Sri Lanka in England 2011

[Papa_Smurf]

Well put War. Totally agree.

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Back on topic for the series, who's going to be Colly's replacement? I thought it would be Morgan, but what about the fifth bowler?

 

[War]

Well put War. Totally agree.

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Back on topic for the series, who's going to be Colly's replacement? I thought it would be Morgan, but what about the fifth bowler?

Ravi Bopara runs into form as England eye him to replace Paul Collingwood - Telegraph

Most in media are making it sound like its a done deal that Bopara will replace Colly because he can bowl. But i have my reservations abt Bopara TBH, i think pick Morgan or Hildreth.

But then again i guess i dont mind if they pick Bopara for SRI (since i sort of see the SRI series as preparation for the tests vs IND) - see how he goes & if he then fails one can always go back to Morgan or Hildreth (depending on county form) for IND.

 

[6ry4nj]

IPL is Indian Premier League!! It's part of Indian Domestic Structure with it being the T20 competition.

You know as well as I do (weller probably) that the Ranji teams play a T20 competition (I suppose I have to lookup the name of the damn thing again). The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the Indian domestic T20 comp. Whoever used the phrase 'private league' has a good idea of what the IPL is. IPLs come and go. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be what's still there when the IPL owners are all bankrupt and the IPL is merely an uncomfortable memory.

I have made it clear that I have no problem with players taking the IPL cash even over national 'obligations'. I have also made it clear that I have a problem with whoever schedules internationals to clash with the IPL. I see the IPL as a great source of untold wealth for cricketers, and thus albeit very indirectly for their countries. Nothing more! To call it THE (or even 'a') domestic Indian T20 comp is almost certainly deliberate 'disinformation'.

 

[Lassana Dias]

Totally with a papa and war here, its all about what’s right and wrong, just because its BCCI you cant say its not their problem. For me it warriors turning in to hired killers. Wonder how Indian fans would take it, when a top player says he can’t play for India because he is too busy making money at a domestic club in some other country!!! will Indians respect the players choice ???? highly unlikely don’t you think?

 

[simsanta123]

How good is Bopara's bowling? I though Collingwood was pretty decent as a bowler, not sure about Bopara.

 

[Themer]

Bopara is a better bowler than Collingwood as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

Yeah, I think the best choice would be Bopara for the SL series. Would be a good indicator before the Ind series.

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Might be tempted to rest Trott and play both Morgan and Bopara for comparison's sakes.

 

[cricket_icon]

I jus want to make a simple point. I don't care what clubs, players or countries are involved there should never be a club v country argument in the first place. country always comes first. For example, I don't care if it is Australia playing Canada, every Australian player should be up for selection, if some are decided to be rested, then fine they can go play in the IPL, but no player should be leaving behind national selection for a domestic league .

 

[Lassana Dias]

I jus want to make a simple point. I don't care what clubs, players or countries are involved there should never be a club v country argument in the first place. country always comes first. For example, I don't care if it is Australia playing Canada, every Australian player should be up for selection, if some are decided to be rested, then fine they can go play in the IPL, but no player should be leaving behind national selection for a domestic league .

its all about ,money mate, and we are not talking about poor people anyway!!! as far as i can see IPL is most likely will be the end of cricket as people know it!!! its sad to be honest

 

[Ollie_H]

Really hope the selectors pick a youthful in form side for the Lions game against Sri Lanka. As a biased Surrey fan I'd love to see Dernbach and Meaks getting a go on the bowling side of things aswel as Woakes and Gashid. Maybe it would also be a good time to see how Onions is holding up and try him out.

On the batting side of things, I think both Morgan and Bopara should play as a duel to see who gets that new test spot.


My ideal Lions side for the game would be;

1. Steven Davies
2. Craig Keiswetter
3. Ravi Bopara
4. Andrew Gale
5. James Taylor
6. Eoin Morgan
7. Chris Woakes
8. Adil Rashid
9. Stuart Meaker
10. Jade Dernbach
11. Graeme Onions

You gotta love the Surrey bias. But in my opinion that's a pretty strong side that would fair pretty well. Gale has captain, I'm sure he has captained the Lions side before on tours and then take your pick between Davies or Keiswetter as the keeper. That's a fairly good form side too.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

Wouldn't it make more sense to play Morgan at 5? Will also help with comparing him to Bopara for Colly's spot.

 

[cricket_icon]

Wouldn't it make more sense to play Morgan at 5? Will also help with comparing him to Bopara for Colly's spot.

yep i agree with that too. morgan at 5 but other than that a very solid team. would also love to see rashid get a try in test cricket at some point soon.

 

[Ollie_H]

Lions squad for the game vs Sri Lanka:
James Hildreth (Somerset)
Jimmy Adams (Hampshire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Danny Briggs (Hampshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Jade Dernbach (Surrey)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire)
James Taylor (Leicestershire)

That's a very very solid Lions squad, looks like I got a fair few of the pics correct. Was going to barrack for Patel to be placed back in the England fold as the second spinner to Swan as he is just such an accomplished player and it had it not been for 'fitness issues' he would have been in the set up from a long long time ago.

 

[War]

Strong squad ye, but im not sure that Bairstow should have been picked ahead of Davies, given that Kieswetter is out injured.

Plus where is Adam Lyth?. Seems like they picked too many middle-order batsmen. Since only Adams is a specialists opener.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

As a biased Surrey fan I'd love to see Dernbach and Meaks getting a go on the bowling side of things aswel as Woakes and Gashid.

just making a mental note of this for later use. excellent freudian slip.