Enough with the negative vibes, Mowg. We're on a run, we're unstoppable, we're a winning machine.. Possibly..
What a finish to the ODI between England and Sri Lanka. Buttler smacking the ball around the ground for fun ( 112 NO at the moment ).
So very near. England will be kicking themselves. They need more fire power at the top of the order, Cook doesn't do it for me and he's not doing it for his country either. Sangakkara and Buttler played very different innings. The Sri Lankan just picked the gaps - effortless. But that was absolutely brutal by Buttler - as Phil Tuffnell said "it was absolutely box-office stuff".
By the letter of the law, yes, but it's still very poor. Buttler was warned but the delivery stride that Senanayake got him out with was terrible because Buttler was still in his ground when the Sri Lankan stopped to take the bails off, he waited until he'd got out of his crease. And this from a bowler who has been reported for his bowling action.
The last time it happened was in 1949. The thing that annoys me is it was part of the Sri Lankan game plan. Mathews has admitted that they watched footage of the game at Lords and realised that Buttler was leaving his crease, so the obligatory one warning was implemented and then the bowler looked for the opportunity to get him out. And before anyone else says it, everyone leaves their crease, especially to fast bowlers, but Joss wasn't even stealing ground. Letter of the law says it's out, but as Cook said afterwards, it's very poor form..
I personally have no problem with it. Buttler was warned more than once and what Sri Lanka did was entirely within the rules. In effect, the batsman is trying to gain an unfair advantage so why shouldn't the bowler call him up on it? I fail to see how it's any more against the spirit of the sport than a stumping?
Well Bopara certainly lived up to his 'finisher' tag last night, he comes on to bowl, two fours and it's all over. On the run out I have no problem with that, he gave him a friendly warning, then an official one, then whipped the bails off, he wasn't even looking at the bowler ffs, his stupidity probably cost England any chance of a win.
Players always back up though and not much more than Buttler was, don't know why Sri Lanka were being so fussy. I really hope England take the bails off when Matthews backs up in the upcoming test series to get them back.
And if we see bowlers "Mankading" them more often, it will hopefully make them cut it out. As I said, it should be no different to the batsman on strike leaving his crease and risking a stumping. Buttler's If we got a Sri Lankan batsman out in a similar fashion I'd be of exactly the same opinion.
It was poor form from the Bowler he was pretty much gone through his illegal action waited until Buttler was out of his crease then took the bails away. England need to use this and take it into the test matches.
Talking of test matches the selectors will have a very interesting meeting, who opens the batting with Cook, who do they bring in the middle order, who will be the spinner, how many seamers and who, it's a challenging time for them after years of the team picking itself.
Of the team that played, and I use that term loosely, in Australia, I'd say the ones that will be retained are; Cook Bell Stokes Broad Anderson Then there's probably Root and Bresnan. Then the additions that should be added are Jordan and Hales, to the squad at least. Carberry should never darken the selectors' door again and Prior should be replaced. But who plays at three and five and who is the new wicketkeeper. The men in charge have some awkward decisions to make but they had the balls to sack KP so it should be interesting..
I dont think Bresnan will be back Panj, reckon if they were going to go for any of the Yorkshire bowlers it would probably be Plunkett, he's looking fit as a butchers dog and bowling fast, depends if they go with Gurney I suppose. I reckon Ballance deserves a shot batting at maybe 4 as well.
Decent looking squad. I know we've not got much options with spinners, looks like they're going to have Root and Moeen Ali share the load. I'm glad Robson has been picked, now we've got to stick with the lad and give him a chance. Changing openers every series is obviously not wise. Also having another look at Plunkett while Stokes is regaining fitness. Would have thought we'd go... Cook (c), Robson, Bell, Ballance, Root, Ali, Prior (w), Plunkett, Broad, Jordan, Anderson
