England v Sri Lanka ODI/T20i Series

[Aidan11]

Morgan hits a six

[Aidan11]

50 for Jos.

[Making_Splinters]

Seems as if this opening lark might not be too bad of an idea. Perhaps some food for thought there for the ODI side where he's been lingering a couple of places too low for a while now.

[m@tt]

Root not in. Feels pointless to me resting someone from a T20.

Maybe so, but it does mean resting from 2 days of prep, so it's not just the game itself.

[m@tt]

They'll be head to head in India, though likely conditions there won't be replicated that often. Maybe if Rashid does better there he'll overtake Mo. Can't see it happening this summer.

Reckon rashid might play at the oval or Old trafford.
probably depends on how well Yasir Shah does in the test series but Suspect in two of the test matches england goes with two spinners or Rashid as number 1 spinner and Ali as a batsman.

If you mean England play two spinners, I can't see it happening. It gets talked up every year, but none of our pitches warrant it and the last couple of times we tried it, it didn't work.

[Making_Splinters]

They'll be head to head in India, though likely conditions there won't be replicated that often. Maybe if Rashid does better there he'll overtake Mo. Can't see it happening this summer.

Reckon rashid might play at the oval or Old trafford.
probably depends on how well Yasir Shah does in the test series but Suspect in two of the test matches england goes with two spinners or Rashid as number 1 spinner and Ali as a batsman.

If you mean England play two spinners, I can't see it happening. It gets talked up every year, but none of our pitches warrant it and the last couple of times we tried it, it didn't work.

There would be some logic to giving Rashid a Test at home this summer given he'll almost certainly be getting plenty of international cricket this winter. That said, have to agree there is very little chance of England playing 2 spinners at home.

[m@tt]

People said that last year too, MS. I get it a bit, but playing a Test in England isn't going to prepare you for a Test in the sub-continent. At least not technically. It could be good for temperament, getting the player used to the rigours of international cricket, but for a spinner especially it's such a different game.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Different coaches now, but England didn't field two spinners when they had Swann and Monty. Neither of Mo or Rashid is as good as either of them with the ball. OK, the latter two can bat, but it feels a specialist would be a better bet than one or other of them.

[Dr Cricket]

then Ali needs to get dropped, the way Rashid bowling right now he needs to get picked for the test team.

[m@tt]

Different coaches now, but England didn't field two spinners when they had Swann and Monty. Neither of Mo or Rashid is as good as either of them with the ball. OK, the latter two can bat, but it feels a specialist would be a better bet than one or other of them.

They did once - Cardiff 2009. Bowling-wise, it didn't work and Australia declared with a bucketload of runs. Of course, Monty turned out to be an inspired pick!

The other time under Flower was Swann plus Kerrigan. Which was a complete disaster!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Doesn't feel like it has to happen. At Yorks, Rashid gets talked up as a partnership breaker and someone to put on against the tail, rather than a specialist. Boycott says this, reluctantly though I turn to him in corroboration. He's become a good limited over bowler, though still a little expensive over a period of games. Maybe Rashid is a better option, but it doesn't feel like a no brainer.

[Making_Splinters]

People said that last year too, MS. I get it a bit, but playing a Test in England isn't going to prepare you for a Test in the sub-continent. At least not technically. It could be good for temperament, getting the player used to the rigours of international cricket, but for a spinner especially it's such a different game.

Good for Cook to have a chance to experiment with his fields in a lower pressure situation knowing that he has pace bowlers that conditions suit rather than there being no plan B if it goes wrong.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Different coaches now, but England didn't field two spinners when they had Swann and Monty. Neither of Mo or Rashid is as good as either of them with the ball. OK, the latter two can bat, but it feels a specialist would be a better bet than one or other of them.

They did once - Cardiff 2009. Bowling-wise, it didn't work and Australia declared with a bucketload of runs. Of course, Monty turned out to be an inspired pick!

On a flat pitch that didn't help them at all. I've always felt the evidence of that game has been overstated, sometimes to justify Flower's lack of adaptabiliy.

[Making_Splinters]

then Ali needs to get dropped, the way Rashid bowling right now he needs to get picked for the test team.

Different kettle of fish when the batsmen don't need to go after you.

[Dr Cricket]

2013 one was very odd considering they didn't even need to plan for a second spinner unless flower knew swann was going to leave soon.

with stokes and woakes being able to bat wouldn't surprise me if they did go with 4+2 at some point in the summer with Ali being the batsman at 6, Think baylis is a big fan of Rashid and they will be one spot open for the batting all summer now with Compton out of the team and vince not exactly doing well at the moment.


Although technically england would play 2 spinners now with Borthwick in the test team at number 3 or 6.