Sri Lanka v England 2021.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Two Test series in January.

Galle 14-18

Galle 22-26.

Got to feel England have a good chance here after SL's trials in SA, though home advantage will tell.

England without Ben Stokes, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Jofra Archer. Though it's a while since they weren't without Mo in a Test series.

Dan Laurence is touted to make his debut. Crawley will open.

Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Minod Bhanuka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Santhush Gunathilake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dilshan Madushanka, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera (wk), Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Thirimanne.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), 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.

[Arthur Crabtree]

My probable likely XI with Mo and Woakes sidelined from the squad.

Sibley/Crawley/Bairstow/Root/Laurence/Buttler/Curran/Bess/Wood/Leach/Anderson
Broad/Foakes/Stone

[Arthur Crabtree]

Easy quiz. Classic series.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55531888

[bigfluffylemon]

Cheers AC. This series snuck up on me. Seems an odd time of year to play. Have there been any warm ups? It doesn't seem so. Two tests, no other matches, several major players rested. All seems a bit of an odd set up.

Don't know anything about Dan Lawrence. Anyone have any comments? His record doesn't inspire massive confidence, but I guess we've not been blessed with obvious batting talent for a while. And I guess there are a few possible candidates playing Big Bash instead.

I got 11 in the quiz. Couldn't remember the second spinner (and the allrounder was an educated guess).

[Arthur Crabtree]

There was a game which i presume was played within the squad. Root scored runs and Anderson took wickets.

Lawrence has been mentioned for a long time but hasn't really kicked on. I'm a bit surprised he's been picked now. He seems to have plateaud at county level. Maybe he's there for his occasional spin, but I get the impression that part of his game has withered.

[sussexpob]

I read with quite a lot of surprise many people calling this a close series; scorecard shows what folly that was. If England don't batter this side then there is major concerns moving forward

[sussexpob]

I guess many people look at people like Chandimal in the line up with Matthews and would assume this is a solid middle order. But Chandimal's production is creeping downwards all the time on a road to nowhere, and Matthews yearly averages since 2015 include 4 years with averages inr the 20s. Aside from a massive score vs Zimbabwe and a series vs NZ away where he suddenly was excellent, its been 5-6 of tragedy for Matthews in tests.

It very sad because SL used to be the great over achievers in cricket. But there really isnt any quality left in this team, or quality that is anywhere near its peak.

What the hell happened in SL cricket?

Another goes, this really is pathetic batting.

[sussexpob]

SL 135 all out
Dominic Bess made to look like Murali with 5/30

Even with England's brittle batting this game should be as good as over

[Arthur Crabtree]

No Anderson.

I think Bess has been pretty unimpressive so far for England so that's a big breakthrough for him. I couldn't figure why Leach was averaging under 30 and Bess over 40 but Bess was getting picked. For his batting I suppose.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Apart from Root, England's batting isn't all that great, and Root is in decline. So can't assume England will get a big lead here.

[Durhamfootman]

Good game for Dom Bess

[sussexpob]

SL should have run out Crawley then, but they were totally asleep.

[alfie]

Bizarre batting display by Sri Lanka. Some truly awful shots...and if a couple of the later wickets were a bit freakish they really hadn't earned any luck anyway...

England bowled quite well considering very little warn up cricket but wouldn't have expected those results. And wouldn't normally get them.

Broad the star for mine. Bess dead lucky to get five with a mixed bag of deliveries but I guess he was due some good luck after having none in the home summer.

Now : can England bat properly and take full control ?

[sussexpob]

Apart from Root, England's batting isn't all that great, and Root is in decline. So can't assume England will get a big lead here.

SL havent got a single proven test quality bowler. The closest to one is Dilruwan Perera... who averages 120 in his last 5 tests. This is as close to a pub team attack as it gets. I cant keep stating how terrible this SL team is.

It was less than a year ago Zimbabwe's all time worst team came within a bit of bad weather away from beating them in a test. That is how bad they are. England should be looking to get a couple of days off and have this finished in no time.

[sussexpob]

Sibly goes