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England in Sri Lanka and West Indies

England Second innings 322-6 declared

Jennings 146 (Faced 280 balls) Not Out
Stokes 62 (Faced 93 balls)
Buttler 35 (Faced 58 balls)
Foakes 37 (Faced 34 balls)

England lead by 461

Great knock by opening batsman Jennings to get 146 and remain not out.

Sri Lanka Second innings 15-0

They need a further 447 runs to win in the remaining 2 days.
 
I think Curran misses out in that situation. I don't think his bowling is as good as Woakes and Stokes, at least at this stage of his career. Seems harsh to drop him - for most of the 90s we were crying out for someone like him.

I think the point has been made a number of times that England have a abundance of all rounders who mostly bat lower middle order - I maintain that they can't all play in the same side. We are trying to fit more in by playing Moeen Ali at three and on the Verdict (sky sports) Dominic Cork was even suggesting he should open! Bob Willis stated Bairstow should open with Jennings if fit at expense of Burns because he's scored runs for England before - complete madness, neither have the technique to play in top five never mind open the innings.
Bairstow has been in appalling form of late and will have to wait for his chance to come around again. Woakes doesn't bat or bowl as well as Stokes and at the moment, Curran is the player picked in the side and he hasn't put a foot wrong yet so again, Woakes has to wait for his chance to come around.
England reportedly going with extra seamer next test and I fully expect Broad or Olly Stone to be that extra man and not Woakes.
England in England normally only go with one Spinner and on current form it will be Moeen along with three seamers plus Stokes.
I would like something like
Jennings, Burns, a proper 3!, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Foakes, Ali, Curran, Broad and Anderson
I don't think this will be far off if all stay fit.
 
Sri Lanka 250 all out

England win by 211 runs

Moeen 4-71
Leach 3-60

Rangana Herath this was his last International for Sri Lanka, what a great bowling career the 40 year old he has had.

Career stats
Tests 433 wickets
ODI 74 wickets
T20Is 18 wickets
First Class 1071 wickets
List A 226 wickets
T20 57 wickets
 
Having watched all the highlights, some live play and all The Cricket Debate shows, I conclude I wouldn't have a clue who to pick.

Some good points, above, for definite. Especially Bairstow's current form. Averaging 30.00 over the last 18 months. No wonder he didn't want to relinquish the gloves!

For me, you shouldn't change a winning side. Not sure why we are contemplating playing an extra seamer. I'll be surprised if Pallekele is any different to Galle. Galle didn't even spin overly for a normal Galle pitch.

No team changes for me. Burns has to play. Bairstow's only hope is he gets picked to bat 3 and Moeen goes back down the order. Rashid misses out. I wouldn't do that, personally, as we have a really balanced attack. Three seamers, including a left-armer and three different spinners.

At last, we have a specialist keeper, as well. Just a decade or so too late for James Foster, sadly!
 
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I'd rather Denly than Vince as a 3 but I'm not sure he makes the strongest XI either.

Root's probably our best 3 (as well as our best opener and best 4). Maybe Root at 3 and Stokes who seems to have the tightest technique or the rest at 4.

Or maybe England should try Woakes or Curran there on the basis that we lose least with their batting (and bowling?) and if they can bat out 10 overs they'll have done a job?

Yep, good call on Denly. I like Vince, but the selectors don't seem to have the patience with him anymore.

The thing I don't get with Root is why he feels he can't bat at 3. In this last test, he virtually did anyway!

If Root could bat 3, then you could risk a Bairstow or even Stokes at 4. Possibly Buttler, the way he has applied himself to build a test innings in the last 6 months since his return.

Moeen Ali is an odd one. Bats 3 and often opens for Worcestershire. That was his spot on a regular basis when he was first picked for England and the reason he was initially chosen, but just looks like he doesn't want to be there for England. His two dismissals in this test were an embarrassment.
 
England are still trying to replace Strauss and Trott and of course now Cook. Leave Ali at eight as that’s where he’s had all his success. Agree with the Root debate, he simply has to bat three at least until a specialist batsman comes in and takes the spot. (It’s why they want Vince to come good so much) if Root moves to three then I agree Stokes could move to four and then possibly a spot for Bairstow at five but personally I’d stick Pope at five and Buttler Foakes six seven.
 
Half the problem with the revolving door batting order is the instruction from management. Root alluded to the fact that we had the mindset of scoring quickly from ball one in this test. It's half the reason why batsmen struggle to retain their place. Nick Compton being a classic example.

Foakes showed how you should bat and even Buttler and Stokes have recently, but for the likes of Burns, Vince or anyone else in the top three, we need to accept that 100 for 0 off 40 overs or so is fine and allow them to construct an innings. We are 4 or 5 down for 100 on way too many occasions.

Must say I like Ollie Pope. His 100 against Essex in the last county championship match was an excellent knock.

I'd say in most test matches, around 6 or 7 players pick themselves, so it's up to the other 4 spaces to be looked after by management with a clear understanding that these are 5 day matches and not ODI's.
 
It comes from Brendan Cullen’s New Zealand side a couple of years ago. They impressed England with their direct style and it’s something England have copied since. Undoubtedly it looks awesome when everything goes well but it looks awful when it doesn’t. Why not compromise and play more direct in so called English conditions and buckle up more when a measured approach is called for?
Think the penny is dropping though.
 
Totally agree.

The best players still build an innings. Take old Goochy, in your avatar photo. Scored a colossal amount of runs at a good tempo, but still knew the value of playing yourself in and wearing the bowling attack down.
 
Interesting Buttler was talking up the 3 spot yesterday, but I think Stokes is a half decent call, though that gives us three left-handers at the top of the order.

It's increasingly more annoying and ridiculous that Root won't bat at 3. He's quite happy to bat there in the ODI's!

He's hardly making double centuries at 4 of late, anyway!
 
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Are we permanently 100 for 4 these days!

We might as well not bother with the morning session, just agree the lunch score with the opposition and start play afterwards!
 
If cricinfo is to be believed it is a very tough pitch to play on and this is an ok score, given that the opposition are one of the poorest in the world these days I think we'll be alright.
 
Pitch looks OK from what I've seen. A standard sub-continent effort.

Agreed, though, 250 might be more than useful, given the oppo.
 
Pitch looks OK from what I've seen. A standard sub-continent effort.

Agreed, though, 250 might be more than useful, given the oppo.

Haven't watched it so can only take cricinfo's word for it:

Well, this is fascinating. The pitch is gripping from the straight and narrow, which makes a defensive mindset fraught with danger. But the majority of England's seven wickets have been given away rather than got out. A fair trade-off? On balance, I think it is. England could easily have been 150 all out if they'd chosen to die wondering. Jos Buttler played a blinder, Adil Rashid is producing a very sparky knock from No.9. And though Lakmal is threatening to find some reverse, Sri Lanka's spinners have naturally been the dominant factor with the ball.

Hoping Rashid can make 50 as I had a little flutter on it
 
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