*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[Maximas]

Yeah, you wonder if there's ever enough runs in the bank for our attack to defend

 

[YorksLanka]

Yeah, you wonder if there's ever enough runs in the bank for our attack to defend

thing is, this England batting line up is ridiculous in terms of depth of batting so I don't think our attack(especially without Malinga ) can defend even a big score like this..

 

[YorksLanka]

Good score to end up on (probably more than we scored in total in the Asia cup lol) but cant see us defending this against England's batting..

 

[theegyptian]

England batting much weaker today. Curran at 7 and Rashid at 8 is lightyears from Ali and Woakes in the same position. Only really Bairstow, Root, Roy and Morgan have had much of a bat either so far on tour- and two of them aren't playing. Plus England bowled rubbish. SL comfortable favourites imo.

Stokes and Ali are wedded together in the team. Neither are good enough frontline bowlers to be part of a 5 man attack. Ali's fortunate in the last few years that the balance they've come up with means he's kind of key to their plans. If you want to drop Stokes (to bring in Hales) then you've probably got to drop Ali too - and play Hales and a seamer instead.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah good chance to get a bit of confidence back, knock over a couple of early wickets and apply the middle overs spinners choke, but if one or two of the England boys gets going this could go down to the wire, could be a great chase

 

[Maximas]

As I was saying...

 

[fredfertang]

looks like we may be runners-up here - might as well have stayed in the office

 

[trundler]

This is brilliant stuff. I'm loving the aggressive field placing with slips and all. Make these ****ers bat properly.

 

[trundler]

A classic case of the team's fielding form following their bowling form.

 

[andmark]

This might be good for both teams. For Sri Lanka, it could add some needed confidence and a much longed for result. For England, it could keep them on their toes for the World Cup and not to take their current ODI standards for granted.

 

[trundler]

I feel this is a preview of England's WC performance.

 

[wpdavid]

England weren't great the other day and were a little lucky to get the win.

Sounds like Bairstow may not be fit for the first test due to his football injury.

Last ODI tomorrow. Sounds like there may be a few changes to the England team to give those on the periphery a chance.

… a chance to play themselves out of contention based on what we've seen so far. Thanks for coming guys, but don't get your hopes up. Woakes and Stone presumably the main beneficiaries from this match. Maybe even David Willey too.

 

[wpdavid]

cricinfo saying that Stokes is really hobbling out there. Is this true?

 

[trundler]

Yep. He copped one above the thigh pad.

 

[wpdavid]

Begs the question of why he's still out there unless we don't want him to play in the test matches.

 

[wpdavid]

Come on lads, someone stick around for half a dozen overs so Stokes can reach his ton before retiring hurt.

 

[vcs]

Good consolation win for Sri Lanka. When was the last time England failed to chase a total of any kind in ODIs?

 

[trundler]

How hard is it to stand and slog like Gayle?

Well, doesn't matter. He's gone.

 

[vcs]

No, I literally can't remember them losing a game while chasing a total in recent times. They've lost a few when they've gone too hard trying to set a total and fallen short.

 

[wpdavid]

Good consolation win for Sri Lanka. When was the last time England failed to chase a total of any kind in ODIs?

No idea. But it must be a while since we've lost by 200+. Nice bit of nostalgia by the boys today.