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!

Interesting start here. If Jimmy can hit a few boundaries then it's fine for him to hang around. If he just holds and end up it'd probablly be best to get Mogs in sooner rather later. Jimmy is helping to see off some of the early moisture though, making it easier for Mogs when he does arrive.

Come on Jimmy

Missed KP's wicket yesterday. Sounded like he finally gave in to temptation and had a wild swing at one he should have left alone. Shame, being so close to his ton. Still, a great knock while it lasted.

Looks like Bell and Anderson aren't hanging around. Maybe Strauss has told them to switch to T20 mode, so he can get Sri Lanka in after lunch?

oh, where are my manners, morning All.

oh yeah great forecast.. rain again.

50 for Bell and this actually a good parntership

Fifty up for Bell.

Jimmy going pretty well too.

...and morning trebell... Lets hope its a reasonably dry one...

Whoever it was that called a quick Jimmy 50 (legend?). He is more than halfway there now......

Oh well he is out but it was entertaining

Aww. Was hoping Jimmy would set a new highest Test match score...but he's gone. Good night watchman's job anyway.

With Morgan and Prior to come we should see some fireworks now.

27 off 33 from Jimmy was an excellent return from a nightwatchman

Hi all!.
So a fine start for England. Anderson did a fine job, just took out a bit of early morning moisture and played his shots to good effect.

now its up to Morgan and Prior to support Bell, and build a good lead in good time.
And finally, a reasonable day with the weather it seems.

Good morning everyone

Nice bright start ... even the nightwatchman playing shots right from the off ... England clearly going for it and rightly so , they are in no danger.

Some very nice off side strokes from Jimmy in that knock - his attacking shots often look like they belong to a much better batsman if you see what I mean ...

Now for Bell to press the accelerator ?

Odd that. Since Anderson got out, things have slowed down quite a bit.

Would've thought England would want to be around 300 by lunch, maybe add another 100 afterwards, then get Sri Lanka back in.

I'm sure that is what they want dyre
Not always so easy when they bowl defensively and a new man is settling in...

Still time for a burst of scoring before lunch ?
And I'm sure they'll go into overdrive after lunch given wickets in hand.

Good start indeed. Jimmy did everything they could have hoped of him. Well played.

morning people! Bell is such a good player to wath when he's in this sort of form isn't he? Beautiful cover drive for four there.

Steady going here from England. There are still alot of overs left in this match for them to force something if requiresd.

Bell is indeed great to watch. A very classy player.

rather slow going from Morgan and Bell, particularly in the context of the game, and the bowling is not exceptional either. if England has to make a game out of this, they have to bat positively and set the game up. At the first sight of defensive bowling and fielding, they shouldn't get into it. take some chances, not to be reckless, but positive.
Although in theory there are lots of overs, the weather for tomorrow doesn't seem all that promissing.

Anyways it seems they are slowly getting a move on.

Maybe the call is to get the lead to a hundred and then go after SL a bit.

I'd think a lead of 200 would ideal. Would mean SL have to get 400 to have a chance of winning and would put a nice bit of pressure on. Pressure does funny things to a team.

run rate this morning is 3.5+ rpo, which is OK in my book. Morgan can score quickly but needs to get in. When he is, he'll accelerate.

Think (hope!) you are right , trebell

200 lead would be my target - and England are perhaps a bit conservative in setting up these run targets so I doubt they will take risks too early. At Lord's they lost a few cheap wickets when they got over-excited and I agree they'll want to get a bit further ahead before they throw caution to the wind.

ie Maybe 20 minutes after lunch , which hopefully will lead to a declaration in time for a half hour or so bowling before tea ?

I agree alfie, take it asy up to lunch and then have a bit of a swing abou 30mins after lunch. Mogs, Bell and Prior have the ability to score very fst when its needed.

'long as Strauss is listening to us Billy , all will be well

Warne says: "very very good cricket side England. Could easily be n°1 very soon"

I hope he is as well, we got him on day one with the changing of Broad for Tremlett which produced immediate results.

Decent session. 96 from just 28 overs , only lost the night watchman (who actually scored faster than anyone else in the match so far ) and lead by over 100...

Good position to push on.

Yep, exactly what they'd hope for i'd think. Night watchmen used well and they've pushed on.

I think we will see the push soon. Mogs and Bell are well set so they may choose to play their shots.

New ball will come off the bat quicker ... time to motor , I agree

Hope Bell gets the hundred but I don't want him to wait for the milestone , and I don't think he will . Morgan looks to be trying to get busy here ...

Lovely cut Bell In the nineties...

And another fine shot 95 ...

I dont want to post any positive cooments as i have cured 3 English batsmen this innings

eirebilly wrote:I dont want to post any positive cooments as i have cured 3 English batsmen this innings

Very wise , Billy...

50 for Mogs

50 to Mogs, well played :applause:

Still keeping quiet alfie

50 up for Morgan...sure and steady and relatively restrained, but they all count.

C'mon Belly!

Billy the healer?

What did you cure them of Billy?

Moggsy gets to fifty, nice little knock

and there's Belly's hundred! Superb knock

Lol trebs, you know what i meant

Well Done Bell

Nice one Belly! Briliant century.

Reckon England should declare with another 40-60 runs on the board.

There it is !!! The run-machine gets a well earned ton

Have some fun now boys ... get that lead up so we can set loose the bowlers

I think England will try for the 200 run lead before declaring. Sri Lanka under massive pressure now.

Well done Bell. Brilliant stuff.

Good to have several of these guys in form ahead of the Indian series.

eirebilly wrote:Lol trebs, you know what i meant

Well Done Bell

I do Billy.. I was being cheeky

Will be wanting at least 200 lead , which should come quite quickly now.

From past Strauss tactics I fancy he'll now be looking at declaring with as many as he can get , but planning a "short" bowling session before tea. So I'm betting on the call being made in about 32 minutes...

Moggsy reprieved on review, ball pitched just outside leg stump, not a howler by any means, but the umpire has to reverse his decision. First decision he's made in this series that has been overturned apparently.

I also think that a declaration will come before tea, looking forward to it.

Question is, who starts the bowling with Jimmy?? I would go for Tremlett.

Yes I'd have given that out too - looked to be doing everything right , rather surprised to see it pitched just off the stump-to-stump ...Mogs a bit lucky.

Guess that's what the review system is for.