Can Sri Lanka beat England at Edgbaston?

[Ernest]

I bet Sri lanka are on a high after thwarting England in the first Test at Lords.

After England had scored little more than 550 in their first innnings, and Sri Lanka were bowled out cheaply in their first innings, all the betting would have been on an early England win.

But Sri Lanka posted what is one of the best rearguard actions I have ever seen, ending up with a lead with one wicker still to go.

We will never know what would have happened had the weather not intervened.

I think we are in for a run feast at Egdbaston in the second Test, with a close result likely.

Good luck both sides.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I think we are in for a run feast at Egdbaston in the second Test, with a close result likely.

If we get a run fest they will have to score them at a decent rate or we will get a draw again.

I would love to see Sri Lanka compete with England to the same extent they did in the second innnings at Lord's.

However, Mahela Jayawardene is sure to relied upon for runs once again, and surely England will attempt to combat the tail to a greater extent and apply more pressure. He was the rock in both innings and if he doesn't make the runs then I feel we may not see a close result.

If Sanath Jayasuriya comes back into the side, who does he replace? Jehan Mubarak who managed to avoid a pair at Lord's or Upul Tharanga who has looked pretty decent but appeared to struggle against Monty Panesar.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Vrock

I would love to see Sri Lanka compete with England to the same extent they did in the second innnings at Lord's.

I don't see why not, the momentum with the batting is with Sri lanka.

Originally Posted by vrock

If Sanath Jayasuriya comes back into the side, who does he replace?

I don't know and I suppose this will give the Sri Lanka tour selectors a headache, who do you drop from that line up that did so well?, but I think his experience is needed.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I don't see why not, the momentum with the batting is with Sri lanka.

And England, the batsmen scored a 550 runs, it's been a while since England did that without Trescothick (possibly even Vaughan) making a huge contribution.

Originally Posted by Ernest

I don't know and I suppose this will give the Sri Lanka tour selectors a headache, who do you drop from that line up that did so well?, but I think his experience is needed.

I agree that his experience is needed, and if he gets going then we all know that he could destroy any bowling attack. Also, Jayasuriya is the only Sri Lankan to have scored a double century in England so he has all the credentials.

Sri Lanka could take out one of the lower order batsman, Samaweera had a poor test with the bat but that means you have to break up Tharanga and Mubarak, who would then move down?

[greg]

Can't see Sri Lanka bowling us out twice with that attack.They rely too heavily on Murali and we actually play him quite well out of all the decent spinners around the world.

If Sri Lanka had batted in their first innings like they did in the second we would have just said the pitch was too good and blamed England's lack of penetration on a young inexperienced attack.

Hopefully Panesar will be used better in the rest of the series as he was seriously underbowled at Lords.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by greg

They rely too heavily on Murali and we actually play him quite well out of all the decent spinners around the world

I agree with the first part on Murali being relied upon, but England's play of him is not that great IMO, Murali was getting the ball to spin a fair amount on a first day Lord's pitch, he managed (even though he bowls quite wide on the crease) to get the ball to fully straighten up which I don't even think Stuart MacGill could do. He had Marcus Trescothick plum LBW but it was not given.

Also, KP, arguably our best player of spin, (or at least picking them anyway) even said himself that he didn't pick a few of Murali's deliveries. KP read Warne extremely well last year and if he's struggling sometimes to read Murali just think how hard it is for the other English batsmen.

Compared to other bowlers, well I think we can only put Warne and Murali on a par in terms of ability, all different variation et al. And England strugle to play Warne most of the time, it is the same with Murali. In the first test Murali was the only Sri Lankan bowler who looked like a) getting a wicket b) keeping pressure on the English batsmen and keep a decent economy rate, whereas the other Sri Lankan bowlers really didn't look dangerous.

[Vrock]

Sanath Jayasuriya isn't going to play in the game at Sussex, does this tell us Sri Lanka's intentions of not playing him in the first test or that they are keeping him fresh for the second test?

[Wanderer]

I hope Jayasuriya and Malinga both play...Especially Malinga. Murali and Vaas could have done with some assistance in the first test, and he seems to be the likely one to provide just that...

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Murali and Vaas could have done with some assistance in the first test

I agree with you Wanderer, Murali I think it is already written he bowl a considerable amount of overs and Vaas will always be willing to put his hand up, but it's a new ball partner for Vaas that is the problem. Vaas can't create any pressure if the guy at the other end is going for runs. Hopefully the selectors will make the right choice, whichever one it proves to be.

[Wanderer]

No place for Jayasuriya...Jehan Mubarak also omitted. Squad:

Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara