Sri Lanka in England 2011

[cricket_icon]

flashes of the old KP in that innings but i agree, Cook is playing far too slow. I think another 20 quick runs after lunch and england should declare. weather permitting I see england pulling off a win...if they declare competitively that is.

 

[Haarithan]

I see england pulling off a win

"Lightning does not strike twice , my friend" - Russell Arnold

Imo , yeah I'm pretty confident we can repeat our Cardiff performance again , no Dilshan and a long tail , yea England can actually do it .

 

[Owzat]

I believe the lightning saying is a myth - and they have a weak middle order as highlighted in an earlier post of mine. Five batsmen, get 2-3 out early and then it's keeper Jayawardene, Maharoof and the tail.

Maybe KP should have deliberately run out Cook. I'd have been happier with my 150 runs scenario ahead of the slow eventuality.

Who knows, maybe Broad reads this site and may buck his ideas up like KP seems to have (for one innings anyway)

 

[Sureshot]

Think you're all being a bit harsh on Cook, I was always expecting them to declare a bit after Lunch, besides you're all presuming he wasn't told to play like that. All well and good getting ourselves 300+ in front, but this is Lord's, bowling a team out here for that in 60/65 overs won't be easy.

 

[barmyarmy]

Bell scoring pretty fast. Expecting a declaration once Cook reaches 100.

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ETA: or not...

 

[angryangy]

Dunno what they're waiting for.

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Maybe they've got some pies in the oven.

 

[Sureshot]

We need to declare, 330 in 60 overs? Strauss isn't declaring yet and I think we're going to 350.

 

[angryangy]

Ah, they want Bell to get his hundred again

 

[Haarithan]

And I'm just chanting my mantra , lets hope it works again.

C'mon England , you did it four times against pakistan last year , just do it one more time of dismissing the Lankans for a score less than 100 . I can but dream .

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/2125889-post240.html

 

[Sureshot]

Big wicket that is, still not confident of getting 7-8 more on this pitch.

 

[Harshshah]

34 overs 7 wickets... anything is possible

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I would also say that batting at 5 and over last 10 overs, so is it that they are trying for a win?

 

[lewissaffin]

Quite a dull session in the end; makes you appreciate how special Cardiff was.

 

[Sureshot]

Inevitable, not many Tests at Lord's finish anything other than a draw. Two decent batting sides with mis-firing bowling attacks and the conclusion was predictable.

Rose Bowl will help the bowlers. Jimmy has to play if fit, I'd drop Broad, but they'll drop Finn, he may scatter it, but when it gets it right he takes wickets.

 

[Harshshah]

I think Srilankan batting will face more problem now. Dilshan out means they need someone stable to open for them. They will also miss his quick scoring abilities. I used to trust Sanga, but he has proved to be a piece of ████. He has been out of soughts after the WC finals. I would get in Lahiru Thirimanne in place of Dilshan as he will give them a good combination of opening with Prasaana and him coming down the order. He even provides Right Arm Medium Fast so that could be handy at Southampton

 

[Themer]

I have a sneaking suspicion they're going to drop Broad. I'm an advocate of Broad but he simply hasn't produced the goods as desired and while for the most part of the last two years there weren't as many options other than to take the backward step of Hoggard or Harmison we've now got Finn, Onions, Dernbach (albeit I'm yet to be impressed), Bresnan and Shahzad who could slot straight in.

Personally would want Onions to get the gig as I don't believe we need to have more than one tall hit the pitch bowler.

Next test I'd go with:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Morgan
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Onions
Tremlett

Having dropped him from the team it should be noted that England's policy of not dropping players has been working such as for Strauss, Cook, and Bell (to a lesser extent).

On a slightly related discussion I find the talk of dropping Pietersen odd. 3 Test matches ago he scored a double century in the Ashes and since coming into the team has averaged over 40 in ever year of his Test career. The only people I see calling for him to be dropped are those who have long criticized him for the person he is.

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I used to trust Sanga, but he has proved to be a piece of ████

Yeah I wouldn't trust a man who averages 69 in the last year in tests either...