England vs SL 1st test

[miked]

Well England have opted for an extra bowler in Potts rather than an
extra batter.
Good that potts gets a go, and looking at the weather forcast, its
likely it will be rather damp and cloudy a lot of the time, ideal for an
anderson type bowler ;) Corse if its really bowler friendly, they might
wish they had chosen an extra batter rather than 4 quicks. Lawrence will
open and Woakes bat at 7. Quite a long tail if things go badly.

England XI for first Test v Sri Lanka: Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie
Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus
Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special, plus
Perth will stage the 1st test of the ashes in oz 2025.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked
Well England have opted for an extra bowler in Potts rather than an
extra batter.
Good that potts gets a go, and looking at the weather forcast, its
likely it will be rather damp and cloudy a lot of the time, ideal for an
anderson type bowler ;) Corse if its really bowler friendly, they might
wish they had chosen an extra batter rather than 4 quicks. Lawrence will
open and Woakes bat at 7. Quite a long tail if things go badly.
England XI for first Test v Sri Lanka: Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie
Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus
Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

If the weather turns out as bad as the forecast suggests, there may not
be enough play for it to matter which XI has been picked.

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special,

The administrators weren't likely to pass up the chance to make more
money. There seems to have been no attempt to organise a 50th
anniversary Test in 1927, but I suppose in the days when one could only
get to Australia by sea it wouldn't have been practical.

Post by miked
plus
Perth will stage the 1st test of the ashes in oz 2025.
mike

England will be pleased that they don't have to start the series at the
Gabba, I imagine.

[miked]

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Well England have opted for an extra bowler in Potts rather than an
extra batter.
Good that potts gets a go, and looking at the weather forcast, its
likely it will be rather damp and cloudy a lot of the time, ideal for an
anderson type bowler ;) Corse if its really bowler friendly, they might
wish they had chosen an extra batter rather than 4 quicks. Lawrence will
open and Woakes bat at 7. Quite a long tail if things go badly.
England XI for first Test v Sri Lanka: Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie
Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus
Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

If the weather turns out as bad as the forecast suggests, there may not
be enough play for it to matter which XI has been picked.

yes is suggest its a bowl first situation if they win the toss, but as u
say, probably they wont get enough play for it to matter much

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special,

The administrators weren't likely to pass up the chance to make more
money. There seems to have been no attempt to organise a 50th
anniversary Test in 1927, but I suppose in the days when one could only
get to Australia by sea it wouldn't have been practical.

Post by miked
plus
Perth will stage the 1st test of the ashes in oz 2025.
mike

England will be pleased that they don't have to start the series at the
Gabba, I imagine.

yes def a relief to avoid brisbane first up, although i dunno what
pitches are like at the optus.

mike

[Mad Hamish]

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special

Probably the Ashes won't actually be on the line, and because waiting
until 200 years is a long way away

[John Hall]

Post by Mad Hamish

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special

Probably the Ashes won't actually be on the line, and because waiting
until 200 years is a long way away

ISTR that Ashes weren't on the line for the 1977 Centenary Test either,
so it does seem likely that they won't be at stake this time either.
IIRC, there was also a special Test in 1980 to mark the anniversary of
the first Test played in England, though it was held at Lord's rather
than at The Oval, which it should have been if they cared about
historical accuracy. I imagine there would have been an almighty uproar
in Victoria had either the 1977 or 2027 match been given to Sydney
rather than to Melbourne.

[miked]

Post by John Hall

Post by Mad Hamish

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special

Probably the Ashes won't actually be on the line, and because waiting
until 200 years is a long way away

ISTR that Ashes weren't on the line for the 1977 Centenary Test either,
so it does seem likely that they won't be at stake this time either.

yes thats a pity, a one off test might be the our best chance of winning
them back!

Post by John Hall
IIRC, there was also a special Test in 1980 to mark the anniversary of
the first Test played in England, though it was held at Lord's rather
than at The Oval, which it should have been if they cared about
historical accuracy. I imagine there would have been an almighty uproar
in Victoria had either the 1977 or 2027 match been given to Sydney
rather than to Melbourne.

As i recall the 1980 match was a turgid affair with a lot of time lost
to 'bad light' on the first few days, that MCC members remonstrated with
the umpires in their usual way, and england made no attempt to win with
boycott making a typical 100.

meanwhile SL 6-3, but mendis is batting well, no hes just got out as i
wrote! On paper this SL top 5 are pretty good, and theres the other
mendis to come [test av 107] whos SLs mr bazball. Wonder why he didnt
play any tests for 2 years after his debut vs oz which was pretty
successful. The only 1 of our bowlers whos been playing regular cricket
is Potts and hes been slapped around the boundary.

mike

[miked]

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by Mad Hamish

Post by miked
Meanwhile theyve announced a 1 off ashes match at the MCG in March 2027
to celebrate 150th year although i dunno why 150 is so special

Probably the Ashes won't actually be on the line, and because waiting
until 200 years is a long way away

ISTR that Ashes weren't on the line for the 1977 Centenary Test either,
so it does seem likely that they won't be at stake this time either.

yes thats a pity, a one off test might be the our best chance of winning
them back!

Post by John Hall
IIRC, there was also a special Test in 1980 to mark the anniversary of
the first Test played in England, though it was held at Lord's rather
than at The Oval, which it should have been if they cared about
historical accuracy. I imagine there would have been an almighty uproar
in Victoria had either the 1977 or 2027 match been given to Sydney
rather than to Melbourne.

As i recall the 1980 match was a turgid affair with a lot of time lost
to 'bad light' on the first few days, that MCC members remonstrated with
the umpires in their usual way, and england made no attempt to win with
boycott making a typical 100.
meanwhile SL 6-3, but mendis is batting well, no hes just got out as i
wrote! On paper this SL top 5 are pretty good, and theres the other
mendis to come [test av 107] whos SLs mr bazball. Wonder why he didnt
play any tests for 2 years after his debut vs oz which was pretty
successful. The only 1 of our bowlers whos been playing regular cricket
is Potts and hes been slapped around the boundary.

As SLs top 6 all average about 40 or more, i think england will be well
pleased with the 1st day, even if at 112-7 the last 3 wkts did more than
double the score. Rathnayake is the first SL tailender to score 50 on
debut and well he batted too. england a bit handicapped by the light not
being able to bowl the quicks, but bash bowled very well. chandimal got
a grubber and root bowled a 62mph bouncer [which went for 4] and
atkinson got no balled for a 3rd bouncer which surprised me as against
windies in the 2nd test, all wood seem to be bowling were bouncers.
Slankans are a bit shorter though. Only day 1 but Pope captained well
under what seemed intense scrutiny from stokes and baz on the balcony.
TMS had a long discussion as to whether Gavaskar had once scored a
century left handed, eventually deciding he hadnt.

mike

[John Hall]

<snip>

Post by miked

Post by miked
meanwhile SL 6-3, but mendis is batting well, no hes just got out as i
wrote! On paper this SL top 5 are pretty good, and theres the other
mendis to come [test av 107] whos SLs mr bazball. Wonder why he didnt
play any tests for 2 years after his debut vs oz which was pretty
successful. The only 1 of our bowlers whos been playing regular cricket
is Potts and hes been slapped around the boundary.

As SLs top 6 all average about 40 or more,

I suspect that most of SL's recent Tests may have been either in the
subcontinent or against the weaker sides, so that those averages may be
a little inflated.

Post by miked
i think england will be well
pleased with the 1st day,

Yep.

Post by miked
even if at 112-7 the last 3 wkts did more than
double the score. Rathnayake is the first SL tailender to score 50 on
debut and well he batted too.

He was very impressive. Apparently his 72 is the highest for a player
making his Test debut at number 9.

Post by miked
england a bit handicapped by the light not
being able to bowl the quicks, but bash bowled very well.

Yep. He got some turn when bowling over the wicket to the right-handers,
where he was pitching it outside off-stump. He mostly bowled over the
wicket to the left-handed Rathnayake, which meant pitching it on the
stumps, where there didn't seem to be any turn.

Post by miked
chandimal got
a grubber

Yes, for before lunch on day 1 that was incredibly unlucky. It makes one
wonder how well the pitch is going to last.

Post by miked
and root bowled a 62mph bouncer [which went for 4] and
atkinson got no balled for a 3rd bouncer which surprised me as against
windies in the 2nd test, all wood seem to be bowling were bouncers.

I believe the balls the umpires count as bouncers are those that would
be above shoulder height to a batsman standing normally at the crease
(ie not ducking or on tip-toes). The decision that went against Atkinson
was marginal, but since he got his man two balls later it didn't prove
significant.

Post by miked
Slankans are a bit shorter though. Only day 1 but Pope captained well
under what seemed intense scrutiny from stokes and baz on the balcony.
TMS had a long discussion as to whether Gavaskar had once scored a
century left handed, eventually deciding he hadnt.
mike

Oo-er. The seems weird. Did they decide he hadn't batted left-handed at
all or did he just not score as many as a hundred?

[miked]

Post by John Hall
<snip>

Post by miked

Post by miked
meanwhile SL 6-3, but mendis is batting well, no hes just got out as i
wrote! On paper this SL top 5 are pretty good, and theres the other
mendis to come [test av 107] whos SLs mr bazball. Wonder why he didnt
play any tests for 2 years after his debut vs oz which was pretty
successful. The only 1 of our bowlers whos been playing regular cricket
is Potts and hes been slapped around the boundary.

As SLs top 6 all average about 40 or more,

I suspect that most of SL's recent Tests may have been either in the
subcontinent or against the weaker sides, so that those averages may be
a little inflated.

Post by miked
i think england will be well
pleased with the 1st day,

Yep.

Post by miked
even if at 112-7 the last 3 wkts did more than
double the score. Rathnayake is the first SL tailender to score 50 on
debut and well he batted too.

He was very impressive. Apparently his 72 is the highest for a player
making his Test debut at number 9.

Post by miked
england a bit handicapped by the light not
being able to bowl the quicks, but bash bowled very well.

Yep. He got some turn when bowling over the wicket to the right-handers,
where he was pitching it outside off-stump. He mostly bowled over the
wicket to the left-handed Rathnayake, which meant pitching it on the
stumps, where there didn't seem to be any turn.

Post by miked
chandimal got
a grubber

Yes, for before lunch on day 1 that was incredibly unlucky. It makes one
wonder how well the pitch is going to last.

yes both brook and woakes got absolute perlers from prabath, although i
spose an ultra critic would say they should have been playing forward.
England will need smith and the tail to get as many as poss, preferably
past 300 becos i think batting last on this will be difficult [if the
weather allows].

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
and root bowled a 62mph bouncer [which went for 4] and
atkinson got no balled for a 3rd bouncer which surprised me as against
windies in the 2nd test, all wood seem to be bowling were bouncers.

I believe the balls the umpires count as bouncers are those that would
be above shoulder height to a batsman standing normally at the crease
(ie not ducking or on tip-toes). The decision that went against Atkinson
was marginal, but since he got his man two balls later it didn't prove
significant.

Post by miked
Slankans are a bit shorter though. Only day 1 but Pope captained well
under what seemed intense scrutiny from stokes and baz on the balcony.
TMS had a long discussion as to whether Gavaskar had once scored a
century left handed, eventually deciding he hadnt.
mike

Oo-er. The seems weird. Did they decide he hadn't batted left-handed at
all or did he just not score as many as a hundred?

the latter, and i think it was in a domestic match in india not a test
but i got bored listening to it. i spose if the over rate hadnt been
12.2, they wouldnt have had so much time to fill. Thats 1 area that pope
has faithfully followed. Not that the WTC is important but i spose we
probably got docked most of the points we won against the windies. I
noticed that the lions managed 15 in their match with SL.

mike

[miked]

Post by John Hall
<snip>

Post by miked

Post by miked
meanwhile SL 6-3, but mendis is batting well, no hes just got out as i
wrote! On paper this SL top 5 are pretty good, and theres the other
mendis to come [test av 107] whos SLs mr bazball. Wonder why he didnt
play any tests for 2 years after his debut vs oz which was pretty
successful. The only 1 of our bowlers whos been playing regular cricket
is Potts and hes been slapped around the boundary.

As SLs top 6 all average about 40 or more,

I suspect that most of SL's recent Tests may have been either in the
subcontinent or against the weaker sides, so that those averages may be
a little inflated.

Post by miked
i think england will be well
pleased with the 1st day,

Yep.

Post by miked
even if at 112-7 the last 3 wkts did more than
double the score. Rathnayake is the first SL tailender to score 50 on
debut and well he batted too.

He was very impressive. Apparently his 72 is the highest for a player
making his Test debut at number 9.

Post by miked
england a bit handicapped by the light not
being able to bowl the quicks, but bash bowled very well.

Yep. He got some turn when bowling over the wicket to the right-handers,
where he was pitching it outside off-stump. He mostly bowled over the
wicket to the left-handed Rathnayake, which meant pitching it on the
stumps, where there didn't seem to be any turn.

Post by miked
chandimal got
a grubber

Yes, for before lunch on day 1 that was incredibly unlucky. It makes one
wonder how well the pitch is going to last.

yes Brook and woakes got absolute perlers from Prabath, so england will
need smith and the tail to get as many as poss preferably past 300, as i
think batting last on this pitch wont be easy [thats if the weather
allows it]. Smiths runs have been absolutely vital for england so far
this summer.

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
and root bowled a 62mph bouncer [which went for 4] and
atkinson got no balled for a 3rd bouncer which surprised me as against
windies in the 2nd test, all wood seem to be bowling were bouncers.

I believe the balls the umpires count as bouncers are those that would
be above shoulder height to a batsman standing normally at the crease
(ie not ducking or on tip-toes). The decision that went against Atkinson
was marginal, but since he got his man two balls later it didn't prove
significant.

Post by miked
Slankans are a bit shorter though. Only day 1 but Pope captained well
under what seemed intense scrutiny from stokes and baz on the balcony.
TMS had a long discussion as to whether Gavaskar had once scored a
century left handed, eventually deciding he hadnt.
mike

Oo-er. The seems weird. Did they decide he hadn't batted left-handed at
all or did he just not score as many as a hundred?

the latter and i think it was in a domestic indian match not a test but
i got bored listening to it. I spose if the over rate hadnt been 12.2
they wouldnt have had so much time to fill. Thats 1 area that Pope has
faithfully followed. Not that the WTC is important but i spose we got
docked most of the points we won against the windies. I notice that the
lions mananged 15 oph in their match with SL.

they also said that kamindu can bowl offies and SLA. Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

mike

[David North]

Post by miked
Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

His full name is Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka Fernando.

[miked]

Post by David North

Post by miked
Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

His full name is Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka Fernando.

I wonder if the fernando indicates some Spanish or Portuguese heritage?

Meanwhile Wood pulled up went off right at the end of the day. Worry
turned to elation when Root got Rathnayake soon after, but another 100
runs or more from Kamindu and Chandimal will be giving our supporters
the jitters if theyr not shivering tomorrow. Potts bowled well with the
replacement ball and had 2 catches put down 1 of which was Kamindu which
might be costly. When Angelo was batting they were already reminding us
of the Slankan win at Leeds in 2014. However the weather at OT this
weekend looks atrocious; we might get some play in the afternoon
tomorrow but sunday could be a washout.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked

Post by David North

Post by miked
Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

His full name is Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka Fernando.

I wonder if the fernando indicates some Spanish or Portuguese heritage?

Quite a few Sril Lankan last names sound as if they might be Portuguese
in origin. Your question led me to look up Sri Lanka on Wikipedia, where
I found: "During a period of great political crisis in the Kingdom of
Kotte, the Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka and sought to control its
maritime trade, with a part of Sri Lanka subsequently becoming a
Portuguese possession. After the Sinhalese-Portuguese war, the Dutch
Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy took control of those areas. "

So that probably accounts for it.

Post by miked
Meanwhile Wood pulled up went off right at the end of the day. Worry
turned to elation when Root got Rathnayake soon after, but another 100
runs or more from Kamindu and Chandimal will be giving our supporters
the jitters if theyr not shivering tomorrow. Potts bowled well with the
replacement ball and had 2 catches put down 1 of which was Kamindu which
might be costly. When Angelo was batting they were already reminding us
of the Slankan win at Leeds in 2014.

Agree with all that.

Post by miked
However the weather at OT this
weekend looks atrocious; we might get some play in the afternoon
tomorrow but sunday could be a washout.

It's not looking too bad for what is now today. A lot better than here
down in the SE, fortunately. It looks like four or five hours play
should be possible, which hopefully will be long enough for England to
finish the job and not have to worry about Sunday's weather.

[David North]

Post by John Hall

Post by miked

Post by David North

Post by miked
Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

His full name is Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka Fernando.

I wonder if the fernando indicates some Spanish or Portuguese heritage?

Quite a few Sril Lankan last names sound as if they might be Portuguese
in origin. Your question led me to look up Sri Lanka on Wikipedia, where
I found: "During a period of great political crisis in the Kingdom of
Kotte, the Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka and sought to control its
maritime trade, with a part of Sri Lanka subsequently becoming a
Portuguese possession. After the Sinhalese-Portuguese war, the Dutch
Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy took control of those areas. "
So that probably accounts for it.

There have been a few other Sri Lankan players who have been known by
names other than their (often Portuguese) surnames: Charitha Buddhika
(Fernando), Chamila Gamage (Lakshitha), Thilan Thushara (Mirando), Gayan
Wijekoon (Ramyakumara), Suraj Randiv (Kaluhalamulla), Nuwan Pradeep
(Fernando), Akila Dananjaya (Perera), Minod Bhanuka (Ranasinghe), Pathum
Nissanka (Silva). I may well have missed some.

[miked]

Post by David North

Post by John Hall

Post by miked

Post by David North

Post by miked
Although the fatter
fernando took 3 wkts I thought the lefty fernando was useful, and BBC
website had the opener called fernando as well but later changed his
name to Madushka [which sounds russian].

His full name is Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka Fernando.

I wonder if the fernando indicates some Spanish or Portuguese heritage?

Quite a few Sril Lankan last names sound as if they might be Portuguese
in origin. Your question led me to look up Sri Lanka on Wikipedia, where
I found: "During a period of great political crisis in the Kingdom of
Kotte, the Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka and sought to control its
maritime trade, with a part of Sri Lanka subsequently becoming a
Portuguese possession. After the Sinhalese-Portuguese war, the Dutch
Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy took control of those areas. "
So that probably accounts for it.

yes i was being dense. i forgot that b4 the british, the dutch and b4
them the portuguese colonised bits of sri lanka. Apparently fernando and
perera are the most common names in SL.

Post by David North
There have been a few other Sri Lankan players who have been known by
names other than their (often Portuguese) surnames: Charitha Buddhika
(Fernando), Chamila Gamage (Lakshitha), Thilan Thushara (Mirando), Gayan
Wijekoon (Ramyakumara), Suraj Randiv (Kaluhalamulla), Nuwan Pradeep
(Fernando), Akila Dananjaya (Perera), Minod Bhanuka (Ranasinghe), Pathum
Nissanka (Silva). I may well have missed some.

i think there have been 14 de silvas whove played for SL!

anyway another good win for england but SL made them work hard. They
look a much stonger team than windies, and kamindu is certainly gonna
test the bowlers whoever they are. With wood out of the remaining tests,
i spose Stone is next up, but another left field choice in calling up
lefty Josh Hull; perhaps the selectors are hoping he'll be the seamer
version of Bash/Hartley with only 10 fC matches behind him and 16 wkts
at 62 [and i think 6 were in the lions game]. Whoever they choose its a
very inexperienced bowling unit and a pretty long tail, although Stone
has been having more success with the bat than the ball so far this
season. Meanwhile Hull took 1-133 off 23 overs at bristol.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked
anyway another good win for england but SL made them work hard.

Yep.

Post by miked
They
look a much stonger team than windies,

Much better in batting, certainly, and with a much better spinner.

Post by miked
and kamindu is certainly gonna
test the bowlers whoever they are.

Yes, it was a nice coincidence that both he and Smith were playing their
fourth Test when they made their hundreds (though it wasn't Mendis's
first).

Post by miked
With wood out of the remaining tests,
i spose Stone is next up, but another left field choice in calling up
lefty Josh Hull; perhaps the selectors are hoping he'll be the seamer
version of Bash/Hartley with only 10 fC matches behind him and 16 wkts
at 62 [and i think 6 were in the lions game]. Whoever they choose its a
very inexperienced bowling unit and a pretty long tail, although Stone
has been having more success with the bat than the ball so far this
season. Meanwhile Hull took 1-133 off 23 overs at bristol.

Yep. Woakes looked as if he might have a slight niggle on Saturday too.
Hopefully it was just the effect of continually running up to bowl on
such a very heavy outfield, as we'd have real problems if we were
without both him and Wood.

Hopefully if Hull /should/ need to play, the magic touch that the
selectors have had recently in picking Bashir, Smith and Atkinson won't
have deserted them.

[miked]

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
With wood out of the remaining tests,
i spose Stone is next up, but another left field choice in calling up
lefty Josh Hull; perhaps the selectors are hoping he'll be the seamer
version of Bash/Hartley with only 10 fC matches behind him and 16 wkts
at 62 [and i think 6 were in the lions game]. Whoever they choose its a
very inexperienced bowling unit and a pretty long tail, although Stone
has been having more success with the bat than the ball so far this
season. Meanwhile Hull took 1-133 off 23 overs at bristol.

Yep. Woakes looked as if he might have a slight niggle on Saturday too.
Hopefully it was just the effect of continually running up to bowl on
such a very heavy outfield, as we'd have real problems if we were
without both him and Wood.

Time to call up the england bowling consultant, a certain Mr Anderson.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
With wood out of the remaining tests,
i spose Stone is next up, but another left field choice in calling up
lefty Josh Hull; perhaps the selectors are hoping he'll be the seamer
version of Bash/Hartley with only 10 fC matches behind him and 16 wkts
at 62 [and i think 6 were in the lions game]. Whoever they choose its a
very inexperienced bowling unit and a pretty long tail, although Stone
has been having more success with the bat than the ball so far this
season. Meanwhile Hull took 1-133 off 23 overs at bristol.

Yep. Woakes looked as if he might have a slight niggle on Saturday too.
Hopefully it was just the effect of continually running up to bowl on
such a very heavy outfield, as we'd have real problems if we were
without both him and Wood.

Time to call up the england bowling consultant, a certain Mr Anderson.
mike

I didn't know much about Hull, but apparently he's a left-armer and 6'
7", so that's two big points in his favour.

[David North]

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Rathnayake is the first SL tailender to score 50 on
debut and well he batted too.

He was very impressive. Apparently his 72 is the highest for a player
making his Test debut at number 9.

Yes, although there have been 3 higher scores and a 72* at #10, and
Ashton Agar's 98 at #11.