SL tour of Eng, Aug 21 - Sept 10

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5 fer for Gus. Dream run in tests continues for him this test as well.

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All out. England 2-0. Both matches ending in 4 days.

Once upon a time, in 1997, SriLanka batted for almost 4 days in an innings at Colombo declaring at 900+ for 6 after India had declared at 500+. Wrong comparison as that was a different wicket, but SL even on those wickets do not have batsmen to do anything halfway near that . Sanath , Marvan Attapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Aaravinda, Arjuna...gulf of difference to that batting lineup quality and the lineup that they have now. Only Dimuth Karunaratne is the big innings player from this in comparison to others of this team lot although he isn't consistent.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bit of a collapse at the end. Series win for England and maybe a while before SL are back.

[bigfluffylemon]

Sending England in seldom works at Lord's.

This was a bit of a walkover, foregone conclusion for 2 days. Let's hope Atkinson doesn't go the way of every other promising bowler of the last few years and end up overworked and constantly injured.

[bigfluffylemon]

What's happened to Robinson? He obviously had a poor couple of games in India, but seems back among the wickets in the CC. Seems to have fallen totally out of favour, can't fathom why.

[Slipstream]

Hull in for Potts

[andy]

Feel like this is a really rushed selection hope it dosent backfire

[Arthur Crabtree]

Two metre Josh.

Tallest left armer since Bruce Reid?

[sussexpob]

Feel like this is a really rushed selection hope it dosent backfire

After getting splattered all round Gloucestershire last week by James Bracey, Rob Key and the ECB have hired someone to follow him everywhere he goes with a ghetto blaster playing the montage scenes from Rocky IV.

He was last seen chopping logs with a large axe, and running round a forest naked.

Early indications is he has suddenly transformed from the worst bowler in county cricket to peak Allan Donald.

[alfie]

Can't say I am altogether comfortable with this latest "hunch" selection... OK , the lad may have physical and style attributes that suggest he could be effective in particular overseas conditions ; but if he can't produce anything better than 3 wickets in an innings - at considerable cost - in the County game , one has to wonder what pitching him into a Test Match is likely to achieve. Experience , no doubt ; and with Sri Lanka rocking at present and maybe looking for the plane home he may be able to fill a spot in the dead rubber ; but it does seem just a touch disrespectful to the tourists - and to some other bowlers around the country who have done far more to push their own claims.

They are probably ready to claim that plucking Bashir from obscurity has worked out quite well : but even there (though I quite like what I have seen of him) I am not sure the notion that he is some massive advance on , say , Jack Leach , in terms of a serious weapon in Australia is more than slightly wishful thinking. Reckon we need to see a bit more of him in all conditions before calling it a selection masterstroke. Picking Atkinson , on the other hand , had a reasonable foundation in his first class - and also white ball stuff - performances - and has surely gone to show that good county form actually does mean something ?

Bit rough on Potts to be left out after bowling rather better than his figures indicated last week. But I guess resting Atkinson or Woakes (even though both might just be a little weary after five Tests) would have been hard given their recent excellent form.

Honestly shouldn't matter too much who they picked given Sri Lanka's problems ; but I hope they don't go into this one assuming they only have to turn up...

[sussexpob]

According the papers, while Gus Atkinson was laying waste to the WIs on debut, someone was being jailed for killing his mum at the Crown court...8.5 years for hitting her taxi while under the influence of drugs.

Makes a stellar debut even more impressive considering having to go through that at the same time

[Arthur Crabtree]

With a four strong pace attack, maybe they can risk a gamble. But it doesn't make sense to promote him above Pennnington, if he's fit.

[Durhamfootman]

Lawrence fails again. I'm sure England love it when a plan comes together

[Arthur Crabtree]

Duckett going like the clappers though. 40 was his top score in the series until today.

[Arthur Crabtree]

SL elect to bowl again.

Won all three tosses. In fact England have only won 1/6 this summer.