SL v Eng...2nd test headingley

First topic message reminder :

Starts tomm and it seems the indisposed Prassanna the WK is a blessing in disguise.
Chandimal will keep wickets and will allow Lanka to play an extra batsman and given that the pitch is expected to assist seamers , it will help Lanka to have some extra batting cushion.

the other thing SL should and will look at is Kulasekhara...too gentle in speeds.......Lakmal was probably their first choice and unlikely  to have recovered from his hamstring strain.
They should play Dhamika prasad who bowls in excess of 140kph.....and captain Angelo should be willing to use himself a bit more as a seamer


Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene will be unavailable for selection for the second Test, thanks to a finger injury to his right hand, which he sustained while keeping during the first day at Lord's.

He will be replaced in the squad by batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage, with Dinesh Chandimal likely to take over the gloves at Headingley. The injury will not prevent Jayawardene from batting in the second innings of the first Test.

Positives for Eng:

1) Plunkett...absolute gem.....to be able to bowl at 90mph and so many overs...and bend his back even on flat decks

2) Moeen ali........a perfect spin bowling No.6 bat all-rounder......they don't have a spinner better than him...and given that he as as good ( or as bad ) as the best spinner....they are lucky to have his batting skills

--although Robson and Ballance got hundreds.....I am not convinced with their techniques...especially Ballance is a scrapier version or Morgan OR a poorer and technically flawed version of Border.....
using too much bottom hand...forcing the bowling too much on the leg side that he should be playing in the V

--and Jordan has fallen apart as series progressed........Ben stokes will replace him, a better bowler and a better batsman

Prior really hasn't done anything to convince me he's any better than what he was when dropped in the winter. Out twice to the short ball, keeping has been horrific, absolutely horrific.

Buttler in

Olly wrote:Prior really hasn't done anything to convince me he's any better than what he was when dropped in the winter. Out twice to the short ball, keeping has been horrific, absolutely horrific.

Buttler in

I want Buttler in, but Captain Cook doesn't he made that very clear.

Jordan edged Eranga and was caught, but its a no-ball and he survives. Is that the bit of luck that England needed to save this one? Less than a couple of hours to survive now. What an effort from Moeen Ali so far.......

Nah, too long left msp.  They'd need a rainstorm to wipe out the game.

An hour and a half and at most 31 overs. The 31 overs aren't coming in, they'll be short by at least 10. So just about 20 odd overs for the well set Ali, Jordan and Broad to survive, and if it comes to the crunch, Anderson has shown in the past he can do it. Will they miss Graeme Onions at number 11?

Though he was expected to create most trouble for England batsmen, Rangana Herath has not been able to have any substantial impact in the England 2nd innings.

Nearly but in the end the record books will show sl narrowly survived and eng didn't so eng lose the series.

well it is thrilling to watch....not too far from the 1st test.
13 over to survive

mathews needs to keep bowling hertah from one end

How is the light situation? can't watch on TV now.

Anderson has survived more than 11 overs with Ali. Think SL are not destined for that historic series win England this time. What a resistance from the England lower order, the batsmen should hang their head in shame!. Great, great effort from the 2 test old Moeen Ali as well. Really remarkable.

and bowl himself from the otehr end

Genuine apologies to Moeen Ali for the Nohit Sharma comparison...... Extraordinary innings... Nohit wouldn't be capable of this in his daydreams.

Well the weather men didn't get this one right did they.

Loooong day with plenty over overs.

Another 18 balls to survive for Ali and Anderson. The force is with England at the moment, but it'll take just 1 ball for Sri Lanka to rap it all up. What a test match!.

Just 12 more!.

amazed the light is good enough this late.  The cricket gods wanted a full game it seems.

One last over!.

Hahahaha!!!

Poor old clubman James Anderson. He got the loser gene in his DNA.

Congrats Sri Lanka.

what a way to lose it!

all that tension for nothing.

still, it was an admirable fight.

I hope we hear some respect not more snide from Jaya today after.

well played SL, a deserved victory and overall a complete outclassing of England in all forms.

eng now know where they are and must rebuild.  Some young players have shown some real promise though, it's not all bad.

Devastated for Jimmy, should never have been put in that position and Ali showed what a bit of grit and determination gets on this wicket.

Oh goodness!!!!. James Anderson can't finish it!. Sri Lanka win with a ball remaining!!. What on earth has happened!? Sharp short ball from Eranga and Anderson couldn't keep it down What a downright disaster for Anderson after such a brave effort!.

Gerry SA wrote:Hahahaha!!!

Poor old clubman James Anderson. He got the loser gene in his DNA.

Congrats Sri Lanka.

Nice.

msp83 wrote:Oh goodness!!!!. James Anderson can't finish it!. Sri Lanka win with a ball remaining!!. What on earth has happened!? Sharp short ball from Eranga and Anderson couldn't keep it down What a downright disaster for Anderson after such a brave effort!.

what has happened?  English cricket ended up where we all saw it going with the lack of batting.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:Hahahaha!!!

Poor old clubman James Anderson. He got the loser gene in his DNA.

Congrats Sri Lanka.

Nice.

You're welcome

A deserved win for sri Lanka, but what an innings from Moeen Ali. Unbelievable game.

I'd hate to be Duty right about now.

Cricket team, football team and rugby team all in the same boot.

Someone go check he hasn't jumped off a cliff...

Rugby? yeah the seniors got a tough old series but competed well somewhere nobody thrives and the U20's beat SA in their world cup final.  I doubt he'll be upset by that Gerry SA.

well fought Egland, Moeen supported by Jordan, Broad and Anderson who all ate so many deliveries.

and well captained by Mathews....the agression and intensity he showed here.....if cook had shown even half of it, he would have won atleast at lords.

in Moeen and Plunket Eng found 2 guy who will serve them long

England's player of the series is Anderson? Bit of a surprise really. Broad and Anderson were not really at their best, but Broad had more moments in the series than Anderson had, and Ballance made runs in both the tests.

Brilliant innings by Moeen Ali. Not just a gutsy maiden Test century but intelligently using up so much of the day and shepherding the tail to within two balls of saving the series. Just as well not everyone was fragile, eh Alfie?   

I saw Ali make a big century for Worcs at the Oval a few weeks ago. A far more attacking knock then but also full of nous. He's a good and savvy batsman. Even if his bowling doesn't make the Test grade, his batting alone looks like it can make him a serious contender for a Test place.

Sorry as I was for Ali and Anderson at the end, I don't think we really deserved to escape with a draw after earlier failings already well documented.

msp83 wrote:England's player of the series is Anderson? Bit of a surprise really.

where did you find that ?

to me Moeen Ali was the player of series.....

Ill imagine it's been discussed.

But anyone seen Piers Morgan team for the India game   

Bloke is a complete numpty.

Impressed by Moeen. Wasn't too sure about him going into this series but he's earned his stripes and showed he certainly has the temperament and skills needed to succeed at Test level.

Balance needs to swap with bell, he's no no.3 batsmen i'm afraid but has shown some promising signs.

Stokes to come back in for me, at the expense of Jordan who maybe was introduced slightly too early to the Test scene. Experience won't do him any harm.

Plunkett has been excellent, finally have a 90mph bowler and can put in the overs. Be nice if Finn can have a solid county season, take some wickets and get his pace back up and a line up of him and plunkett is very tasty indeed.

Pretty much dumbfounded! Oh, Test cricket, you beauty!

Heart goes out to Moeen and Anderson but the as others have alluded to, the England team deserved this.. Still doesn't give me any confidence about India's chances though.

Superb effort by the English lower order, particularly Ali.

Glad Sri Lanka won in the end, though, as they deserved it.

Right, India it is, Cooky, it's your last hope.

Duty281 wrote:  
Right, India it is, Cooky, it's your last hope.

India doesn't disappoint.....from Graham Gooch to Brendon McCullum...many a mediocres have filled their coffers feasting on gentle medium India bowlings and often time backed by  lack-luster test match captaincy.

Bowling to Bowling......Eng is superior
Batting to Batting.......Ind a little better
captain to captain.......two listless "pappus" head to head trying to out-do each otehr.

What's a "pappus" head?

Liam wrote:Impressed by Moeen. Wasn't too sure about him going into this series but he's earned his stripes and showed he certainly has the temperament and skills needed to succeed at Test level.

Balance needs to swap with bell, he's no no.3 batsmen i'm afraid but has shown some promising signs.

Stokes to come back in for me, at the expense of Jordan who maybe was introduced slightly too early to the Test scene. Experience won't do him any harm.

Plunkett has been excellent, finally have a 90mph bowler and can put in the overs. Be nice if Finn can have a solid county season, take some wickets and get his pace back up and a line up of him and plunkett is very tasty indeed.

Bell is the only established player in the top seven who is any kind of form. He struggles at three and for whatever reason does not wan't to bat there. Leave him at 4. If Ballance is to swap with anyone, it should be Ali, who bats up the order in County cricket. I would leave things as it is.

Ali's excellent 100 has put the cat amongst the pigeons when it comes to selection. Had he failed, 2nd Innings then I am sure Stokes would have walked into his place for India. Now, I agree its Jordan or Stokes.

If Stokes comes in (for Jordan), it makes picking a specialist spinner even harder.

liverbnz wrote:What's a "pappus" head?

from urban dictionary the approximate meanings of Pappu
1.

pappu
In North India (primarily in Hindi speaking areas) pappu is used as a nickname for

DEF. 1) a typically shy/inept male.

In colloquial Indian languages, it refers to an innocent and simple boy.[1] When used in a derogatory sense, it could mean "naive" or "dumb kid".[2][3]

Very good, ta.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

Liam wrote:Impressed by Moeen. Wasn't too sure about him going into this series but he's earned his stripes and showed he certainly has the temperament and skills needed to succeed at Test level.

Balance needs to swap with bell, he's no no.3 batsmen i'm afraid but has shown some promising signs.

Stokes to come back in for me, at the expense of Jordan who maybe was introduced slightly too early to the Test scene. Experience won't do him any harm.

Plunkett has been excellent, finally have a 90mph bowler and can put in the overs. Be nice if Finn can have a solid county season, take some wickets and get his pace back up and a line up of him and plunkett is very tasty indeed.

Bell is the only established player in the top seven who is any kind of form.  He struggles at three and for whatever reason does not wan't to bat there.  Leave him at 4.  If Ballance is to swap with anyone, it should be Ali, who bats up the order in County cricket.  I would leave things as it is.

Ali's excellent 100 has put the cat amongst the pigeons when it comes to selection.  Had he failed, 2nd Innings then I am sure Stokes would have walked into his place for India.  Now, I agree its Jordan or Stokes.

If Stokes comes in (for Jordan), it makes picking a specialist spinner even harder.

so very English " fix what ain't broke"

like they did with Joe Root...moved him from 6 to 1 and 2 and 3........

now break a settling Moeen and / or a settled Bell....to fix a broken Ballance...with no guarnatees that the latter will get fixed.  

Ballance's technique is not the most convincing for a number 3. But he scored a hundred and a 74 in the 2 tests he batted there. Bell does not seem to want to bat 3, Ballance has a couple of scores at 3, Root is looking like the player of old at 5 and Ali scored a ton at 6 in the last game. So leave it as it is. Ben Stokes is too valuable a talent to be left out for no sensible reason, and he anyways showed his bowling form just the other day. So Jordan, while good enough to retain a squad position, will have to sit out for Ben. Perhaps Matt Prior can go down to 8. Buttler is scoring international runs in limited overs, and has had a few very good games for his county at the FC level. Prior's keeping was rather poor in the 2nd game and he was bounced out more than ones in the Lankan series, a pattern that started from Australia. Perhaps Ali at 6, Stokes at 7 and Buttler at 8? ?

I'd bring in a proper keeper (no offence to Bairstow, Prior, Buttler) and play him at 8. Stokes affords England that luxury. Foster, Read, Davies or whoever is in form. At least that way it's one thing England can rely on.

I still think they need to sort out a full time spinner in the side. The bowling attack is not good enough to do without one. Either that or Cook need to show a little more faith in Ali. Even still, he doesn't seem a long term solution to that problem.

The only 2 realistic proper spin options are Panesar and Kerigan.

What about the young lad at Kent? Or Briggs at Hampshire? (I think that's where he is). Rashid at Yorkshire is another option.

Well if you are going to bat the keeper at eight , you may as well pick the best keeper available and that won't be Buttler. Who isn't quite ready anyway in my book , though he may well be when it is time to move Prior on.
And I don't think they are ready to do that just yet : the horror drop in the first innings apart , Prior was untidy behind the stumps in this one (he was fine at Lord's ) , while his batting has been all right. I think he needs a good India series or they'll look elsewhere , but after bringing him back this summer I am pretty sure he has those games. Barring total disaster.
As for the spinner , Moeen has that for now . I don't think he's good enough (though his excellent batting yesterday saved his place in the top six) but neither is anyone else looking likely at the moment ; so I think he will get a good chance to improve (with or without a doosra   ).
He will have to bowl more or the fines are going to get heavy , to say nothing of the risk of suspension for the skipper.

KP_fan wrote:

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

Liam wrote:Impressed by Moeen. Wasn't too sure about him going into this series but he's earned his stripes and showed he certainly has the temperament and skills needed to succeed at Test level.

Balance needs to swap with bell, he's no no.3 batsmen i'm afraid but has shown some promising signs.

Stokes to come back in for me, at the expense of Jordan who maybe was introduced slightly too early to the Test scene. Experience won't do him any harm.

Plunkett has been excellent, finally have a 90mph bowler and can put in the overs. Be nice if Finn can have a solid county season, take some wickets and get his pace back up and a line up of him and plunkett is very tasty indeed.

Bell is the only established player in the top seven who is any kind of form.  He struggles at three and for whatever reason does not wan't to bat there.  Leave him at 4.  If Ballance is to swap with anyone, it should be Ali, who bats up the order in County cricket.  I would leave things as it is.

Ali's excellent 100 has put the cat amongst the pigeons when it comes to selection.  Had he failed, 2nd Innings then I am sure Stokes would have walked into his place for India.  Now, I agree its Jordan or Stokes.

If Stokes comes in (for Jordan), it makes picking a specialist spinner even harder.

so very English " fix what ain't broke"

 

I am not English and I said I would leave things as it is.  Apart from that your bang on.

Glad the Moeen for England bandwagon is getting more full now, better than when I was the only one on it!

Still got a horrid, nagging feel that he could be dropped though. I think they're pretty desperate to get a "proper" spinner into the side, and Stokes also has to come back in. Can't see 2 of the 4 quicks being dropped, nor any of the batsmen.

Tremendous fight as well from Anderson I have to say. One of the best 0's I've ever seen! So disappointed for him when it happened, but at the end of the day, neither he or Moeen should have been in that situation if the top order had shown a bit of application on Monday evening