England v Sri Lanka 2011

[Gangster Octopus]

Will it ever start?

[Kusal Flyer]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Lanky won the toss, 35-0 off 16 at tea.

Broad sounds a bit rusty.

[ursus arctos]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Is there anyone there?

Another hole in Glamorgan's coffers?

[E10 Rifle]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

How much does it cost to get in? I suspect the recession's digging in sharp at Test attendances (Ashes excepted). The big growth in Test match attendance in Britain occurred during the Long (illusory) Boom, where enough people could find 50 quid plus a day's annual leave for a day at the Test. There are fewer of those people around now - certainly, ancedotally, I know a lot of serious cricket fans who are watching far less home Test cricket now than they were five or six years ago.

[Etienne]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

I'm sure E10 is right, but Cardiff is also a considerably smaller urban area than Birmingham, Manchester, West Yorkshire or Nottingham so there's a substantial increase in people who have to travel - which will be the sector most put off by poor weather. 1/3 of tickets bought yesterday were to people who didn't turn up.

[Etienne]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Anderson basically unplayable so far this morning.

[E10 Rifle]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

So much for Sri Lanka's tail starting at 7. They've added 150+ since the 5th wicket fell, adeptly marshalled by P Jayawardene.

[Kusal Flyer]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

400 all out, very acceptable ton by Prasanna with some entertaining whacking by Perera and Herath. Good Jimmy's mullered his back, alas.

Any update on the OTF outing to Lord's? I missed the original thread and don't have Tubby's phone number.

[E10 Rifle]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Cook and Trott continuing where they left off in Oz. Draw inevitable.

[diggedy derek]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Jonathan Trott's Inner Monologue

[The Bean Counter]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Very boring Test match. Certainly time for a nice cup of tea. No offence to Trott and Cook, they're damned effective, but can't help thinking they're more exciting to watch on Cricinfo.

[The Bean Counter]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Another thought: if Cook or Trott gets out soon, would England send in another nightwatchman? Has any team ever used two nightwatchmen in the same innings?

[Etienne]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Time for Pietersen to be dropped from the test team, I think. His record has been mediocre for almost 3 years now, and the left arm spin has gone beyond a weakness/curiosity to a fully-fledged defect.

[Kusal Flyer]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Etienne wrote:

Time for Pietersen to be dropped from the test team, I think. His record has been mediocre for almost 3 years now, and the left arm spin has gone beyond a weakness/curiosity to a fully-fledged defect

He'll get this series presumably, but agreed there may be changes for India. Anderson may be out for a while, Onions could return?

England might well risk a fifth bowler for the rest of this series, though hard to see that later in the summer.

[Kusal Flyer]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Started belatedly at 1500 today. England are batting on, Bell reaches 100 with a boundary and waves sheepishly to the 30-strong crowd.

Meanwhile, at a comparatively arid Stormont, Ireland hit Pakistan for 238 (another ton for OTF fave Paul 'Fat Lad' Stirling).

PS they've declared at the Gardens. 50 overs for Lanka to bat.

[ursus arctos]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

43 for 5.

[ursus arctos]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Made that 6.

This could be epic.

[ursus arctos]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Seven

[hobbes]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

7.

[Purves Grundy]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

for 7.

Chessington Under-11's batting against Richmond this morning was more resilient than this (YMG holed out to cover for a 3rd-ball duck).

[hobbes]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Not 100% about that decision, but it's no worse than the one turned over on review for KP.

[San Bernardhinault]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

8 now. Blimey

[ursus arctos]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Unbelievable. Especially the last shot.

[San Bernardhinault]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

Strauss's decision to bat for an extra over and a half is beginning to look inspired. Just enough to distract the SL batsmen.

[hobbes]

England v Sri Lanka 2011

I'm trying to put some washing on the clothes horse, but I daren't look away.