[Cricket] Cricket- 1st Test, Manchester, August 21 - 25, 2024, Sri Lanka tour of England

[Eeyore]

Oh, joy of joys, oh bless-ed relief. Not only is the football season here but, at the same time, cricket also returns.

Whilst Sussex re-commence their battle for honours in the famous old Scarborough ground, across the Pennines England take on Sri Lanka in the true format. They've even moved the Albion game to an earlier time so you can see uninterrupted cricket following...

Hopefully they'll be more delight in Manchester than the last time an Ollie was at the wheel at Old Trafford.

Old Trafford normally produces pitches more in keeping with Melbourne than Manchester, so expect the toss winners to have first dibs. Or not. The weather may be a bit dodgy so will the coin champions be confident enough to stick the oppo in ? All these questions. But it's good that these conundrums are back.

Welcome home bat 'n ball. We have missed you.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Hoping Stokes can lead us to another series win

Another 3 points on the board for the world test championship over a team who've never won anything

And if it's getting tricky, just throw the ball to Jimmy to get us out of trouble

 

[Eeyore]

Sri Lanka having a knock

 

[Titanic]

Atkinson gets an early wicket.... not a great shot - a bit of a heave and an edge through to Smith.

Dimuth Karunaratne c †Smith b Atkinson 2 (18b 0x4 0x6) SR: 11.11

6-1

 

[JackB247]

The Sri Lankan national anthem was fantastic btw!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

The Sri Lankan national anthem was fantastic btw!

TOP tier anthem.

 

[Titanic]

and now a loose drive does for Madushka.

Nishan Madushka c Root b Woakes 4 (16b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25

6-2

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Awful cricket from the Sri Lankan openers.

Show some f***ing GRIT lads, FFS, or its another 3 day Test.

 

[Eeyore]

I'd have expected more from that pair.

 

[Titanic]

Mathews... shocking leave... looks out... will review on height.

No shot, clipping top of middle and leg.

6-3

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Not easy batting - Woakes especially is getting some swing - but even more reason to knuckle down and see off the new ball, rather than play flashing drives with the bat two feet from the pads.

EDIT: Or leave straight ones

Prediction of 3 day Test looking generous.

 

[Soton Seagull]

I have tickets for day 3 at the Oval. If SL carry on like this then chances of it being all over by then are looking high.

 

[Eeyore]

Beautiful drive by Chandimal. That's more like it. I'm so happy cricket is back

 

[Eeyore]

Kumar is such a gentleman isn't he ? One of the best cricketers of our time and such an intelligent, calm and sensible man. I'm too straight laced for all the silliness we have sometimes, but Kumar would have been the perfect person with CMJ on TMS all those decades ago.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Awful cricket from the Sri Lankan openers.

Show some f***ing GRIT lads, FFS, or its another 3 day Test.

Would England A v England B be a more competitive / better series given that only Australia and India are the only other reasonable test teams these days

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Would England A v England B be a more competitive / better series given that only Australia and India are the only other reasonable test teams these days

Not sure I'd be looking to England's first choice openers to show some grit and knuckle down for the first hour, never mind our second string.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

"I think he's walking"

Yeah, I would after that as well.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Absolute BRUTE

 

[Eeyore]

"I think he's walking"

Yeah, I would after that as well.

Straight to the treatment room. Ouch.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Horrific shooter. Trapped LBW to Bashir. SL 72/5

Not great for the game, nor for the Old Trafford ground staff.