Cricket Thread

[Cripps_orig]

Ends as a draw

Pretty dull

[IBK]

Top teams are aggressive and attacking. They don't just want to win the series 1-0, they want to whitewash teams. I know England have had some bad luck with the rain but nevertheless, given the situation, I don't think there was any need to bat on for the extra 100 runs. Sri Lanka were never getting there with some decent English bowling.

Last three words are the key ones, though. England's bowlers were just not on form throughout this match. We do have some strength in depth, but we only have 2 real leaders, Anderson and Swann. We did not show sufficient consistency (says it all when our best bowler, Finn, was also our most erratic) for the captain to place trust in them to take wickets without conceding a lot of runs.

We can criticise this England team, but they haven't lost a test series since 2009, and they have shown on a number of occasions that they can be ruthless when necessary. Although 3rd in the test rankings, they are only a hair's breadth behind the Saffers. Of course the acid test will be India later in the Summer, but I think that too much can be read into a cautious decision by a naturally conservative captain who has been let down by his bowlers for 3 out of 4 days.

[Ollie the Optimist]

this ali cook bloke is quite good at this batting thing


Cook

Essex

[Cripps_orig]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/...t/13680738.stm

Good move. Changes need to be made but hopefully this isn't the only change.

Boycott is spot on

[Syn]

India Reserves win again. Played 3, won 3 against the Windies. Kohli with a well made 81 got them home comfortably. Hope WI put up a better fight soon because this is a pointless exercise atm.

[Syn]

Last three words are the key ones, though. England's bowlers were just not on form throughout this match. We do have some strength in depth, but we only have 2 real leaders, Anderson and Swann. We did not show sufficient consistency (says it all when our best bowler, Finn, was also our most erratic) for the captain to place trust in them to take wickets without conceding a lot of runs.

We can criticise this England team, but they haven't lost a test series since 2009, and they have shown on a number of occasions that they can be ruthless when necessary. Although 3rd in the test rankings, they are only a hair's breadth behind the Saffers. Of course the acid test will be India later in the Summer, but I think that too much can be read into a cautious decision by a naturally conservative captain who has been let down by his bowlers for 3 out of 4 days.

[Cripps_orig]

Watched a bit of the WI innings and they were 170-2 with Samuels smacking it around when I had to go out. Pretty surprised they only got 240. Harbhajan had a shocker

[Cripps_orig]

Jayasuriya called up by SL for the ODIs

However, SSN has just said Jayasuriya has just confirmed he will play in the one T20 game and the first ODI and then retire from all forms of the game

[Cripps_orig]

MCC says the pink ball will probably come in to Tests soon and will help save the game

Their words, not mine

[Boss]

India