England v Sri Lanka | 1st Test | Galle | Mar 26-30, 2012

[KingKhanWC]

Start time 10.00am or 04.30 GMT.

England will be looking to win this series after suffering a heavy defeat to Pakistan while Sri Lanka under a new skipper will be looking to continue England's misery.

I think the team line up will be..

Thirimanne,
Dilshan
Sangakkara
Jayawardene (c)
Samaraweera
Chandimal
Jayawardene (wk)
Randiv
Rangana Herath
Lakmal
Welegedera

Strauss (c)
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bopara,
Prior (w)
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

Sri Lanka have a strong batting line in these conditions while imo England have the better bowling attack. Bopara won't be bowling after picking up a side strain so England only have to pace options. Broad suffered a niggle but should be o.k to bowl.

Once again it looks like playing spin for both sides will decide who the winners are.

It's a tough one to call since England must have learned a lot after losing to Pakistan but Sri Lanka under Mahela will not be an easy team to defeat.

Best of luck to both teams.

[violet_may]

Wow, time flies. Didn't realize Eng vs. SL Test was already here. Will be an interesting watch after Eng's encounter against us, I am giving SL the edge here.

[Ruri]

What happens if the toss is won by SL? And they choose to bat first. That could go badly, we'd be knackered from the heat before we start batting.

Hopefully Jimmy and Broady will run through them and avoid having to play for ages in the heat.

[Umar Akmal's Brain]

Come on Sri Lanka! Wish them the best, always been a fan of their team and people.

[Shaheerthe2nd]

I reckon Jimmy will get a ten-for.

[Ruri]

I can't wait. Its only a teaser trailer with 2 Tests. But Tests are sooooo much fun.

[violet_may]

I wish Pakistan were playing a Test series against a formidable team in the near future, a bit boring now after the high I experienced due to the series against Eng. Nothing is as entertaining as following a Test match!

[Ruri]

NO! Fatty gets a debut! Oh no! Are we seriously going into a game with 2 pacers, 2 spinners, and 1 part time spinner? Against a team that struggles against pace more than it struggles against spin?

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Ruri NO! Fatty gets a debut! Oh no! Are we seriously going into a game with 2 pacers, 2 spinners, and 1 part time spinner? Against a team that struggles against pace more than it struggles against spin?

I fear that the wrong move has been made.

Bresnan was the answer!!!

[Ruri]

Cricinfo failing to report on this stuff.

Cricbuzz says SL elect to bat after winning the Toss. Uh oh.


Well, better start watching in 22 mins then.

[Ruri]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI I fear that the wrong move has been made. Bresnan was the answer!!!

We have yet to lose a Test match that Bresnan has played in. And Bresnan is a pretty good batsman, Samit is good too as a bat, but do we need his batting more or a reliable bowler in these terribly draining conditions?

[MVP26]

England making a mistake not playing Bresnan. Sri Lanka will now target Fatel.

[Fawad2010]

WOW, a bit shocked that Patel is in instead of Bresnan! What do Flower/Strauss see in Patel?

[Ruri]

On the bright side, SL don't pick Silva who bashed to all corners in Tour Match 2.

[Fawad2010]

SL top order is strong, if Broad+Anderson can get a few wicket at the top, I think SL will fold today.

[Fawad2010]

With Patel's inclusion, England are effectively playing 2 pacers and 3 spinners attack.

Very interesting. Did the Pakistan Tests change the approach England will take in sub-continent from now on?

[violet_may]

Uh oh, SL batting first.

[James]

Originally Posted by Fawad2010 With Patel's inclusion, England are effectively playing 2 pacers and 3 spinners attack. Very interesting. Did the Pakistan Tests change the approach England will take in sub-continent from now on?

It's a good point. Samit is a spirited and brave batsman unlike the distinctly ordinary tuk-tuk Bopara, and might take a couple of wickets. Bopara is also unfit to bowl, so I disagree with Vaughan that England should have picked him. I would have gone with Bresnan because he has a cracking record and we are already playing two spinners, but the Andrews often get it right. Let's see.

[Ruri]

Yay, wasting a review in the first over. That's clever England. Keep at it.

[violet_may]

Review wasted in first over...

[James]

Who called that? Was always going to be a shocking review.

[Ruri]

"A wicket or two would really help England in their cause."

Hmm, are you sure? Isn't that common sense?

[James]

Grim leg-stump line so far.

[Ruri]

10,000 Pounds please.

[Ruri]

Broad looks off.

Nowhere near as tight.

[James]

Typical Dilshan hack over vacant third slip. Crap first two overs.

[Ruri]

EASY! Anderson!


That's my boy!

[James]

Lad! Typical Jimmy to left-handed opener dismissal, good catch as usual by Swann

[Ruri]

2 in 2!


SANGAKKARA! JIMMY YOU BEAUTY!

You made me spill my iced tea all over when I saw that nick.

[Fawad2010]

Woohooo!

SL 2 down!

Nice going Jimmy

[violet_may]

Omg, another one! Sanga this time! Anderson on :aag

[Justcrazy]

Anderson on song here

[James]

Anderson on a treble! Fission Mailed Sanga lol, terrible.

[Fawad2010]

Anderson trying hard to bring his career average down under 30

[Justcrazy]

Very good start by England here, they have got into groove .

[Justcrazy]

SL need to fight back hard here, all is not lost yet. England have to bat last here.

[Ruri]

2-2-0-2 for Jimmy. Excellent start.

[Ruri]

If Broad cocks up the pressure, I'll be furious.

[James]

hohm trak bullie m i rite

[Justcrazy]

Anderson would end up with 400 wickets, they way he is bowling.

[Anfield]

SL still in Limited overs mode. lol

[Ruri]

That's 251 wickets for Anderson as well, 250 was Thirimanne. Excellent job.

[Ruri]

Terrible waft by Dilshan, complete hack with the bat.

[violet_may]

Wow, awesome start by England. So glad I am awake for this!

[Justcrazy]

SL need to get to at least 350 .... to make a match out of it

[violet_may]

Dilshan...WTH is he up to?

[Justcrazy]

[Ruri]

3!

Broad gets Dilshan! TOO EASY

[James]

Epic!

Dilshan is awful.

[Fawad2010]

3 down!

[SempreSami]

Is Patel going to bat at 7 then? I'm sick of him being touted as a bowler who happens to have a bat in his kitbag.

[Fawad2010]

Jaya is the main man for SL now..

[Justcrazy]

[Ruri]

Originally Posted by SempreSami Is Patel going to bat at 7 then? I'm sick of him being touted as a bowler who happens to have a bat in his kitbag.

He's a batsman that has a spinning finger, and therefore by extension is one of the better spinners in England.


We have all of 5 decent ones in England.

[waqar_ahmad]

This music that lankan crowds play is so annoying!!

And they dont even get tired

[Justcrazy]

Disastrous for SL here

[violet_may]

To be honest, Dilshan looked like he would get out soon anyways.

[Justcrazy]

[Ruri]

Terrible ball.

Legside and easy to glance away.

[Anfield]

HTB to score a ton here?

[Ruri]

What is up with Broad's no-balls.


He's normally very fine with it, and we've had two already.

[Justcrazy]

24 / 3

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Ruri We have yet to lose a Test match that Bresnan has played in. And Bresnan is a pretty good batsman, Samit is good too as a bat, but do we need his batting more or a reliable bowler in these terribly draining conditions?

Maybe it won't matter...

[Ruri]

That music is terribly annoying.

[Anfield]

Originally Posted by Ruri What is up with Broad's no-balls. He's normally very fine with it, and we've had two already.

two no-balls someone said?

[Ruri]

Originally Posted by Ruri 10,000 Pounds please.

Originally Posted by Anfield two no-balls someone said?

Got you covered.

[Ruri]

Really tight bowling by Jimmy.

[Anfield]

lol I put up the wrong guy though. Poor Sami.

wondering- what if had been Sami? Everyone would have been asking for life-ban at PP. lol

[Ruri]

Take Jimmy off. Don't let your fast bowlers die from dehydration in the first session of the series.

[Justcrazy]

27 / 3

[Justcrazy]

SL need to get at least 350 here , or its all over.

[violet_may]

Has anyone else noticed that ...samaraweera still hasn't gotten off the mark yet (I almost didn't realize)? Trying to snatch the tuk tuk title

[Justcrazy]

29 / 3

[Justcrazy]

Samaraweera 21 balls yet on 0

[Justcrazy]

Maidens !!

[Justcrazy]

Samaraweera 27 balls no runs !!!

[Justcrazy]

Very tight bowling by English here.

[violet_may]

Tuk tuk galore at the moment, ba da pa pa pa pa..am lovin' it

[violet_may]

Sri Lanka RR 1.87
Last 10 ovs 6/0 RR 0.60

[Justcrazy]

SL need to start rotating the strike here.