3rd Test: England v Sri Lanka + Only T20I

[Hallatia]

Test cricket this evening\\\\/

New English test venue. I'm keen to see how the place goes; the weather is not great there at the moment, but hoping it improves to put this game on.

Dilshan should definitely be out for this one, meaning England may have another victory a similar size to those they had in the Ashes...:sarcasm: Sangakkara will captain Sri Lanka for one last time (just in case I am supposed to source this). Anderson should be back for England and this will be England's last test match before they tour England next month.

With their tour of India within sights (next month), I am very keen to see how England go about this whole staking their claim to number 1 test ranking which is supposedly what they are doing now. A win in this test would put England in Equal second spot with South Africa in the test rankings (it will also push Sri Lanka down to 5th - behind Australia). How they build toward and go about the India tour will show whether they are worthy of a claim to number one test side. I am loving the prospect of some competition at the top.

 

[Sudhir]

It pouring down atm and more rain is forcast for the rest of the Test

So frustrating, really wanted to watch some cricket tonight

 

[Hallatia]

It's stopped raining, pitch inspection about 15 minutes from now.

I'm hoping for play

 

[Hallatia]

WOOOOOOOO\\\\/

play will start at 12.15pm lunch moved to 1.30pm and the sun is shining! Summer has arrived! At least for an hour or so

I assume that means the toss will be at quarter to.

For the record that's quarter past 9 Sydney time. 1:15pm GMT

 

[TheParraboy]

SL 1/23 lunch day 1

 

[Hallatia]

Southampton weather is freaking crazy, it's rained through most of the day's play but when it hasn't been raining the sun has been glistening and has looked like optimal whether for a full day's play. Oh and the Rosebowl grass looks edible that's how fantastic it looks. Cricinfo have some pretty awesome images of the day so far which show the marked contrast and what I was saying about the grass...

England well on top despite the very little cricket that has been played so far, Tremlett and Anderson (who are both bowling really well) already have two wickets a piece with 1 through 4 of Sri Lanka's batting line up accounted for (and we all now the batting talent that's left in Sri Lanka when they get to their middle order ...

Oh and this track is probably more a batter's wicket than anything and probably unlikely to deteriorate all that much (Ala Lords in the last test)

 

[Twizzle]

Some pretty poor dismissals from SL, typical sub continent techniques, all wrist and not much footwork.

They haven't adjusted to the English pitches too well.

 

[TheParraboy]

SL 4/81 Lunch day 2

 

[yappy]

6/102. Tremlett with 4/22.

Gee I'd love to see a clone of him in a baggy green.

 

[yappy]

Tremlett gets Herath. SL 7/120 Tremlett 5/32

 

[Red Bear]

I just got published on cricinfo

We get lots of rude emails about Broad, but this, from Jack, is one of the more amusing ones. "Broad has the wrong career, should be researching the treatment of hypertension, because he's great at relieving pressure."

 

[yappy]

Just got published on cricinfo

We get lots of rude emails about Broad, but this, from Jack, is one of the more amusing ones. "Broad has the wrong career, should be researching the treatment of hypertension, because he's great at relieving pressure."

Ha, bit harsh. He's going for under 3 an over. But I don't think he's one of Englands top three quicks either.

 

[Red Bear]

He's shit, really. England have four or five better quicks than us, and only two of them are playing

 

[Red Bear]

Strauss' captaincy in these situation is woeful. Gets them 7/100 or so and just gives easy runs away.

 

[Hallatia]

I just got published on cricinfo

We get lots of rude emails about Broad, but this, from Jack, is one of the more amusing ones. "Broad has the wrong career, should be researching the treatment of hypertension, because he's great at relieving pressure."

I got published on cricinfo last night! That stuff always makes me proud.

Speaking of Cricinfo. Is this really Gayle?

I really don't see it.

 

[Hallatia]

I don't think Broad is that bad, but he has not been great this test or this year. I do understand why Strauss wanted to persist with him tonight, it's a shame he was not been able to produce much. He was alright for a spell late last night but that was about it. Tonight he has been pretty awful.

Tremlett on the other hand has been a joy to watch all test. Anderson has been great and Swann's wicket was good. The play we got last night conditions seemed good for the batters, tonight conditions very much favoured the bowlers and England probably should have finished Sri Lanka off a long while ago...

I feel like England should be very aggressive with their eyes on trying forcing a result no matter how many rain delays

 

[Hallatia]

Play has just been abandoned for the rest of the day. With England 177 for 9.

We got 23.2 overs out of the second day. A bit depressing really, but we were probably lucky to get that judging by how bad the other parts of the day were. But England probably should have finished the innings off in the time they did get to bowl.

It was a shame day one could not have been extended further because the sun was shining at the close of play. This is not a bad ground it is just a real shame about the weather.

I don't think this has been mentioned yet: Tremlett on career best figures of 6/42

 

[Twizzle]

gee the highlights show the SL weakness and inability to play on bouncy pitches

all of Tremlet's wickets last night were from short balls so its pretty easy to see how they will attack for the rest of the series

 

[yappy]

It will be interesting to see how much spice the curator's leave in the pitches when the Indian's arrive. They are certainly better than they used to be on bouncy wickets, but Tremlett could really test them.

 

[Sudhir]

Perera's innings was the worst I have ever seen from a Test number 7