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!

After a few of his opening overs yesterday, it was clear that he was still not in form. Strauss swaps him for Tremlett with immediate effect. Had England had Finn there as well then i am sure that there would have been more wickets.

Broad is in the squad and rightfully so, but Finn was the player taking wickets so it appears as if instead of using in form bowlers, the selectors are using the 'when fit' selction policy. Broad, IMHO, has shown nothing yet to warrent displacing Finn in the starting lineup.

Jimmy replacing Tremmers, good spell from Tremmers that...

Yes it just isn't happening for him , and I'm afraid the longer he goes wicketless the more he's getting impatient and losing the sort of control needed to take advantage of the conditions.

It is a pity because an in form Broad helps to balance the team nicely , but there must be a limit to the chances he's allowed , with other options lining up.

Yes an inform Broad is good to have in the team. An out of form Broad can be a problem.

As weird as it sounds but if Sri Lanka can get to 150, they would be pretty happy considering the conditions.

Fernando's leaving a gap between bat and pad, Jimmy should slip in the inswinger

And I'm not too happy with this tactic of bouncing Jayawardene with deep catchers

Good seaming conditions , make them play !

Great to see Tremmers do so well today.

He is looking lost for ideas alfie

England apart from Tremlett have been pretty ordinary today, even Jimmy doesn't seem quite right...

Jimmy was bowling well early , hasn't quite got it right to Fernando yet.

Fernando is showing more resistance than the two before him.

Better from Broad ! That squared him up. A maiden , but still no wicket.

from where they were, and given the conditions, the SL lads will be lifted by this and feel they've got a competitive score I suspect.

England go for the review, but it's a tad high and the umpire's call will stand, England out of reviews now...

Close review ! As I thought it would be from first viewing , "out" , but not "out enough"

England have been unlucky with reviews in this innings , but I guess Sri Lanka deserve some good fortune , they've not had much with the weather.

P Jaya and Fernando helping SL towards a semi-respectable total here.

Broad sounding like a liability at the moment...just short stuff all the time that either hits the batsmen in various places or else is simply avoided.

I actually think Broad has got some rhythm going over the last couple of overs, which is much needed. Streaky edge through the slips for four, SL bring up their 150.

England far too short to fernando, need to bowl a full length on off-stump, not back of a length as they've been doing. Different lengths to tail-enders....

Just give the ball back to Tremlett.

obviously a plan (or else the bowlers can't adapt) but not working... Another 4 through 3rd man off back of a length...

Swann going to have a go, this is a really frustrating partnership for England now...

And strikes second ball, daft shot from Jayawardene, goes for the slog sweep but there's a man out at deep midwicket and it's straight down his throat! SL 158/8

OUT! Swann gets a wicket as this stand was seriously starting to frustrate. Poor shot from jayawardene given the field set. Morgan is seriously quick.

Thank god for Swann. Great partnership though

Fernando is playing well , within his limitations. Stays in line to block anything pitched up , plays a little dab at anything short enough - works for him.

Sri Lanka already have 50 more than I expected...

And now Swann gets his customary 1st over wicket

They won't get many more

Oh dear. Soft dismissal for P Jaya. Poor shot and Swann strikes again in his first over.

And for those interested in golf, McIlroy has holed his second at the 8th for an eagle (aka fluke) and is 7 shots clear.

Go Rory!

Eventful over. Fernando scoring while he can...Tremlett back - chance for 7?

Big chance , there's 6

Tremlett back on, and Lakmal gone first ball. Nice short one and Lakmal gets in a tangle and gloves it through to Prior

Lakmal gone for a duck and Tremmers gets his 6th.

SL 166-9 and innings surely over any time now...

That was a good bouncer, can't blame Lakmal who played the shot more in self-preservation....

Not great from Laxmal. Oops!

Must admit I'm beginning to think we'll see Finn start against the Indians.

Think Welegedera fancies a bowl...

Have no idea what Weledegera is trying to achieve with fernando looking decent at the other end...

Tremlett has these tailenders spooked . Number 11 is in danger of treading on the square leg umpire's toes...

and we're off! SL 177/9

More rain - might be it for a while ...

Tremlett can put his feet up for a bit. He has had an excellent day.

I guess if they can get back out later for a couple of hours England could get a fair way towards the eventual Sri Lankan total. Which would hold out some hope of passing them and having another bowl some time in the next three days.

Mind you , batting won't be too easy for them either. Though I don't think Sri Lanka have a Tremlett.

Bonus for England getting in some play today. SL wont be totally disheartened as their tail wagged a bit.

Great stuff from Tremlett not so from A & B . Not impressed with Strauss tactics and reluctance to get Swanny on.

KP looked frozen out there, trying to remember a worse weather day at a UK test

windies vs england at durham, that was horrible weather for that series

Tremlett has really grown as a cricketer over the last 2 years.

Must be something in the water in Surrey

Surprised they got any play in, just down the coast in Brighton its been absolutely VILE out there today!

i think sri lanka will regret playing perera and not playing another batsman or spinner, cos pitch turns late on at rose bowl, but also perera played a gutless innings today, when fernando, and jayardene hung around for their side, also he offfers nothing with the ball in tests.

cricketfan90 wrote:i think sri lanka will regret playing perera and not playing another batsman or spinner, cos pitch turns late on at rose bowl, but also perera played a gutless innings today, when fernando, and jayardene hung around for their side, also he offfers nothing with the ball in tests.

Perera is a tad like Afridi. He only has 6th gear. If(a very huge if) he comes to the party he'll murder any attack, but his brain obviously doesn't work properly

rain ruins what could of been a very intresting day

Morning folks, what's the weather forecast for today? Hope to be able to watch a full days play today and see England establish a dominant postion by the close of play.

sonic
what makes you say that perera can murder any attack if he comes to the party?he has never done it on the international stage.

Good heavens! Sunshine?

Need to get on with this now , get this last wicket and bat ...but Fernando has other ideas : nice 4 to start , he's batted pretty well.

And Broad gets first shot at the rabbit ahead of Jimmy. (???)

Needs to do a job here ... and starts with a no-ball

Its time Mr. Petulance get his act together.

Talking to myself here...

Where is everyone?

Aha ! Hello mps..

I mean msp , sorry...

Broad gets his man at last

In the end Sri Lanka got more than I expected but 184 is still pretty small - well done by Fernando.

And Tremlett of course

Weather looks better. Hope England can bat reasonably here.