England in Sri Lanka March-April 2011/12

[War]

Sri Lanka v England, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day: Mark Nicholas on the switch hit | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo


Although the rule altercation certain makes sense, you also have to consider what it would do to other facets of the LBW law.

By taking away the "batsman can't be out LBW once the ball pitches outside leg-stump" law - when a fast-bowler or spinner bowls traps a batsman on the pad after he plays a standard shot (not a switch it) - you would get A LOT more LBWs in the game which is not really ideal.

But as Mark Nicholas is rightfully saying, it an innovative shot. Only Pietersen and Warner can do it effectively, just like how Dilshan and McCullum are two of the few batsman who can play the "scoop shot" effectively in world cricket.

So essentially its not a shot the the large majority of international batsmen can do without embarrassing themselves/getting out. Thus umpires and bowlers just need to move on.

 

[sifter132]

LOL at those getting angry at the KP warning and blaming Dilshan. The warning is fair enough in my view. Dilshan has every right to stop if KP changes stance before delivery stride. Just like a batsman has every right to pull out when a bowler in running in and someone in the crowd moves, or a bird flies past. It's common sense that you should be able to react to something unusual. KP said after play anyway, that once he was explained the 'rule' or interpretation, then it all made sense.

As for changing LBWs, yeah I agree. The batsman should give up all his LBW advantages if he decides to switch hit. The captain and bowler have placed a field in good faith, and the batsman is taking advantage of that by switching hands. So I say there needs to be some downside to the switch hit. We shouldn't just say 'OMG but it's so skillful' or 'we need innovation'. No, we need fair cricket. I like the switch hit, but I think changing AFTER the bowlers back foot has landed and surrendering any LBW priviledges are a fair price to pay.


Also...was it only me, or should England have declared earlier last night and had 10 overs or more at the SL openers? If you are behind in a series, and you believe you are the better team, then surely a lead of 100 is enough? I realise there's 2 days left and 2nd innings runs are easier than 4th innings runs, but I think SL would have been quite happy to see England keep batting.

 

[Sedition]

I guess Dilshan was within his rights to pull out according to the rules, but I still think it's a bit ridiculous of the umpires to say KP was time-wasting. Given the context of trying to bring up his hundred, in a match where only a win matters, he definitely wasn't purposely wasting time. I guess I would've been out of the job for telling Dilshan to stop being a skirt and bowl the tweaking ball.

 

[War]

As for changing LBWs, yeah I agree. The batsman should give up all his LBW advantages if he decides to switch hit. The captain and bowler have placed a field in good faith, and the batsman is taking advantage of that by switching hands. So I say there needs to be some downside to the switch hit. We shouldn't just say 'OMG but it's so skillful' or 'we need innovation'. No, we need fair cricket. I like the switch hit, but I think changing AFTER the bowlers back foot has landed and surrendering any LBW priviledges are a fair price to pay.

Only if the surrendering of LBW privileges is SPECIFICALLY for just if a batsman attempts a switch hit, since a total surrendering of it would make for some low scoring test matches.

We all know the amount of times a batsman is hit on the pads with the ball clearly hitting, only to be saved by it being pitched outside leg.

But overall as i mentioned before given that only two batsmen in world cricket can do it effectively, while others look dumb and risk getting out foolishly by doing it - that wont be necessary, since it will essentially be a freak occurrence.

 

[swacker]

Swann should have got a wicket in his first over, Prior missed a stumping. But Jimmy got a wicket.

Is anyone else is up by the way?!

 

[Sedition]

I am, but figured not many poms would be up to listen to my bashing. Prior missed the easiest stumping in the world and a tough chance that went over his shoulder off Swann. Then Finn put down a sitter off Swann. Both teams would lose to Australia right now.

 

[Owzat]

The LBW "issue" with switch hitting is laughable and easily fixed. Adjust the LBW laws to make it clear that off stump and leg stump are as the batsman is standing in his normal stance.

If he 'switches' then off stump is still the same, it is both logical and fair to maintain the LBW as would have been had he stayed right/left handed.

As for time wasting, Pietersen wasn't the one time wasting as he was ready to play his shot, it was the bowler time wasting if anyone. You could accuse Pietersen of not playing within the spirit of the game or whatever by moving before the delivery stride, but time wasting is inaccurate.



As for today's play, Sri Lanka had the best of it. I say in a normal game two wickets in a session is a minimum a bowling side want and is often "even", but one of England's two wickets was the slogging tailender and so I'd say Sri Lanka had the best of the day so far.

And when Sri Lanka start getting 80-100 runs ahead watch how England start twitching, don't be surprised if the field starts scattering which is something Vaughan was a bugger for and one of the reasons I prefer batting a side out of the game than enforcing follow ons (because runs become irrelevant when you bat the side out of the game, they often don't if you lead by say 250-300)

 

[swacker]

Lunch. Sri Lanka will be happy with their mornings work. Really important England pick up wickets in this next session because by tea Sri Lanka should be leading and if they have only lost the two wickets (one night watchman) we could see ourselves in a spot of bother tomorrow.

As it happens I dont think that will be the case because I don't think there is enough time for them to set us a total. So just the draw or England win the likely outcomes. With the latter being the most likely in my opinion.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well the pitch was designed for a draw but I still reckon a result is more likely with these two batting lineups.

 

[swacker]

What do you make of the pitch, barmyarmy?

There's clearly turn, but I don't see puffs of dust the way there was in Galle on day three.

 

[barmyarmy]

Some and turning and bouncing and there's obviously some variable bounce for the seamers but it's basically a batters' pitch.

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Bowled Swanny. Can't see Patel getting anyone out today...

 

[Sedition]

I was envisioning a long stand between Jaya and Sanga to save the match, but that lasted all of 21 runs. Pretty close to game over unless Jaya makes a big hundred. As much as seeing England lose 5 in a row would have me salivating for the Ashes, I don't mind Sri Lanka extending their streak of not winning a series aswell.

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Pietersen just pulled out of a delivery, better dock him 5 runs for time wasting.

 

[Owzat]

Too early to write Sri Lanka out of the equation, one of the four down is a tailender so it is effectively three batsmen out and a deficit of 46 runs with two very dangerous batsmen at the crease and Mathews and the other Jayawardene to come, both comfortably capable of scoring 30+ runs.

Key may lay in Mahela, if England can get him out before they get 50-75 ahead then I'd back England to win, if not then I can see the England players being more worried about what he might do, and how many they might face, than the fact that the Sri Lankans are only 50-75 ahead. While Panesar may have done little in the 1st Test you can't help but wonder if he mightn't have come into his own this innings.

As for it being a batting track, not so convinced myself. Looks a good cricket pitch to me, good players can get in and get runs while bowlers aren't just serving up the four balls. If it were a good batting track then scoring would be a lot easier. Take away Pietersen's knock and you've got 309 runs off 703 balls at 2.64 rpo to go with Sri Lanka's two rpo rates of 2.47 and 2.48.............................

What would England's total have been if Pietersen had not been in the side and played well? After Trott fell the score was 253/3, with Bell he added 94 of which Bell made just 18, and 33 with Prior who made 11 and 31 with Patel before he himself fell at 411/6. Assume maybe a reasonable 50 from his replacement and you're 100 runs shy of what England made

 

[Paki007]

Batting of 2 sessions tomorrow by SL, can draw this Game.If Eng could get them out within the 40-50 overs of day 5,they'll have a chance to chase the target but atm Jayawardene is the biggest threat for them

 

[Haarithan]

Graeme Swann.