England getting battered

[Gwylan]

What a way to start the day...Sri Lanka declaring on 500 (as near as dammit) and England on 22-4. Sounds like a team is anxious to get home.

I wonder how long before the knives are out for Peter Moores.

 

[crodonilson]

It's a disgrace, I'm sure someone will find Brian Barwick to blame for this fiasco.

 

[Mendoza]

Prior getting a slating by everyone - 3 dropped catches and a short innings!!

We just need another 300 to avoid the follow on

 

[Grendel]

Fortunately the rain is belting down in Galle.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Why aren't our batsmen stadning MILES out their creases to Vaas? He's not that quick anymore but does swing it and Vaughan and Prior both got out because they played back to balls swinging and keeping low. Schoolboy stuff.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Is this the best ever name for a cricketer

Uda Walawwe Mahim Bandaralage Chanaka Asanka Welegedara



That's Prior career down the tubes!

 

[Gwylan]

In fairness to Prior, he got a bit of a shooter. He's still pretty much in credit after this tour.

Sounds like the bowlers are more to blame for not exploiting a favourable pitch.

 

[Grendel]

Why aren't our batsmen stadning MILES out their creases to Vaas? He's not that quick anymore but does swing it and Vaughan and Prior both got out because they played back to balls swinging and keeping low. Schoolboy stuff.

Also Vaughan not playing a shot to a ball pitching on off stump didn't help.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Also Vaughan not playing a shot to a ball pitching on off stump didn't help.

He's got a habit of doing that.

 

[larus]

Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
IR Bell 3* 5 0 227 83 45.40 490 46.32 0 3 0 26 0
RS Bopara 3* 4 0 42 34 10.50 72 58.33 0 0 2 7 0
PD Collingwood 3* 5 2 159 52 53.00 352 45.17 0 1 0 17 0
AN Cook 3* 5 0 160 81 32.00 392 40.81 0 2 1 17 0
SJ Harmison 2* 1 0 0 0 0.00 1 0.00 0 0 1 0 0
MJ Hoggard 2* 2 0 23 15 11.50 51 45.09 0 0 0 3 0
MS Panesar 3* 3 3 4 2* - 22 18.18 0 0 0 0 0
KP Pietersen 3* 5 1 96 45* 24.00 184 52.17 0 0 0 14 1
MJ Prior 3* 4 0 146 79 36.50 289 50.51 0 2 1 18 0
RJ Sidebottom 3* 4 1 56 31 18.66 209 26.79 0 0 0 5 0
MP Vaughan 3* 5 0 191 87 38.20 385 49.61 0 2 0 26 0


Only Vaughan, Bell and Collingwood have got a better average than Prior on this tour so far.

 

[Grendel]

Only Vaughan, Bell and Collingwood have got a better average than Prior on this tour so far.

But four of the remaining seven players in that list are not batsmen and one is a player on his first senior tour who arguably should not have been playing over Shah in the first place.

 

[Dave the OAP]

.....I think it could be more his wicketkeeping that people have a problem with rather than his "hit and miss" efforts with the bat

 

[Titanic]

81 All out. Oh dear.

Perhaps Matty can redeem himself in the second innings?

 

[Simster]

.....I think it could be more his wicketkeeping that people have a problem with rather than his "hit and miss" efforts with the bat

Bob Willis tore into him last night on Sky Sports 3 and he deserved it. A flat batting track and Prior dropped three chances. I'm not sure that he's a test wicket keeper.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Chris Read is, and always has been, the best keeper in the country.

Give Sussex Prior back and our batting problems are sorted (Hodd to open and keep wicket. Prior plays as batsman).

Nash
Hodd
Yardy
Adams
Goodwin
Prior
Martin Jenkins
Wright
Mushy
Kirtley/Kolpak
Lewry

 

[crodonilson]

Bob Willis tore into him last night on Sky Sports 3 and he deserved it. A flat batting track and Prior dropped three chances. I'm not sure that he's a test wicket keeper.

Not like Bob Willis totear into anyone.

Has he ever had a postive word to say about the England Cricket team or anyone in cricket for that matter?? Imagine having Christmas lunch round the Willis's, I think I'd rather slit my wrists.

 

[Simster]

Not like Bob Willis totear into anyone.

Has he ever had a postive word to say about the England Cricket team or anyone in cricket for that matter?? Imagine having Christmas lunch round the Willis's, I think I'd rather slit my wrists.

I do agree with that, but in this case I think he's justified. You simply can't drop 3 catches on a flat batting track - not good enough.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Prior's wicketkeeping is not test standard and, over time, his dropped catches will create too much pressure on him.

He'd need to consistently average 45-50 to compensate for the catches he drops, and he isn't good enough to do that. On the sub-continent tracks where wickets can be like golddust we can't afford to have a sub-standard keeper.