England in Sri Lanka March-April 2011/12

[MUFC1987]

Yes, how dare I defend a guy who you're being totally unreasonable about.

14 Wickets @ 21. And in conditions that turn? There's a reason why Flower is picking him, get over it.

 

[barmyarmy]

There's definitely a reason Flower is picking him but there's also a reason he won't displace Swann if England play one spinner.

 

[MUFC1987]

I'd argue that's because Swann is still the better Spinner. Panesar is streets ahead of number 3 on the list of England's spinners though, so there's no way he should be replaced when we need to play two spinners.

 

[barmyarmy]

Hence we should have played Bresnan not Patel

 

[puddleduck]

He took one more wicket than Swann in UAE and bowled a rather helpful 30 more overs...

Anyway I'd probably have Finn in there, play Samit and not have played Monty. Meh. Not like Finn would scored the 200 we're short though haha

I remember a few Pakistan fans saying that they always struggle against left-armer spinners as well.

 

[barmyarmy]

I don't agree with that. Anderson, Broad, Finn, Swann, Patel as our attack is weaker imo than Anderson, Broad, Bresnan, Swann, Panesar. Also weaker batting.

 

[MUFC1987]

I'd have played anyone above Patel to be honest, so I'm probably not the one to ask.

 

[barmyarmy]

Mahela Jayawardene today. 17 runs and out twice. Over-rated

 

[swacker]

We simply cannot play good spin. Our footwork is poor. We're indecisive, get trapped on the crease, we don't use our feet and we premeditate the sweep. It's gone beyond serious. All you can do is laugh. We need to start sending young players to 'spin camps' spend their off season in India and Sri Lanka because this has been going on for years now.

 

[puddleduck]

You actually watching today? Because they have used their feet almost exclusively? It's the pre-meditated sweeps that keep getting everyone out.

Can almost guarantee Strauss will miss one.

Oh, and it was highly average spin they got out to

 

[barmyarmy]

Why isn't Sangakarra out yet? He's left handed and Swann is bowling to him.

 

[puddleduck]

Why isn't Sangakarra out yet? He's left handed and Swann is bowling to him.

Heh, because he got a first baller in the first innings. He'll probably do Jaya's job now and score 150 in a total of 250.

 

[MUFC1987]

We do send our younger players to spin camps. The problem with that is two fold. One, we don't send the First XI. Two, we don't pick the aforementioned younger players who get sent to Spin camps.

 

[barmyarmy]

Three we get Alistair Campbell and Steve Hilton to run the spin camps.

 

[swacker]

You actually watching today? Because they have used their feet almost exclusively? It's the pre-meditated sweeps that keep getting everyone out.

It's just mentally on these pitches we seem shot. Like we're caught between defence and attack. Then out comes the dreaded sweep, which is a good shot when played well and selectively, but not something to turn to in desperation, as it so often is. I hoped we might have learned from Pakistan, and tried to be positive, but it seems we haven't. We're as indecisive and half-arsed as ever. In contrast, look at how SL targeted Swann.