England vs Sri Lanka

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Interesting picks for the England squad - good to see an Essex player in there...

[SUFCEssex]

I do hope the weather holds up and they get a decent game in.

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

It seems like it will be fine - would prefer to bowl first though, the way that Lewis ripped through the batting line-up, a bit of early summer swing and seam would see a similar situation...

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Doing well - pity Cook didn't reach his century, but I'm sure 650 will be attainable.

[canveyshrimper]

400/4 - Pietersen has got a 100, on that basis 550-600 is more than manageable, bearing in mind after Geraint Jones England do not have much recognised batting talent.

[C C Csiders]

With the precociousness of the Sri Lankan batting line-up I think a declaration shortly before tea will take place, at around the 550 mark (prepare for afternoon fireworks). I think we will aim to do this as the forecast for tomorrow is none too good, and we will want as much time as possible to dismiss them twice.

[Bluesmanager]

422-4, and Freddy's not in yet. God help (or not) the Sri Lankans.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ May 12 2006,12:45)]With the precociousness of the Sri Lankan batting line-up I think a declaration shortly before tea will take place, at around the 550 mark (prepare for afternoon fireworks). I think we will aim to do this as the forecast for tomorrow is none too good, and we will want as much time as possible to dismiss them twice.
Spooky, eh? *http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif * http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/ghostface.gif

551-6 dec. 20 minutes before tea.

Of course, I have a hotline to the ENgland dressing room. Me and Freddie, well we are like:

http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_challenge/282/125204.jpg

[Shrimper2thecore]

Game as good as over!!

Hmm, it ain't over til vanessa feltz sings. theyve showed dogged resistance and managed to muster up enough runs to go past our tally. We should still win, as long as the weather stays dry and bright....i imagine they will just bat slowly and defend as much as possible, not take any risks and when the light goes even slightly bad, they will take it. could, therefore, be a frustrating afternoon for us

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Shrimper2thecore @ May 12 2006,21:22)]Game as good as over!!
Yeah, as a draw! http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[stickyboy]

what a **** up - cant believe we are going to end up with a draw.

We seem to have some serious problems dismissing lower order batsmen. It was noticable in the Ashes series with warne, lee and even kaspirowicz at times, we just couldn't get them out. And this is just very frustrating now that we're once again struggling to get the Sri Lankan lower order out. hopefully harmy will be back for the next test because they'll take a massive boost if they manage to snatch a draw out of this

[C C Csiders]

Bad light again, that's the death knell for this Test.

Desperate for Harmison to come back, and for the fielders to get some catching practice. I've had enough of Geraint Jones!

[canveyshrimper]

Fair play to Sri Lanka in forcing the draw, but the England fielding has been nowhere near to standard. Way too many regulation catches have gone to ground in this match.

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ May 15 2006,17:01)]I've had enough of Geraint Jones!
To be quite honest, all the fielders had a collective off match.

Saying that, there are at least three keepers better than Jones (including Essex's own James Foster).

[SUFCEssex]

Foster is miles better than Jones.

[number11]

THink no one (even Jones or Fletcher) would argue there are no better KEEPERS then Jones. The reason Jones is in the team is that they feel he will score more runs then Foster, Read, WAllace etc.

Then it all goes back to the old argument of runs over reliability behind the stumps

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (number11 @ May 16 2006,17:59)]THink no one (even Jones or Fletcher) would argue there are no better KEEPERS then Jones. *The reason Jones is in the team is that they feel he will score more runs then Foster, Read, WAllace etc.

Then it all goes back to the old argument of runs over reliability behind the stumps
How many runs has Read scored this summer? That arguement doesn't hold up, IMHO. If Plunkett can score runs at number 8 (and take wickets), then I'm sure Jones will be dropped sooner rather than later.

[number11]

But if you listen to Fletcher or the England players on the matter it is clear they pick Jones because they beleive his batting has the potential for bigger scores at test level. It will need another wicket keeper to score a bucket full to change their view.

I would think they would only change their policy on insisting on a batting keeper at no.7 if they unearth a bowling allrounder....someone akin to what Craig White use to priovide, who could provide runs at 8, or bat at 7 and have the keeper at 8.

Personally I dont know who I would go for, its a slight weak link until the obvious promise in Jones's batting really kicks on.