England in Sri Lanka

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

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.

I always found it ridiculous that a number of establishment hacks decided to berate him for missing that Bangladesh tour a few years ago when players were given a choice as to whether or not they missed that tour.


RE the SA tour, given that quite a few players have had enough of quarantining for over 6 months just to get on the pitch, it isn't really a surprise that they've had enough. I hope Sri Lanka and India have better measures put in place.

Although it is reasonable to point out that the risk of getting very ill with Covid is very low for professional sportspeople, the idea that they shouldn't be concerned about contracting the disease, given that even a 'mild' illness might affect their performance for a few weeks, is fairly silly. It isn't just about people getting very ill or dying, we are dealing with a disease that tends to have far harsher after affects than an equivalently mild dose of influenza. Sports folk who've had it complaining about their lungs for a few weeks after their disease seems to be increasingly common.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

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.

Pretty obvious - the England team are a soft bunch and the money to stay on wasn't there.

[1000yardstare]

@StocksC_cricket

News from Sri Lanka - Moeen Ali tested positive for COVID on arrival at Hambantota on Sunday. He tested negative before departure. Means he has to self isolate for 10 days and surely misses first Test starting on Jan 14 in Galle

Chris Woakes has been deemed as a possible close contact, and he will observe a period of self-isolation and further testing.

The touring party will be PCR tested for a second time on Tuesday morning. At this stage, the team will train for the first time on Wednesday.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

@StocksC_cricket

News from Sri Lanka - Moeen Ali tested positive for COVID on arrival at Hambantota on Sunday. He tested negative before departure. Means he has to self isolate for 10 days and surely misses first Test starting on Jan 14 in Galle

Chris Woakes has been deemed as a possible close contact, and he will observe a period of self-isolation and further testing.

The touring party will be PCR tested for a second time on Tuesday morning. At this stage, the team will train for the first time on Wednesday.

presumably the whole squad was reasonably close boarding the plane etc.

[1000yardstare]

Originally Posted by Fred

presumably the whole squad was reasonably close boarding the plane etc.

They chartered a plane so I would imagine they spread out. Woakes drove with Ali to the airport.

[geoff_boycotts_grandmother]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

They chartered a plane so I would imagine they spread out. Woakes drove with Ali to the airport.

Would be a huge blow to lose Woakes. This series is a real chance for him to prove he can be a force away from home. Even losing the preparation time for him is a blow for England.

[1000yardstare]

Originally Posted by geoff_boycotts_grandmother

Would be a huge blow to lose Woakes. This series is a real chance for him to prove he can be a force away from home. Even losing the preparation time for him is a blow for England.

We have Curran.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Hope Woakes makes the first test !

[Sir Coolerking]

So Team Root v Team Buttler is underway. Details are sketchy, but from what I've heard, Team Root scored 185-2 with Root getting at least 75. They declared after 50 overs as there's little chance of play tomorrow due to rain.

Team Buttler is 37-5, Anderson took out Bairstow and Buttler in successive balls. Pope was due to be playing for Buttler's 11, not fit but making up numbers.

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Leach getting wickets. Comfortably our best spin bowler.

[Sir Coolerking]

Team Buttler are 91-6 at Tea. Amusingly, their top scorer is Pope who is not fully fit and not in the squad (39 no).

[AJ101]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Team Buttler are 91-6 at Tea. Amusingly, their top scorer is Pope who is not fully fit and not in the squad (39 no).

Yup I thought this as well, thought he wasn't in the squad so was surprised to see him playing then checked to see he was still "injured".

Not sure why Buttler is keeping ahead of Foakes with a spot at 6 open due to Popes injury, just move Buttler up to 6 if you want him in the side as his keeping against spin will cost us wickets.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

This may bring some interest to the first test. Bess, Leach + 1...


England may look to one of the three spin bowlers who travelled with the squad as reserves - Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi - to keep their options open. Parkinson and Virdi are both uncapped, while Crane's only Test came in the Sydney dead-rubber at the end of the 2017-18 Ashes.

[Sir Coolerking]

Can't really see us going down that route, especially as none of them can bat.

Root can be the third spinner.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Can't really see us going down that route, especially as none of them can bat.

Root can be the third spinner.

Given we can't reach the ICC Test final now - why not ?

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by Jock McTuffnel v3

Given we can't reach the ICC Test final now - why not ?

Does anyone actually care about that? Will it even happen? Still utterly ridiculous that an Ashes Test was worth 24 points (less for a draw) and each home Test in NZ is 60.

And surely Test selections aren't based on this flawed concept anyway?

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Does anyone actually care about that? Will it even happen? Still utterly ridiculous that an Ashes Test was worth 24 points (less for a draw) and each home Test in NZ is 60.

And surely Test selections aren't based on this flawed concept anyway?

Building for the future / Ashes perhaps more important than this "dead rubber" ?

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Good news - TMS will have ball by ball coverage.

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by Jock McTuffnel v3

Building for the future / Ashes perhaps more important than this "dead rubber" ?

I don't care either way, but can we mathematically not qualify now? I thought we still could.

I'm not sure how playing a third spinner in Sri Lanka who wasn't good enough to make the original squad is going to help our Ashes chances.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

I don't care either way, but can we mathematically not qualify now? I thought we still could.

I'm not sure how playing a third spinner in Sri Lanka who wasn't good enough to make the original squad is going to help our Ashes chances.

Me neither, it is utter chalk and cheese playing in Sri Lanka compared to Australia. Certainly don't think Bairstow at 3 would remotely happen come November even if England decided to drop Burns and keep Crawley at opener. I think Cummins and co would be licking their lips at castling Jonny on a regular basis.