England in Sri Lanka

[MUFC1987]

I can't believe we left Harmison out. Sidebottom may be great at bowling on off stump, but that doesn't cause great batsmen problems. As shown today, it was only a good catch that got him a wicket, but luckily Hoggard and Panesar pulled us out of any potential trouble. I think we can do well with the bat, once we see off this new ball, it will be down to how we play Murali, but I'm optimistic about that. Our batting lineup is mostly experienced with just Bopara as the only one who won't have faced much like it.

Panesar in our second innings will be key, particularly how well he exploits the rough. I fear we'll regret leaving out Harmison though.

 

[RoboRocks]

I can't believe we left Harmison out. Sidebottom may be great at bowling on off stump, but that doesn't cause great batsmen problems. As shown today, it was only a good catch that got him a wicket, but luckily Hoggard and Panesar pulled us out of any potential trouble. I think we can do well with the bat, once we see off this new ball, it will be down to how we play Murali, but I'm optimistic about that. Our batting lineup is mostly experienced with just Bopara as the only one who won't have faced much like it.

Panesar in our second innings will be key, particularly how well he exploits the rough. I fear we'll regret leaving out Harmison though.

Its been said he would be a risk and Anderson has bowled well without the figures to show sicne he was able to keep Sangakarra down at one end so Matthew Hoggard got to bowl at the new batsmen.

I think the worry is although it sounds strange is Kevin Pietersen becuase he likes to go hard at the ball which has bee the downfall of the batsmen yesterday.

 

[w3lshrugby]

Murali is on 708 now...equal with Warney.
Oh crap - it's raining!

 

[Slowcoach]

Michael Vaughan's comment before the series about planning to "target Sri Lanka" shows what an intelligent captain he is, Geoff Boycott is right, Vaughan is the best.
Shows how stupid past captains who toured Sri Lanka with the plan to "target Bangladesh" were.

 

[Sureshot]

I can't believe we left Harmison out. Sidebottom may be great at bowling on off stump, but that doesn't cause great batsmen problems. As shown today, it was only a good catch that got him a wicket, but luckily Hoggard and Panesar pulled us out of any potential trouble. I think we can do well with the bat, once we see off this new ball, it will be down to how we play Murali, but I'm optimistic about that. Our batting lineup is mostly experienced with just Bopara as the only one who won't have faced much like it.

Panesar in our second innings will be key, particularly how well he exploits the rough. I fear we'll regret leaving out Harmison though.

What's bad about leaving out an unfit, injury prone and out of form bowler?

I feel that's our lot for the day today, Bell was very good and KP looked alright. Need to scrape as many runs as possible, anything would be good, 40/50.

 

[mattfb]

That was a good innings by Bell. Nice stuff.

Murali is equal with Warney :S

 

[wolf]

186-6, slightly disappointing there. I would take it is someone said we would get 40-50 more runs. I can't remember Colly ever batting with the tail so we will have to see how that pans out.

 

[evertonfan]

The last time Monty batted against Murali he got 26 and twatted him for an almighty 6. Easy.

 

[sohum]

Murali just one ball away from a world record.

 

[barmyarmy]

What do we do to our wicketkeepers? They come into the team full of confidence then 6 games later they can't buy a run.
I think batting fourth against Murali we need a lead of minimum 50 and then be chasing no more than 150.

 

[Kev]

What do we do to our wicketkeepers? They come into the team full of confidence then 6 games later they can't buy a run.

We give them 6 games and then start moaning about them. Putting them under immense pressure, so its no wonder they fail. Everyone gets ducks nobody seems bothered if an opener gets one, they just say "Oh well, new ball and all, he'll be ok next time" but woe betide a wicketkeeper should bag one, he'll be out on his ass.

 

[aussie_ben91]

I'm sure Warney would've loved playing on these sort of pitches throughout the main coarse of his career. Murali's already taken the same ammount of wickets in this game as he did in the entire series back in Australia.

I can't believe we left Harmison out. Sidebottom may be great at bowling on off stump, but that doesn't cause great batsmen problems. As shown today, it was only a good catch that got him a wicket, but luckily Hoggard and Panesar pulled us out of any potential trouble. I think we can do well with the bat, once we see off this new ball, it will be down to how we play Murali, but I'm optimistic about that. Our batting lineup is mostly experienced with just Bopara as the only one who won't have faced much like it.

Sachin Tendulkar?

 

[evertonfan]

Oh no, I hope this thread doesn't turn into another 'Omg Murali is teh uBer cheat!!!!!!1!!' debate.

 

[RoboRocks]

Oh no, I hope this thread doesn't turn into another 'Omg Murali is teh uBer cheat!!!!!!1!!' debate.

No, lets not start that.

Not a disaster for England since Collingwood is still there and England can get a lead for the bowlers to bowl to and Panesar will probably lick his lips on this pitch on day 4-5.

 

[evertonfan]

I wasn't starting anything!

For some reason, I don't see Panesar having the same kind of impact on the pitch. Maybe it's my inner pessimism or my knowledge of the fact that we lack killer instict, but I can see us throwing this game away tomorrow.

But I digress, Collingwood will score a hundred and we'll bowl them out for 150 again.