England vs Sri Lanka 3rd test debate

First topic message reminder :

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!

I don't have Sky, so am reliant on TMS and highlights. Didn't see much of Jimmy, but he did seem to be getting the ball to swing late on occasion, which is excellent news if correct.

I have a feeling that the whole squad is rather regarding this game as practise for the Indians. Bit concerned about that.

Doesnt look like there will be much play today either so barring a disaster England realy should win this series.

Broad is a real concern right now, i am a huge fan of his but he is just not delivering the goods. I know he is returning from injury but he hasnt been bowling that well for a while. He has his match winning contributions but he is not consistent enough.

I am not a believer in chopping and changing a winning side but i am also not a believer in the `If fit, he starts´ approach either. Finn has been taking wickets and i would have preferred that he stayed in and that Broad earnt his position again.

Morming eire.

Yeah, ditto regarding Broad, but I thought there were signs towards the end of yesterday that he might be finding that form. We'll see. Though probably not today.

I'd like to see more runs from KP, too. He's another who's place is still a bit iffy in my opinion. But he's that sort of person: boom or bust and not much in between. But we really want him booming for the Injuns.

I quite like the policy EWC have of SOME security of tenure, especially compared with the revolving door we've seen in the past. But I don't want to see EWC try to enforce selection policy n the face of reality - Broad may have a place in their long term plans, but if Broad can't perform well enough for those plans, then someone else should be found, and the plan changed.

Kp is under some pressure as well as only Strauss has been performing worse but he is the captain.

The selection is for a Squad and Broad deserves to be in the squad but on current performances Finn deserves to be starting ahead of him. The fact that Englands batting line up is performing rather well its not that important to rely on Broads batting abilities. I would not be happy if i was Finn, he has done everything right and ends up sitting out a test.

Oh, and good morning cowshot

Ten years ago I'd have had more sympathy for Finn. Nowadays I suspect he knows the situation - that he's the newcomer breaking in and when he's in he'll get the same chances Broad is now. As long as they stick with it, it's a good policy. If it fails, it becomes favouritism and a disaster.

Strauss: it's not a serious issue - yet. I rate his leadership highly. Sometimes more highly than his captaincy. But while the team is successful, he's ok. Rather like Brearley. I think I'm slightly overstating all of this. Hope it makes some sort of sense.

It really does not look like we are going to see any cricket today.

Strauss isnt an issue as he is performing well as captain in my opinion. What i consider to be chopping and changing, is new players in and out of the squad not rotating players within the squad. I just feel that Finn is bowling better than Broad right now and is in the saquad so the onus should be on Broad to win his place back, not have it given to him.

I do see your point and have sympathy with it. I don't think there's any doubt that Finn would have been a better bet than the Broad we have seen so far. But at the same time, I think I see why Flower and Strauss are doing what they are doing and can see good sense in it. Given their success to date I am happy to accept their judgement in the matter.

Regarding play - not expecting much. Such a shame. Still, if tomorrow

It's a giant shame, this being the Rose Bowl's first test match. However, looking at the cloud on sky sports just then, there's no chance!

I think that earliest that we will see some play maybe Sunday judging by the forcasts. A real shame to end the series like this.

Checking our forecasts, sounds like Saturday might be like Thursday and Sunday will be good.

Anyway, catch you later.

Oooh! Play any minute! Well there's a thing.

you know I find this really annoying, the whole way through the series whenever a SL batsman has picked up a knock we immediately get the physio on and a five minute delay, it's just such a waste of time.

GET ON WITH IT!

If Tremlett whammed one into my hand, I wouldn't stop squealing for a week!

Very tough session for Sri Lanka. Nothing to gain, everything to lose. I'd be pushing the gamesmanship, myself.

Congrats to them on the 50 partnership.

And caught! Tremmers must be frightening at the moment.

And gone, Tremlett strikes. Samaraweera props uncertainly forwards and nicks it straight to gully. SL 89/5

Nice start for Tremlett!

(Nice to get a start at all)

5 down and 5 to go...

Good afternoon all

Hi Alfie.

Anderson bowling beautifully by the sound of it.

The end of a gallant innings by Samaraweera - didn't take long for Tremlett to strike again!

England into the Sri Lankan tail...reckon we'll be batting well before tea.

Well i had given up. Nice to see some play and Tremlett getting an early breakthrough.

And another! Perrera not at all happy against the short stuff, backs away to leg, swings, nick through to Prior, Tremmers has four.

Great stuff from Tremlett.

Yes Cowshot they are both looking menacing...surprised Jimmy hasn't got more slips in.

Chance missed there ...Trott sort of lost that in flight. Perera is not enjoying this...and now he's gone caught behind and I reckon he's happy to leave



4 now for Tremlett.

Yowsers! Perera gone for 2 and Tremlett now on a Michelle!

Afternoon all.

What a start!

They can't play these conditions.

See how they did ok last night when it got sunny.

Beginning to get the impression they really don't know how to play in these conditions. Or they are scared of Tremlett. I know I would be!

lovely shot through the leg side for four by Jayawardene

alfie: Sounds as if Trott lost it in the low cloud.

Commentators commenting on the build up of cloud. Off soon again by the sound of it.

Scary thing is that England may have to bat in these conditions as well soon. I cant imagine them doing worse but will they do that much better??

sensible from herath, quick single to get off strike; Jayawardene looking pretty solid.

Perera certainly gave the impression he was unwilling to get in line to Tremlett...a problem for Sri Lanka if the number 7 is going to give it up so easily , with them picking 5 bowlers and all...

The keeper is playing rather better but I think he's going to run out of partners.

Unless Tremlett gets him anyway - he really is bowling superbly at the moment.

Anderson off after three overs, odd!

Excellent start, no team like England in these conditions - and it is evident that the Sri Lankans don't like it up 'em.

Broad having a turn...here's his chance to get some confidence back.

Wickets on offer ...

Whay take Anderson off and put Broad on? Maybe its to change ends or maybe STrauss is trying to get Broad into form?

That was a bit of a poor over. 5 off it and released pressure from SL.

oo lucky 4, sl bashing it a bit and getting back in it (trying to).

Herath flinging the bat at everything and so far getting away with it...

eirebilly wrote:Whay take Anderson off and put Broad on? Maybe its to change ends or maybe STrauss is trying to get Broad into form?

I thought that might be a consideration too , Billy. He has to rotate them anyway so why not give Broad an early chance , Jimmy can come back at Tremlett's end in a couple of overs.

lovely shot by Jayawardene again, these two doing a fine job

Just dont get it alfie, Jimmy was bowling well. 3 overs is a really short spell for rotation.

Gone now, Herath pulls it straight down long leg's throat and Tremmers has five!

I suspect they are trying to bowl Broad back into form.

Come on Tremmers!

Yaay! 5 for! Just as I was typing.

Herath gone ... no surprise

Michelle for Tremlett - well deserved.

Decent little cameo from Herath, but Tremlett gets his 5-for!

SL 117-7 and the end is surely nigh?

Jayawardene going to give it a go, lucky french cut for one...

Unless something truly remarkable happens these will be Tremlett's best bowling figures in tests (previous best was 5-80something against Australia)

Was just thinking that as well MfC, great figures for Tremlett.

Agreed , Billy , certainly didn't have to change so early , which is why I think it is a "team" thing to get Broad firing.
Messing about like this can backfire , but I fancy it won't hurt too much today.

That said , Broad still doesn't seem to be quite getting it right...and of course he is not getting much chance at the rabbits as Jayawardene is hogging the strike at his end.

No way Broad should be bowling for me, we need quick wickets to get this match moving along between rain breaks, he is in no kind of form, looks completely unthreatening.

Its my whole problem with it alfie. You know that i am one of Broads biggest supporters but i do feel that he had to win his position back in the starting team after injury.

I hope that the ploy works and that Broad finds some form but i honestly havent seen any improvement.

I completely agree, eirebilly, he doesn't deserve his place in the team on merit at the moment but the problem is England have invested so much in him they can't really drop him or replace him. He isn't one of the 4 best bowlers in the country right now, imo. If he continues like this he will be a liability against India that we cannot afford.