posted Dec 22, 2007

Moores, Vaughan, Collingwood: "There are some positives to take out of this Test match".

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posted Dec 22, 2007

"we are the worst test playing nation on earth and have been for ages"

What nonsense. England is within a whisker of being a very good Test team indeed. To play three rearguard actions elaidng (probaly) to two draws and one narrow defeat is not the sign of a bad side. Remember Sri Lanka are a very good side on their home territory - only Austrlia has beaten them in Sri Lanka in recent times.

With Strauss back for the NZ tour the batting will be strengthened. Harmy, Hoggy, Ryan and Anderson look a good pace attack. Monty has some work to do but shopuld ironically be a better bowler in NZ than he is in South Asia (cf Vettori). The following side looks good to me:

Vaughan (c)
Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Sidebottom
Harmison
Panesar
Anderson

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posted Dec 22, 2007

by the way fellas merry x-mas

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posted Dec 22, 2007

Is this the "Let's bash Enland" section of the forum?

Engalnd batted through 95 overs in the 4th innings which is no mean feat, and Sri Lanka batted at a snail's pace to rack up 499 in the 1st innings. They clearly had their minds on avoiding defeat rather than going for a win, and Vaas apart, they lacked real aggression and this means they deserve a draw.

The rain may have been the ultimate decider in this test, but well done to SL for taking the series, it has not been the best, but the classy contributions of Jaya and Sanga swung it.

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posted Dec 22, 2007

No Shah No Broad & No Pietersen
K.Pietersen needs rest from both form of cricket as his present performance is far from satisfactory. His batting order is of prime importance and england needs a batsman in form and not carried over performances heroes. England policy presently should be selection on current form basis only from bowlers and batsman too and that would be key to sucess. A lesson from Sri Lanka tour should be learnt. Horses for Courses policy should be adopoted. Haroon Rashid.

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posted Dec 22, 2007

I still remember that wonderful day like it was yesterday, my first ever century. I had come in at 2 for 15, and faced a hostile fast bowler, who hit me on practically all parts of my body as I desperately defended my stumps. The fielders were loud and mean, encouraging him to spread my torso all across the turf. They taunted me about everything, suggesting my batting stance reminded them of an old granny trying to sit down in a hot bath. They called me every name under the sun, including some I had never even heard of. It was a lonely place out there and early on it felt like I had a stump in my hand instead of a bat and the ball was as small as a golf ball. Slowly slowly I took the blows, and by tea time I was bruised and battered but still not out on 33. Our team was 5 for 92. As I sipped a drink I was congratualted by my captain, an older chap with loads of experience, and he told me if I was 33 at tea, I could make it to 80 odd by the close. He said after tea things would get easier, and the runs would come. Then it all changed, my defensive shots started to ping for ones and twos, and the ball started to look big, a sudden confidence surged thru my veins as found myself having time to pick where I wanted to smash the ball. The fielders became quiet, and I heard only desperate screams at each other, "come on fellas, lets get this dude out" The bowlers looked tired and begrudgingly almost they trudged back to their marks. I plastered the bowling to all parts, growing stronger and stronger. Suddely I felt invincible, smashing them everywhere, until the car horns of my team started to sound celebrating my hundred. I finished on 106 n/o, as my team posted a respectable 250. This is a true story, and ever since that day I have watched my beloved England fail with the bat time and time again, collapsing hopelessly, and wished someone could do what was required. I have prayed that England could find a batsman with courage, who could tough it out, and reach that wonderful state where they could totally dominate the opponent. Alas, I have seen it so rarely, since I am now 45, and I have had to endure a very lean last 20 odd years watching my national team. The innings of Botham at Headingly still lives in my mind, and I think the day Botham was shafted from the team was was one of the saddest times. He was our last true hero, the last guy who would never say die, and the last player to ever give his blood and guts for the England cause. I wish somehow our batsman could realise what exactly is required to achieve success, and could dig in and refuse to give up, and then come out the other side to see what I have seen. It is a marvellous feeling, one which I am afraid this current list of batsman will never experience. Where is Englands next hero? How long before we unearth someone with such courage?

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posted Dec 22, 2007

Vaughan has to go, but of course he won't. Ditto Peiersen, Harmison, Prior.

(My God, NZ is even further from home than Australia. Does this mean Harmison will start wetting the bed?)

Strauss to captain until Cook is ready. Cook will probably finish up as Engand's longest serving skipper.

Give Mustard a chance NOW. Prior is a book definition oaf.

Collingwood? He epitomises everything that's awful about English cricket in particular and English sport in general.

Ordinaire, slow-witted and devoid of class. No doubt he'll be glad to get back to his Turkey burgers and chips for Christmas. I hear no-one's giving him books this year.

Wonder why.

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posted Dec 22, 2007

Some seriously silly and ignorant posts today. Has every taken leave of their senses? There is little wrong with the Squad that went to SL. For New Zealand I would add Strauss and bat him at 3. The rest are OK.

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posted Dec 22, 2007

Barrymanulow, that has to be the dullest, most sanctimonious cricket post of all time.

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posted Dec 24, 2007

I didn't have a problem with the squad, Censura....

What I had a problem with was the team! It was insane to play Bopara for all three tests, while a very good player of spin (Owais Shah) sat in the dressing room kicking his heels.

I understand vaughan was behind the decision to select Bopara over Shah. That is yet one more reason why I'm not impressed with Vaughan's captaincy....

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