Sri Lanka in England/Netherlands

[m_vaughan]

Well lets just hope we can put in a better display in the remaining two games, and then against Pakistan. I am sure we will do well in the test matches, but might struggle again in the one dayers.

 

[evertonfan]

Well lets just hope we can put in a better display in the remaining two games, and then against Pakistan. I am sure we will do well in the test matches, but might struggle again in the one dayers.

Ahhh Test matches! That makes me feel a lot better. I fancy England to win the test series against Pakistan, provided Flintoff, Vaughan and Anderson play. It's a nice bonus that two of there key players are injured instead of us carrying all the injuries. *touches wood*

As for the remaining ODI's, I doubt Pietersen will be playing so we will be even more understrength, but hoopefully Sri Lanka will rest some of their big players. I'm going to the Trafford match so England better play well!

 

[irottev]

I watched this match. Disgusting performance with bat and ball from England. Pietersen can't do it every time. Trescothick can;t either. It was a perfect opportunity for Strauss to play a big innings and he failed after getting a start once again. Captaincy was average also.

THe bowling was terrible. Harmison was poor, Plunkett horrible, though did get an edge or two without a first slip. Mahmood has got to go! Bells over was terrible, Collingwood was too easy to play after the start Sri Lanka got. Dayrymple is a heck of a lot better then Giles with bat and ball. Good future all-rounder prospect. As the commentators said, about the only positive. Louden was alright, pretty good start to his career.

But really, Sri Lanka have bowled well, batted well and have just outplayed England by miles. All three top 3 batsmen with hundred from 3 matches. Thats a 100 each match. All three of the hundreds were brilliant! England just arn't in the same legause at the moment. If they keep this eleven then they won't win a match.

England arn't helped by injuries for sure, but the senior players: Strauss, Collingwood and Trescothick (though hes usually the one who does and can;t be expected to every time) didn't step up batting wise after good starts with the bat. Harmison didn;t step up with the ball and Mahmood has been Mick Lewis like all series. Plunkett is probably downon confidance but hasn't been wicket taking enough and too expensive in this match.

 

[Gilchrist]

I agree, you shouldn't let a team 260 so easily. 42 extras was very poor, but once again, credit to Sri Lanka, they are in amazing form. I agree with Irottev, the senior players need to stand up, will be intresting to watch the highlights today on Fox Sports.

Why don't we just play Gough?

Remember? He went dancing...

 

[Hondo]

I wouldn't get too worried, India should beat Sri Lanka. I didn't mind getting beat by India in the ODI's earlier in the year, but I am embarrassed at being beaten so convincingly by Sri Lanka.

Mate don't be too embarrassed. Sri Lanka is a great ODI team. Don't forget they used to be 2nd in the ODI ladder just end of last year just before the disastrous tour of India. I still regard them as the 2nd best ODI team at the moment even if the ladder doesn?t show it. They will be climbing up that ladder in no time.

 

[irottev]

I actually think the ay Sri Lanka are going, they will trouble India.

 

[Hondo]

I actually think the ay Sri Lanka are going, they will trouble India.

I think the same. Sri Lankan at home will be really hard to beat. Except for the last tour in in India where SL got hammered, SL seem had an edge over India in recent years. Not making up excuses, and India played damn well in that series and SL was outclassed in every aspect of the game, but the team was in a transition period with the new coach and coaching staff.

They seem to be back on track now. For a team that's been on on number 2 spot for nearly an year couldn't have been gotten really bad over night.

 

[kodos]

Give credit where credit is due. Sri Lanka have performed beyond their and most people's expectations in these ODI's. They will surely be a real force in the WC in a years time and have had a fair amount of success this year with beating Aus a few times, beating SA a few times as well and now England.

Abysmal bowling by England really, Bell batted patiently and did well to propel England to what was a respectable and defendable total. Plunkett has to be dropped, he has had far too many opportunities and have never delivered. BRING BACK GOUGH!! he will add experience to this understrength and inexperienced bowling attack. What happened to John Lewis?? I remember he bowled very well in last year's 20/20 game and Natwest series v Australia. Really, the selectors have got the bowling lineup all wrong and are probably trying to recruit too many new players into the international scene.

Vaughan's captaincy in the field really was required yesterday to fire his bowlers and Strauss like Flintoff really aren't up to scratch to lead the team.

 

[Englishandproud]

Remember? He went dancing...

He is still the best ODI bowler England posses is their ranks, and after reading what happened before that tour to Pakistan in an interview in with Gough in July's wisden cricketer, you can understand why Gough didn't go on the tour.

 

[evertonfan]

Mate don't be too embarrassed. Sri Lanka is a great ODI team. Don't forget they used to be 2nd in the ODI ladder just end of last year just before the disastrous tour of India. I still regard them as the 2nd best ODI team at the moment even if the ladder doesn?t show it. They will be climbing up that ladder in no time.

I wasn't saying I was embarrassed at being beaten by Sri Lanka, I said I was embarrassed at being beaten convincingly by Sri Lanka. They are good ODI team, but there is no way England should be being beaten by 8 wickets, and 3-0 down to them in a home series.

 

[m_vaughan]

They seem to be back on track now. For a team that's been on on number 2 spot for nearly an year couldn't have been gotten really bad over night.

Well actually they did. Sri Lanka have an edge over India, only in SL. You cant gain too much by beating England in ODIs. Just look at our record, we've lost to almost everyone.

 

[evertonfan]

Well actually they did. Sri Lanka have an edge over India, only in SL. You cant gain too much by beating England in ODIs. Just look at our record, we've lost to almost everyone.

Yeah, and we didn't exactly breeze past Ireland either!

 

[Sureshot]

I thought you guys didn't need Vaughan in ODIs? Definitely not for his batting, his captaincy is the only good thing for him in ODIs.

You need good captains to win ODI matches though, ODI cricket is so important for captains decisions, and Strauss isn't up for it.

Vaughan may only average 28 in ODI cricket but his captaincy makes up for it, as we've seen in this series.

Collingwood may never average more than 35 in ODI cricket but his fielding makes up for it.

Graham Thorpe average 37 in ODI cricket, I considered him a good ODI player, but he never scored a hundred.

Vaughans knee is in a terrible state and the body can only repair so much.

 

[evertonfan]

You need good captains to win ODI matches though, ODI cricket is so important for captains decisions, and Strauss isn't up for it.

Vaughan may only average 28 in ODI cricket but his captaincy makes up for it, as we've seen in this series.

Collingwood may never average more than 35 in ODI cricket but his fielding makes up for it.

Graham Thorpe average 37 in ODI cricket, I considered him a good ODI player, but he never scored a hundred.

Vaughans knee is in a terrible state and the body can only repair so much.

Tommorrow is crucial for Vaughan, I'd say that he if he needs another operation, his Ashes is over.

 

[Sureshot]

4 operations on a knee for a batsman.

His career maybe.

Bell seems to be warming to ODI cricket though, we aren't capitalising on the first 15-20 enough. I'd maybe risk losing a century from Tres and get him to attack more.