England vs Sri Lanka 2014

A thrilling chase by England ends up just short. Sri Lanka are home by 7 runs as England make 293/8 with 121 frrom Buttler.

Buttlers a brilliant player, but he's not ready for the test team yet..
It's better that he plays for Lancs for the session. We could do with winning the title again

At last. A close match - really exciting!

I thought the game was lost during the partnership of Ballance and Root. They scored 85 between them off 137 balls, which is far too slow when you are chasing a target that equates to 6 runs an over throughout.

It also puts far too much pressure on the batsmen who follow and have to score at 9 or 10 an over right from the off

The only reason we got so close was a brilliant innings from Buttler with good support from Bopara.

Did anyone notice that Buttler scored more boundaries in his first 16 balls that Ballance and Root scored in their 137 balls? (4 to 3) Shameful!

(31-05-2014 19:46 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Buttlers a brilliant player, but he's not ready for the test team yet..

There still is a doubt over Prior for the test wicket-keeping position. If the selectors aren't going to pick Buttler or Prior then Foster from Essex is next in line for a test call up.

(01-06-2014 01:19 )Hawaiian Brian Wrote:  Did anyone notice that Buttler scored more boundaries in his first 16 balls that Ballance and Root scored in their 137 balls? (4 to 3) Shameful!

England went 130 balls without a boundary. After the 9th over there was no boundary until the 31st over.

(01-06-2014 01:19 )Hawaiian Brian Wrote:  At last. A close match - really exciting!

I thought the game was lost during the partnership of Ballance and Root. They scored 85 between them off 137 balls, which is far too slow when you are chasing a target that equates to 6 runs an over throughout.

It also puts far too much pressure on the batsmen who follow and have to score at 9 or 10 an over right from the off

The only reason we got so close was a brilliant innings from Buttler with good support from Bopara.

Did anyone notice that Buttler scored more boundaries in his first 16 balls that Ballance and Root scored in their 137 balls? (4 to 3) Shameful!

Root & Ballance did a good job of surviving the Malinga spell,something the more experience Cook & Bell failed to do.Maybe a message should have gone out to up the scoring rate.

I'd point the finger at England going 30 overs without taking a wicket.
Bobara & Roots combined 10-0 -76-0.On a good batting wicket you need less batsmen & more bowlers.
England's tactics are set up to have Morgan,Butler & Bopara chasing 9-10 an over.
They need a wicket taking bowler & would be chasing 20 0r 30 runs less.

Buttler not ready for test cricket in our illustrious captains eyes....

fuck his county record... test cricket is about technique and temperament, he believes he belongs at this level... he would find a way to make test runs!!! For years we watched Gilchrist smack it to all parts and longed for one like him... now we have a potential star and we deny him the chance when his confidence and form is high.. why? Oh i forgot Prior is one of the 'boys'. Forget the fact last 2 years he played shit!! They hid him from the aussies in the last 2 tests and through poor bairstow into a situation where he could not win all to save this smug cunt, who is one of strauss/cooks cronies.... pff

Regarding Prior,all the talk has been about how Cook has to show his worth as a captain,but if they pick Prior,Cook leans on him so much that it looks like Prior is the skipper.

(02-06-2014 00:04 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  They need a wicket taking bowler & would be chasing 20 0r 30 runs less.

Boyd Rankin will fit the bill when he gets fully fit

Big Boyd looked good yesterday,Liam Plunkett is is bowling fast & can bat & field.