[the saint]

England. Brilliant for 2 days (I know I was there). Rubbish for 3. Couldn't catch a cold. On this form, what would the Ozzie batsmen have done to us?

[mr1303]

I physically broke down into tears yesterday afternoon. Last summer, we hardly dropped a single catch. This summer, we hardly took one. You could see the anguish in the face of Matthew Hoggard when the catches went down. Bowling that many overs is physically exhausting, and you can't fault the effort of the bowlers, who had very little luck.

But if you can't bowl a side out in 200 overs, you aren't going to win. Simple as that.

[Walddk]

All this is true but give some credit to the Sri Lankan batsmen too. They dug in there and they survived. It's a relatively inexperienced side and they did very well to come back after they were run over in the first innings.

Roland

[FrancesHinden]

It's all my fault.

I don't go to watch England very often - I think about 7 times in total before last weekend, and on 6 of them England lost. This time, we went on Sunday when England were in a pretty much unloseable position. So they drew.

Jeffrey says I'm not allowed to go again for a while.

[G_R__E_G]

I really have no clue what any of you are talking about, but I find that at times the sound they make at night can be quite soothing.

[the saint]

FrancesHinden, on May 16 2006, 12:48 PM, said:

It's all my fault.

I don't go to watch England very often - I think about 7 times in total before last weekend, and on 6 of them England lost. This time, we went on Sunday when England were in a pretty much unloseable position. So they drew.

Jeffrey says I'm not allowed to go again for a while.

I've never seen England lose and every time I've been (barring Aussies last year) we have utterly thrashed the oppo on the day.

Frances - you are hereby banned from ever seeing England live again. I hope you understand its for the best...

[nickf]

Bring on the Ashes baby, bring 'em on.

nickf
sydney

[Walddk]

Sir Geoffrey Boycott is spot on! Read this:

http://news.bbc.co.u...and/4987450.stm

Roland

[the saint]

Geoff is right about most things ( not that you tell him or his head swells further). IT was noticeable at the ground on Friday that England were swanning along at over 4 an over - good going for a test match - and the crowd weren't really into it. I know Lords is a little quieter than the Oval and the Egg and Bacon tie brigade can be a right miserable bunch at the best of times but we were batting well (especially KP - you don't appreciate just how good his footwork is for a big man) and the team deserved more appreciation from the crowd than they got.

The crowd only really got going once Sajid Mahmood had his hot spell, most of the rest of the time being spent cheering everything Monty Panesar did.

We would have finished Australia off becuase the focus would have been there and we know how hard the Aussies battle. Credit to Sri Lanka - they fought back far harder than anyone gave them credit for. But with all due respect to them and Pakistan, its all a warm-up for the one that matters over the winter.

Nick F is right. Come on The Ashes. Bring it on!!

The World Cup is a very distant second in comparison.

[pokerbids]

Frances if they dont allow u to watch the english matches...go to the windies maaan...watch Iniad vs the West Indies in action and may the best indians win!!!! plus u get to tendulkar, lara in action and think of the rum coke and beaches...it will be a party and full of sixes to....no dount sir geoff who loves India only second to england (ooops well third to yorkshire i guess) will surley be there

poker

[paulg]

I've followed Essex for most of my life and am now banned from 1-day finals. Despite being in many since the early 80s I have a 100% record of 'watch and lose', normally accompanied by rain as well. Stay away and we have won though I had to be 2000 miles away for us to win the first one!

Luckily my record for England is a lot better - just as well as I have tickets for the local (well, just over the border at Durham) 1-day international next month and the first day of the next Lords test against Pakistan

Paul

[mr1303]

I saw Lancashire Lightening's Twenty20 cup campaign, and saw every match in that competition, apart from Finals Day.

The one game I don't get to go and see, they lose

[the saint]

cardsharp, on May 17 2006, 07:25 AM, said:

I've followed Essex for most of my life and am now banned from 1-day finals. Despite being in many since the early 80s I have a 100% record of 'watch and lose', normally accompanied by rain as well. Stay away and we have won though I had to be 2000 miles away for us to win the first one!

Luckily my record for England is a lot better - just as well as I have tickets for the local (well, just over the border at Durham) 1-day international next month and the first day of the next Lords test against Pakistan

Paul

Essex - excellent choice of county. Losing 1-day finals? You must be responsible for the catastrphe of 1996 where having skittled Lancs for 180-odd we then succumbed for something in the 50s. I still have vivid recollections of that day.

I have a ticket for the Second day of the Oval test vs Pakistan. Assuming I'm not in the US on business.

[the saint]

2nd Test starts tomorrow and England look likely to field the same XI. Opinions people?

[mr1303]

I must admit I'm not overly impressed by that decision. OK, it's a shame that Harmison isn't fit yet, but I think that Jon Lewis is worth a place, probably in place of Liam Plunkett.

Batting I'd keep as it is.

[mr1303]

I stand corrected. Sri Lanka all out for 141, with Plunkett taking 3 wickets, and Beefy (Ian Botham) saying that he probably bowled the best out of all of them.

[the saint]

Excellent performance by the boys, although Monty dropped a sitter (so did Straussy) and the umpire could have given Hoggy another lbw. The Ozzie crowd will have a field day with him unless he tightens that up. Took his wicket straightaway mind you.

I'd like to thank Frances for not being there!!

[the saint]

KP reverse sweeping Murali for 6. Now thats something you don't see every day!

[Walddk]

And you are unlikely to see it again according to Pietersen:

"The best form of defence in my case is to take it to the bowlers but the reverse sweep for six was naughty. I don't think I'll play that again", he said to BBC Sport.

Roland

[mr1303]

Why is it that as soon as I go out to do some revision, 4 wickets drop in about 2 minutes.

Just my luck