*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[Agricultural]

Yeah Buttler keeping, despite his poor end to the summer I still believe YJB can become a cracking test batsman and should give up the comfort blanket of the gloves. Would have him at five and Pope at 6.

He's been out of nick for a long time in test cricket. I don't think Bairstow is good enough to bat above 7 in test cricket.

 

[Agricultural]

I don't really have a strong opinion on who to play out of Broad/Curran/Woakes, or even Stone. I think it's more important that they only select two specialist quicks than it is who the non-Anderson one is.

I agree that Broad will very likely play though. If they didn't want to play him they probably would have rested him from the entire tour.

Anderson, Curran and Stokes is enough. No need for Broad (or Woakes) who have bad away records.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

He's been out of nick for a long time in test cricket. I don't think Bairstow is good enough to bat above 7 in test cricket.

Agreed. Until England sort their top order out. He seems to have great strengths but equally great weaknesses.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Denly by the way bowls more than useful leggies (59 at 38.08). If they go with the two offies then that might factor in his selection.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

Denly by the way bowls more than useful leggies (59 at 38.08). If they go with the two offies then that might factor in his selection.

Better numbers than Rashid I think.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Better numbers than Rashid I think.

Those are first-class (i.e. county championship basically as he has never played a test). Rashid is 500 at 34.98 (first-class) and 48 at 40.31 (test).

 

[wpdavid]

Denly by the way bowls more than useful leggies (59 at 38.08). If they go with the two offies then that might factor in his selection.

Who's the 2nd offie after Moeen?

 

[S.Kennedy]

Who's the 2nd offie after Moeen?

Leach.

 

[wpdavid]

Those are first-class (i.e. county championship basically as he has never played a test). Rashid is 500 at 34.98 (first-class) and 48 at 40.31 (test).

Plus most of Denly's wickets will have been in D2. I don't think the SL batters will be losing sleep over the prospect.

 

[wpdavid]

Leach.

Left arm isn't he? Finger spin, but still turning it from leg against the right handers.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Semantics.

 

[wpdavid]

Semantics.

I was just trying to work out whether you saw Denley's leggies as alternative to bowlers turning it from off or bowlers using finger spin.

And I've always been anti-semantic anyway.

 

[FBU]

Anderson, Curran and Stokes is enough. No need for Broad (or Woakes) who have bad away records.

I think England will go with 4 seamers and 2 spinners.

2 warm up games,
Anderson Curran Stone Stokes
Broad, Woakes Curran Stokes
If Burns and Denly do better than Jennings we might see the last of Jennings, 'who bears the unfortunate tag of being one of the most unsuccessful openers in England’s history: no opening batsman has played as many as 18 innings without scoring a half-century'.

 

[the big bambino]

I like the idea and reasoning for moving Buttler up the order so my side would be

Burns
Denly
Buttler
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Curran
Moeen
Rashid
Stone
Anderson

Denly gets in because Jennings has been awful, Burns seems to be in form. The side has a lot of bowlers but most get in for their run getting anyway. These 4 seamers are a contrast to the same same bowling England had in Australia. Stone gives the side heat and Curran gives it variety. Could he be as effective a bowler as the not too dissimilar Vaas? Imo Anderson looks even better in a side of such contrasting styles. Spinners, Moeen obvs and Rashid just in front of Leach. Mainly because England will need to scrounge as many runs as possible plus Rashid has experience and an ok record in the sub con, as far as it goes. Unlucky to miss out Broad and Leach.

 

[TheJediBrah]

And I've always been anti-semantic anyway.

Me too. Israel has run amok for too long.

 

[randycricfreak]

Angelo Mathews, who had been removed as Sri Lanka's limited-overs captain after they suffered an early exit in the Asia Cup, was omitted from the squad for the upcoming England ODIs altogether because of fitness issues.

Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Upul Tharanga, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Malinga, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha

Stand-bys: Shehan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay


Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Dhanushka Gunethileke dropped.

 

[Starfighter]

I wonder what Lakmal's done to get dropped, especially with Pradeep coming back. Is Kumara injured? I can't wait till Chameera breaks down after two matches.

 

[Maximas]

I wonder what Lakmal's done to get dropped, especially with Pradeep coming back. Is Kumara injured? I can't wait till Chameera breaks down after two matches.

He's possibly having his workload managed, good chance he'll play as the lone seamer in the tests if conditions suit

 

[harsh.ag]

Yeah, these are ODIs, don't think he's been dropped

 

[randycricfreak]

Sri Lanka Test Squad – Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya De Silva, Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Malinda Pushpakumara, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara (Subject to Fitness), Kasun Rajitha.

Lakmal was rested considering the amount of matches he played+ the future test tours of the team

Anyway his stronger suit is Test cricket