England's tactics in Sri Lanka - Can they win the Test series?

[Hasan123]

England will win this series vs India. Whilst the scoreline is a surprise, England winning the series isn't. We know they have the tools to win in home conditions. The next test for them it to compete and try to win away from home.

How do you think they should line up in Sri Lanka? With 2 genuine spinners or 1 proper spinner and 2 all rounders? How many pacers should be selected? Should Anderson and Broad play ? Can England afford to have so many all rounders in Asian conditions? And how do they replace Cook?

Finally does anyone think England can beat Sri Lanka?

Discuss......
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[aloo paratha]

Does England have any good spin bowlers other than moeen and mason crane?

I expect Curran to play for his batting more than anything, but he'll still have a job to go opening the bowling. Stokes is going to be at 6 again and England will play one of Anderson or broad, or maybe try out a new pacer.

That being said, whatever they do, I'm still expecting a 3-0 defeat.

 

[Realromeo]

No way unless SL rolls out 600 and 400 runs pitch like it did when India toured.

 

[Justcrazy]

When lanka will attack with 3 specialist spin attack on turning pitches , Lower order of Poms will crumble.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think England will have a capable spin-bowling attack this time around: Jack Leach, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Dom Bess are all fairly good. But I don't see their batsmen surviving against Herath and co. on those turners. Particularly given their torrid record against quality spin.

 

[troodon]

Will be difficult for England.

Ali and Rashid are not good enough to get wickets in Lanka.

I expect Lanka to win the series. Their spinners will be too much for England to handle on turning tracks. Also Lakmal is underrated.

With Cook retiring and Jennings looking tentative, who will be their openers?

Advantage Lanka.

 

[HitWicket]

The telegraph (who are normally in the know) suggested the team would quite likely look something like :

Burns
Jennings
Moeen
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Curran
Rashid
Leach
Anderson

With Bess, Woakes, Denly, Pope as the other squad members.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Also think it's high-time Rory Burns was given a call-up. He is the only batsman who seems fit to fill that opening slot. For 3-4 seasons he has averaged over 40 but because guys like Hales, Hameed, Jennings, Duckett were the leading run-scorers in preceeding seasons they were chosen over him. This time he has pretty much captained Surrey to the County Championship and I think he's the leading run-scorer aswell so I don't see how he isn't selected.

Jennings seems set to retain his spot (don't know what he has on the England selectors). Third opener could be one of Nick Gubbins or Karachi Kings' very own Joe Denly

 

[Justcrazy]

Hearath will destroy English batsmen in the series.

 

[introvert]

vince
Burns
Moeen
Root
Buttler
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes/curran
Broad
Anderson
leach.

backups : Jamie overton , rashid ,pope , Lawrence .

 

[MMHS]

England will win this series vs India. Whilst the scoreline is a surprise, England winning the series isn't. We know they have the tools to win in home conditions. The next test for them it to compete and try to win away from home.

How do you think they should line up in Sri Lanka? With 2 genuine spinners or 1 proper spinner and 2 all rounders? How many pacers should be selected? Should Anderson and Broad play ? Can England afford to have so many all rounders in Asian conditions? And how do they replace Cook?

Finally does anyone think England can beat Sri Lanka?

Discuss......

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

SRL will play 3.5 spinners (Herath, Dilruhan, Sandakan/Akila & that fine all-rounder bowling off spin, forgot name, got a 100 against AUS from No. 3). That's 2.5 off spin, and if Sandakan replaces Akila, it's a left-arm China man.

So, first tactics for ENG to compete with bat is clear out 3/4 lefti from that playing XI - Cook is retired, so one gone. Moeen & Stokes are there as all-rounder, and Berbi, Jimmi are bowlers - NO MORE LEFTI (Curren doesn't make my XI). ENG has 3 pacers in Jimmi, Berbi, Stokes; for Curren, they MUST find a SLAO spinner. Not sure who is the best, but should be the best spinner, even if he is to bat at 11.

Apart from that, obviously catching has to improve significantly - they are dropping regulation catches against pacers, taking Test catch against spinners (not skiers likes LO) are the toughest - ball comes off edge, bat-pad, pad bat, often dying from soft push and faster from stroke, less reaction time and very sharp angle to cover .... and Cook is not there in 1st Slip. This is a major concern for me, for ENG in SRL.

I am not sure how hungry he is, but as I said 2 years back before, if he is willing, I'll take Ian Bell for this tour, he is in fine form this season.

1. Right handed Opener
2. Moeen (he'll do better than Jennings for sure)
3. Bell/Pope/Or a new right hander
4. Root
5. Jhony
6. Stokes
7. Josh
8. Adil (Or the young Leggi, Adil is too loose)
9. Berbi
10. SLAO Spinner
11. Jimmy

Should compete well, but Toss will be a BIG factor. Don't see ENG winning a Test batting 2nd.