***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[JASON]

Surely their performances in England will bring much greater confidence to the side in the future. I mean, you were expecting whitewashes in both arenas but you've tied the Test series and destroyed us in the ODIs. I hope you keep this form going

More than the ODI series win the Test series draw will mean a lot more, IMO. Because that was against a reasonably strong England Team (despite its injuries) as opposed to this ODI series which has become montonously one sided and too easy against a weakened England (batting and bowling) side.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, a drawn series with England in England is no mean feat. Last team to do that we're the Saffies. Rumour has it even the Aussies couldn't do it.

 

[marc71178]

While Sri Lanka's top 4 have done well, the middle order have not really had much of a chance to play longer innings in the middle and the middle 3 of Dilshan, Arnold and Kapugedera (who has only played 1 ODI so far) need to get some exposure in the middle and be given an opportunity to play a long innings if possible if Sri Lanka and Moody are serious about preparing the whole team for the World Cup.

Therefore using this last ODI against England to change the batting order and playing Kapugedera, Dilshan and Arnold ahead of Mahela and Sanga would be ideal IMO. Ruchira Perera needs to play as well IMO , since he has only played in the very first ODI. (admittedly coming in for some stick- but still needs to be given another go , IMO).

Although a change around is an idea, wouldn't it be better for the squad to go full tilt and get a 5-0?

Think of the morale boost that is - last time it happened to England was 30 years ago according to the BBC.

 

[superkingdave]

although iirc in the triseries vs Pakistan and Australia in 2001 we lost all 6 matches

 

[grecian]

Its bizarre though, we win our best test series in my living memory less then a year ago, now we may lose our most embarassing ODI series, in the same time.

Ho-hum.

 

[tooextracool]

Surely their performances in England will bring much greater confidence to the side in the future. I mean, you were expecting whitewashes in both arenas but you've tied the Test series and destroyed us in the ODIs. I hope you keep this form going

Their test side is still hopeless away from home. Dont let Englands poor performance fool you. Sri Lanka didnt play well, their batting failed miserably almost throughout the series, only Englands inability to get tailenders out saved them. And their bowling was even worse than usual when you remove murali out of the equation.

 

[TT Boy]

Their test side is still hopeless away from home. Dont let Englands poor performance fool you. Sri Lanka didnt play well, their batting failed miserably almost throughout the series, only Englands inability to get tailenders out saved them. And their bowling was even worse than usual when you remove murali out of the equation.

 

[JASON]

Its bizarre though, we win our best test series in my living memory less then a year ago, now we may lose our most embarassing ODI series, in the same time.

Ho-hum.

As England advances into the Football World Cup Semi Final tonight (my time) , most English fans would have forgotten this series already I suspect .

 

[JASON]

England can still get their Team right for the Ashes defence against Australia, if their key players Freddie and Pietersen get into some good form going into the Ashes. (along with Trecothick and Strauss)

England's Test Team is still strong provided their key Test bowling Trio (ATM Hoggard, Harmison, Flintoff) remain fit and are strengthened in Tests by Mahmood +/- Plunkett.
England can still draw the coming Ashes series IMO (and thus retain the Ashes) if their injuries do not keep mounting from hereon.
(Although Vaughan and Simon Jones now certain to miss the Ashes.)

England's ODI side unfortunately still has a long way to go .

 

[marc71178]

As England advances into the Football World Cup Semi Final tonight (my time) , most English fans would have forgotten this series already I suspect .

I think we're just trying to forget it because it's such a nightmare actually

 

[marc71178]

England's Test Team is still strong provided their key Test bowling Trio (ATM Hoggard, Harmison, Flintoff) remain fit and are strengthened in Tests by Mahmood +/- Plunkett.

I don't think you can spell weakened!

Out of interest, what does Plunkett have to do to be dropped from this ODI side?

And why exactly was Loudon picked in the squad?

 

[superkingdave]

Tresco should have walked there, can't believe the umpire didn't see the inside edge.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Cook does a Tresco, cameo and then pathetic dismissal.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Cook does a Tresco, cameo and then pathetic dismissal.

If every England batsman made 41 then I'd be happy.

 

[Scaly piscine]

If every England batsman made 41 then I'd be happy.

If you don't go on to get big scores when you get in then you're not gonna win many games - as has happened in this series. England's highest individual score before today was 77, not good enough in a reasonably high scoring series - especially when England have Geraint at 7.

 

[marc71178]

Actually, England's problems this series have been the bowlers being absolutely pathetic.

 

[superkingdave]

Actually, England's problems this series have been the bowlers being absolutely pathetic.

yes and no, imo even with the bowling problems we could have won a game if the batting a) hadn't wasted the power plays in the first and third ODI's
b) stagnated under Dalrymple and Solanki at Old Trafford.

 

[superkingdave]

why are none of the England batsmen trying to hit over extra cover? what's with playing accross the line at malinga bowling full and straight every ball?

 

[superkingdave]

27 runs off the last 4 overs when 294/4, Malinga bowled fantastically well but you have to ask questions of the batsmen, just one 4 and that a lucky one past the keeper.

322 is definately chaseable.

 

[Barney Rubble]

27 runs off the last 4 overs when 294/4, Malinga bowled fantastically well but you have to ask questions of the batsmen, just one 4 and that a lucky one past the keeper.

322 is definately chaseable.

Sri Lanka to win by four wickets. No total is unchaseable against this attack!