England vs Sri Lanka 3rd test debate

As i'm going on holiday tonight I decided to do the 3rd test debate thread a little bit sooner.

Anyways the squads:

England

Andrew Strauss (C)
Alistair Cook
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior (WK)
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Chris Tremlett
James Anderson
Steve Finn

Sri Lanka

Tharanga Paranavithana
Lahiru Thirimanne
Kumar Sangakkara (C)
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

C'mon England!

Thrimanne will come in for sri lanka after his ton, and unforunately i think Finn will miss out.

I think Finn will miss out. Would like to know where the selectors see Broad's role as a Test player as they were talking of him being a Flintoff and an all rounder, yet they want him to bowl like a McGrath. I think England may need to look at being a batsman lighter in the future to give the side a better bowling depth.

broad isnt an all rounder, i think prior is good enough to bat 6

I am un-decided on Broad as an all rounder. He is handy with the bat for sure. I agree with you on Prior being moved up.

broad wont be an allrounder he has played one huge innings, but most of the time, he gets bored and plays a stupid shot unforutnately

cricketfan90 wrote:broad wont be an allrounder he has played one huge innings, but most of the time, he gets bored and plays a stupid shot unforutnately

He still makes useful quick contributions, with 7 scores above fifty and he is only twenty four; so there is plenty of time for him to mature into a great batsman.

He has had a few knocks of 50+

Granted he did play one huge innings, but I like that he does go for his shots. He can be clever with the bat. Though I think at 24 he needs a 'defined' role.

i think he needs to be a genuine quick, we have jimmy who swings the ball, and with the bat, he needs to be someone who get fifties, while supporting the batsman who he will be with, for example stay there while prior gets his runs

Stickied this so that it stays at the top of the page for the duration of the test.

Finn will miss out, despite his wicket taking ability. I just think the selectors have designs on an attack of Tremlett, Jimmy, Broad and Swann.

Agree with what has been said in regard to Broad needing a defined role, he's too much in the middle for my liking.

Broad's batting at the moment is not good enough to be up in the top 7. as of now he's a handy number 8 capable of the occasional good score.
Its with the ball he needs more work. It seems he doesn't have a clear idea as to what is his role as a bowler. I don't see him doing the Flintoff and Harmison kind of enforcer and attacker at the same time. With Broad's petulance, it can only distract him to indiscreet use of the short stuff, rendering him rather ineffective. he has to be more attacking as a bowler, and has to identify the right length for the same.

After that he can turn his attention to his batting, that for the time being, is doing the job that is expected.

Apparently the weather is scheduled to be dry and overcast on some of the days play. I will be intrigued to see the pitch and see if it is a belter. Wonder if there will be much green on top?

Good to see Sir Jimmy of Anderson back in the fold, we missed him terribly in the 2nd test. Hoping for some cloud and a bit of a green tinge on the deck and we could be in for an exciting one.

It is important for the development of this England team and the momentum we have built up that we avoid defeat in this test though, a series win is a must.

Will Sanga's reluctance to captain the side have a detrimental effect on the Sri Lankan morale? Is Dilshan that bigger blow to them, not just for his batting, but for the fact of his captaincy?

Very good point JD.

I would love to see a green pitch and watch Jimmy swing off it galore!

Broad isn't an all-rounder. He has potential, but I'd rather see him focus on his Test match bowling which isn't moving forward enough at the moment.

England must open the bowling with Anderson and Tremlett this time.

Weather is apparently shocking. Hopefully the groundsman will realise this and produce a spicier pitch so we can get a decent amount of wickets.

Good Morning everyone.

What are the chances of play this morning?

(Looks at the tumbleweed blowing across the thread) Not high then. Hey ho.

The bad weather has followed this series around. No surprise if it's dry and sunny at Cardiff and Lords today while the RB gets it..

inspection at 11:15 after pitch gets cut and rolled.

Rain!!!!!

TMS consensus is have a bowl if you win the toss. Have to say I agree with them. (Usually I'm in the bat at any price camp)

More rain, great! Definitely bowl first if you win the toss, get stuck in if you can...

Doesnt look like we will see much play today

Bloody rain. It is bucketing down here. Hope it doesn't move west!

Sounds like it's raining over all SE England at the moment.

Brought my lettuce on a treat. (Silver lining...)

Thinking of food. Just remembered that Jack Russell used to tour on a diet of baked beans and tea (I think it was. Have a feelling bananas might have featured). Must have been tough rooming with him.

Anyone else know of weird cricketing diets?

England having a bowl

Looks like we're going to get some play!

Come on Jimmy. Put it on the spot.

The pitch looks a dream for Jimmy.

The pitch looks a belter. Something in there for bowlers. As play goes on, I think there will be something for the batsmen.

The ball is swinging. Maiden from Jimmy

Swinging, eh? Excellent.

Broad sounds fired up.

Shocking ball from Broad.

Great first delivery by Broad there!

Bumble certainly knows his wood!

Jimmy hitting the full length there.

Beauty of an outswinger there.

He is swinging it beautifully, I hope Broad has a better over!

chuckle. I think we've got some timing issues on the posts.

Broad's hostility fine; radar needs some work, by the sound of it.

Why did the short leg drop back??? (TMS thought it a bad move. Me too.)

Jimmy looks like he is going to take a wicket very soon. Some good deliveries already

Superb 3 deliveries there from Broad.

Almost a wicket there. Paranavitana did well to get any bat on that.

Delay here for the batsman.

That was very close from Broad

Much better from Broad finding the length and not spraying the ball about.

The bastmen are certainly taking it on the gloves today!

Paranavitana certainly looks like he is having probs with his hand.

I was just about to preach caution to eirebilly, and we get a review...

That looks out.....

Good umpiring there. Not sure where that nick sound come from

Yow! Very close, but not close enough to be sure there, even with the review.

SL will be very wary today. Expect very slow scoring and lots of half-chances.

dyrewolf: Yeah, could be a very frustrating day.

At first glance that looked out to me but a good call to not give him out.
Superb ball and Jimmy has to get a wicket soon.

Tough call on the DRS.....looked out at first for me.

'morning all...

apparently one of those "probably out but not enough proof to give it" cases..

Fair enough to give the benefit to the batsman , but I always think it is a bit rough on the bowling team when they lose a challenge for one of those.
Especially as the (too slow to use) snickometer seems to confirm it was out...

Snicko says an edge.........