< 1 minute readSickeningly wrong-handed purveyor of off-cutters, Nathan Bracken, has once again ended a one-day international with disgustingly flattering figures. Bracken took 5-46 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 125, chasing Australia’s 253. We’ve long since accepted that Nathan Bracken is a more-than-useful one-day bowler, but we don’t have to
Continue readingCategory: Sri Lanka
Twenty20 wicketkeeping
2 minute readDo you want the better batsman or the better wicketkeeper behind the stumps for your team? That argument’s been represented by any number of individual duels over the years. Recently though, we think you’ll all agree that the better batsman’s been winning out, in general. Blame Adam Gilchrist. He’s a
Continue readingAlastair Cook papers over some cracks
< 1 minute readThe quiet, southern, well-kempt, left-handed Michael Atherton for the 21st Century (actually, maybe he’s not Michael Atherton, thinking about it) brought the merest hint of pride back to shameful, shameful England with what we can’t help but describe as a rearguard hundred. Alastair’s very much a rearguard hundred kind of
Continue readingEngland’s learning curve away from home versus Sri Lanka’s
2 minute readIt’s bad when the aftermath starts on day two. We didn’t realise we’d be so much further on by day three though. We’re struck by the contrast with Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2006. When Sri Lanka arrived, they were, without wishing to be disparaging, ripe for the taking.
Continue readingChaminda Vaas has one of his days again
< 1 minute readHere’s a post about Chaminda Vaas which deserves a second showing. Read that, then come back here. It took England two days to take six Sri Lankan wickets. Sri Lanka managed to take six English wickets by the time the score had reached 33. The world authority on subcontinental bowling
Continue readingEngland heading for fifth in ICC rankings
2 minute readIf England don’t win this Test match, they’ll drop to fifth in the ICC’s Test rankings. With rain forecast and two days gone without one innings being completed, it looks like this’ll happen. We think it’s fair. Generally speaking, over their last few series, England have looked worthy and full
Continue readingHarmison in the wickets
< 1 minute readPretty good, but he can do better still. We won’t really be satisfied until he runs through a side. That’s what Steve Harmison’s supposed to do – the Dreamland Steve Harmison who we regularly summon up when things aren’t going England’s way. The not-at-all-real Steve Harmison who embodies English cricketing
Continue readingThere’s a Test match in Galle
< 1 minute readTake that Mother Nature, you hooker. Okay, so you may have given that teddy bear special powers and turned him into SuperTed, but do you really think that balances out the tsunami? No, it doesn’t. This is our way of lauding the Sri Lankans for getting on with things and
Continue readingMichael Vaughan and Alastair Cook keep panic at bay
< 1 minute readIt was far from a classic Test match. It felt like it was mapped out from the start and the players were just doing what they were expected to do. Now we’re no strangers to going through the motions, but we don’t put a professional veneer on like the cricketers
Continue readingDid anything happen today?
< 1 minute readSri Lanka looked set for a large lead yesterday and Mahela Jayawardene had scored a hundred. At the close of play today Sri Lanka had a large lead and Mahela Jayawardene had scored a hundred. Very little else appears to have happened. So what shall we all do? A Test
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