England in Sri Lanka

[Sureshot]

Nor is Bopara (at least for the start). I'd never bat Flintoff as high as five or Shah as lowe as seven in either case.

 

[Animator!]

Wright has a poor domestic bowling average and I'm yet to see anything in him that inspires enough confidence to say he could do a job atm. I admit he could improve as he does have a lot of potential in his bowling, but I just see Collingwood bowling more on the slow, low subcontinental wickets it's medium pacers who can really tie things down, rather than a guy bowling high eighties.

 

[Sureshot]

He has that 4-ball problem that many young bowlers have, I'd try and ween him in a bit if he does play. I don't mind using Colly a lot, he's a very under-rated bowler who rarely let's us down in ODIs.

 

[legspinner@fred]

The only huge cock up i've seen Colly make with the ball was against the West Indies in WI, in 2004, it was a 30 over game...he bowled 1 over, 0-17, and, however, Trescothick bowled 3 overs, 0-9...

 

[Animator!]

Colly will suit Sri Lankan wickets so I imagine he and Mascharehas could well get through 20 overs each a game. They'll be hard to get away on slow, low wicket, where the ball doesnt come on.

 

[Norbert]

Duram glovesman Phil Mustard got called up for the one dayers: (prior fractured his thumb) does anyone know anything about him?

 

[Sureshot]

He's been compared to Gilchrist by Warne, he's a LHB batsman who will almost certainly open, he's been (I think) the most succesful OD batsman in county cricket this season with something like 900 runs and he's a good solid keeper.

---

Given that England have a practice match tomorrow I think it's high time this was moved to CT&E

I miss the 1st and 2nd ODIs. I take it we haven't got any terrestrial highlights?

 

[wolf]

Our warm-up match starts at 5:30am...darn.

And Murali is out for the first 3 ODI's. YES!

 

[dikon]

Our warm-up match starts at 5:30am...darn.

And Murali is out for the first 3 ODI's. YES!

Could be all over by then!

On a serious note i think this is winnable without Murali they lack the x factor as do England with Flintoff so should be close and maybe we can pull it off if we can adapt to the conditions well.

 

[karnog]

While you all may bag flintoff but i believe his success in bowling is England's best chance. Restrict Sri Lanka through batting and without Murali they might struggle. With Ando, Sidebottom, Broad and even Tremlett (i dont see much success for monty) as the side acts England have a great shot. Shah bats way down and i think Pieterson needs some balls and go into the number 3 spot with Bell at 4 and colly 5. The latter two are England's batting crux (ok fine, so is pieterson) Personally:
Cook
Mustard
Pieterson
Bell
Collingwood
Shah
Bopara
Flintoff
Broad/Tremlett/ Monty
Sidebottom/Tremlett/ Monty
Anderson

EDIT: A yes forgot about flintoff. Hmm Mascaranius or Luke wright are options.

 

[wolf]

Flintoff is not in the ODI squad karnog. He is injured or resting, I forget.

We are murdering the Sri Lanka Cricket X1. Won the toss, batting first, we are on 260-3 off 45. Cook got 66, Mustard (interestingly opening) got 17, Pietersen 50 off 29, Bopara on 20no and Bell on 99no.

EDIT: Hundred for Bell!

 

[Chimp132]

great result 2day, gotta rember it was against a weak side though ? but looks like englands batsman have adapted well to the sri lanka tracks

gotta go for the 7 - 0 win against srilanka ......

 

[gary0808]

Team

Cook
Mustard
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Shah
Mascarenhas
Broad
Anderson
Panesar

 

[wolf]

Shah should be ahead of Bopara in the batting order. I feel we really need 4 front line bowlers. I wish Flintoff was there, he gives us so much more balance.

 

[RoboRocks]

Team

Cook
Mustard
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Shah
Mascarenhas
Broad
Anderson
Panesar

Thats what they'll choose I think.
We'll need some overs from Colly and Ravi though.
It'll be interesting to see how Mustard gets on after his good season and all the hype there is about being described as "the next Adam Gilchrist".
However I would like to see Greame Swann in as the second spinner so I would hope he fits in somewhere.

Does anybody know when the test squad is announced?