Story [ICC 2006] Coaching England

[Skater]

Lee Payne is the new coach of the England cricket team

Englishman Lee Payne has become the coach of the England cricket team today. The young man has never coached a team before and he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I am honoured to be accepting this opportunity. I have supported England all my life and to become the coach of them is a delight. I'm looking forward to the series against Sri Lanka," he said.

As quoted, Payne will be coach of England for the first time in an international match during the first test match against Sri Lanka at Lord's in North London. Surprisingly, the media have not criticised the appointment and seem to be very open-minded about it.

Vaughan welcomes Payne appointment

Captain Michael Vaughan has welcomed Lee Payne as coach of his country

Captain of the England cricket team, Michael Vaughan, has praised the England and Wales Cricket Board for appointing Lee Payne as coach. The Yorkshire Phoenix batsman said he has a 'good cricket brain'.

"Lee understands what needs to be done at crucial moments and has helped me to prepare for what may happen in the series against Sri Lanka. Normally I would be nervous but I am very relaxed ahead of the first test match, thanks to him," he said.

 

[treva]

looks great Skateboarder.
looking forward to the series

 

[Skater]

News

Sri Lanka hit top form ahead of first test match

Muttiah Muralitharan continued his dazzling form with excellent bowling figures

The Sri Lanka cricket team have hit top form ahead of the first test match against England at Lord's in North London by steam rolling the Combined Universities team in a three day friendly match.

Muttiah Muralitharan took figures of 3-10 and Chaminda Vaas took figures of 3-27 as the tourists bowled out the Combined Universities for just 80 runs in the first innings.

They were then 462 all out, young players Jehan Mubarak and Michael Vandort shining with scores of 125 and 111 respectively. Tilan Samaraweera also scored 105, but Kumar Sangakkara scored just 13, Upul Tharanga just 2 runs and captain Mahela Jayawardene just 3. For the Combined Universities, Radley took figures of 5-148 and Whitworth took figures of 3-117.

The Combined Universities were then 91 all out, Muttiah Muralitharan with 4-26 and Chaminda Vaas with 3-37 being the pick of the bowlers. Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 291 runs.

Sri Lanka then played another three day friendly match against county team Derbyshire and won by 149 runs, Mahela Jayawardene marked hs return to form with 81 in the first innings and Nuwan Kulasekara impressed with the ball with match figures of 6-91. Tillakaratne Dilshan scored an excellent unbeaten 109 in the second innings.

England selectors name squad for first test match

Ian Bell was not selected for the first test match with Alistair Cook taking his place

The England selectors have named the cricket squad for first test match against Sri Lanka at Lord's in North London. The twelve men are listed below.

1). Marcus Trescothick (Somerset Sabres) [vice captain]
2). Andrew Strauss (Middlesex Crusaders)
3). Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire Phoenix) [captain]
4). Alistair Cook (Essex Eagles)
5). Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire Hawks)
6). Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire Lightning)
7). Paul Collingwood (Durham Dynamos)
8). Geraint Jones (Kent Spitfires) [wicket keeper]
9). Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire Steelbacks)
10). Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire Phoenix)
11). Steve Harmison (Durham Dynamos)
12). Simon Jones (Glamorgan Dragons)

There are few surprises in the squad, but Warwickshire Bears players Ian Bell and Ashley Giles make way for Alistair Cook and Monty Panesar.

The coach, newly appointed Lee Payne, has told Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan, Alistair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones to practice their batting and Monty Panesar to practice his bowling, with Steve Harmison and Simon Jones to see a physio.

 

[treva]

loving the reports as if they are newspapers.
great stuff.
reps for you mate and can't wait for the 1st test.

 

[Yorkshire_No1]

Absolutely fantastic layout, keep it going mate because it's quality

 

[Skater]

News

Sri Lanka complete warm-up for first test match with perfect record

Kumar Sangakkara scored 98 not out in the second innings, but was denied of his century by his captain's declaration

The Sri Lanka cricket team have completed their warm-up for the first test match against England at Lord's in North London with a perfect record by beating another county team, Durham.

Batting first, Sri Lanka were 298 all out, Thilan Samaraweera scoring 76 and Tillakaratne Dilshan scoring 52 runs. Durham were then 167 all out, Nuwan Kulasekara and Muttiah Muralitharan taking figures of 3-35 and 3-49 respectively.

Sri Lanka then made 167-4 declared, England bowler Steve Harmsion taking figures of 2-27. Kumar Sangakkara scored an unbeaten 98, but was not able to score the two runs he needed for his century because of the captain's orders.

Paul Collingwood, who is tipped to appear in the first test match, scored 36 as Durham were 171 all out. Muttiah Muralitharan took figures of 4-41 and Chaminda Vaas took figures of 3-55 as Sri Lanka won the match by 127 runs.

 

[Left_Hander]

Nice layout and excellent presentation. Can't wait for it to get under way. It should be one of the best stories ICC going around here at Planet Cricket.

 

[faraz haider]

yes a great presentation mate, really love it.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Your a pretty young coach?

 

[ashu2411]

Good Luck. looks absolutely fantastic so far.

 

[Left_Hander]

Your a pretty young coach?

Yes he is considering he has never coached a cricket team before.

As I said before, I think this is going to be an excellent and very entertaning story Lee. Can't wait!

 

[Skater]

First test match, first day, lunch interval

Monty Panesar took the vital wicket of Kumar Sangakkara for 67 in the first session of the first day at Lord's in North London

The first test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's in North London has begun, with both teams selecting strong teams. Those teams are listed below.

England team
1). Marcus Trescothick [vice captain]
2). Andrew Strauss
3). Michael Vaughan [captain]
4). Alistair Cook
5). Kevin Pietersen
6). Andrew Flintoff
7). Paul Collingwood
8). Geraint Jones [wicket keeper]
9). Monty Panesar
10). Matthew Hoggard
11). Steve Harmison

Sri Lanka team
1). Kumar Sangakkara [wicket keeper] [vice captain]
2). Upul Tharanga
3). Mahela Jayawardene [captain]
4). Thilan Samaraweera
5). Tillakaratne Dilshan
6). Michael Vandort
7). Jehan Mubarak
8). Chaminda Vaas
9). Nuwan Kulasekara
10). Nuwan Zoysa
11). Muttiah Muralitharan

The pitch was good for batting, with even bounce, a fast outfield and very good light. It was poor for fast bowlers and spin bowlers only got slight turn. Little or no rain is forecast for the five days of the match, with mostly pleasent conditions expected.

At the coin toss, England called heads but it was tails, Sri Lanka elected to bat first, as expected. Opening bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were instructed to bowl full and from round the wicket to left handed batsmen, with a very aggressive field setting.

Kumar Sangakkara began to stroke for four with regularity whilst his partner was playing himself in. Steve Harmsion then complained of tiredness, so he was replaced by Andrew Flintoff, England's talismanic all round player.

One delivery from Matthew Hoggard completely deceived Upul Tharanga and he just tipped it down the close-in fielder Andrew Flintoff for the first wicket of the innings. Tharanga was out for 17 from 42 balls and Sri Lanka were 64-1.

Kumar Sangakkara continued his excellent form that he showcased in the warm-up against Durham to reach his half century in the first session from 74 balls.

Matthew Hoggard was then replaced by Monty Panesar, who failed to produce anything special in his first over. Sri Lanka brought up the one hundred with ten minutes remaining before the lunch interval.

Monty Panesar then found some turn to force Kumar Sangakkara, who was attempting to play the sweep shot, to edge the ball to Marcus Trescothick at slip. Sangakkara was out for 67 from 107 balls, just six minutes before the lunch interval.

Thilan Samaraweera then had time just to hit one four before the umpires removed the bails for the lunch interval. Sri Lanka were 108-2, with Monty Panesar taking figures of 1-15 and Matthew Hoggard taking figures of 1-29.

 

[Left_Hander]

Even stevens at the moment, I would say.

_________

300TH POST!! :happy

 

[Skater]

First test match, first day, tea interval

Mahela Jayawardene faced 137 balls for his 50 but was agonisingly bowled out by Matthew Hoggard in the last over before the tea interval

After the lunch interval on the first day of the first test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's in North London, the batsmen began to build a partnership and stroke the ball for four often.

The England bowlers continued with their very agressive mentality and eventually spin bowler Monty Panesar pitched a delivery full, forcing Thilan Samaraweera to clip the ball to Kevin Pietersen for 27 runs from 29 balls.

The tired Andrew Flintoff was replaced by part-time bowler Paul Collingwood, who still used the very agressive mentality. Then followed a rather dull period of play, before Monty Panesar trapped Tillakaratne Dilshan leg before wicket for 12 runs from 29 balls. Michael Vandort then survived a close appeal from Collingwood.

Monty Panesar was having a wonderful day, he found enough spin with one delivery to cause Michael Vandort to edge the ball to Marcus Trescothick at slip for just 8 runs from 22 balls.

Paul Collingwood was then replaced by Matthew Hoggard, England were obviously looking for more wickets before the tea interval. Hoggard found the outside edge of Jehan Mubarak's bat and the ball found its way to Marcus Trescothick at slip again for just 5 runs from 22 balls.

Quietly but effectively, the captain of Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene, reached his half century from 136 balls, having survived a leg before wicket appeal earlier on in his innings from Paul Collingwood.

As the tea interval drew nearer, Chaminda Vaas announced himself with a sweetly struck boundary. However, England picked up a wicket that could have sealed them the advantage. Mahela Jayawardene, who had worked so hard for his 50 from 137 balls, missed a straight delivery from Matthew Hoggard, only to hear the 'death rattle' of the ball on the stumps.

At the end of that very over, the umpires removed the bails from the stumps for the tea interval. The match had gone from being 'even stevens' to well in England's favour, and the wicket of Jayawardene just before the interval only confirmed that advantage. Sri Lanka were 198-7, Kumar Sangakkara with 67 and Jayawardene with 50 being the top scorers. Monty Panesar took figures of 4-68 and Matthew Hoggard took figures of 3-34.

 

[duffarama]

Keep up the great story Lee. You are doing a fantastic job.
It's been very enjoyable so far. The content and presentation have been excellent.