Eng v Lanka...first test

First topic message reminder :

Eng lose debutant Robson......on seemingly a seaming pitch inserted in after lanka won toss

don't think England should be in a hurry to declare really, easy runs at the moment going along at a run-a-ball since lunch, and still a lot of time in this test match.

nice little innings of Plunkett, England's tail getting a few runs is nice to see

So Plunkett goes after an enterprising 39, not a bad way to start your comeback.
Root on 181, perhaps Cook should give him a chance to go for that double.
James Anderson joins Joe in the midedle with England 547-9.

Reverse sweep in front of square from the Burnley Lara

Majestic

on that review there, why don't they go straight to the pitch map to check where it's pitched. I know there's a process, but to my mind it would be much easier to first check what the umpire thinks is wrong with it? save time too...

Anderson survives a Sri Lanka review. Pitched outside leg, so no gray areas there, Anderson was not out, the umpire made the right call, and that is confirmed by the 3rd umpire.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:on that review there, why don't they go straight to the pitch map to check where it's pitched. I know there's a process, but to my mind it would be much easier to first check what the umpire thinks is wrong with it? save time too...

A very valid suggestion.......

I just don't rate Anderson or Plunkett.

Root on to 190.......

Scrumpy wrote:I just don't rate Anderson or Plunkett.

You rate Broad!????

Nah.

Yes Rooty!!! Well batted lad, superb innings and he's taken England to a really competitive total!

Fantastic knock, and a great total from England in very good time

Fabulous by Joe Root; nice to see my faith in him vindicated.

I hope he gets a consistent place in the batting order, rather than being shunted around hither and dither.

Nice support from the lower order as well.

Now England's bowlers, with mountains of time and runs, are free to attack and press home their sizeable advantage.

hampo171 wrote:Yes Rooty!!! Well batted lad, superb innings and he's taken England to a really competitive total!

And probably just as importantly from Downton's point of view, he's removed Pietersen from the immediate agenda. It's only performances in the middle that will win or stop that argument.

Sri Lanka survived the mini session without damage, and they batted with intent during that period and going at 5 an over. The new ball is so important on this track.......

very good start for SL as they pass 50 with no loss. Karunaratne in particular has made an excellent start.

Jordan gets his first!

Anderson and Broad couldn't make the new ball count. now its down to Plunkett and Jordan to try and trouble the batsmen with some extra pace. The track has nothing in it for the England seamers either, so they would need something extra here.
And Jordan gets Karunaratne who was looking dangerous!.

golden arm strikes!

Jordan into the attack, bowls one across the left-hander who drives, and gets a faint edge through to Prior. much needed for England that!

Run-a-ball 38 from young Karunaratne, Sri Lanka needed him to go on after that start he got. England have an opening now, how much more damage can they inflict today? Sangakkara is someone they wouldn't want to let settle.

Another 33 overs to be bowled today!.

I love seeing Broad not take wickets.

Is it just me, or does Jordan seem he has uncomfortably large nipples?

Good first over for Plunkett, recovered well after the first ball and bowled at a good pace.

kingraf wrote:Is it just me, or does Jordan seem he has uncomfortably large nipples?

He's obviously aroused

Plunkett did generate good speeds in that first over.

Second over was a bit more wayward, if he can get it right he could be a good weapon for this attack.

Sri Lanka ended the day at 140-1. Its been a solid response from them so far. Kaushal Silva has moved along to a compact 62 not out, playing a very sensivle and nice innings, leaving well and playing his shots after making the bowlers come to him. Kumar Sangakkara looked comfortable in his 32 not out.
England did not bowl badly, In fact they did bowl well, but the Lankans batted very well, and the track offered no challenges whatsoever. Stuart Broad and James Anderson were looking for some reverse late in the session. Broad did manage to make a few balls do just that little bit. But already the attack is looking a bit one dimensional? The few overs that Moeen Ali bowled weren't bad. managed to land most of the deliveries, and as he hit decent areas more regularly than not, didn't offer too many easy Hit Me opportunities. But that is about it, there was nothing much special from him as a bowler, at least not as yet. But then to be fair to Ali, even Rangana Herath was made to look rather ordinary on this track.......

--if they bat one more day........on a true pitch like this one...Lanka will get at least another 300ish......so that will take them to 450ish.

--even if they lose 3 wickets per session they still last the day......it's very likely that Lanka will last the day tomm

--that gives Eng 125+ and 2 days in hand......and then Cook will be subjected to "positivity test"

---if he bats 2 sessions and gives his bowlers 4 sessions to bowl out Lanka...he passes the test

---if he bats 3 sessions...he fails

Clarke would have passed the test...Cook....hmmmm let's wait and see....let Lanka bat thru tomm to invoke the "test"

Yeah I didn't think England bowled badly, Broad didn't look 100% to me

Think Guildford's old addage of waiting to judge a pitch when both sides have batted on it is coming true, this is an absolute flatbed it seems. 

It is going to take an absolute brainfart of a collapse from either side for this to be anything other than a bore draw I think...

Early breakthrough for England then, getting rid of Silva who looked good for his knock. Couple more quick wickets and we're in business but despite the overcast conditions the ball isn't doing anything.

Sri Lanka 190-2. Sanga and Mahela at crease. Rather slow progress from the Sri Lankans compared to yesterday. Perhaps they are showing restraint because it is the morning session. But I am not sure to go too slow is the right approach when confronted with a first innings score of 575. Because if you go too slow, 1 wicket might bring 2, and you would find that you haven't really gone too far.

Its not T20, it's not the IPL, but pitches like this which are killing test cricket

You've got edges off full blooded drives, off bowlers bowling 85-87 mph, that aren't even close to carrying to the slips. Not an ounce of spin on offer either.

Lifeless.

Sri Lanka go to lunch at 212-2. Sangakkara on 73, Jayawardene on 29. 72-1 in that session, Sri Lanka session.......
England did not bowl poorly again, but the pitch is an ugly flat monster....... The edges are dropping right away to the ground, close in fielders can't really expect to catch a lot as there is no carry whatsoever.

So following the summer which saw Steyn and Johnson reintroduce a whole new generation to the art of terrifying pace, which saw a 450 run chase end at sunset, with all four results still possible till the penultimate over, which saw the first test of India new Zealand... we're back to this? Poor showing.

Plunkett giving Jayawardene real problems here

Hundred for Sangakkara, fantastic knock!

So his last three test innings have been a triple hundred, a hundred, and now another hundred.

Not in bad nick eh

Broad gets Jayawardene LBW for 55, reviewed it but was plumb

Big moment, need to make inroads whilst the ball is new

Anderson gets his bunny Thirimanne, good catch by Robson at square leg/mid wicket

289-4

The ball is newish, and England have taken out 2 with already. The follow-on is still 86 away. Another wicket soon, then England will have a decent chance to have Sri Lanka on the mat here.

Sri Lanka 309-4 at tea. They lost 2 important wickets, but scored at a decent clip, and Sangakkara is still there. Just about Lanka's session I think, despite the 2 wickets.

These kind of flat dead pitches are right up pancake batsman Kumar Sangakkara's street.

Relentlessly boosting his over inflated average yet further...

Sri Lanka 352-4, 24 away from avoiding the follow-on. Skipper Angelo Mathews has been busy ever since he arrived at the crease and has moved on to 45 at a good clip without taking too much risk.

Gerry SA wrote:These kind of flat dead pitches are right up pancake batsman Kumar Sangakkara's street.

Relentlessly boosting his over inflated average yet further...

hmmm.....what about Root's 200 on this pitch

msp83 wrote:Sri Lanka 352-4, 24 away from avoiding the follow-on. Skipper Angelo Mathews has been busy ever since he arrived at the crease and has moved on to 45 at a good clip without taking too much risk.

what I would like to see with a first inning total as big as nearly 600...what's Cook gonna do force a reult..

KP_fan wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:These kind of flat dead pitches are right up pancake batsman Kumar Sangakkara's street.

Relentlessly boosting his over inflated average yet further...

hmmm.....what about Root's 200 on this pitch

Apart from the English, everyone else knows Root has no talent.

You don't half talk some guff Gerry.

Sri Lanka 406-6. England had lost their 6th wicket before reaching 400 and they scored around 200 for the last 4 wickets. Can Kulasekhara and co help the skipper close in on that England score of 575? Kula and Herath are no rabbits, but the scoreboard can create a lot of pressure particularly on the lower order.....
And Mathews should look to push the scrong along quickly, hanging around without intent will not help his side's cause.

This game is boring as sin. Guess the English establishment wanted the batsmen to be eased in to the post Ashes life.

Sri Lanka 413-7. another 7 overs remaining in the day but as the time is running out, won't be getting most of them in. perhaps another couple more overs to survive for Herath and Mathews.......