England vs Sri Lanka 2nd test debate

First topic message reminder :

So the 2nd test is upon us,Will England make another tremendous win or will Sri Lanka fight back to win the 2nd test? All will be known in 5 days time.

The 12 man teams are as follow:

England
Andrew Strauss (C)
Alistair Cook
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior (W-K)
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Chris Tremlett
Steve Finn
Jade Dernbach

Sri Lanka (Can't find the 12 man squad anywhere)

Tillakaratne Dilshan (C)
Tharanga Paranavithana (Spell check!)
Lahiru Thirimanne
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardene
Thilan Samaraweera
Dinesh Chandimal
Prasanna Jaywardene (W-K)
Thissara Perera
Suraj Randiv
Ajantha Mendis
Rangana Herath
Dilhara Fernanado
Chanka Welegedara
Suranga Lakmal
Farveez Maharoof

Once again like the 1st feel free to discuss the action

And updates of the match will be up on the thread.

Well, remember that when Jayawardene and Sangakarra set their record partnership, they came together after an iffy start - I think it was something like 18 for 2, then the next wicket fell at over 600.

Conditions seem OK, the ball isn't doing much and the bowling isn't really dangerous, just the batsmen contriving to get themselves out.

Pressure not getting to Cook,smashes it for 4.

Need bell and cook to do a bit of rebuilding here. Can still see us getting a score of over 400 though, just need a period of patience. Kp should have left the ball, there would have been plenty of time later for going on the attack.

dummy_half wrote:Well, remember that when Jayawardene and Sangakarra set their record partnership, they came together after an iffy start - I think it was something like 18 for 2, then the next wicket fell at over 600.

Conditions seem OK, the ball isn't doing much and the bowling isn't really dangerous, just the batsmen contriving to get themselves out.

Normally when England make a poor start they tend to collapse. Thats what worries me.

England seem to be going after the ball just need to settle down and play themselves in the innings.

We don't need to score at 4 an over. We DO need to stay in.

we need to bat time now

Trott, fair enough. Strauss ... getting a bit worried. KP ... marmite springs to mind!

Well played Sri Lanka. Tough work for Cook, Bell, Morgan and Prior. Still that's why tests are so much more interesting than that 20-20 thing.

Glad to see many of the old gang here!

England settling down now ever so slightly.

England dont need to hit the boundaries but they also dont need to go into their shell. I would be suprised if both Cook and Bell dont get decent scores here, the track is taylor made for their styles.

What a shot from Bell, absolute class.

Just at present I'm nervous about saying things like things seem to be going along better.

Agreed England shouldn't stop playing any shots, but a bit of shot selection would be nice.

As long as these two play their natural game England will be fine. Bell looks extremely confident out there and is striking the ball well.

Both players seem very confident.

I love watching Bell when he is confident, such a lovely striker of the ball. Cook is oozing confidence as well. Lets just hope that these two continue on to post good scores.

I'd have said any of the top 6 should fill their boots on this sort of pitch in these conditions.

Which is why I'm like a cat on the proverbial htr at present.

KP has lost the ability to concentrate for even short periods.

I would be tempted to say he is more suited to one dayers, but he is only averaging early twenties in the 50 over game for the last 2 years plus. So maybe T20 is his forte nowadays.

Surrey may get some use from him against 2nd Division bowling.

A lucky edge for four from Bell followed up by a glorious strike from him. Good over for England.

Bell going after the Sri Lankans this will either work brilliantly or turn out disastrous.

Cook just trying to play himself in,not play any risky shots.

Bell looking abit edgy two LBW appeals from Sri Lanka.

KP's only option is IPL before that bubble bursts!

As many may recall, I never had much time for Bell, or rather, I called it as I saw it.

He seems to have shaken those demons and is turning into a very good No. 5.

Fernando brought into the attack.

eltham_college_spin wrote:As many may recall, I never had much time for Bell, or rather, I called it as I saw it.

He seems to have shaken those demons and is turning into a very good No. 5.

The Bell of today compared too the Bell of 2005 are totally different players. Seems to keep on improving.

Indeed, Liam. Let's hope he can keep it up. We need a ton from both him and Cook.

Bit unfair on Cook. But he seems up for it! If he plays the next test he breaks Botham's and Knott's record!

Liam_Main wrote:

eltham_college_spin wrote:As many may recall, I never had much time for Bell, or rather, I called it as I saw it.

He seems to have shaken those demons and is turning into a very good No. 5.

The Bell of today compared too the Bell of 2005 are totally different players. Seems to keep on improving.

Stop trying to jinx him.

eltham_college_spin wrote:KP's only option is IPL before that bubble bursts!

Bit harsh, he has just come back from injury and even though he is not in great form, he still averaged 60+ in his last test series.

His place should be under pressure as he should be no more imune to being dropped than any other batsmen. I would give him a few more tests first.

How many more though, Dorothy?

Yes, his average is nice thanks to one double ton. I prefer consistency as the guide. For a No. 4 he simply hasn't been coming up with the goods. The last two dismissals have been frankly, embarrassing.

End of mornings play,lunch to be taken.

Gents/Ladies

It's just gone 9 pm in Tokyo. Time for bed. Enjoy the rest of the day. I hope when I wake up tomorrow and check the score, it'll be 345 for ... 6?

About 5 years ago , a generally astute friend of mine said he wouldn't be surprised if , by the end of their careers , Bell was seen as a better player than Pietersen.

I didn't laugh, but I did say I thought it a "bold" statement.

Still a way to go , but looking a better bet by the week...

Entertaining morning, England have got be wary all day now or they could mess this up .

eltham_college_spin wrote:Gents/Ladies

It's just gone 9 pm in Tokyo. Time for bed. Enjoy the rest of the day. I hope when I wake up tomorrow and check the score, it'll be 345 for ... 6?

Night Eltham.

I will be happy if we just don't get bowled out anything over 300 by the end of the day is decent considering our poor start.

eltham_college_spin wrote:How many more though, Dorothy?

Yes, his average is nice thanks to one double ton. I prefer consistency as the guide. For a No. 4 he simply hasn't been coming up with the goods. The last two dismissals have been frankly, embarrassing.

I have not seen his dismissal today, but from what I have read it sounds another clanger.

Fair point about the double ton inflating the average, but a 200 in Oz is proof enough that he is worth sticking with. I would give him a couple more tests and if he is still struggling then, yes of course he should be dropped.

I certainly don't think he is anywhere near ready enough to written off as a test player completely yet.

SL pacemen wre enjoying the weather and the extra pace of the pitch, also bowling straight for a change.
Bell has great soft hands or he could be back in the pavilion.
SL wo the first session, so let's hope Cook and Bell can stay a while. I'm not sure how Morgan will cope with an all pace attack.

KP should be given another chance but how many more? He has been in some pretty average form of late

eirebilly wrote:KP should be given another chance but how many more? He has been in some pretty average form of late

Since his double century in Australia....theres not been that many test matches.
Morgans still got to cement his place in the side before they look at KP

Pietersen is begining to look like a walking wicket and I don't think one good innings will solve his problem. He needs a run of 3-4 innings to get confidence.
Mind you who replace him? the idea of Morgan and Bopara at 5 & 6 is not a pleasant prospect.

Talking about Pietersen is one thing but Strauss is not exactly looking on his game either.

I'd be surprised if England were in any hurry to dispense with KP. Has only been two innings so far this summer after all.

Agree with PSW above they would also want to be sure Morgan was a true Test batsman before opening up another spot. And although I'm not writing off Bopara for ever I can't see him as a safer bet than Pietersen.

Moving Bell up to 4 might be an option but I doubt there will be any change just yet.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

eltham_college_spin wrote:How many more though, Dorothy?

Yes, his average is nice thanks to one double ton. I prefer consistency as the guide. For a No. 4 he simply hasn't been coming up with the goods. The last two dismissals have been frankly, embarrassing.

I have not seen his dismissal today, but from what I have read it sounds another clanger.

Fair point about the double ton inflating the average, but a 200 in Oz is proof enough that he is worth sticking with. I would give him a couple more tests and if he is still struggling then, yes of course he should be dropped.

I certainly don't think he is anywhere near ready enough to written off as a test player completely yet.

It was a fairly wide ball, utter dross from the bowler, which KP reached for and hammered...unfortunately within reach of a diving Dilshan who took a very good catch.

Deserved to be hit for 4, but maybe poort judgement to go after it so early in his innings.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

eltham_college_spin wrote:How many more though, Dorothy?

Yes, his average is nice thanks to one double ton. I prefer consistency as the guide. For a No. 4 he simply hasn't been coming up with the goods. The last two dismissals have been frankly, embarrassing.

I have not seen his dismissal today, but from what I have read it sounds another clanger.

Fair point about the double ton inflating the average, but a 200 in Oz is proof enough that he is worth sticking with. I would give him a couple more tests and if he is still struggling then, yes of course he should be dropped.

I certainly don't think he is anywhere near ready enough to written off as a test player completely yet.

Strauss and Trott were worse and very uncharacteristic. They played risky and needless shots across the line on straight balls which they could have defended. Seems over confidence got the better of them and they didnt play their natural games.
Whilst Sri Lanka have bowled sensibly none of the dismisals were won, they were all given. Just slack from England so far, Trott and Strauss seemed over confident.
Pietersen seemed to be the opposite. He was playing the sort of shot that normaly whe whollops and gets himself in the groove. Instead he minced at it and got out. Rather than being overconfident he was playing like Ian Bell did for most of his career.

As for dropping senior batsmen...hows Strauss been getting on recently?
1 century (only a 110) in 35 innings spanning nearly 2 years ( 3 ducks in that time)
His average is something like 30 over the last year.

I just feel that KP is getting out more and more to silly impatient shots early on in his innings'. There may only have been a few tests this season but KP has not been performing for the last few seasons bar the odd big score. I feel that its only due to a lack of depth in England batting that KP is still playing to be honest.

Strauss is also under pressure but he is the captain of a team thats winning.

Ok, Looking for a solid session. Sir Geoff's immortal, "Be there at tea time," is the mantra.

btw, I wonder if old Boycs is still going only because they can't find anyone with the courage to tell him he's out?

Nice shot from Cook there.

England have started off strong after lunch,maybe things arn't going to be as bad as I thought.

As long as this partnership stays together for a while we should get 350+

Thats what i like about this England side, there are now always 2 or 3 players that step up when the going gets tough.

As long as...

It's sounded a bit chancier than I'd like.

Your starting to sound a bit like trebell cowshot