Sri Lanka v England 2012

England's short tour to Sri Lanka is about to begin. There are 2 tests only and here are the dates:

1st Test: Sri Lanka v England at Galle
26-30 March (play starts 05:30 BST)

2nd Test: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo
3-7 April (play starts 05:30 BST)

Love cricket me but I'm not sure I see the point of this 'tour' so close to the start of the English season

England will take four spinners on tour to Sri Lanka next month after handing a first Test call-up to Samit Patel and giving a surprise recall to Kent offspinner James Tredwell. Eoin Morgan has paid the price for his struggles against Pakistan in the UAE and Patel will offer batting cover as well as a slow-bowling option with his left-arm spin.

Taken from http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-...55556.html

Once again how the England batsmen cope with the conditions will be the key factor in the tests just as I said it would be against Pakistan in the UAE. The heat will be stifling and the pitches suited to spin. We can only hope that the batsmen have learnt a harsh lesson in how to move their feet correctly and shot selection for the longer form of the game. The limited overs results have been good and thats encouraging but England simply have to perform better in the test series in Sri Lanka than they did against Pakistan with the bat. I have no fears for the England bowlers, I think they will be fine.

Sri Lanka are a lot worse than Pakistan, England should win this comfortably. Yes some thought that about Pakistan, but people didn't realise that they went 2011 undefeated in test series...Sri Lanka have not!

I hope you are right iamthatjack but England batsmen tend not to fare well in sub-continent conditions so I am a little wary

(28-02-2012 21:51 )iamthatjack Wrote:  Sri Lanka are a lot worse than Pakistan

Pakistan are 5th in the current test match rankings and Sri Lanka are 6th.

(29-02-2012 12:26 )William H Bonney Wrote:  

(28-02-2012 21:51 )iamthatjack Wrote:  Sri Lanka are a lot worse than Pakistan

Pakistan are 5th in the current test match rankings and Sri Lanka are 6th.

Anyone who takes stock in the ICC rankings doesn't really have a clear idea about how cricket is run these days.

Plus, if you do care, actually look at the points and you'll see the difference between the 2 teams.

You are right snookered147, they aren't the best in sub-continent conditions, but the limited overs dominance will give them a lot of confidence and their bowling attack isn't anything special bar Malinga

Nice to see Patel in for a change, wouldn't complain if he got his chance in the test arena, of course the last test series we had out there Bopara had a complete shocker.

(29-02-2012 17:15 )iamthatjack Wrote:  

(29-02-2012 12:26 )William H Bonney Wrote:  Pakistan are 5th in the current test match rankings and Sri Lanka are 6th.

Anyone who takes stock in the ICC rankings doesn't really have a clear idea about how cricket is run these days.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. When you say "how cricket is run" are you implying that the rankings are fixed?