England vs SriLanka - Third Test

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

First test match at the Rose Bowl

Anderson back in and I think Finn will be the unlucky guy to lose out. Concedes too many runs.

I've managed to bag myself a ticket to the Sunday.

You can get them for £50 a pair for the Sunday only from Groupon, but you have to book today.

55% Off Two Tickets to England v Sri Lanka npower Test Match at The Rose Bowl

 

[Gangsta]

I'm not giving that twat Rod Bransgrove any money. He can whistle. In fact in he can f*** right off. Bawling coz its taken ages for them to get a test match. No one told you to waste millions on a white elephant no one wanted in the first place, (and that no one can get to or out of now). Another utter **** ruining cricket. Better off dead.

 

[Waynflete]

I'm not giving that twat Rod Bransgrove any money. He can whistle. In fact in he can f*** right off. Bawling coz its taken ages for them to get a test match. No one told you to waste millions on a white elephant no one wanted in the first place, (and that no one can get to or out of now). Another utter **** ruining cricket. Better off dead.

Yikes!
You don't like him then?

 

[keaton]

I've heard the transport has improved since I was last there (20/20 in 2006 v Sri Lanka) but coming back from the Rose Bowl was the biggest hassle and most poorly organised event I've ever been to.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think Finn WILL be the one dropped but, personally, think there's a better case for dropping Morgan.

To go into the match with Anderson coming back from injury, only 2 other seamers AND have no decent 5th bowler is a risk.

It would be unlucky on Morgan but at least give Anderson a lighter workload with the extra, younger bowler which, given there are 4 more tests this summer, should be factored in.

 

[Waynflete]

I think Finn WILL be the one dropped but, personally, think there's a better case for dropping Morgan.

To go into the match with Anderson coming back from injury, only 2 other seamers AND have no decent 5th bowler is a risk.

It would be unlucky on Morgan but at least give Anderson a lighter workload with the extra, younger bowler which, given there are 4 more tests this summer, should be factored in.

I see your point, but given that they're already one up in the series there's no way they'll drop a batsman. If they had to push for a win, maybe, but not for this game.

My concern with dropping Finn is that although he's expensive he does tend to get key wickets. Not sure Tremlett deserves to go either, though, and Broad's batting is too useful.

 

[sweetmods]

Despite risking the wrath of 'Gangsta' I'm heading down to the Rose Bowl on Friday with a few pals. However, the forecast for friday is terrible. We are looking at Plan B options if we get a wash out. So far we have the options of a german Beer festival in a tent near the centre of Southampton (promising but a late start) and an evening option of racing at Goodwood (with Mark Ronson). However, I now throw it open to the wisdom of NSC to suggest any daytime jollities in Southampton (or locations in between).

 

[seagullondon]

Despite risking the wrath of 'Gangsta' I'm heading down to the Rose Bowl on Friday with a few pals. However, the forecast for friday is terrible. We are looking at Plan B options if we get a wash out. So far we have the options of a german Beer festival in a tent near the centre of Southampton (promising but a late start) and an evening option of racing at Goodwood (with Mark Ronson). However, I now throw it open to the wisdom of NSC to suggest any daytime jollities in Southampton (or locations in between).

egg dean hammonds house?

 

[CHAPPERS]

I think Finn WILL be the one dropped but, personally, think there's a better case for dropping Morgan.

To go into the match with Anderson coming back from injury, only 2 other seamers AND have no decent 5th bowler is a risk.

It would be unlucky on Morgan but at least give Anderson a lighter workload with the extra, younger bowler which, given there are 4 more tests this summer, should be factored in.

If Anderson can't bowl to his normal workload then he shouldn't be i the team IMO. You can't select sides to cover players that may be hampered by injury. Like for like replacement with Finn for me.

 

[keaton]

If Anderson can't bowl to his normal workload then he shouldn't be i the team IMO. You can't select sides to cover players that may be hampered by injury. Like for like replacement with Finn for me.

What I was going to say. If Anderson's not completely fit, don't play him

 

[Pavilionaire]

You're talking about a 5 day test match. With only 4 bowlers Anderson might be required to put a shift of 60-odd overs. Can any coach be totally certain his injury won't flare up? Now that Collingwood's retired there's no 5th bowler option. Go down to 3 bowlers and Sri Lanka have a shot at squaring the series.

Surely 5 batsmen plus Prior, Broad and Swann is sufficient against their attack?

 

[crodonilson]

Broad should be dropped, he's been poor for a good while now. Ask anyone to name actually a really top spell of bowling by Broad in his entire test career and after naming the Ashes at the Oval everyone is scratching their heads. He's been living on borrowed time for a while now due to the fact he can bat a bit.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Broad should be dropped, he's been poor for a good while now. Ask anyone to name actually a really top spell of bowling by Broad in his entire test career and after naming the Ashes at the Oval everyone is scratching their heads. He's been living on borrowed time for a while now due to the fact he can bat a bit.

Boxing Day test in Durban?

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

You're talking about a 5 day test match. With only 4 bowlers Anderson might be required to put a shift of 60-odd overs. Can any coach be totally certain his injury won't flare up? Now that Collingwood's retired there's no 5th bowler option. Go down to 3 bowlers and Sri Lanka have a shot at squaring the series.

Surely 5 batsmen plus Prior, Broad and Swann is sufficient against their attack?

We could have been in a lot of trouble without Morgan in the side in the last test when we were 32-3. Also I think it pays to keep as consistent a side as possible. Though I'd probably support Bresnan in place of Tremlett.

 

[Uncle Buck]

We could have been in a lot of trouble without Morgan in the side in the last test when we were 32-3. Also I think it pays to keep as consistent a side as possible. Though I'd probably support Bresnan in place of Tremlett.

To an extent.

However come the winter they are going to have to pick a 5 man attacks as they cannot go to the sub continent with 2 seamers and 2 spinners. So one batsman is going to have to drop out, with a spinner plus probably Bresnan coming in.

 

[Pavilionaire]

We could have been in a lot of trouble without Morgan in the side in the last test when we were 32-3. Also I think it pays to keep as consistent a side as possible. Though I'd probably support Bresnan in place of Tremlett.

The last test has no bearing on the 3rd Test XI. Anderson wasn't fit to play but now, apparently, he is.

I can't see that Australia side under Mark Taylor or Steve Waugh would have gone one up in a 3 match series then sought a "safety-first" policy to try and win the series by not losing - rather than winning - the remaining 2 tests.

A balanced 5-batsmen / 5-bowler attack should be good enough to see off this lot, and if either a batsman or bowler is injured there's still cover in the 11.

 

[Waynflete]

You're talking about a 5 day test match. With only 4 bowlers Anderson might be required to put a shift of 60-odd overs. Can any coach be totally certain his injury won't flare up? Now that Collingwood's retired there's no 5th bowler option. Go down to 3 bowlers and Sri Lanka have a shot at squaring the series.

Surely 5 batsmen plus Prior, Broad and Swann is sufficient against their attack?

Trott and Pietersen can both bowl in an emergency. Collingwood rarely bowled towards the end of his career and when he did he reverted to off-cutters. Trott and Pietersen together offer as much bowling-wise as Collingwood did.

The seam attack for the next year will be interesting, though, with both Bresnan and Onions due back.

 

[keaton]

You're talking about a 5 day test match. With only 4 bowlers Anderson might be required to put a shift of 60-odd overs. Can any coach be totally certain his injury won't flare up? Now that Collingwood's retired there's no 5th bowler option. Go down to 3 bowlers and Sri Lanka have a shot at squaring the series.

Surely 5 batsmen plus Prior, Broad and Swann is sufficient against their attack?

But then you're suggesting playing a five-man attack for every match?
Which England won't do unless they need a second spinner (in which case it'll probably be a batsmen who can spin ie Samit Patel) or unless Bresnan comes back and proves he can bat at 7

 

[Common as Mook]

If we are going to drop a batsman it should be Pietersen. Otherwise straight swap Anderson for Finn

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

The last test has no bearing on the 3rd Test XI. Anderson wasn't fit to play but now, apparently, he is.

I can't see that Australia side under Mark Taylor or Steve Waugh would have gone one up in a 3 match series then sought a "safety-first" policy to try and win the series by not losing - rather than winning - the remaining 2 tests.

A balanced 5-batsmen / 5-bowler attack should be good enough to see off this lot, and if either a batsman or bowler is injured there's still cover in the 11.

But also why pick a safety first attitude when picking a team. If Anderson isn't 100% fit then don't pick him (he is though, it was only a relatively minor strain that kept hin out of the the 2nd test) but I don't see anything wrong with maintaining a winning formula and keeping all our batsmen in good form for the India series. Batting is much more down to form than bowling is.