SL A vs Eng A, Columbo, 7-10 March

[Rachael]

England A in Sri Lanka, 2004-05
Sri Lanka A v England A
Colombo Cricket Club Ground
7,8,9,10 March 2005 (4-day match)

Update:

England A 1st innings                                           R   B   4  6
MJ Powell             c Jayawardene      b Ranjith              7  12   0  0
AN Cook               lbw                b Ranjith             63 130   7  0
*IR Bell              not out                                  44 113   2  0
OA Shah               not out                                   0   3   0  0
Extras                (b 4, w 3, nb 6)                         13
Total                 (2 wickets, 42 overs)                   127

To Bat: APR Gidman, DS Harrison, J Lewis, SI Mahmood, R Clarke,
        +MJ Prior, GP Swann.

FoW: 1-10 (Powell, 2.4 ov), 2-126 (Cook, 40.4 ov).

Bowling                      O      M      R      W
Ranjith                      9      0     35      2 (1nb)
Ramyakumara                  7      0     17      0
Mirando                     11      1     49      0 (5nb, 3w)
Suraj                        7      1      9      0
Bandara                      8      2     13      0

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/NEW/LIVE/f...10MAR2005.html

[Chuck Palumbo]

Decent start by the second string, nice to see Ian Bell in the runs at No.3 as you feel thats where he may be come the Ashes series. Also Alistair Cook despite a poor first class record has shown that he could have the temperement to be a future England opener although he is still only 20 so we will have to wait.

The batting goes down a long way so 400+ seems very much on.

[Paoli]

Prior who i believe opened in a game for you guys against Zimbabwe at No.10..I thought he COULD bat

Originally Posted by Duncan Fletcher

Matt is a great batting talent and is sound behind the stumps

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Prior who i believe opened in a game for you guys against Zimbabwe at No.10..I thought he COULD bat

Cricinfo have got the wrong batting order...Harrison is very much a number 11 but they have him coming in at No.6....I expect Prior to be coming in at No.5,6 or 7.

[Rachael]

Yup: Prior should probably be in ahead of Rikki Clarke (at 5).. but I don't suppose he will be (assuming they are keen to let Clarke prove himself as a top order bat).

Order is screwy throughout: Gidman would be the most obvious no 7 (after Prior and Clarke) with Swann in at 7. Perhaps not much to choose between the other three at 9-10-11: none of them are complete mugs but equally... they a lot to prove to be considered viable bats at International level.

[Andy Mellon]

Harrison is a better bat than some are giving him credit for. He's certainly better than Jon Lewis at batting in my opinion - although he may be a bit of a pinch hitter. He still took the Essex attack apart at the end of last season for Glamorgan and whilst the Essex attack may not be the best in the country, it still had Darren Gough, Danish Kaneria and Graham Napier. Good to see a solid performance by Ali Cook. I'm still surprised he got on the tour following a disappointing season last year, but the experience should serve him well for the summer ahead.

After that, Harrison comes in as night watchman as England A close the day on 272-4. Bell scoring 128 not out, Shah falling for 52 and another fine innings from Rikki Clarke with 4 off 20 balls before being dismissed.

I'd say not a bad performance for most of these players first outings to the sub-continent. Especially fine display from Bell it would appear.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

another fine innings from Rikki Clarke with 4 off 20 balls before being dismissed.

IMO Solanki should have taken his place, he'd batted well in the previous matches. It's not like Rikki Clarke's bowling is too crash hot and his batting has been abysmal whenever playing for an England team (..apart from the time he batted against Bangladesh).

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Pete

IMO Solanki should have taken his place, he'd batted well in the previous matches. It's not like Rikki Clarke's bowling is too crash hot and his batting has been abysmal whenever playing for an England team (..apart from the time he batted against Bangladesh).

I think Solanki is injured.

Also, don't understand how Powell (of the Warwickshiure variety) is in the squad. It's not like he's ever done anything, and is thirty in a months time !

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

I think Solanki is injured.

Also, don't understand how Powell (of the Warwickshiure variety) is in the squad. It's not like he's ever done anything, and is thirty in a months time !

I'm sure its the Glamorgan Powell thats playing...if it is then he deserves his place although the Warwickshire Powell doesn't.

[Pete]

Ah right, thanks NE. I didn't know he was injured.

Anyone know what happened to Scott Newman? He was in the last 'A' team and his stats in county cricket last season were pretty good. 3 100's and 9 50's at an average of 44.03.