England in Sri Lanka

[Leicester Fox]

He was injured for the Sri Lanka series if that is what you're referring too.

oh didn't know that. Good batting from England today, I would have likedto see Colly up the rate but we've got a lead mainly thanks to sidebums good batting early on. Great to see Murali get that wicket and now hopefully we can get some early wickets. Finished up with a lead of 93. Get early wickets now and we can win this if Monty bowls well.

 

[nuffa]

hope our batsmen perform more in the 2nd innings.. else they might ruin murali's awesome performance

 

[Dare]

they need a solid start from the openers, they havent put up a good partnership since the end of the bangladesh sereis.

 

[RoboRocks]

England's long tail were brilliant there Sidebottom has quite a few runs now.

But of swing with the new ball but Sidebottom was a bit wayward in that over but if you keep the ball in the right area with this new ball wickets do come as Matthew Hoggard proved in the first innings.

 

[SciD]

Congrats Murli for your record and now this is the only record in books that will never be broken.
But still gr8 shown by man as he is very humble man.

 

[Leicester Fox]

Dissapointed with Englands bowling, Sidebottom was wicketless Monty should have got some wickets and Anderson was expensive. Pietersens injurys ok for him to bat which is good news, the wicket before the end of the day could prove crucial though because if we get early wickets tomorrow we can still win considering it's oly day 4. Really don't want to be chasing anything past 250 and atm their effectively 74-2 if you see what I mean so we definitely could win this but murali on the 4th and 5th days will be really difficult.

 

[King Pietersen]

Sidebottom doesnt look dangerous on these wickets, at all. He either bowls it too far outside the off stump which can be easily left, or bowls too straight, which is a recipe for disaster against the likes of Jayasuriya and Sangakarra. I'd definetly play Harmy in the next test, unless Sidey goes on to get a 5fer in this innings . Sidebottom looks ineffective without swing on his side imo. Hoggy bowled brilliantly again today though, even with his lower back problem. I still think England can win the test, the late wicket of Vandort really helped, but we need a few early scalps tommorow morning. Murali's going to be very very dangerous when we bat though, i think anything over 200 is going to be very hard to get.

 

[evertonfan]

Why does Jayasuriya always save his best for us? Shame he's retired, did not see that one coming.

 

[Vcassano]

Why does Jayasuriya always save his best for us? Shame he's retired, did not see that one coming.

Really? It has been all over cricinfo for the last wekk.

 

[FreddieFan]

Congrats Murli for your record and now this is the only record in books that will never be broken.

Nah, the record will go. IMO there are only 2 that won't: Bradman's Test batting average and Laker's Test Match figures.

 

[evertonfan]

Really? It has been all over cricinfo for the last wekk.

I very rarely visit that site these days. I really had no idea.

 

[kookaburra69]

Dam i was hoping England would have bowled a bit better on day 3!
I put $5 on England to win this game

 

[Sureshot]

If Hoggard wasn't playing, I'd be all for him being given a go, but he's too similar or a very poor mans Hoggard. What has Sidebottom actually done to prove his class? Knocked over the West Indies at Headingley in April/May which are normally very bowler friendly and then one innings against India. I'm not just saying Harmison, I think he's the best option in that squad, but I think we'll miss a tall bowler a la Tremlett if not Harmison in this series. Sidebottom will not run through sides like Sri Lanka away from home. In New Zealand, he'll probably do well, but not the here and now.

Sidebottom proved in September/October that he can do it in Sri Lanka, albeit in a different format he bowled excellently. I can see why people don't want all 3 of Hoggy, Sidebottom and Anderson, I see no reason why Hoggy and Sidebottom can't open the bowling together, Anderson still doesn't look quite right though imo. Harmison has too many questions against his name to play him at this moment in time. I thought Tremlett did alright in the Tests vs India, but his ODI performances seem to hamper his test chances, maybe that's more to do with Broad's rise through the ranks.

Tomorrow will be a big day, without stating the obvious, I'll try and get up for 6, maybe a bit before. Important catch by Bell off of Jimmy, Monty is important tomorrow too. This pitch is weird, it looks better for spinners but worse for seamers, and will improve/degrade for each as the game progresses.

 

[nuffa]

sanga going strong... a lead around 250 - 300 would seal the game for us :happy

 

[Leicester Fox]

Anderson and Hoggy have made a pretty poor start to the day, when your first ball goes for 4 it doesn't eactly send out a message of your intent, time for Monty now