England v Sri Lanka, Test Series (June 2014)
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ParkedTheBus
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Things are now getting interesting.. If Sri Lanka win this match, it will have a huge impact on the India series, as the Three Lions will be really down psychologically, which will give India the opportunity to attack.
abhi_jacko
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Wow Prasad is destroying any hopes of a spectacular England chase
IceAgeComing
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Hahaha this is typical England
e: and typical Billy
e: and typical Billy
Really poor from Root with his reaction. He's got his review, so he's not going to be given out, so there's no need to give some attitude over it.
I'd be surprised if we get with 150 of this. For all the talk about pitches that do something, it's our batsmen who seem to struggle the most.
I'd be surprised if we get with 150 of this. For all the talk about pitches that do something, it's our batsmen who seem to struggle the most.
IceAgeComing
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Since the day is over; probably should post my thoughts. This series isn't a total loss for England: Plunkett was one wicket away from a five-for and seemed to be the only decent bowler during that second innings. I still like Chris Jordan (but I'm a little biased) but they perhaps should look at another option. England should have bowled Moenn Ali more; especially since this seems to be a spinning pitch and he's literally the only England spinner that can spin it both ways. It just looked like England didn't know what to do: they couldn't pitch the ball up since it'd end up as a half-volley, but the short stuff wasn't very challenging.
What should happen? The only batsman who hasn't provided anything of note to England is Cook: you had Root's double-century; Ballance and Robson have both scored Centuries and Bell and Prior have had decent scores as well. Ali needs to look somewhat good in this innings: especially if England want to try to save the game. I'd personally try to convince Cook to go back to Kent and get some runs: and not play him in the first few games of the India series. Find a relatively experienced opener to go alongside Robson: I'm not convinced about Ali so I'd go with a Carberry or even back to Compton. You need someone who has a few international games and a history of first class cricket rather than someone with less experience. The other batsman - Ballance/Bell/Root/Prior did well in the first test and you can't drop them all for the second test collapse. Really, it depends about Stokes being fit. If he is then England should play Broad/Anderson/Plunkett and a dedicated Spinner, since I feel that would be a more well-rounded bowling attack than either five seamers + Moeen or playing one of Stokes or Ali at eight. If he isn't then they are a bit stuck: they either have to try out Woakes with a dedicated spinner or pick Moeen and actually trust him to bowl a fair few overs. As to who that spinner is; I'm not sure... Unless Tredwell finds something remarkable in his month at Hove then it can't be him: Monty is probably the safe choice and then you have Kerrigan... Unless Monty does something stupid again then I'd imagine that he's the one they'd have to turn to; but that seems to be asking a bunch... Pretty much, it looks like England are screwed; but they are playing India at home so it could be much worse for them!
As for captain: I'd imagine that if they temporarily got rid of Cook they'd go to Prior especially since he's definitely going to be in the team: past that then I can't think of anything...
What should happen? The only batsman who hasn't provided anything of note to England is Cook: you had Root's double-century; Ballance and Robson have both scored Centuries and Bell and Prior have had decent scores as well. Ali needs to look somewhat good in this innings: especially if England want to try to save the game. I'd personally try to convince Cook to go back to Kent and get some runs: and not play him in the first few games of the India series. Find a relatively experienced opener to go alongside Robson: I'm not convinced about Ali so I'd go with a Carberry or even back to Compton. You need someone who has a few international games and a history of first class cricket rather than someone with less experience. The other batsman - Ballance/Bell/Root/Prior did well in the first test and you can't drop them all for the second test collapse. Really, it depends about Stokes being fit. If he is then England should play Broad/Anderson/Plunkett and a dedicated Spinner, since I feel that would be a more well-rounded bowling attack than either five seamers + Moeen or playing one of Stokes or Ali at eight. If he isn't then they are a bit stuck: they either have to try out Woakes with a dedicated spinner or pick Moeen and actually trust him to bowl a fair few overs. As to who that spinner is; I'm not sure... Unless Tredwell finds something remarkable in his month at Hove then it can't be him: Monty is probably the safe choice and then you have Kerrigan... Unless Monty does something stupid again then I'd imagine that he's the one they'd have to turn to; but that seems to be asking a bunch... Pretty much, it looks like England are screwed; but they are playing India at home so it could be much worse for them!
As for captain: I'd imagine that if they temporarily got rid of Cook they'd go to Prior especially since he's definitely going to be in the team: past that then I can't think of anything...
Hard to know what to do with this England team really. Sri Lanka are a decent side but a home defeat to them is embarrassing in my view.
A lot of people blaming the batting but, not for the first time in the last 18 months, England's bowlers have let the tail wag big time. Broad and Anderson still look potent at times with the new ball. Particularly in English conditions. However they look broken once the ball gets old. Don't think either of them can be fit. Age seems to be catching up with Jimmy. His fielding is dreadful these days. I like the look of both Plunkett and Jordan and I think selectors should definitely keep them in and around the side. Problem with county cricket is that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of quality fast bowlers coming through, so for the moment I think we'll have to stick with same seam attack. One possible thing we could do is bring Stokes back in at 6 and play a 'proper spinner'.Is there anyone better than Moeen out there? Haven't seen much of Patel or Riley. Kerrigan is having a quiet season and Monty is finished as a test bowler in my opinion.
As far as batting is concerned, I think they've all done well apart from Cook. They can't drop him as they can't have 3 inexperienced players at 1 2 3, but they can take the burden of captaincy away from him. I have a feeling Root will be named as the new test skipper some time this week.
So team to play India
Cook
Robson
Ballance
Bell
Root*
Stokes
Prior +
Plunkett
Broad
Kerrigan/Ali/Tredwell
Anderson
A lot of people blaming the batting but, not for the first time in the last 18 months, England's bowlers have let the tail wag big time. Broad and Anderson still look potent at times with the new ball. Particularly in English conditions. However they look broken once the ball gets old. Don't think either of them can be fit. Age seems to be catching up with Jimmy. His fielding is dreadful these days. I like the look of both Plunkett and Jordan and I think selectors should definitely keep them in and around the side. Problem with county cricket is that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of quality fast bowlers coming through, so for the moment I think we'll have to stick with same seam attack. One possible thing we could do is bring Stokes back in at 6 and play a 'proper spinner'.Is there anyone better than Moeen out there? Haven't seen much of Patel or Riley. Kerrigan is having a quiet season and Monty is finished as a test bowler in my opinion.
As far as batting is concerned, I think they've all done well apart from Cook. They can't drop him as they can't have 3 inexperienced players at 1 2 3, but they can take the burden of captaincy away from him. I have a feeling Root will be named as the new test skipper some time this week.
So team to play India
Cook
Robson
Ballance
Bell
Root*
Stokes
Prior +
Plunkett
Broad
Kerrigan/Ali/Tredwell
Anderson
Broad is poor as an opening bowler for me. Not because he doesn't have the ability, because he does, but he's just not got it mentally. He bowls far too short. It's no coincidence that his best spells (either with a new or old ball) are when he pitches it nice and full and uses a bit of movement along with the bounce due to his height. He's not quick enough to bowl bouncers like they're trying to get Plunkett to do. Someone needs to sit him down and sort his head out. He's wasting his talent at the moment. He's a decent Test bowler, when he could be a very good Test bowler.
I think there are a few bowlers around who could do a job, but the England team doesn't help themselves when they take people like Finn around the world without playing him. It's mismanagement for me and guys like Finn are then struggling because of it.
Regarding our Test side, it's hard to drop any of the batsmen, even though I don't think the order is quite right. For me, we lack a spinner. Someone to just get some turn and see what happens. I think Ali did well, but he's just not a specialist bowler. He'd be a great second spinner though.
I think there are a few bowlers around who could do a job, but the England team doesn't help themselves when they take people like Finn around the world without playing him. It's mismanagement for me and guys like Finn are then struggling because of it.
Regarding our Test side, it's hard to drop any of the batsmen, even though I don't think the order is quite right. For me, we lack a spinner. Someone to just get some turn and see what happens. I think Ali did well, but he's just not a specialist bowler. He'd be a great second spinner though.
I'm not as pessimistic as you are, but then again we recently lost a Test series in NZ and prior to that in SA with this current side.
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And let's not beat around the bush, SL got wrecked in AUS in their last Test series vs them, wrecked vs ENG in ENG, closer vs SA in SA, but it involved their 1st Test win in that country ever, so using IND's recent failures in those countries to put down their chances I don't think is fair, if IND bring it like SL have, it will be close like we've seen it being the case with ENG and SL.
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DLLLLLDL - England's last 8 tests.
Over the years, I've gone through supporting the likes of Roy Hodgson's Liverpool, but trust me, this feels worse. Sri Lanka have just come to England's own backyard and mugged them off in all three formats. Hope Cook's a goner after this test match.
Over the years, I've gone through supporting the likes of Roy Hodgson's Liverpool, but trust me, this feels worse. Sri Lanka have just come to England's own backyard and mugged them off in all three formats. Hope Cook's a goner after this test match.
It's not about being pessimistic, it is the recent record of India that made me say that. Of course I want India to win but looking at their recent form, it just does not look possible. Sri Lanka did well because they played as a team. I haven't seen India play as a team since champions trophy 2013. It will require a really solid team effort if India wants to win the test series.
used2bcool
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Fret not, English fans. The solution to all your cricketing problems landed in your country just yesterday. Its effects on your cricketers can be witnessed starting July 9th!
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