*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[Gremlin]

Not sure Broad will get much out of this match to be honest, but there we go. I hope YJB thinks a bit about his batting, he is super talented but his concept of "positive intent" has been trying to hit the leather off the ball first delivery lately.

 

[Starfighter]

Not sure Broad will get much out of this match to be honest, but there we go.

Probably a little raise to his bowling average.

 

[wpdavid]

Bairstow for Curran and Broad for Anderson is the news.

I don't think there's been a test where we've had more wicketkeepers than bowlers before but here we are.

I could arguably dig out an XI that didn't include even one genuinely test quality bowler at that moment in time, but I take your point.
Picking 3 guys who have been part of starting XIs as keepers may well be a world first anyway.

 

[harsh.ag]

So, it's going to be Broad + Stokes + 3 spinners. Not too bad.

Three specialist bowlers. Three wicket keepers. They should pair off in practice and carry that on in the game.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bairstow for Curran and Broad for Anderson is the news.

I don't think there's been a test where we've had more wicketkeepers than bowlers before but here we are.

Hopefully Moeen bats eight if this is the lineup. He's bowled beautifully the last few series and is a walk up start in these conditions, but there's no justification for him batting ahead of any of the wicket keepers at the moment.

 

[Borges]

Yes. He's bowled very well in the last two series; surely does not hold the ATVG status as a bowler any more. As a top order bat, he is still the archetypal ATVG.

 

[FBU]

Probably a little raise to his bowling average.

Don't be surprised if Root loses the toss and Broad takes a 5fer. Last time England at Colombo it was 11 wickets to spin and 9 to the seamers.

 

[Starfighter]

Don't be surprised if Root loses the toss and Broad takes a 5fer. Last time England at Colombo it was 11 wickets to spin and 9 to the seamers.

That was a) when SL was still preparing fairer pitches and b) at P Sara, not SSC. I'm actually unconvinced that SL would do any worse by making a fair pitch and letting their seamers into the game, except that Kumara's not in the squad.

 

[Burgey]

Bairstow for Curran and Broad for Anderson is the news.

I don't think there's been a test where we've had more wicketkeepers than bowlers before but here we are.

Is Anderson injured or being rested?

 

[GIMH]

That’s none of your business

 

[Burgey]

Would be an indictment if he's being rested for a test match. I know it's only SL, but still.

 

[GIMH]

Mate a dead rubber in SL is worth about as much as the game of backyard in my garden at my birthday BBQ in 2008

 

[Burgey]

I understand that, but it's still a test match. You wouldn't see the ATGs missing even a test match as irrelevant and unnecessary as this one. It's why he will only ever be ATVG.

 

[jimmy101]

It'd be silly to play Anderson in a dead rubber when you have a golden opportunity to give a younger bowler a go.

 

[Starfighter]

It'd be silly to play Anderson in a dead rubber when you have a golden opportunity to give a younger bowler a go.

Yep, a younger bowler like Broad...

 

[FBU]

That was a) when SL was still preparing fairer pitches and b) at P Sara, not SSC. I'm actually unconvinced that SL would do any worse by making a fair pitch and letting their seamers into the game, except that Kumara's not in the squad.

Thanks for that. I thought it was the SSC. I see Steyn and Rabada bowled 28 overs each, 187/1. Also read that Broad took 35 overs before he got his one and only wicket.

 

[wpdavid]

Hopefully Moeen bats eight if this is the lineup. He's bowled beautifully the last few series and is a walk up start in these conditions, but there's no justification for him batting ahead of any of the wicket keepers at the moment.

Apparently Foakes will bat at 8, with Ali at 7. Wouldn't have been my choice either.

 

[Daemon]

Anderson gets away with yet another disappointing tour then

 

[Adders]

Anderson gets away with yet another disappointing tour then

Well you've been getting away with a very disappointing face so........

 

[OverratedSanity]

Anderson gets away with yet another disappointing tour then

B-b-but remember that time he did well in Australia when Shane Watson was their only good batsman? That proves he's a great overseas bowler. Not the million other overseas games where he looks more toothless than a 102 year old grandma.