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[Manormanic]

Obviously, if Ali makes a brillian match winning ton today that might look a bit different...

[RichW]

I don't think it's fair to judge the bowlers especially the new bowlers Plunkett, Jordan and Ali to harshly as they have been set poor fields and been poorly managed by Cook.

Cook is such a good player with lots of experience but is in no way a natural leader. Just let him concentrate on scoring runs and let some else captain the side.

I think Morgan would make a good captain but not sure where you bring him into the side except for Ali but then we need to find a frontline spinner.

We can't play Rilley he may have potential but the Indians are great players of spin and don't want to ruin someone before they've really started their career.

[tim2000s]

To be fair, Broad and Anderson both bowled poorly in the SL second innings. It's Headingly. Pitch it up and let the movement do it's job...

[Gerry SA]

The spin option is tricky.  I'm assuming that Stokes will return for the India series - he has to really - and that he will either do so as a like for like for Jordan at eight (Plunkett being the better choice in a five man attack, harsh as that is on Jordan who is a decent cricketer) or, more likely, for Ali at six with Jordan replaced by a frontline spinner.  Who?  Assuming Rashid really is persona non grata, and that Monty's escapades have made him an unlikely bet, I'd like to see them go with Adam Riley.  Kid looks a decent bowler, has time on his side and with some words of wisdom from Swann at least might make the grade...

You'd be happy to blood Riley, who's played all his professional cricket in division 2 against India? A side consisting of Pujara, Kohli, Sharma and Dhoni all excellent players of off spin?

Monty, whatever his mistakes, has to be the man against. India. He had the Indians in sorts of bother in the last series. India have a lot of RHB, and that's good for Monty.

[Vitas Cricket]

Umpiring in this game has been the worst i've seen for a while. Billy has had a shocking game and Reiffel giving that no ball as out just now caused a minor clean up operation in the office as i launched my McFlurry into the wall!

[CrickFreak]

Surprising why no credit is given to the SL batting and only poor captaincy/bowling is getting the credit for the big second inning total SL got.
SL batted well in my opinion. The captains go on defensive at times to slow down which we often see even in club cricket.
Had he been attacking, 2 things could have happened - SL could have added 100 more or got 100 less. But who knows ... these are all IFs which no one can predict.
Given the situation, you want to reduce the risk and save the game before thinking of winning it.

[MD2812]

So the 21 days has been and gone that Senanayake needed to have his action tested.

Anyone know when we might get the results?

[Sam]

You'd be happy to blood Riley, who's played all his professional cricket in division 2 against India?

I sometimes feel people are a bit harsh in judgment against division 2 sides. I'd say about half the sides in D2 could still be fairly competitive in D1, admittedly there are a few that would struggle a lot but there's still good teams there.

[smilley792]

I sometimes feel people are a bit harsh in judgment against division 2 sides. I'd say about half the sides in D2 could still be fairly competitive in D1, admittedly there are a few that would struggle a lot but there's still good teams there.

The 2 sides that got promoted last year are more than likely going to be relegated again this year.

Lancs have won one and that was with help of Anderson.

Northamptonshire are yet to win, and I would bet they won't this year. There 400 behind lancs at mo with only 6 wkts left. Lancs declared there only innings.

Div 2 is nowhere to blood England spinners in prep fro India

[Sam]

Northamptonshire had a bit of a fluky season last year in my opinion as everyone just seemed to perform so well (even those that hadn't done so before) but seem to be tailing off again. They've also been attacked by a lot of injurys and problems with overseas players.

In D2 you have Worcestershire, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex, all of which are teams I feel could be competitive in D1, the majority of which due to their batting lineup but there's still good bowlers chucked in there as well.

[SOULMAN1012]

I sometimes feel people are a bit harsh in judgment against division 2 sides. I'd say about half the sides in D2 could still be fairly competitive in D1, admittedly there are a few that would struggle a lot but there's still good teams there.

Personally if played against Riley on a few occasions as played his club cricket for Bexley in Kent premier league although this was 3 seasons ago before he was a county regular. Very very good bowler and massively underrated. Yes he plays in Div 2 of county cricket but he has been Selected as Kent feel he is a better option than treadwell at the moment who has been playing club cricket this season so maybe give him a chance. By the looks of it Monty is not in contention and I believe you pick on form and this season he has been the best slow bowler in the country by some way.

[smilley792]

Whatever happens in this last hour. Lose or draw. You have to give Ali root and the tail some kudos for taking it all the way to extra time in the last session.

[WalkingWicket37]

Well batted Moeen Ali!
With him, Root, Ballance and Robson all making centuries, Plunkett's bowling and Stoles set to return the future of English cricket is bright.
Need a new skipper to truly start this new era!

[smilley792]

Well. It was a fightback of worthy causes but just not enough.


England now not won in 8 tests. And 5th in the world. Still going downwards at mo.

[Gerry SA]

Congrats Sri Lanka, really surprised me with their fight. Especially outside Asia.

Ali played well.

Anderson, not a fan of his, hard luck.