England's Winter of Cricket 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

First winter tour for England confirmed today: three T20s and three ODIs in South Africa from the 27th November-9th December.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/54537709

A possible limited-overs tour of Pakistan, which would be England's first trip to that country since 2005, as well as visits to Sri Lanka and India may also go ahead in early 2021.

Another close one for Anderson ...8 overs for 6 runs? Indeed a pity the spinners and Curran are leaking runs

Gooseberry wrote:Another close one for Anderson ...8 overs for 6 runs? Indeed a pity the spinners and Curran are leaking runs

To be fair to Bess he'd have pretty good economy today if not for Jimmy's misfield...

alfie wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Another close one for Anderson ...8 overs for 6 runs? Indeed a pity the spinners and Curran are leaking runs

To be fair to Bess he'd have pretty good economy today if not for Jimmy's misfield...

It was that one over he came on after Andersons wicket that was a bit baffling, but a tidy maiden now. They must have some theory about Chandimal to him I guess. Seems odd Leach hasn't been tried with two right handers at the crease

Sri Lankans will be relieved to only lose one to that tremendous Anderson spell. 101/3 is still a fairly promising position, but a lot is dependent on this partnership.

Duty281 wrote:Sri Lankans will be relieved to only lose one to that tremendous Anderson spell. 101/3 is still a fairly promising position, but a lot is dependent on this partnership.

Your note about the outfield being much quicker is a fairly big one Duty, those two boundaries in Anderson's last over would have been 2 last week, but no damp and is rattling along today. Keeping the run rate around the 2.8-3 range is good work, now to keep it there while Anderson is off...

Initial look, 350 would be par on this one.

Agree it is a little strange ; though I didn't think Leach bowled as well as he can earlier. I actually would have used Bess before him , with the left hander in...but now looks more suited to Jack.

Meanwhile , Wood is toiling away. Lively pace , plenty of effort...but you just don't somehow see him taking wickets here...to be honest , I'd have played Broad ; though I can see they want to rotate the old boys...

Good to see me saying the one change I wouldn’t make is Anderson for Broad is panning out perfectly...

JDizzle wrote:Good to see me saying the one change I wouldn’t make is Anderson for Broad is panning out perfectly...

He's got to get old eventually right?

In years to come his overall record won't stand up to McGrath, Walsh and a few overs as far as averages go but since his 30th birthday he's been as good as anyone ever has been.

94mph ball in that over from wood

Soul Requiem wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Good to see me saying the one change I wouldn’t make is Anderson for Broad is panning out perfectly...

He's got to get old eventually right?

In years to come his overall record won't stand up to McGrath, Walsh and a few overs as far as averages go but since his 30th birthday he's been as good as anyone ever has been.

Anderson's 2014 test average: 22.15
2015: 22.65
2016: 23.73
2017: 17.58
2018: 22.51
2019: 30.16
2020: 20.47

Absolutely phenomenal bowler.

Gooseberry wrote:94mph ball in that over from wood

Little bit of tail in for him already too - going to have a big role to play with the old ball later in the day, need him to grab one or two

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Sri Lankans will be relieved to only lose one to that tremendous Anderson spell. 101/3 is still a fairly promising position, but a lot is dependent on this partnership.

Your note about the outfield being much quicker is a fairly big one Duty, those two boundaries in Anderson's last over would have been 2 last week, but no damp and is rattling along today. Keeping the run rate around the 2.8-3 range is good work, now to keep it there while Anderson is off...

Initial look, 350 would be par on this one.

Yeah, I think 300 will be OK, but they'll be looking for 350+. Depends how quickly the pitch breaks up as to how good a 300 score will be.

Wood still no wickets but he's doing a good job breaking helmets...

Duty281 wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Good to see me saying the one change I wouldn’t make is Anderson for Broad is panning out perfectly...

He's got to get old eventually right?

In years to come his overall record won't stand up to McGrath, Walsh and a few overs as far as averages go but since his 30th birthday he's been as good as anyone ever has been.

Anderson's 2014 test average: 22.15
2015: 22.65
2016: 23.73
2017: 17.58
2018: 22.51
2019: 30.16
2020: 20.47

Absolutely phenomenal bowler.

His overall figures suffer from playing too much without enough "protection" from senior bowlers as he learnt his trade. But the average keeps coming down ...at 26 something he's not so far adrift of the likes of Walsh in the 24s. And he's leaving them all for dead for longevity and total wickets.

Efforts today have been excellent. Keep him in cotton wool for India !

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Sri Lankans will be relieved to only lose one to that tremendous Anderson spell. 101/3 is still a fairly promising position, but a lot is dependent on this partnership.

Your note about the outfield being much quicker is a fairly big one Duty, those two boundaries in Anderson's last over would have been 2 last week, but no damp and is rattling along today. Keeping the run rate around the 2.8-3 range is good work, now to keep it there while Anderson is off...

Initial look, 350 would be par on this one.

Yeah, I think 300 will be OK, but they'll be looking for 350+. Depends how quickly the pitch breaks up as to how good a 300 score will be.

Would've been a nice toss to win, that's for sure!

That's out, according to Mickey Arthur.

Fifty for Mathews

Not exactly in control of that hook off Wood but he'll take the boundary...

And that is the most ridiculous umpire review I've ever seen

Chandimal is looking dangerous...

This is one of those partnerships that could take Sri Lanka to 290/3 at stumps - two watchful batsmen who give little away and know how to bat sensibly. Perera could learn a thing or two.

But if England can breakthrough, that one dollop of magic or luck, they know there's not a lot of ability in the batters to come.

First Test Second Innings - 144/3 to 250 all out
Second Test - 127/2 to 336 all out, 176/4 to 243 all out
Third Test First Innings - 187/2 to 240 all out

There were some SL collapses out here in 2018 - so all is definitely not lost yet. There is still a chance they could knock them over for 240, but as long as they keep it sub 350 then it is very much game on.

Still very early. But these two are playing very well and apart from Anderson - and the odd short ball from Wood - the bowling hasn't really threatened at all. Spinners haven't much to work with today ; but Leach in particular was a bit too expensive early on - he's been a lot tighter this second spell.
Root to have a go after tea ?

Still find it odd they waited so long to give Leach a go at this pair, Bess looks like he could bowl all day at them without troubling them. Its just too easy go the right handers to play defensively against him, so whilst hes not been expensive its not going to bring wickets.

Woods pace was right up there, but played very well. I missed the exact stat but Zaltman mentioned something along the lines of only Starc having ever bowled faster than him in a Sri Lanka test.

This pair are a step above the rest of the Sri Lankan batting line up, and there's quite a tail if England can get at it. But batting first if they pass 300 feel England will be right up against it. The pitch wont stay this docile.

alfie wrote:Still very early. But these two are playing very well and apart from Anderson - and the odd short ball from Wood  - the bowling hasn't really threatened at all.  Spinners haven't much to work with today ; but Leach in particular was a bit too expensive early on  - he's been a lot tighter this second spell.
Root to have a go after tea ?

Might be worth giving Root or Lawrence an over or two, to maybe prize one of these two into a false shot. This is the situation where not having the option of someone like Rashid (like they did last time) to add a bit of mystery spin to proceedings hurts them, compared to last time.

Think the seamers have all bowled pretty well again - could do with Wood picking up one or two in his spell in the evening session, would be good to have some reward for his efforts

That was always the thing with Mo, he would just chuck the ball up there and ask the batsmen to hit it cleanly. Roots talking up moving fielders to encourage the batsmen to try and hit the bowlers here. Do feel like England need to start trying to make something happen

Hales 102 off 51 balls in the BBL

Clouds coming over, Anderson back on

Very brief spell for Anderson after tea. Slightly alarming to hear comms talking about saving him for the new ball...23 overs yet !

But the spinners really don't look like taking a wicket. Ah...Jimmy just changing ends...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:Still very early. But these two are playing very well and apart from Anderson - and the odd short ball from Wood  - the bowling hasn't really threatened at all.  Spinners haven't much to work with today ; but Leach in particular was a bit too expensive early on  - he's been a lot tighter this second spell.
Root to have a go after tea ?

Might be worth giving Root or Lawrence an over or two, to maybe prize one of these two into a false shot. This is the situation where not having the option of someone like Rashid (like they did last time) to add a bit of mystery spin to proceedings hurts them, compared to last time.

Think the seamers have all bowled pretty well again - could do with Wood picking up one or two in his spell in the evening session, would be good to have some reward for his efforts

Yeah. Really miss the wrist spinner on pitches like this. Trouble is at the moment the bats don't need to hurry , can just pick up singles and the odd four. England almost seem to waiting for a mistake rather than trying to get a wicket.

If Sri Lanka had batted with this application in the first innings of the first test then the series would have been different. When England haven't been gifted wickets they've found it a struggle to create chances of their own. Doesn't bode well for India who are a level above this Sri Lankan test side in the batting department.

Hundred stand

Looking ominous for England.

Anderson- 3 for 16
The rest- 0 for 163

Apart from Anderson , no heavy pressure on the scoring rate - the rest are all going at 3 per over or more.

Wood again. Needs to get one in this spell ; he's worked hard for no reward so far but must be wondering what he can do to break through...

Fifty for Chandimal

OUT OF THE BLUE ! Excellent from Wood...pinned Chandimal plumb lbw as we go to drinks

Needed that .

Was just about to post this is the worst Wood has bowled all tour...then he gets the breakthrough!

Good work, if they can grab another before the new ball that would be handy...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Was just about to post this is the worst Wood has bowled all tour...then he gets the breakthrough!

Good work, if they can grab another before the new ball that would be handy...

I take it you mean those few balls wide of leg stump , Olly ? Because overall I think he's bowled quite well today. Deserved one...very handy breakthrough indeed. Certainly can't fault his work rate...

Can the spinners do anything now before the new ball ?

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Was just about to post this is the worst Wood has bowled all tour...then he gets the breakthrough!

Good work, if they can grab another before the new ball that would be handy...

I take it you mean those few balls wide of leg stump , Olly ? Because overall I think he's bowled quite well today.  Deserved one...very handy breakthrough indeed.  Certainly can't fault his work rate...

Can the spinners do anything now before the new ball ?

Yeah just talking about this spell Alfie, bowled nicely in his first two spells today for sure, but was throwing in a few filthy ones in his first two overs this spell. Be nice to prize out Mathews, he's the key now!

Mathews doesn't look like going anywhere. Though I'm not sure he has enjoyed facing Wood...

Dickwella might be vulnerable early though. Think I might try Bess at him.

Soul Requiem wrote:Anderson- 3 for 16
The rest- 0 for 163

Exactly for all the talk of progress in the batting its the same old problems with the bowlers.

TBF Wood has deserved more than he's got on the tour, and Leach has beaten the bat a few times but overall they just really struggle on flat decks, and even more so with a non Dukes ball.

Its still not quite panic time thanks to those early wickets from Anderson but depressingly familiar

Depends. They've brought the run rate down quite well , and broken the big stand. IF they can strike with the new ball this could yet turn into a decent day's work.

Hundred for Mathews Really well played...

Wood’s earning his rest for those India tests here!

Mathews is a class batsman and it's a crying shame that this is only his 11th test century. His average is somewhat misleading as it's helped by a disproportionality high amount of not outs which is somewhat indicative of the Sri Lankan lower order but with his talent he should be around the 17/18 mark.

Wood into his eighth of this spell...he might welcome that rotation after this match !

No joy yet for the new ball as the day winds down...Anderson still probing away , 3/20 in his nineteenth...

If this goes to the close just four down Sri Lanka will be satisfied. England have fought hard and kept the rate under control ; but not enough to overcome the loss of the toss.

That is it then 229/4. Home team on top. Early play tomorrow vital...

Not sure SL are that on top though? Jayawardene reckoned it would be pretty flat until the end of Day 3 - so England just need to do what India did to them last time out. Restrict to 350 ideally, and then go big with the bat. Winning the toss is such a huge advantage in the sub continent so it will take a huge effort to get past that but by limiting SL to the RR they did today they have made sure they aren’t too far behind the game. Leach and and Bess seemed to bowl a lot better from what I saw today.

Yeah I'd say SL have their noses just about in front at the moment, but as we've kept the run rate in check, definitely nowhere near out of it...and if they get Mathews early tomorrow with a relatively new ball, then with the longer SL tail could really restrict them to a below match winning effort. Thought they did alright today to be honest England.

Pitch is markedly different to the last game...think I counted two balls from Leach which turned past the edge? Bit of reverse for Wood later in the innings, but otherwise not a lot for them either, looks like a Sri Lanka style wicket from the 2000's as opposed to recent years where it's turned from ball one.

England, of course though, are going to need to bat really well in their first dig...because you'd think barring it being a total pancake of yesteryear (think 600 plays 600 in SL), by day 4/5 it will be turning...

Morning session should be good tomorrow - fairly crucial too.

Well yeah the point is England arent far behind yet but having to bat second means the gap will probably be a lot bigger than it looks. They will have to outplay Sri Lanka from here on to get something from the game. Theres no great shame in coming away with a drawn series having lost both tosses away from home by any stretch.

Assuming the can still keep SL to a manageable total they will have to bat very well and avoid the standard England folding to a mediocre spinner at least once a series.

Soul Requiem wrote:Mathews is a class batsman and it's a crying shame that this is only his 11th test century. His average is somewhat misleading as it's helped by a disproportionality high amount of not outs which is somewhat indicative of the Sri Lankan lower order but with his talent he should be around the 17/18 mark.

Agree with you there Soul. Though Mathews attitude to fitness might have hampered him at times. A couple of years ago a friend referred to him as 'the Colombo Rob Key'. Likely something to do with him becoming a batsman who bowls rather than an all rounder as well.

Playing in weaker batting lineups never helps a player score runs either to be fair.

It was a very assured innings coming in with his side in trouble.

Overall Sri Lanka's day.

Anderson and Wood bowled well I felt. Wood with less reward but he is putting the hard yards in when the ball is dead. It was great to see him controlling reverse swing well for the Chandimal wicket.

With the way Galle wickets deteriorate on days 3, 4 and 5 I'd have to say Sri Lanka are slightly up. England still have a relatively new ball though and are only a couple of wickets from breaking through to the dangerous but inconsistent Perera. Below that is a long tail.

Getting Dickwella or Mathews early will be important. Ramesh Mendis has a good first-class record but will be nervy on debut.

It was a great seeing Anderson looking fully fit and bowling well. He keeps improving in unhelpful conditions. Just a remarkable cricketer.

Caught extended highlights of T2, D1 and I think

Lanka was Lucky to win the toss on a pitch that's flat and dry and doesn't spin much for first two days

Anderson was lucky with all his 3 wickets.....out to rash shots......Wood's was the only earned  wicket of the day...showing that if you don't have quality spinners, express pace & reverse is the only way to beat the batsman....and I have been advocating that Eng focus on having 2 to 3 express pacers.
Thiramanne was lucky to survive the LBW when on naught

Though overall Curran's bowling is like that of Colingwood & Cronje....batting no where near as close.....lucky to be in playing 11

With Bess & Leach expectedly looking harmless....Eng are up & against it...unless rain intervenes.

And can't place it exactly why...but Butcher is a very very irritating commentator

229/4 - advantage Sri Lanka, but England still well in the contest.

Anderson was superb overall. 19 overs, in that heat and those conditions, for just the concession of 24 runs and taking 3 wickets is a world-class return. His first two wickets were mistakes from the batsmen, yes, but his third wicket was class - setting up Thirimanne with balls coming in, then one moving away to take the edge. Classic. And it's not entirely about the wickets he takes, it's the pressure he places on the batsmen - ten maidens he bowled in total. England will be hoping, praying and pleading to the Almighty that he can play at least two tests against India. 

Wood also bowled well. Real heat and intensity from him to rattle the Sri Lankans, especially Chandimal. And Curran's first spell was decent, found some appreciable swing and was unfortunate not to get Perera second ball, but thereafter a consistent line and length seemed to elude him.

The spinners were incredibly poor. 40 overs between them, zero wickets and 120 runs conceded, just four maidens. We all know that in the sub-continent there will be stages of the game, particularly in the first two days, where there is absolutely nothing happening for the bowlers. When that happens, it's integral that the spinners can graft hard and build pressure with tight, economical bowling. If they can't do that, and Bess and Leach seem unable to, then the best-case scenario that results from that for the fielding side is the batters can milk the runs and steadily build the total under no duress. The worst-case scenario, and this may arrive when Gill/Rohit/Pant are batting, is the spinners get forcibly blasted out of the attack, forcing the captain to go back to his seam bowlers early which will cause them fatigue.

Mathews was clearly Sri Lanka's best player of the day. Batted perfectly in the conditions, didn't force anything unnecessarily, just built a solid innings and punished the bad balls when they arrived. Similar to Soul's comments, I'm surprised it's only his 11th test century, I thought he'd be around the 20 mark by now. Kusal Perera's dismissal was another shocker; he seems to be a low-budget version of David Warner (when Warner was good).

229/4 then. England will be frustrated they couldn't get one more with the new ball last night. It's quite balanced, but England are batting last so you'd have to say Sri Lanka are in front for now. This is a total that could easily become 400+ if both Mathews and Dickwella can settle back in tomorrow; however, a couple of quick wickets for England tomorrow and Sri Lanka will struggle to make 350. Brilliantly poised then.