England vs SriLanka - Third Test

[CHAPPERS]

I like Bresnan a lot. I think he'll come in as the 5th soon, I hope he does.

He swings it nice, more than he is given credit for.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I rate Collingwood's bowling as a class above that of Trott and Pietersen.

Colly had a decent economy rate of 3.2 runs per over, Trott is almost a run per over more than this. Also, significantly, Colly took 111 wickets in 197 ODIs at under 5 an over so played a signicant bowling role for England in this form of the game.

 

[keaton]

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

I think they'll persist with the last in, first out selection policy

 

[Pavilionaire]

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

No I'm not. Each match needs to be played on its merits according to player form and fitness. In a 5-test series I think it's risky to play 4 bowlers in the 1st test and potentially tire them out for the series. Conversely, if you're 1 up and 1 to play against a side with a quality bowling attack then there's a good argument for playing the extra batsman.

England are currently spoilt with Graeme Swann and his exceptional form is papering over one or two cracks, i.e. Broad's 6 wickets @ 48 apiece in this series and that the 5th bowler for England has only bowled 16 out of 318 overs in the series so far.

Without Anderson and Swann both in the side our bowling attack looks light. I'd like to find another matchwinning bowler and think we should back Finn. The Top 5 are permanent, while Prior is now comfortably a test class batsman with 2000+ runs under his belt.

 

[Mendoza]

Maybe Finn's head had gone after the "abuse" he suffered from the Hove crowd last Friday

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

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.

I think this Test is going to royally f*** Hampshire financially, as they've sold relatively few tickets and with the weather forecast are never going to sell out, even with that promotion. Oh well...