England Lions in Sri Lanka

First unofficial Test.

Eng L: 330 a/o (Taylor 70, Ali 62, Chopra 58; D Prasad 4/68)

SL A: 80/7 (U Tharanga 30; Woakes 4-25)

Just over a session into day two of four.

Moeen nips in with two late wickets

I think he's got a shot at being that guy for England. Classy batsman, chips in a wicket or two with his not totally filthy off spin.

He's proved me wrong - I thought it was a mistake for him to be doing more than bowling the occasional over as I thought it would detract from his batting - and I think it did for a season or two. But he's come to terms with his status as a batting allrounder and that's how England need to use him.

Looking at it dispassionately, just how many better Offies are there currently available?

Rayner - dodgy action
Tredwell - looks innocuous
Rafiq - does not seem to be making much improvement.

Well, you can discount Tredwell as a Test option - he's barely taken a wicket in FC cricket for a couple of years. He's basically a limited overs specialist (who isn't very special).

Rayner has had one decent season, after a career of doing nothing, has an iffy action yet still doesn't get much turn. Don't see him having an international future, unless Gus Fraser starts getting homer-y.

Rafiq, I don't know what to make of. Looks quite promising at times. Can't get a game.

There you go - Moeen's damn near top of the list for his bowling alone. I think his selection for the test side is a no-brainer so long as he can hold his batting together. A stonking big ton before the end of this tour would just about seal it I think.

Cunning ploy from Sri Lanka A to gift Chris Woakes wickets, knowing that Gilo is looking for ANY excuse to pick him this Summer.

But yeah, Moeen should get a go at six in the test side, purely because he looks to take the attack to the bowlers with the bat. His off spin is a bonus. Although watch as England bat him at eight and play him as a bowler in the upcoming T20 World Cup, then discard him when he gets hammered with the ball and is forced to bat with the tail. He's a batsman who bowls a bit, and has been all his life, but suddenly England will play him as a bowler. Happens all the time. Interesting that he was bowled ahead of Borthwick, who didn't get a single over, even though he took four wickets in the previous game.

Good News: England A 473 runs ahead

Bad News: Woakes has 87*

Stokes and Woakes, the new... Dilley and Willey?

beamer wrote:Stokes and Woakes, the new... Dilley and Willey?

Just need Ben Foakes to step up to the plate!

England Lions give Woakes the old Hick-erectomy and declare on him in the 90s.

The Sri Lanka A wicket keeper is called Dickwella.

Basil wrote:

beamer wrote:Stokes and Woakes, the new... Dilley and Willey?

Just need Ben Foakes to step up to the plate!

He needs to change countries, so we can have Foakes c Woakes b Stokes.

Forgot Woakes was captain. He Hicked himself out of a hundred, then.

SL A bowled out for 311 (Warnapura 108, Silva 63; Plunkett 3/51, Woakes 2/27, Moeen Ali 2/59)

England Lions win by 167 runs and lead the three match series 1-0.

2nd "Test".

SL A 190/4 (61 overs) at tea. Rajapaksa 68, Karunaratne 37, Warnapura 34, Silva 30*.

Onions 2/8, Borthwick 1/31, Kerrigan 1/57.

SL A 267/8 - Onions 4/8!

Very shared-out quota of overs by close (281-9 off 90). Rayner and Kerrigan took over a couple of Borthwick's "share" of 15, and they also stole one of Bunny's for some reason.

CR Woakes 15 5 28 1 Econ: 1.86 (1nb, 1w)
G Onions 14 6 20 4 Econ: 1.42
LE Plunkett 15 4 37 1 Econ: 2.46
OP Rayner 17 3 58 0 Econ: 3.41
SC Kerrigan 17 2 69 1 Econ: 4.05
SG Borthwick 12 0 61 2 Econ: 5.08

Not with equal results though. One big standout analysis, and perhaps a more general divide in fortunes between seam (6 wickets for 85 off 44 overs - 2 an over) and spin (3 for 188 off 46 - 4 an over). Though I suppose it is first innings.

the English are funny

"South Africa could be set to make several changes after Robin Peterson was spotted in a bar the night before the Test"

FFS, so it's a crime to be SPOTTED in a bar the night before a test?? What the f*ck has happened to cricket? Let every player prepare for a test match in their own way. (assuming Robbie P had only one, maximum two drinks).

Oops, wrong thread.

By a distance.

Time for an eye test.

Shit spinners and an England Lions thread, it's an appropriate enough mix-up.

SL A 289 a/o (Silva 73, Rajapaksa 68; Onions 4/24, Plunkett 2/37, Borthwick 2/61)

Eng Lions 145/2 (Robson 75*, Chopra 28, Taylor 24*)

If Robson isn't banging the door down, then he's at least knocking rather vigorously.

He'll have Gus in his corner now, at any rate. Unless he thinks Middlesex need him more than England and his blatant conflict of interests comes to the fore.

Hundred up for Robson.

It's fair to say he's done all right for the England representative sides this winter: (played five games for the EPP and Eng Lions) 102, 41, 108*, 15, 120, 17, 15, 105*

523 runs @ 87.