England in Sri Lanka

[gmdf]

Originally Posted by tigertiger

I suspect one consequence of this is that Joe Denly has played his last test match. (Zak progress, Rory back etc). Interestingly I think his innings at Headingley influenced England's whole test match philosophy.

I hope not, but who knows?

If there is no Test cricket in the domestic season (a real possibility) will we see Anderson playing for England again? Broad? Moeen? And others

[Rebelstar]

Originally Posted by sharky

It was odd seeing the Australia v NZ match this morning with nobody in the crowd. The players were avoiding handshakes but then all sharing the same cricket ball which most likely had saliva all over it.

Wouldn't be the only contradictory behaviour surrounding CV

We may even have faced a possibility of handsanitisergate, used to affect the ball

[Rebelstar]

Originally Posted by square leg umpire

It said on Cricinfo that the England players wanted to get home. Strange they would want to leave largely CoV free Sri Lanka for plague ridden England.

There is a certain desire to be home, but frankly it is movement of people and passing on of the virus that has caused the problems globally.

Found it unbelievable to read on CDC website that suggestion is US citizens can travel freely if they are at low risk of death. Yeah, but what about them catching it and passing it on, first, second, third, fourth...….. hand, eventually it will be passed to someone with fatal consequences...….

Problem is countries are acting independently with varying approaches to dealing with it, seems it has to become alarmingly bad before countries close down to any proper degree by which time it will be too late for some

[Sir Coolerking]

Time to bump this thread back up with confirmation that England will play 2 Tests in Jan (14th and 22nd).

Pope still out, Bairstow likely to be recalled. Archer expected to be rested.

[sanskritsimon]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Time to bump this thread back up with confirmation that England will play 2 Tests in Jan (14th and 22nd).

Pope still out, Bairstow likely to be recalled. Archer expected to be rested.

Excellent news ... I do hope it goes ahead successfully as planned ...

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Pretty weak England squad for this tour.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

[Minor Maggie]

The squad has just been announced. No Stokes or Archer but a recall for Ali and both Anderson and Broad are going.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Reserves: James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Originally Posted by Minor Maggie

Reserves: James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

Some of these guys should be in the main squad if we are building for the Ashes.

[1000yardstare]

Originally Posted by Minor Maggie

The squad has just been announced. No Stokes or Archer but a recall for Ali and both Anderson and Broad are going.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Reserves: James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

6 spinners and 9 fast bowlers

1 Sibley
2 Crawley
3 Lawrence
4 Root
5 Bairstow
6 Buttler (should be Foakes)
7 Woakes
8 Ali
9 Bess
10 Wood
11 Leach

Tour Schedule
Saturday 2 January: Touring party departs from London to Hambantota
Tuesday 5-9 January: Training and preparation at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Thursday 14-18 January: 1st Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Friday 22-26 January: 2nd Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Wednesday 27 January: Touring party departs Sri Lanka

5 days training and preparation could mean Team Root v Team Buttler (2 matches?)

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

6 spinners and 9 fast bowlers

1 Sibley
2 Crawley
3 Lawrence
4 Root
5 Bairstow
6 Buttler (should be Foakes)
7 Woakes
8 Ali
9 Bess
10 Wood
11 Leach

Can't see us playing Woakes ahead of Broad or Anderson in an away Test.

[1000yardstare]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Can't see us playing Woakes ahead of Broad or Anderson in an away Test.

Woakes will be the replacement all-rounder for Stokes.

Here are our bowlers in Galle
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...s;type=bowling

[AJ101]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

6 spinners and 9 fast bowlers

1 Sibley
2 Crawley
3 Lawrence
4 Root
5 Bairstow
6 Buttler (should be Foakes)
7 Woakes
8 Ali
9 Bess
10 Wood
11 Leach

Tour Schedule
Saturday 2 January: Touring party departs from London to Hambantota
Tuesday 5-9 January: Training and preparation at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Thursday 14-18 January: 1st Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Friday 22-26 January: 2nd Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Wednesday 27 January: Touring party departs Sri Lanka

5 days training and preparation could mean Team Root v Team Buttler (2 matches?)

I agree Woakes (or maybe CurranS) will play in place of Stokes I can't see us taking both Broad and Jimmy and then playing neither of them.

Agree that Foakes should play as the keeper.

[sanskritsimon]

I'd be inclined not to have Crawley opening. He's done superbly at 3 and should be allowed to make the place his own.

Sibley
Ali
Crawley
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Foakes
Bess
Leach
Broad
Anderson

[REDROSEFOREVER]

I can only hope the Sri Lankan bio-secure environment is more secure than South Africa. Amazingly there were over 6000 COVID tests at Old Trafford over the summer, all of which came back negative - a testament to the ECB’s excellent handling of the situation and the co-operation of everybody involved.
England’s preparation will need to be good, as the squad looks thin particularly in the batting department. Still, it’s a chance potentially for some talented youngsters to show what they’re made of.

[sharky]

Surprised they've got 3 keepers and a reserve one and look a little light in the batting. It's difficult to work out what kind of balance they are looking for.

[PavlovsDog]

Originally Posted by sharky

Surprised they've got 3 keepers and a reserve one and look a little light in the batting. It's difficult to work out what kind of balance they are looking for.

I agree. Looking at the squad I only see 6 players who I actually feel happy about batting in the Top 6 - Sibley, Crawley, Root, Lawrence, Bairstow, Buttler.

[square leg umpire]

Originally Posted by sanskritsimon

I'd be inclined not to have Crawley opening. He's done superbly at 3 and should be allowed to make the place his own.

Sibley
Ali
Crawley
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Foakes
Bess
Leach
Broad
Anderson

Unfortunately there aren't many other options in this party. Can't see the promoting Moeen to open.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Originally Posted by square leg umpire

Unfortunately there aren't many other options in this party. Can't see the promoting Moeen to open.

No idea why he’s even in the squad as nobody with any credibility is selecting him for the Ashes in Oz.

[1000yardstare]

Foakes likely to get his turn in India while Buttler is rested from that tour.

England become the first team to appoint a Covid Compliance Officer for the tour of Sir Lanka. Couldn't Ashley Giles do that job.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...-south-africa/

So Morgan is in charge. I would not trust his judgement. Remember when he remained behind for the Bangladesh tour while his team went there.

I don't see why the SA 3 ODIs were cancelled.

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

Foakes likely to get his turn in India while Buttler is rested from that tour.

England become the first team to appoint a Covid Compliance Officer for the tour of Sir Lanka. Couldn't Ashley Giles do that job.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...-south-africa/

So Morgan is in charge. I would not trust his judgement. Remember when he remained behind for the Bangladesh tour while his team went there.

I don't see why the SA 3 ODIs were cancelled.

Remember when he completely overhauled the English ODI strategy, created a united squad, won virtually every ODI series for 3 years and then a World Cup? I think he's earned the right to call a few shots.

I doubt any of them wanted to risk having to stay in SA quarantining for another 2 weeks. It was a no brainer they called it off.