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!

When I say bounce, I don't meen the rubbish thrown up by Petulance. Tremlett can bowl a good length and can generate good bounce, and that can trouble the best of them.

I know Agnew is a turd. But on WHAT grounds is he allowed to inflict Farage on his audience?

Who next? Nick the Fascist Griffin?

In form, Broad is a very good bowler. As it is, I expect to see Finn replace him unless he really performs in the second innings. Anderson, Tremlett, Swann and Finn seems a good attack to me.

More likely Anderson, Tremlett , Swann and Bresnan if he's fit...

Worked pretty well in Australia

alfie: I wouldn't mind seeing Bresnan. I can't remember the last time we were so fortunate in our bowling selection problems..

Is a 40 minute lunch break really needed when there has already been so much time lost?

Have complaind to TMS about their choice of lunchtime guest.

msp, i know you dont like Broad but constantly refeering to him as 'petulance' is getting a bit tiresome .

What have you got against Nigel Farage? He may be a bit of a twit, but most of what he says is relatively harmless IMO.

You're acting like they DID get Nick Griffin!

eirebilly wrote:msp, i know you dont like Broad but constantly refeering to him as 'petulance' is getting a bit tiresome .

tbh he is right.Broad has an abysmal test record.

I have no objection with his points shanky, just the name calling thats getting on my nerves.

eirebilly

Just like his wasted Shortpitched bowling and stupid reactions??
now on a more serious note, what is the fitness situation with Timm Bresnan? Broad is, in my view a more tallented bowler, but Bresnan has good ability, and fine temprament to add, something that Broad lacks at this moment in his career.

Thats really annoying. We all knew that the rain was coming within the hour, why not extend the play while they could and have a lunch break when the rain came...... What is it with sticking to prescibed breaks?

If you are going to have a politician, have a proper one, not a single issue maniac. And ESPECIALLY don't have one from the far right.

His only use is that he dilutes the tory vote. By our Lady Banker.

msp, as i said, i have absolutely no objection with your points and i do find Broads petulance to be annoying but i am just not big on name calling.

eire
I would pick Bresnan or Onions to replace Broad.

eirebilly wrote:Thats really annoying. We all knew that the rain was coming within the hour, why not extend the play while they could and have a lunch break when the rain came...... What is it with sticking to prescibed breaks?

I suppose the batsmen might complain that they were playing for lunch, and can't if they don't know when it will be?

Shanky, i dont see what Finn has done wrong not to be selected here. He is in the squad and is in better form than Broad. For me it was a no brainer.

Yes but cowshot, they have these radar things that can accurately predict within minutes when the clouds will open up. They started late and knew the weather was coming so why not play on for an extra 30mins?

I'm not sure the radar is that reliable. It spots the clouds, but not necessarily rain, I think. Also, yesterday the radar said no play,but the clouds split unexpectedly and we got a few hours.

And lunch and tea define the stages of the day. They are the fixed points around which the day revolves. Especially lunch.

They are pretty accurate over a 2 hour periode cowshot. Check the F1 out, they can tell within minutes when the rain is coming.

I am just a bit frustrated by the loss of play as well

I am just a bit frustrated by the loss of play as well

chuckle. Me too. Think that's why Farage irritated me so much.

At least there is play now lol

kp to score a ton.

Want to see these two still playing at tea.

Lets not get too excited there shanky lol, it would be nice though.

That Cook drive got an oooh of appreciation from Tuffers. Must have been sumptuous.

Fabulous from Cook.

Boooo. Rain.

There it is again

This is terribly frustrating.

We could see some play soon

We did.

Be nice to get some more soon.

This is just ridiculous, they havent even called Tea yet so even if they do play, they will still stop for tea.....

Tea should be cancelable (if that's a word). Obviously if there is no breaks in play then take tea at the right time, but the sun's just come out, the covers were coming off and they're taking tea. Unbelieveable. Get the players out now and get them playing through to the end of the day. It would be a long final session, but they've missed a lot of the day and would still be taking regular drinks breaks - and the chances are it's going to rain again anyway.

And Tea it is Billy...

...a decision not received well by the crowd

Its a joke now, they have been off for a while now. The covers are off and the sun is shining. Play cricket FFS.......

They could even ferry sandwiches and drinks out to the middle on golf carts between overs.

Its stupid, there has been loads of time lost to rain but also a fair bit of playing time lost to stupid people trying to keep the regular breaks.

Aggers has just said that taking a tea break during a break in the rain, with the ground fit to play, is downright negligent.

Reckon the crowd at the Rose Bowl would concur.

Its a shame, there is a crowd there and they are showing no regard for the paying fan.

Well thats it then, its raining again and all that sun has been wasted due to stupid traditions. I hope that the organisers are proud.

They should get the players out there in wetsuits and snorkels. Use lightweight plastic bats and soft balls (like squash balls, only larger).

lol dyre, i would be more than happy with that. It really is getting beyond a joke. Incompetance of the highest order.

Well, I'm now convinced the tea break should have moved according to the showers. Think lunch needs to be fixed though.

Does seem a bit farcical

Tuffers has just had an idea.

Why not install shelters on the roof (for cricket grounds with covered stands)?

It'd be like a giant roller blind that could be unrolled right across the ground, when needed. Or maybe like one of those tunnel covers they have at football grounds.

Obviously there is nothing that can be done about the weather but the organisers should be doing everything they possibly can to eke out as much play as humanly possible in the conditions. To me that means being able to start earlier (10 maybe?), take lunch and tea breaks during rain breaks or after 2 hours of solid play whenever that may be. Also, for me there shouldn't be a cut off point in the evening for close of play really, I've seen occasions where a rain affected day has stopped at 7 in blazing sunshine, which is stupid.

Also - put roofs on all of our cricket stadiums, that'd help!

darned Hamspire.

ban test matches by the sea I say.

Ban Test matches during rainy days, I say!

On a slightly more serious note, if Test cricket is to survive in the future, I think some serious investment in new stadia will be needed. As carrotdude said, they can make football / rugby grounds with retractable roofs, so why not cricket - which really does need them when it rains.

Heck, even Centre Court at Wimbledon has one now!