Second Test. England v Sri Lanka at Riverside. 27/5/16.

[Alviro Patterson]

Compton a very odd cricketer tries to be like cook stay in, has really limited stroke options and generally looks to stay in and play is own way yet is quite mentally weak, always giving his wicket away after staying in for quite some time.

Can't see Compton being picked for the Pakistan series wonder which batsman will replace him limited options after bell and balance.

Huge opportunity for county players to get in.

Moeen Ali? Where he normally bats for Worcestershire. This paves the way for England to pick a second spinner, which will come in handy for the Sub Continent tours of Bangladesh and India.

[Alviro Patterson]

People have probably answered this question before. But why are the first tests of the summer in the north?

Would it not make more sense to have the first games further south where the weather will more than likely be warmer and the conditions less likely to make the test last for 3 days?

Indeed it would but the ECB have never been one to follow logic. Yet they wonder why no one is turning up to watch.

Lords redeveloping the Warner Stand is why the 3rd test match is down south, whilst the other two are up North. If Lords didn't insist on hosting two test matches a year, then one of the test matches would be somewhere.

Ground location makes as much as an impact in regards to attendances, been to the Riverside three times and I feel it's badly located (i.e. in no mans land). Nearest amenities are a good 20 minutes walk and is best accessed by car.

[sussexpob]

Runs starting to come a little more freely now

[Alviro Patterson]

Good preview Arthur.

The weather looks set to be as tough for the tourists as it was in Leeds - cloudy skys, drizzle and cool temperatures. No doubt the ball will swing as well. I feel sorry for Sri Lanka being forced to play in these conditions. No doubt England will be forced to play in India on rank turners in dustbowls in 35 degree temperatures and have the same difficulty with the conditions. One does have to wonder in the long run if taking home advantage this far is good for the game. It's not exactly exciting to see touring sides thumped because the conditions were so alien.

On the other hand, if we had proper length tours with a decent amount of warm-up time and some FC games before the test match, it might help.

Future Tours Programme renders further warm up matches logistically impossible. We see Division Two counties loan Division One players duiring April and May, maybe allow visiting players the opportunity to play for Division Two clubs or 2nd XI Cricket as a way of acclimatisation.

[sussexpob]

If Lords didn't insist on hosting two test matches a year, then one of the test matches would be somewhere

Indeed. At a half empty Headingley, or half empty Chester-le-Street.....

To put it short, any test venue used that cant maintain at least 75% ticket sales for the first three days should be removed and replaced with a London test.

Id rather see a full Lords being used 5 times a year, then 3,000 people widely dispersed in empty northern grounds.

[sussexpob]

50 for Root..... with such an ease, I think he will be targetting 150-200 on this deck

[sussexpob]

Hales dropped.... would have been a ripper of a catch, but still...games can be won and lost on taking those type of chances

[backfootpunch]

Could do with taking a mower to this outfield

[alfie]

Excellent fifty for Root...nice , busy batting - keeps the score ticking over. Hasn't been altogether easy , with Herath testing him ; but he and Hales are batting England into a good position here.

Don't think this match will be over as quickly as the first one ; reckon Sri Lanka will be chasing a fair few - but might find it a little easier to survive.

[Alviro Patterson]

If Lords didn't insist on hosting two test matches a year, then one of the test matches would be somewhere

Indeed. At a half empty Headingley, or half empty Chester-le-Street.....

To put it short, any test venue used that cant maintain at least 75% ticket sales for the first three days should be removed and replaced with a London test.

Id rather see a full Lords being used 5 times a year, then 3,000 people widely dispersed in empty northern grounds.

Headingley for Day 2 and Day 3 had limited tickets remaining. Not sure what the overall attendance was but if Day 1 had 9500, then overall ticket sales must have been in the 85-90% region. Good going considering Yorkshire have hosted Sri Lanka and New Zealand twice since 2013.

Maybe if Yorkshire got better opposition (i.e. India or South Africa) or Durham hosts a test match in high summer, then crowds would be responsive.

[sussexpob]

Hales hits a six, then goes to a brilliant Mathews catch......

Another 80's innings that ends 30 mins short

[backfootpunch]

Hales has always had problems in the 80s and 90s

Same for Notts in the county championship

Didn't do much wrong there just had to get more bat on it

Fantastic catch though

[Aidan11]

Bugger! Hales' luck has run out.

[sussexpob]

If Lords didn't insist on hosting two test matches a year, then one of the test matches would be somewhere

Indeed. At a half empty Headingley, or half empty Chester-le-Street.....

To put it short, any test venue used that cant maintain at least 75% ticket sales for the first three days should be removed and replaced with a London test.

Id rather see a full Lords being used 5 times a year, then 3,000 people widely dispersed in empty northern grounds.

Headingley for Day 2 and Day 3 had limited tickets remaining. Not sure what the overall attendance was but if Day 1 had 9500, then overall ticket sales must have been in the 85-90% region. Good going considering Yorkshire have hosted Sri Lanka and New Zealand twice since 2013.

Maybe if Yorkshire got better opposition (i.e. India or South Africa) or Durham hosts a test match in high summer, then crowds would be responsive.

Not sure thats a great economic plan for the ECB. Gift matches that are big money generators to smaller grounds that dont prove their worth.

[Aidan11]

If Lords didn't insist on hosting two test matches a year, then one of the test matches would be somewhere

Indeed. At a half empty Headingley, or half empty Chester-le-Street.....

To put it short, any test venue used that cant maintain at least 75% ticket sales for the first three days should be removed and replaced with a London test.

Id rather see a full Lords being used 5 times a year, then 3,000 people widely dispersed in empty northern grounds.

Headingley for Day 2 and Day 3 had limited tickets remaining. Not sure what the overall attendance was but if Day 1 had 9500, then overall ticket sales must have been in the 85-90% region. Good going considering Yorkshire have hosted Sri Lanka and New Zealand twice since 2013.

Maybe if Yorkshire got better opposition (i.e. India or South Africa) or Durham hosts a test match in high summer, then crowds would be responsive.

Not sure thats a great economic plan for the ECB. Gift matches that are big money generators to smaller grounds that dont prove their worth.

The ECB have quite enough money. That's the trouble nowadays. It's all about money rather than taking test cricket around the country. Glamorgan has little interest in test cricket but the ECB are keen to give them plenty of tests.