Story England: The New Breed! Kev Mead Called Up and Deputises as Skipper (ICC 06)

[usy]

oh No, anyway common guy!

 

[evertonfan]

Baines Completes Memorable Achievment​

Michael Slater: There it is! What a moment for the young lad! He's battled so hard there for this 100, and he really does look a good player.

Mark Nicholas: Well he looks a good boy doesn't he? This innings has been pure grit and determination, and he hasn't offered even a sniff of a chance to his opponents.​

Baines is over the moon at his memorable debut hundred.​

 

[evertonfan]

Mick and Baines Dismissed Before the Close​

Geraint Jones: Sri Lanka have bagged two wickets before the close, and it is the spinners who have payed dividends for Sri Lanka.

Dean Jones: Indeed, first up, Samaraweera claimed the wicket of Mad Mick as he edged to Tharanga, and then Murali finally ended Will Baines' long innings, as the Yorkshire opener also fell to a catch from Tharanga.

Mick hit a quickfire 23 but fell shortly afterwards.

Baines' brilliant innings comes to an end.

M Mick: c Tharanga b Samaraweera 23

W Baines: c Tharanga b Muralitharan 133​

 

[evertonfan]

Fan Finishes With A Flurry​

Geraint Jones: Well any normal batsman would shut up shop as the close of play approaches, but Fred Fan doesn't know the meaning of 'shut up shop'.

Dean Jones: You are absolutley right Geraint, he is one of the most attacking batsmen in world cricket, and Sri Lanka need to get him out quickly or they will have a big deficit in this game.

Fan smacks the ball to the boundary.

Another show of strength from the mighty England strokemaker.​

 

[evertonfan]

End Of Play Day 2​

Mark Nicholas: It's been a great day from an English perspective, as brilliant performances from debutant openers Will Baines and Shaun Briggs has led the way to a big innings lead for England. With two of the biggest hitters in the world at the crease tomorrow, Fred Fan and Jack Teague, Sri Lanka could be in for a lot of leather chasing. However, if the Sri Lankan bowlers can get rid of them quickly, they could get themselves right back in the match.​

End Of Play Scorecards:

Summary:

England First Innings, Batting Card:

England First Innings, Bowling Card:

Mark Nicholas: That about wraps it up for today's cricket, make sure you watch CrickNews tonight, oh and don't forget to tune in tomorrow for day 3; With Fred Fan and Jack Teague batting, you'd be a fool to miss it. Goodbye.​

 

[Briggsey]

Excellent stuff, nice to see both our knocks were quite quick for test standards, now all we need is Fred and Teague to hammer home our advantage!

 

[Simbazz]

Hello and welcome to CricNews, Im Simon Barrow, lets not waste time, lets delve straight into the game.

Sri Lanka were dismissed this morning within the first couple of hours, the tail did add 60 runs which took Sri Lanka?s innings from useless to useful.

When Baines and Briggs stepped out into the middle this morning they had a determined look on their faces. Briggs showed why he was opener for England by smashing three consecutive 4 right back behind the bowler. Baines looks content to just let the ball trickle into gaps and take the single. Baines looks to be one of these batsmen who as long as the scoreboard is ticking over he will not take any chances and just stay in.

Briggs had an up and down day today, he found himself on the way to his first international century, and instead found himself back in the dressing room four runs short of the three figure total.

Baines stuck in and did finally make his century with Sid in at the other end. Baines found his way through three different partners on his way to 133, with Sid falling at 16 and Mick falling at 23.

Baines fell just before the end of play, and allowed F.Fan and J.Teague to get there eyes in and try to see how they will fair on this cracking Lords pitch. Fan finished the day on 26* and Teague was 5*.

We caught up with Briggs at the end of the day to see what he thought of his performance,

?Yeah I think I did well to be honest, I found that everything I tried pulled off and I feel hard done by not to hit a century, but I?m not too bothered as Will kicked on and made his, so we have to be happy for him, I?m sure ill get mine either next innings or in the second test, I?m just glad I could contribute 96 runs to the score today.?

This shows how Roberts has installed maturity into this incredibly young team.

The one thing that Baines can take away from his superb innings is that he only lost his wicket to a world class spinner and one of the best bowlers in the world, alongside Shane Warne and Simon Barrow.

Before we go we have Matt Roberts in the studio and I have a few questions for him,

S.B ?English cricket really has got better since you played, well certainly since I?ve played also. What do you think this is because Matt??

M.R ?Well the success of the 2005 Ashes series played a big part I think; That series showed that cricket could rival football in terms of excitement, but I think the main reason for the popularity of English cricket is due to success. In the mid-nineties, no one would turn up to watch England because they would always get hammered, but nowadays, England perform well and win a lot, so when a team is winning, more people will watch?

S.B ?We see talented players more often these days, whereas 10 years ago, we saw one talented youngster a year, is this because of better scouting? Better training? Or just that more people are playing the game so its easier to get better players??

M.R "I think it's because of technology; these days every little part of a player's game can be analysed and perfected" "the coaching is also better, they understand the needs of the players and they are more willing to adapt"

S.B ?We even see tail enders these days hitting double centuries, is this because of better bats? Or just better all round games, see when you played you couldn?t hit a beach ball, but only this year we see Jason Gillespie hit 201* from night watchman.?

M.R "I think tail enders realise that they have to contribute with the bat; In my day, I was sent in to get out practically, but nowadays, players like Brett Lee try to score runs to win games or to set up big totals. Sometimes, tail enders can even save the batsmen?s blushes; If the top order collapses, sometimes the tail enders can put on a lot of runs with the wicket-keeper"

S.B ?One last question and ill let you go. This England team is incredibly young, do you believe if we play people young at the top level they will learn how to play top class bowlers and batsmen, and in turn be a top class player??

M.R "I think young players need to be cherished; If the talent is there at such a young age then they should be tried on the big stage, and as my two debut openers showed today, if you are good enough, you are old enough."

S.B ?Thanks Matt, good luck over the next few days.?

M.R "Thanks Simon, nice to see you enjoying life after Test cricket"

Thanks again for joining us today, and I will look forward to tomorrows play, join us then, for Me, Simon Barrow, and Matt and the rest of the team good night.

 

[evertonfan]

Haha! I love the Cricknews Simbazz! I also love my 542 Test match wickets!

 

[Pak_cricketer]

He spelled your name wrong

Go team Go!

 

[evertonfan]

He spelled your name wrong

So he did! Damn you Simbazz! Your fired!

 

[white rose]

I think the Yorkshire openers have really showed how its done!

Well batted Briggsey, shame you couldn't go on to get your ton.

can't believe I got 133, although i'd have liked it a bit quicker then off 216 balls, but a century is a century

 

[F4rrukh]

Great story until now Matt! bydaway that picture of yours looks as if you were slapped 20 times and then took the picture

 

[Skater]

I guess 2-52 on debut is good! My career best is 3-20 so I hope to beat that in the second innings!

 

[FreddieFan]

Good day for us, it'll be up to me and Teague to press home our advantage tomorrow. Good to see we're coping well with Murali!

 

[evertonfan]

Thanks for the comments guys; I'll update throughout the day as soon as the screenys are taken care of. Oh, and come on real England too!