Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Galle, 26-30 March, 2012

So, are we excited, boys and girls?

Nice to see it's straight into the Tests, rather another interminable round of JAMODIs and JAMITTs.

Usually I'd prefer the ODIs first but a) we're only playing Tests and b) I'm sick and tired of ODIs now... it's been months (what with the NZ Tests not being worth their salt).

Am I looking forward to it? Meh, sort of. They're either going to be flatties or ragers and neither is particularly my favourite sort of pitch. The main thing about it is that it's probably the worst time of day (in England) to be playing Test cricket... sort of half 4ish in the morning.

Engulund should have the out-on-their-feet Lankans on toast.

I think England can win this series, but a lot will depend on selection. I say we should play to our strengths and pick three seamers (Broad, Anderson and Finn). That would mean that if England felt they had to have a second spin-option - and I don't see why they should feel that against a Sri Lanka batting line-up that is much more capable than Pakistan's - they would have to pick Samit Patel. Personally, my team would be:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bopara - injury permitting
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

I just think that we're much more likely to skittle them with pace than with spin. I don't expect Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Samaraweera to roll over to spin, and Monty's record last time out in Sri Lanka was hardly worthy of note. Obviously, should we turn up and find ourselves staring at a bunsen, the team would have to change. And I would favour throwing all three spinners in if we did find ourselves in that situation.

Brass Monkey wrote:Usually I'd prefer the ODIs first but a) we're only playing Tests and b) I'm sick and tired of ODIs now... it's been months (what with the NZ Tests not being worth their salt).

Am I looking forward to it? Meh, sort of. They're either going to be flatties or ragers and neither is particularly my favourite sort of pitch. The main thing about it is that it's probably the worst time of day (in England) to be playing Test cricket... sort of half 4ish in the morning.

There's no JAMODI stuff on this tour is there? We had a limited overs only tour to India before Christmas, with all formats in Not Pakistan in between, so this just fills the gap in terms of Test cricket this winter. There's no time for any of the shorter stuff before the county season starts!

should be a good series...if the lankans win will this mean the saffies go to number one?

Yes, h.

And depending on how Aus go in the Caribbean, we could move to 2nd.

beamer wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:a) we're only playing Tests

There's no JAMODI stuff on this tour is there?

Aye! And I'm so glad for that. I've had my fill of ODIs.

They designed the itinerary with you in mind, Monkey.

Your e:mail campaign of salty language and crudely drawn genitalia finally wore the ECB down.

They're still holding out on the David Sales issue, though. You might need to call their bluff and follow through on your threat to kidnap Ian Bell and send him back piece by chocolatey piece, just to remind them who's boss.

Aye, it think it was the sending of pubes.

'Dear ECB, you're a bunch of addle-brained f*ck-weasels who use semen as a mouthwash. You have no clue as to how to schedule a tour. Please find enclosed 17 pubes. Whose they are will remain a mystery. For now.'

Flangelo out (injured). Chamara Silva in (not injured).

They're talking about Flangelo no longer being an all-rounder because of injuries... I thought a bowling average of 71 would've hinted to that, anyway.....

How dare you. He'd be the best specialist leg-spinner in England's last 30 years with those numbers.

Aye, I suppose there's also Gareth Batty's offies to take into account. They're on a par. I don't know what I was thinking, we all know how brilliant Batty was.

Crofty is on hold if England need a spare spinner.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Crofty is on hold if England need a spare spinner hampster-faced, drinks-carrying, chaps-wearing gimp-boy .

Fixeth

That's a tad harsh.

Has he ever been known to wear chaps?


And does he have a face like a hamper, a hamster, or both, in your perspective?

I can't believe I am saying this, but if it's roady, I might be tempted to go with a 7-11 of

Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

and drop the at present discordantly tinkling Bell.

But then, he is good "under the helmet".


And in any case, it ain't gorna happen.

PeterCS wrote:I can't believe I am saying this, but if it's roady, I might be tempted to go with a 7-11 of

Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

and drop the at present discordantly tinkling Bell.

But then, he is good "under the helmet".


And in any case, it ain't gorna happen.

It would make sense, but England seem wedded to the 2 seamer / 2 spinner combo.

They have a tendency to collapse, Sri Lanka. Yeah, they're good on a road, but at the same time their propensity to crumble always keeps a decent four-man attack in it. Our batting has been the brittle thing, I'd back our bowlers to keep it tight in almost all situations. For the last three or so years, teams are averaging 290 for a completed innings against our attack.

Got to hope Jayasuriya and Atapattu don't makes heaps of runs against Crofty.

Wait.


I'm in the forum time machine again.

That ol' necromancy is catching.

Abeyshinghe just said that it has been 3 years since Lanka won a series?

No Ravi, Samit Patel playing and Sri Lanka batting.

Oh sh*t, didn't realise that Sri Lankan commentator Ranil Abenayaka passed away three weeks ago. RIP

And Beefy looking a twat in that Panama hat.