Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Kandy, 1st-5th Dec

About time we had a thread because it's not long now. It looks like Jimmy Anderson is going to start so the team will be:

Vaughan (c)
Cook
Bell
KP
Colly
Shah/Bopara
Prior +
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Anderson
Panesar


Cue JKL - "5 out all out". There, I've saved you a job, Lever.

Also, Koertzen was scheduled to Umpire but he's been withdrawn after his horrendous Sangakkara decision. Hurrah!

He's been replaced by Asad Rauf who will Umpire with Dar.

Any weather forecasts?

To be fair though, that's a shocking team. Not only will it fail to take 20 wickets, there won't be chance of a draw either because it'll struggle to muster 300 runs.

Four number 11s and a number 9. A number 10 against spin really.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:


Cue JKL - "5 out all out". There, I've saved you a job, Lever.

Actually 6 out all out to be fair, but well done anyway. My big concern over that attack is that the 3 bowlers are all a bit samey aside from SideBo's left armness.

JKLever wrote:

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:


Cue JKL - "5 out all out". There, I've saved you a job, Lever.

Actually 6 out all out to be fair, but well done anyway. My big concern over that attack is that the 3 bowlers are all a bit samey aside from SideBo's left armness.

Which is why I'd play Tremlett, if Harmison isn't available. Even if he isn't that threatening, he offers control. I can see our pace trio getting spanked if there's not swing on offer.

Hoggard won't get 'spanked', Sidebottom's looked good and Anderson even if he is hit for a few will get you wickets. I'd have all three in the side in front of Harmison/Tremlett/Broad.

I'd have Broad in the side ahead of Anderson - at least he offers the possibility of getting some lift with the new ball.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:About time we had a thread because it's not long now. It looks like Jimmy Anderson is going to start so the team will be:

Vaughan (c)
Cook
Bell
KP
Colly
Shah/Bopara
Prior +
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Anderson
Panesar


Cue JKL - "5 out all out". There, I've saved you a job, Lever.

Also, Koertzen was scheduled to Umpire but he's been withdrawn after his horrendous Sangakkara decision. Hurrah!

He's been replaced by Asad Rauf who will Umpire with Dar.

Any weather forecasts?

Since when have we had "official threads" and set them out with #s and *s?

You didn't even have the teams the right way around - you had England at home.

Terrible forumming.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:

JKLever wrote:

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:


Cue JKL - "5 out all out". There, I've saved you a job, Lever.

Actually 6 out all out to be fair, but well done anyway. My big concern over that attack is that the 3 bowlers are all a bit samey aside from SideBo's left armness.

Which is why I'd play Tremlett, if Harmison isn't available. Even if he isn't that threatening, he offers control. I can see our pace trio getting spanked if there's not swing on offer.

You'd have a job on .......... Tremlett ain't in the squad so he's not an option.

Panesar, Sidebottom and Hoggy will the most influential characters on this tour.

The Batsman will wither to Murali when the pitch is turning. Plus England have little confidence going into this series after losing the last one to India.

Basil wrote:I'd have Broad in the side ahead of Anderson - at least he offers the possibility of getting some lift with the new ball.

Anderson's wicket in the second innings was off a sharp bouncer, and I don't think Broad's really any quicker than JA.

Anderson can hit 90mph, but he's shite. He averaged 35 per wicket in conditions tailor made for him, somehow mugged off with man of the series (for England), and now seems to be thought of as the old new man reborn. I think both Anderson and Broad will be rubbish if picked, so we may as well pick Broad for his ability with the willow.

Augustus wrote:Anderson can hit 90mph, but he's shite. He averaged 35 per wicket in conditions tailor made for him, somehow mugged off with man of the series (for England), and now seems to be thought of as the old new man reborn. I think both Anderson and Broad will be rubbish if picked, so we may as well pick Broad for his ability with the willow.

Well presumably Anderson was awarded the MoS by someone who - with all respect to you - is rather more knowledgeable about cricket than thee & me combined. Out of curiosity, who do you think shud have been MoS ?

Who's actually picking the team? Has Graveney after 10 years in the job finally taken some responsibility?

Eric Air Emu wrote:Who's actually picking the team? Has Graveney after 10 years in the job finally taken some responsibility?

It's a phone vote, with the final decision resting with Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne, Danni Minogue and a potato.

I'd back the potatoes judgment on this one.

I'd back Danni Minogue's judgement personally.

Is that Howard Jones?

What is loooooooooooove, anyway?

Eric Air Emu wrote:I would roger Danni Minogue senseless personally.

Fixed.

Basil wrote:

Eric Air Emu wrote:I would roger Danni Minogue senseless personally.

Fixed.

Wouldn't take long ...

An 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Sidebottom, Hoggard, Anderson, and Panesar?! When capable batsmen such as Broad and Swann are both in the squad?! Surely not. Murali will eat them alive. May as well declare at six down.

Also, I still cant believe that in Sri Lanka we will go into the first Test with just one specialist spinning option, but FIVE fast/medium pace options. This is in a Test match where Murali is looking to break the world wickets record, and Sri Lanka have just come off a heavy defeat against Australia. I very much doubt that they're going to be so hospitable as to prepare a green pitch for England.

hmmnn....i think SL are a good chance of winning this

Dello wrote:Is that Howard Jones?

What is loooooooooooove, anyway?

Yes it is.

Does anybody love anybody, anyway?

Henry, it's highly unlikely we'll go with 2 spinners, so Swann's out. Are you extolling the Fletch theorum of only picking bowlers who can bat a bit????

Going on mural's record against england you would have to see he's an unbackable fav to get the record here.

Henry wrote:
Also, I still cant believe that in Sri Lanka we will go into the first Test with just one specialist spinning option, but FIVE fast/medium pace options. This is in a Test match where Murali is looking to break the world wickets record, and Sri Lanka have just come off a heavy defeat against Australia. I very much doubt that they're going to be so hospitable as to prepare a green pitch for England.

It's not that it will be a seaming pitch, Sri lanka seem to be most comfortable right now rotating the seamers from one end and murali bowling all day from the other with sanath doing the relief work when murali needs a breather.

Who is Sri lanka's second spinner anyway?

I can't recall them using a second frontline spinner at home since herath a few years back.