 4 and 5

Teams micro analyze every aspect of a batsman's technique nowadays so those bright starts are used in the long term to formulate game plans, if you know exactly where a batsman likes to score you can set fields accordingly. With the fab 4 they don't have any real weaknesses and score all around the ground, even Smith who is very legside reliant has a strong offside game. Bairstow and Sibley have such glaring technical deficiencies that any decent bowling unit will look to exploit it, bowl straight to Bairstow and bowl 4/5th stump to Sibley.

Pope and Crawley haven't played enough yet to highlight such a weakness yet. Stokes for instance has worked very hard on his defensive technique in recent years and it's pleasing to see a batsman put the work in to improve. It's why I was disappointed by Sibley's short stay yesterday, he doesn't seem to have worked out a way to score against the spinners.

Soul Requiem wrote:Teams micro analyze every aspect of a batsman's technique nowadays so those bright starts are used in the long term to formulate game plans, if you know exactly where a batsman likes to score you can set fields accordingly. With the fab 4 they don't have any real weaknesses and score all around the ground, even Smith who is very legside reliant has a strong offside game. Bairstow and Sibley have such glaring technical deficiencies that any decent bowling unit will look to exploit it, bowl straight to Bairstow and bowl 4/5th stump to Sibley.

Pope and Crawley haven't played enough yet to highlight such a weakness yet. Stokes for instance has worked very hard on his defensive technique in recent years and it's pleasing to see a batsman put the work in to improve. It's why I was disappointed by Sibley's short stay yesterday, he doesn't seem to have worked out a way to score against the spinners.

Whilst not entirely agreeing about JB (don’t think lack of scoring shots on the off side is his issue) it does highlight why strike rates in the high 30s/low 40s in the CC should be taken into account, even if like Sibley the runs are there. If you don’t have shots against the tamer bowling, where are you scoring at Test level against attacks where all the bowlers can bowl to a plan and are consistent?

Sibley’s shot vs spin over the summer seemed to be the sweep - would like to see him not to be afford to go to it early with spin. Buttler and in particular Root have shown that is more than enough to get by against spin.

Great to see Lawrence convert his good record against spin in CC cricket to the Test arena. If he outscores Bairstow then he could put himself in the frame for the India series with Stokes and Pope hopefully back.

He seemed to have no trouble rotating the strike which makes batting a lot easier when moving up a level. Whilst the ball he got out to was a tough one with the bounce and turn he was lucky not to get out shortly before coming down the wicket trying to smash a ball that he didn't get near to the pitch. Not a flawless innings but a good start.

Root was excellent once again. It would be a huge boost for the side if he can carry that sort of form through 2021.

It is funny with Root, because obviously we would love to see him go on and get more hundreds and convert more of his 50's...but of the 10 England batsmen to make 7500+ runs in Test Cricket, he has the highest average by over a run and a half now (about a run pre-this innings). I think his consistency can sometimes go a touch underrated because he does often fall before the century mark.

It's also ridiculous that you can make a good argument he is England's best ODI batsman of all time too - only Trott averages more of those to play more than 5 games, he's about 900 runs behind Morgan in all time run scoring having played 62 less innings - and obviously he already has the most ODI hundreds by an England batsman too.

The only record he might not break by the time he's done is Cook's record of 33 test hundreds...but if he's going to start converting a bit more as he gets older, than that might go too!

Superb day for England. Sri Lanka bowled well for all of two overs, before turning it in. Lovely to see Root register a mammoth score, though it would have all been so different had the umpire's call decision gone against him.

Most of day three looks like it will be lost to the rain, unfortunately, so Sri Lanka still have an outside chance of saving it.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:It is funny with Root, because obviously we would love to see him go on and get more hundreds and convert more of his 50's...but of the 10 England batsmen to make 7500+ runs in Test Cricket, he has the highest average by over a run and a half now (about a run pre-this innings). I think his consistency can sometimes go a touch underrated because he does often fall before the century mark.

It's also ridiculous that you can make a good argument he is England's best ODI batsman of all time too - only Trott averages more of those to play more than 5 games, he's about 900 runs behind Morgan in all time run scoring having played 62 less innings - and obviously he already has the most ODI hundreds by an England batsman too.

The only record he might not break by the time he's done is Cook's record of 33 test hundreds...but if he's going to start converting a bit more as he gets older, than that might go too!

Root's importance to that ODI side is enormous. Being a rock at 3 allows Roy and Bairstow to attack from ball one and so often sets the foundation for Buttler's fireworks latter on. He bats long and gets the big hitters on strike.

The way the England batsman who play across formats have brought their improved running between the wickets in white ball cricket into Test cricket when they bat together is something I often notice now. When Root was batting with Bairstow yesterday, Buttler today and similarly when Stokes is in the squad it's noticeable that the urgency in running improves when they are together.

Morgan's one day side put a lot of emphasis on fitness and squeezing everything they can out of a match. The fielding and running between the wickets in that side shot up after he took over.

Lawrence batted very well with Root in that regard as well it deserves to be said.

Root is in the top 3 England batsman I've seen a lot of alongside Gooch and KP.

Fernando comes back having been underbowled in the innings, gets Buttler and Curran in consecutive balls.

England could do with Bess hunkering in and partnering Root through lunch.

Hat trick ball coming...

Hat trick ball well blocked by Bess.

Root brings up his double century with two lovely sweeps in front of square.

Bess run out after a fuster cluck of misscommunication.

It's all happening!

Think they’ve seen the forecast for later this afternoon and tomorrow...

Also a *tad* surprised Leach is in ahead of Broad and Wood - but really not that important in the grand scheme!

Good double ton for Root, hopefully a catalyst for a truly golden year.

Though Leach blocking an end brings back some good memories, I rather feel England should declare now.

Big fan of Broad becoming an exceptional user of DRS

He did get a shocker of an LBW call to be fair!

286 the lead. Have Sri Lanka learnt some lessons from the first innings, or will they go down swinging?

Much more measured and patient start from Sri Lanka this time, as their openers survive the first eleven overs on a pitch which looks very slow. I'm going to assume they went into the first innings with a pre-conceived plan to blast England's bowlers to all parts, and it backfired horribly.

Leach bowling a consistent length but Bess is offering up 2/3 balls of rubbish each over. Were the game situation different think Perera may have launched him into the stands by now.

Soul Requiem wrote:Leach bowling a consistent length but Bess is offering up 2/3 balls of rubbish each over. Were the game situation different think Perera may have launched him into the stands by now.

Bess has better figures though so does it matter

Im not going to mention the predicted england collapse! But today is what we all feared this tour might look like for England, just as well the first two days were way beyond reasonable expectation.

It would still be hard for England to not win from here

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:It is funny with Root, because obviously we would love to see him go on and get more hundreds and convert more of his 50's...but of the 10 England batsmen to make 7500+ runs in Test Cricket, he has the highest average by over a run and a half now (about a run pre-this innings). I think his consistency can sometimes go a touch underrated because he does often fall before the century mark.

It's also ridiculous that you can make a good argument he is England's best ODI batsman of all time too - only Trott averages more of those to play more than 5 games, he's about 900 runs behind Morgan in all time run scoring having played 62 less innings - and obviously he already has the most ODI hundreds by an England batsman too.

The only record he might not break by the time he's done is Cook's record of 33 test hundreds...but if he's going to start converting a bit more as he gets older, than that might go too!

Thnig with the ODI batsmen is its only really a relatively short period that players have had a serious opportunity to play enough to challenge that. That said Id discount Trott from the conversation because he didnt score anything like as fast as Root, Morgan faster again but averaging 10 less puts him on a level with KP and Stokes just with their aggregate combined! But Buttler striking at 119 and averaging a shade under 40 should be in that conversation as Englands best, he's getting more than 2 extra runs per over than Root which is really quite significant, albeit averaging 10 less and having nowhere near the same aggregate. Bairstow straddles the gap between the two, averaging 47 at 103 but significantly less games played so far sits a bit behind. I think for me the sheer weight of runs for Root maybe tips the balance to him, but it says a lot that theres only two other names reasonably in the conversation who aren't currently in the squad and theres chaps like Roy and Hales who might've crashed in had they had more opportunities.


Test wise he's well ahead of anyone England have produced since Cook no question. Theres a frustration he never quite matched Kholi , Williamson and later Smith who are roughly the same age, and it has been that apparent drop in concentration in the 50's that has made the difference. Technique and style wise you'd have him more like Kholi as a player who looks good, rather than Smith (and to some extent Labuschagne) who have people scratching their heads as to how successful they have been but seem to have a dogged metronomic ability to treat every ball on merit and just never get bored. Why it is England have struggled so much to find consistent test bats from his generation is a puzzle though, especially as they have a surplus of incredibly talented white ball batsmen. Maybe they've been too keen to ditch players early ? Really hard to pinpoint. Just hope Lawrence, Crawley, Sibley and Pope can build on their good starts and get long successful test careers.

Wood managing to get enough pace and bounce to injure Perara, he'll be glad that they havent banned wearing of gloves.

That was vicious stuff from Wood.

Much better from Sri Lanka, Perera is a lovely player to watch.

Good news for England is the expected rain has, for now, stayed away. Bad news is its totally lifeless out there. Unlike the first innings England are being made to work to take wickets, and they haven't produced any answers so far, while being sapped in the field by the oppressive heat and the controlled batting and strike rotation  of the Sri Lankan openers.

That was apparently Perera's slowest test fifty, which just underlines his naturally aggressive tendencies that have been mostly reined in for this innings.

39 overs left in the day. If we get them all in the lead will probably be under 100 by stumps.

Good session for the Lankans, some good application shown. Still a long way off being back into the match, a bit of a regroup at tea would be welcome for England

Be handy if Root wasn’t our best spinner this upcoming session, like he just was then

Just got in from cricket...I see England perhaps failed to totally cash in on their dominant position. Still a lead of 286 ain't too bad.

But no wickets yet from a full rota of bowlers ? Sri Lanka playing with a bit more common sense I guess... Pitch gone to sleep ?

Not sure about the pitch, but England have certainly gone to sleep!

England refusing to take wickets with good balls in this Test. Save them up for when they are needed!

Didn't take me long to get the breakthrough...with a bit of help from Sam Curran's magic arm

Some bowlers just seem to have the knack...

At least Mendis is off the duck run at last.

Atrocious drop by Sibley

So what's the matter with Broad ? Only four overs ?

And while I've not seen the early sessions , am slightly bemused by reports that Bess is again bowling rubbish...he is going at 2 per over , Leach at nearly twice that. Can be lucky/unlucky , I suppose...but still ?

Oh dear...don't want to be dropping those ! Sibley not having a great match so far...

Bess bowled tripe that Perera didn't give the treatment to, released the pressure, got taken off and Leach then got the treatment having bowled far better.

alfie wrote:So what's the matter with Broad ? Only four overs ?

And while I've not seen the early sessions  , am slightly bemused by reports that Bess is again bowling rubbish...he is going at 2 per over , Leach at nearly twice that. Can be lucky/unlucky , I suppose...but still ?

Oh dear...don't want to be dropping those !  Sibley not having a great match so far...

Should imagine Broad will get a few more before the day is out - didn’t really do anything in his opening spell and clearly Root had a (good) gut feel about giving Curran another spell here. And as I type he’s back!

Don’t think either of the Somerset spinners (well I guess Bess is now Yorkshire) have covered themselves in glory so far this 2nd dig. Bess was a bit off with his lengths, 3/4 an over in the right spot but then would throw in a short one...line was fine which meant the boundary cover kept the figures in tact I’d say. To be expected, he’s a young spinner!
The left handers have swept Leach well, and he hasn’t really looked like troubling them. Hopefully now he’s got a right hander to bowl too he can turn around what hasn’t been a good performance so far.

Soul Requiem wrote:Bess bowled tripe that Perera didn't give the treatment to, released the pressure, got taken off and Leach then got the treatment having bowled far better.

Thanks , Soul. That clarifies it. Still a bit concerning that Leach has bowled a lot of overs in this match for just one wicket , and hasn't been too economical , is it not ?

Very poor drop, has to be taken at this level. Would have brought two quick wickets and had Sri Lanka reeling again, instead England still look a little flat in the field. 

Has been nearly thirty overs without a maiden*, Sri Lanka suffered from a similar lack of control and pressure, and with a right-left partnership now at the crease strike rotation becomes something England need to prevent, even moreso than usual.

*Broad just bowls one!

Leach was hitting his mark quite consistently but the ball doesn't seem to be gripping a lot, he's not threatened at all but not been terrible either.