Sri Lanka v England, 3rd test, Galle, 18-22 Dec

Geoffrey Trueman wrote:
I just don't understand the recent criticism of Cook. He might have a few technical flaws but like today he often out scores Englands more 'illustrious' batsmen. At 22 he can only get better, and todays news that his seven test centuries in 18 months of international cricket equals Javed Miandad and is only bettered by batting Gods Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, who have eight, proves how good he is.

And Cook's second innings century ensured that England didn't lose the series 2-0. Okay the rain helped too and it did not stop England's decline down the Test table ladder but they're still ahead of Pakistan, New Zealand & the Windies!

Winkle Spinner wrote:He did struggle, but more against Clark and McGrath than Warne if I remember correctly.

Of course, he may have struggled against Warne if Clark or McGrath hadn't already got rid of him by the time he started to bowl most times.

Quite - he was out before Warne came on bowl almost all of the time.

I don't think he's the worst player of spin the world, but he clearly switches into "survive at all costs" mode as soon as a tweaker comes into the attack. He's not comfortable at all.

Still, he's young, and by the end of next winter will have played in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and twice in India in his short career, so you can't say he's not getting an education in how to play on the subcontinent.

Whether he actually learns anything from the experience, however, is a different matter...

filosofee wrote:

Geoffrey Trueman wrote:
I just don't understand the recent criticism of Cook. He might have a few technical flaws but like today he often out scores Englands more 'illustrious' batsmen. At 22 he can only get better, and todays news that his seven test centuries in 18 months of international cricket equals Javed Miandad and is only bettered by batting Gods Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, who have eight, proves how good he is.

And Cook's second innings century ensured that England didn't lose the series 2-0. Okay the rain helped too and it did not stop England's decline down the Test table ladder but they're still ahead of Pakistan, New Zealand & the Windies!

and of course you are also ahead of the Bangles

jayawardene had a crack about the negative attitude of the english during the series...he allowed they were competitive in sessions...but noted the negative attitude in the last test...

Simon Wilde writing in the Sunday Times quotes Jaya as saying "we wanted to win more than they did. we batted much better in tough situations

when the english should have been chasing a win in the last test they were bowling around 12 overs per hour...almost inevitably the english bats then capitulated..

...and it seems the days when the english could realistically anticipate taking 20 wickets in a match have gone.

even with the woeful fielding - prior, panasar in the covers, harmi in the gully etc - it is clear that england's bowling stocks are close to rock bottom...i don't believe the SL bats are that much better than the english but the series averages show 4 SL bats had averages over 50 and england had nil...the discrepency must have a bit to with the absence of quality english bowlers. See Vornee's reported comments below.

Wilde claims that one of the poms major problems is a superiority complex...

...and it seems the barmy army have just about had enough of their team...after being routed for 81 on thursday, the team was booed when they got on the team bus...the next day there was a banner saying "hang your heads in shame" and then at the weekend another banner saying "15 days of torture. Thanks for nothing England".

Interestingly the penny has only partially dropped for vawny," Any team going through a development stage goes through lows. I can't fault the players' commitment, but we just didn't have the expertise" ...yet the team is not all that new...players like harmi have been around for ages and even monty has a good 12 months experience.

horace wrote:

filosofee wrote:

Geoffrey Trueman wrote:
I just don't understand the recent criticism of Cook. He might have a few technical flaws but like today he often out scores Englands more 'illustrious' batsmen. At 22 he can only get better, and todays news that his seven test centuries in 18 months of international cricket equals Javed Miandad and is only bettered by batting Gods Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, who have eight, proves how good he is.

And Cook's second innings century ensured that England didn't lose the series 2-0. Okay the rain helped too and it did not stop England's decline down the Test table ladder but they're still ahead of Pakistan, New Zealand & the Windies!

and of course you are also ahead of the Bangles

Which one? Eternal flame or Walk like an Egyptian?

Zat wrote:

horace wrote:

filosofee wrote:

Geoffrey Trueman wrote:
I just don't understand the recent criticism of Cook. He might have a few technical flaws but like today he often out scores Englands more 'illustrious' batsmen. At 22 he can only get better, and todays news that his seven test centuries in 18 months of international cricket equals Javed Miandad and is only bettered by batting Gods Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, who have eight, proves how good he is.

And Cook's second innings century ensured that England didn't lose the series 2-0. Okay the rain helped too and it did not stop England's decline down the Test table ladder but they're still ahead of Pakistan, New Zealand & the Windies!

and of course you are also ahead of the Bangles

Which one? Eternal flame or Walk like an Egyptian?

Manic Monday

horace wrote:

filosofee wrote:

Geoffrey Trueman wrote:
I just don't understand the recent criticism of Cook. He might have a few technical flaws but like today he often out scores Englands more 'illustrious' batsmen. At 22 he can only get better, and todays news that his seven test centuries in 18 months of international cricket equals Javed Miandad and is only bettered by batting Gods Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, who have eight, proves how good he is.

And Cook's second innings century ensured that England didn't lose the series 2-0. Okay the rain helped too and it did not stop England's decline down the Test table ladder but they're still ahead of Pakistan, New Zealand & the Windies!

and of course you are also ahead of the Bangles

But at least they can manage to look good with big hair. I know which one i'd prefer:



or



Its a no-brainer really.

Michael Vaughan's been fined 40% match fee for slow-over rate (just heard on LBC radio)

Genius. In a game that England HAD to win to square the series.....

Ooooh, Susanna Hoffs...

Simon Wilde, in The Sunday Times, also blames a misplaced superiority complex:

>>>

"The trouble with New England – post-Fletcher, post-Antipodean/ Caribbean nightmare – has been that they have taken an awfully long time to realise they are no longer much good. Part of them still thinks they are the great 2005 Ashes winners. Their problem has been that most irritating of traits, the superiority complex".

<<<

ouch

So, what's the difference between these two?


One's a sheila, the other's a pop star.