England tour of Sri Lanka 2021

[wasteyouryouth]

1st Test, Galle, Jan 14 - Jan 18 2021
2nd Test, Galle, Jan 22 - Jan 26 2021

The Return of the King

 

[Ed Smith]

Can't wait to see the Ginger one back

 

[Aislabie]

Hadn't realised there wasn't a thread for this series yet. Probably explains why I started talking about it in the England-India thread though

So without further ado, can we please have a moment to appreciate how cock-eyed the selection is for this series?
One match after Zak Crawley establishes himself and makes the number three position his own, we'll make him open
Jonny Bairstow's last 10 Tests before he got dropped brought him brought him 334 runs @ 18.55 with a best of 52. Let's bring him back at number three.
On guaranteed spinning wickets where you will use at least three spinners every innings, pick the keeper who's missed 100% of his Test stumping chances.
Speaking of spinners, why is Mason Crane in Sri Lanka? Hopefully he won't get used, but still
Ben Foakes isn't the incumbent Test keeper. Still. Somehow.
Sam Curran is going to play because Bess and Leach at seven and eight would be madness. Rather than, you know, picking another batsman.
Looks like Ollie Pope is going to miss out for some reason.

Just out of players who are out there:

Likely XI		My XI
Dom Sibley	1	Dom Sibley
Zak Crawley	2	James Bracey
Jonny Bairstow	3	Zak Crawley
Joe Root	4	Joe Root
Dan Lawrence	5	Ollie Pope
Jos Buttler	6	Dan Lawrence
Sam Curran	7	Ben Foakes
Dom Bess	8	Dom Bess
Jack Leach	9	Jack Leach
Mark Wood	10	Mark Wood
Stuart Broad	11	Stuart Broad

I don't think it's very controversial to (a) pick an opener to replace an opener, (b) pick a batsman to strengthen the batting or (c) pick the best available keeper

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Pope isn't 100%. He only batted in the warm up and didn't field.

 

[CerealKiller]

One match after Zak Crawley establishes himself and makes the number three position his own, we'll make him open

It was against Pakistan, so forgive me if i hesitate to say that he’s settled. Same for Buttler, with regard to him having escaped his slump with the bat.

Are you a newbie/out of form/making a comeback/part-time bowler? If yes, Pakistan is the perfect opposition. Just ask Duanne Olivier, Paul Harris, Nathan Hauritz, Marcus North, Will Somerville and so many more.

Sam Curran is going to play because Bess and Leach at seven and eight would be madness. Rather than, you know, picking another batsman.

Moeen would’ve been handy at 7, especially in Galle.

Ben Foakes isn't the incumbent Test keeper. Still. Somehow.

Inexplicably.

 

[Yash.]

Ben Foakes isn't the incumbent Test keeper. Still. Somehow.

Even after being the Player Of the Series last time England came to Sri Lanka, where he saved them twice from low innings totals (I think)

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By the way, Rory Burns hasn't still recovered from his injury?

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Even after being the Player Of the Series last time England came to Sri Lanka, where he saved them twice from low innings totals (I think)

Post automatically merged: Jan 14, 2021

By the way, Rory Burns hasn't still recovered from his injury?

Burns is on paternity leave.

Post automatically merged: Jan 14, 2021

Looks like a good morning for England.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Shanaka caught Buttler (via Bairstow's heel) b Bess. Pure Cricket 19.

 

[Short Leg Cricket]

Bess collecting polls with 3 gifted and 1 genuine good ball whilst Leach toils away for 15 overs for 1! Don’t you just love test cricket!!

As I write this Leachy collects a run out!!

 

[CerealKiller]

It’s Galle, so England could be bowled out for 57, in the fourth innings, chasing 72

 

[Short Leg Cricket]

5 fer for Bess good on the lad! Last two wickets were superb deliveries and he’ll take the other three. Leachy was fantastic in a holding role whilst Broad did a great job at the top with some tidy stuff from Curran and Wood. Got to feel like England have got to really hammer home this advantage!

 

[CerealKiller]

But Sri Lanka don’t have Herath anymore.

It’s Galle, so England could be bowled out for 57, in the fourth innings, chasing 72

 

[Bevab]

Yeah Sri Lanka, a guy who is good for nothing more than being a meatshield after 30 odd tests and the bloke who collects 4 ducks in a row are good enough for your side but not the one batsman who averages close to 70 on the biggest domestic minefields in Asia.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

So wanted to place a bet on England. Nothing on sports book.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Yeah Sri Lanka, a guy who is good for nothing more than being a meatshield after 30 odd tests and the bloke who collects 4 ducks in a row are good enough for your side but not the one batsman who averages close to 70 on the biggest domestic minefields in Asia.

4 ducks in a row for a batsman - that must be some kind of record, certainly close.