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

by LeFromage Tue 04 Dec 2007, 01:38

Leo wrote:
PS - Bopara will probably score a match-saving second innings ton now that I've made the above post.

I hope he does. He's a bright young thing and people shouldn't be trashing him if he doesn't come off in this match or on this tour even.

The muddled selection policy that surrounds English cricket is not his fault.

I think he'll be a fine player indeed. Whether he's currently one of the six best batsman in England, however, is open to debate...

by Henry Tue 04 Dec 2007, 01:49

Anyway, I think the selectors have proved they can be ruthless by dropping Strauss. And perhaps the reason the others are playing Murali so nervously is that they all fear they will be next.

Pah, he should have been dropped at the end of the Ashes tour. He was a shot duck by then. It was hardly 'ruthless' for him to be dropped, belatedly, at the end of the English summer. More like a case of 'about time', imo. One wonders whether he was left in the side too long, and whether he will ever fully recover. He Averages something like 20 in his last 10 Tests.

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 05:36

Monty on. We need to break this partnership before it puts us out of the game.

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 07:01

Hoggy!!!!!!! Gets Jayawardene.

What a legend.

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 07:57

Looks like we've given up trying to get Sangakkara out. Just one slip for him, even with the new ball. He's looking ungetoutable. Yes. That's a word.

Attacking fields for Silva though.

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:17

Sanga dropped at first slip by Bell. Clot!!

Trescothick, come back! All is forgiven!!

FFS. This game is as good as lost unless we show some proper fight tomorrow. We can't win now and we've got to bat out at least a day against Murali.

by Guest Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:28

Where do all these dogs from from?

by doremi Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:32

Why is Bell fielding at slip?

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:34

Dunno. We've only got 1 slip in for Sangakkara because he looks so well set and Bell's usually got excellent hands.

by LeFromage Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:39

In a belated reply to Growler, I think part of the problem with Anderson is that, when he does get it right, he looks really good, like a guy who could take buckets of Test wickets.

But the rest of the time - and the majority of the time - it's not just that he bowls badly, but he bowls appallingly and goes at 5 or 6 an over.

It's a combination of frustration that he's not fulfilling his potential to be an excellent bowler and exasperation at how utterly shite he can be.

Sajid Mahmood takes a lot of stick for being "fodder", but he's got a better Test match average than the centrally contracted Jimmy Anderson. And a better strike rate.

Tells you all you need to know, I'm afraid.

by LeFromage Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:41

doremi wrote:Why is Bell fielding at slip?

Because England's well thought out selection policy left them with a squad without any slip fielders. So they're just having to make do with blokes who never field there.

by please don't yell Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:46

IMO anderson usually looks very good when their is a fair bit in the pitch.

There is nothing to fear from him when the ball isn't decking around.

by ten years after Tue 04 Dec 2007, 08:56

Impressive bit of umpiring by Rauf.

by Invader Zim Tue 04 Dec 2007, 09:01

LOL, what a joke Prior is...stuffs up a straight forward stumping...

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 09:02

Who else thinks Anderson has had enough chances? Economy of over 5 FFS.

by ten years after Tue 04 Dec 2007, 09:08

Another splendid decision by Rauf.

by taipan Tue 04 Dec 2007, 09:11

please don't yell wrote:IMO anderson usually looks very good when their is a fair bit in the pitch.

So do most bowlers

by Growler Tue 04 Dec 2007, 09:21

krikri wrote:
Growler wrote:I think he takes a lot of undue flak. For sure, when he's bad he's dreadful, but he will usually get wicketsat some point in a series

He gets due flak because he's sh!t. Look how many people lay into Blee, and yet he's got a much better record than Anderson.

Anderson sends down filth. The problem is, our so called 'depth' in our fast bowling ranks is b0llocks. Who do we have to come in? Plunkett? Anderson? Mahmood? Onions FFS!

And our so called main strike bowler harmlessone has only ever performed well throughout a series twice (West Indies away 2004 - New Zealand home 2004) And there's just been very few other good bowling innings from him there on after.

Too many tv/newspaper 'experts' always make excuses. Home sickness, Lack of bowling, wickets not suited to his type of bowling. The guy just isn't good enough, fact. He might have the raw ingredients, but so did many others who failed to live upto the hype/promise.

Harmlessones recent stats..

2005: 36 wickets at 34.87
2006: 33 wickets at 38.06
2007: 18 wickets at 35.61

Wonderful bit of selective quoting there. Would you care to adress the remainder of the post rather than just ranting ?

by Merlin Tue 04 Dec 2007, 10:10

Missed most of yesterday through travelling - late night and now switched on to Kandy.

Jesus, are we in deep sh!t or are we swimming in it?
Tea - SL 299 ahead with 5 in the hutch.
WTF went wrong .... and where's that bloody monsoon.

Bell drops 2 in the slips...
Prior misses a stumping ....
Anderson bowling tripe ...
Shah's waitering improving ...

A nightmare deja vu.

by please don't yell Tue 04 Dec 2007, 10:49

Sri Lanka are letting things drift a fair bit here.

More than likely the light will cost them a proper go at england tonight.

by Chivalry Augustus Tue 04 Dec 2007, 11:00

Drifting or not, Sri Lanka will only need 50 overs to get England all out. Murali to take 6+ wickets, Jayasuriya to take at least 2 in a big, big win.

by eowyn Tue 04 Dec 2007, 11:30

Good grief...................

by Allan D Tue 04 Dec 2007, 11:30

As well as making 4 150s in as many matches Sanga is also only one off the record for most consecutive 50s in Test innings made by Everton Weekes in 1948-9 and Andy Flower in 2000-1:

http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283043.html

by skully Tue 04 Dec 2007, 11:34

Allan D wrote:As well as making 4 150s in as many matches Sanga is also only one off the record for most consecutive 50s in Test innings made by Everton Weekes in 1948-9 and Andy Flower in 2000-1:

http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283043.html

Aye, he's in a rich vein of form. Never looked like getting out (except for Bell's sitter).

by Lara Lara Laughs Tue 04 Dec 2007, 11:36

FFS Cook you shit-tip.

by Sponsored content