England in Sri Lanka-Tests

[Grimwood]

49/1 at the close.

Cook 0
Vaughan 13*
Bell 36*

Bell was very fluent but then he didn't have to face Muralitharan. Things look good for England at the end of day one but the pitch is perfect for Murali...

 

[Cooldude]

The early spell by Hoggard was nothing short of outstanding. That was swing bowling at its best, on a pitch that didn't offer much

The bloke's probably the best swing bowler in the world. Bloody good bowler

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Murali has taken 2 relatively quick wickets during todays play

Vaughan and Bell at the crease

Romeo in front of tele

and England 134/3

trailing Sri Lanka's first innings total by 55 runs

 

[krisholio14]

Murali gets Bell after a great knock on a dodgy pitch.

 

[eddiesmith]

Match over, we have lost this one, bring on the 2nd test

 

[LondonCalling]

Gee, good thing they saved Bell until the ball was 3 balls old.

 

[krisholio14]

Poms starting to crumble now. It's going to be hell for them in the fourth innings.

 

[SBI]

Prior is embarassing - cut your losses Moores and get rid of the useless ****er. Even Sidebottom is playing Murali better.

 

[krisholio14]

Prior is embarassing - cut your losses Moores and get rid of the useless ****er. Even Sidebottom is playing Murali better.

Would you suggest adding some Mustard?

 

[SBI]

Only if it comes with some Onions.

But in all seriousness - the Poms have gone around in circles between Foster, Read, Jones, Prior and now Mustard when the first couple are better options anyway.

 

[Cousin Jed]

The rain saves England for the rest of today.

 

[LondonCalling]

Only if it comes with some Onions.

But in all seriousness - the Poms have gone around in circles between Foster, Read, Jones, Prior and now Mustard when the first couple are better options anyway.

Foster and Read did absolutely nothing wrong.

Foster was quite a handy bat, in that he didn't throw his wicket away cheaply in the Gillespie mould. Read, easily the best gloveman in the world today. Pity he can't bat.

Prior, like Jones is just another flat track bully. The 7th batsman idea only works if the keeper would get into the side playing as a batsman anyway, ala Gilchrist/Sangakarra, not someone who will make an occasional handy 30 against a subpar attack.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

England are missing Flintoffs batting

 

[Mr P@H]

England are missing Flintoffs batting

Not so sure about that. The word clueless springs to mind, can't play Murali at all.... We got no chance in this series.

 

[Grimwood]

You'd expect better from 150/3 but then again the pitch should probably be renamed Murali land. The best we can hope for is a bit of a go from Colly followed by some tail end slogging to get us up to 225 or so.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

You'd expect better from 150/3 but then again the pitch should probably be renamed Murali land. The best we can hope for is a bit of a go from Colly followed by some tail end slogging to get us up to 225 or so.

could be a handy lead in the conditions

 

[Grimwood]

could be a handy lead in the conditions

It could... but frankly I think we needed a lead of over 70. We're only on day 2 and the pitch is already keeping low as well as producing some really quick spin. I wouldn't like to chase too many more than 100 on the last day.

 

[usalion]

Looks a very interesting match so far- a turning wicket in Sri Lanka- how novel!

Big question, though- eddie should eb bellyaching about the rain- only 120+ overs in two days- if it happened in brissie, he'd be yelping about moving the tests away from Brissie.

Looks like Bell did a pretty good job at #3- comments from those who saw it?

BTW, who is to say Monty won't have a field day when he gets the pill for the Lankans second dig? Take whatever lead you get and go for it.....

 

[Grimwood]

Looks like Bell did a pretty good job at #3- comments from those who saw it?

It was a very nice innings, but you'd have to say he didn't face Murali too much. Some really nice drives off both front and back foot, good rotation of the strike and really not too different to his classy ODI innings against India a few months back. He just needs to get a few hundred at number 3 now...

 

[Bloods boy from the Bush]

Only if it comes with some Onions.

But in all seriousness - the Poms have gone around in circles between Foster, Read, Jones, Prior and now Mustard when the first couple are better options anyway.

Dont forget Paul Nixson.

 

[Bloods boy from the Bush]

Murili to get more wicket this innings then on his whole Australia tour.

Hopefully the poms can get a lead of 50+ and Hoggy & Monty can do some damage with the ball to make it an interested fourth innings chase. Got to get Kumar early though otherwise he could set them a big enough target alone.

 

[Moin Khan]

Warney would have taken a wicket by now.....

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Eng 273/9

Lead by 85 runs

Murali has the record!!!!!

 

[Cousin Jed]

Jayasuria just hit 6 4's in one over off Anderson

Sri Lanka trail by 20 no wickets down.

another amazing 2nd innings turnaround. If only they could figure out how to bat in the 1st innings

 

[sherb]

Jayasuria just hit 6 4's in one over off Anderson

Amazing. From 0/49 to 0/73 in one over.

I was also privileged enough to be watching when Gayle hit six fours off Hoggard (I think) a few years back.