England Test Series in Sri Lanka

[MK 325]

First Test Series without Cook, Bairstow injured, not sure who our no.1 spinner is and a lack of pre-series practise doesn't have me too confident for this one.

However, it does give us an option to try out some new players. I'm very excited to see how Burns can get on, he's been one of the Championship's best batsmen for years now. This cap has been a long time coming. I'd also hope the selectors use Bairstow's injury as a opportunity to try Foakes out. He is a fantastic glove-man and not a bad batsman either. I bet they give Buttler the gloves though, as that seems to be the England way. Picking the best WK/batsman rather than the best WK.

I think Sri Lanka have the chance to white wash us here but the rain should come to our rescue at least once so i'll go for 2-0 series loss.

[AndyinLiverpool 5,883]

I have just been having a fume with a colleague about the level of incompetence involved in organising this tour - one-dayers during the monsoon followed by utterly meaningless 14-a-side warm up games. A cricket tour by people who don't understand cricket.

Was it organised by the keystone cops?

 

 

Edited November 5, 2018 by AndyinLiverpool

[MK 325]

England 113-5 at lunch. Kind of the performance I expected unfortunately. 

My excitement about seeing Burns bat will have to wait - he was out before I woke up. Glad Foakes has been picked though (can you tell I'm a Surrey member?)

[AndyinLiverpool 5,883]

Such are my expectations for this series that I woke up, saw the lunch time score and thought, ‘Could be worse.’

[MK 325]

These two Surrey boys have turned things around quite nicely. *proud face*

Still some work to be done before we have an above par score i feel but at least it's competitive now

[AndyinLiverpool 5,883]

It's a pity we couldn't find space for Woakes to play alongside Stokes and Foakes.

[Carnero 6,841]

How long before they shove Foakes at 3 and take the gloves off him?

[MK 325]

321-8, I'll take that. Would be nice if Leach and Anderson can stick around for Foakes to make a debut century tomorrow and push it towards 350. May even get up and 4am and watch on the sofa under the duvet for an couple of hours. 

[eddie 26,004]

Happy to be retired - I record the game, have a lie-in then watch it at leisure during the day, counting Derby County flanges and playing 'spot the @sage'.

 

[sage 10,542]

55 minutes ago, eddie said:

Happy to be retired - I record the game, have a lie-in then watch it at leisure during the day, counting Derby County flanges and playing 'spot the @sage'.

 

I'm at long on when they bowl from the Fort. I'm underneath a tree with the Sri Lankan Police Force.

 

[reveldevil 17,034]

1 minute ago, sage said:

I'm at long on when they bowl from the Fort. I'm underneath a tree with the Sri Lankan Police Force.

 

They got my email then. Glad they're keeping an eye on you.

[eddie 26,004]

2 hours ago, sage said:

I'm at long on when they bowl from the Fort. I'm underneath a tree with the Sri Lankan Police Force.

 

The Sri Lankan Police Force? I see you've adopted your default position then.

[AndyinLiverpool 5,883]

Well done Keaton Jennings.

[eddie 26,004]

15 hours ago, AndyinLiverpool said:

Well done Keaton Jennings.

Almost Cook-like - superb innings.

[eddie 26,004]

A very comprehensive victory for England in conditions they traditionally struggle in.

[Boycie 16,621]

3 minutes ago, eddie said:

A very comprehensive victory for England in conditions they traditionally struggle in.

Facing a bowler you mean?

[HantsRam 8,781]

Another good win rakes the series with one to play.

First series win in Sri Lanka since 2001 and the spinners did the job.

[Carnero 6,841]

What a short leg catcher Keaton Jennings is!!!

[AndyinLiverpool 5,883]

Fascinating stuff this morning.

Brilliant fight back by England.

[Carnero 6,841]

What a turnaround as SL fall from 173/1 to 222/8... hats off to Stokes & Rashid (plus Jennings & Foakes!)