Sri Lanka in England 2011

[Ollie_H]

on the face of it, it does look like England should win this series but this is exactly, exactly, the type of attitude that saw sri lanka end up drawing 1-1 in 2006.

But the Sri Lankan side was a far better side back then. It's like the roles have been switched, England were in a sort of transition phase in 2006 where as this time it's Sri Lanka in the transition phase.

I mean in 2006, Englands pace attack was; Hoggard, Flintoff, Plunket, Mahmood/Lewis. With the batting line up; Tres, Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Collingwood. That is an absolutely horrible side that played with GoJo, Flintoff and Panesar making up the numbers.

Admittedly the batting was strong but the bowling unit was dire. I mean none of those 5 pace bowlers will ever get back in the England side. 2006 was a bad period of time for England, and continued through too the Ashes with the 5-0 hammering.

The team is FAR FAR stronger than what it was 5 years ago. That Ashes winning side, in 2005, might come close to the strength of this side but no way the 2006 side even gets close.

 

[Shaun Tait]

I think this series will be very close in tests but you have to think Sri Lanka will beat us in the One day series

 

[Ollie_H]

Didn't realise Australia were playing Sri Lanka?

 

[Shaun Tait]

Didn't realise Australia were playing Sri Lanka?

haha lol

 

[Lassana Dias]

its a good win! but for some reason Middlesex didnt play their best bowlers wonder why?

 

[angryangy]

It's not like the side was stacked with batsmen either. County teams rarely go out of their way to challenge a touring side.

 

[Themer]

wonder why?

They're got proper games to worry about, they don't want to be risking their better players in a Friendly match.

 

[Sureshot]

Yup, the county schedule is hectic enough trying to cram in all the T20 rubbish.

 

[Haarithan]

Bresnan is all but ruled out of the test series . Not a big blow tbh , I really wouldn't have him in the starting xi in these tough English conditions , though he's pretty good when it comes to cleaning up the tail . Nevertheless , a very good backup player .

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2011/content/story/515539.html

 

[Owzat]

The IPL should have never been allowed to be created as "private league" - that is not in best interest of this small cricket community (imagine they calling it a private league but yet they even taking all in ICC international umpires - why dont they just use their own local umpires in IND then). As that article shows the IPL is a private league being fronted as a international leagu.

In my book it is pants anyway, obviously very popular in India but frankly as cricket goes - no thanks. The "tournament six" counter is laughable as is the presence of cheerleaders which normally goes hand in hand with a 'show' not a sporting event. It might as just been one long innings with someone counting the wickets and going round and round. I'm hacked off with ITV4 for blanket coverage, they may have repeated professionals, minder and stuff like that ad nauseam, but at least that represented relative variety.

I'd be interested to know their viewing figures, if it is lower than the last terrestrially televised Ashes then





As for Sri Lanka, England should really win this series. I suspect England will go with much the same XI as the Ashes, can't see Collingwood getting a look in so perhaps they could blood a new player or two. I'm not suggesting Sri Lanka won't pose any threat, but why go with players who've had a chance before? There's no reason we can't give debuts to players who may easily succeed. Is Broad fit? If not give Woakes a chance, or someone fresh and new.

I'm not even convinced Broad is best suited to Tests anyway, no arguments he is a good ODI player but the only times he's averaged under 30 in a Test series is against a weak Pakistan side and similar strength West Indies side - and both of those home series. At home he's ok (32.20) compared to away (39.05) but if we're going to play four bowlers only then why not give someone else a go (anyway) and leave Broad to ODIs and T20Is where he makes a better contribution and avoid so much fatigue and injury risk?

 

[Sureshot]

Er, Colly retired from Tests...

I'll be intrigued to see how Onions goes against the Lankans. He's had an okay start this season, someone I rate very highly.

So far, Bopara played a scratchy knock, but Taylor is going along well. Good chance for him to shine and show that a player from the depths of Division 2 can be good enough for higher standards of cricket.

I see the side as:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell
Bopara/Morgan (Not sure anyone else is in the frame though Hildreth should get more of a look)
Prior
Broad
Swann
Tremlett
Anderson

Don't see much point in changing from a very successful Ashes. As you say Broad could do with a good summer in Tests.

 

[Owzat]

Er, Colly retired from Tests...

Shows how little attention I pay of retirements these days given a lot of them are self-interested motives. My point was he wouldn't/shouldn't get picked, stands true even if he hadn't retired.

This is an opportunity to give one or two players a chance and one or two players a rest. If we just play our supposed "best XI" every Test then we won't see what others will do until someone gets injured, and usually then it's someone who's been tried before, and players will be fatigued as was a big excuse from the ECB

 

[War]

BBC Sport - England Lions trio in Test team shoot-out

 

[Haarithan]

I just cannot believe this .

England v Sri Lanka: Ravi Bopara favourite for Test position | Cricket News | England v Sri Lanka 2011 | ESPN Cricinfo

Looks like they made up their minds a long way back when Morgan was playing his first few games for KKR . And not surprisingly , they are set to make the WRONG decision again if they pursue accordingly as stated in the article !

 

[MUFC1987]

So apparently Bopara is chosen because he played County Cricket at the start of the season, when Morgan didn't? If that is the case, does that really mean that the likes of Hildreth and Taylor never stood a chance, no matter what? That is crazy. Anything to do with Cook being Vice-Captain, by any chance?