Sri Lanka v England

[Shaggy]

****s sake. That's that then.

[Chazza]

Swann gone 259-8

Lost 4 wickets for 26 runs

[spud_gun]

All done. Last 6 wickets down for 36(ish) runs

Crackings mornings cricket.

[Buzzo]

Needed KP to hang about a bit this am.

Need to look at the batting line up. Strauss under pressure.

[ChesterDave]

Swann gone 259-8

Lost 4 wickets for 26 runs

Pretty bad, even worse when you consider the last 3 of those went for 7.

They had all the time in the world, didnt need to mess around attacking balls. Could have proded their way to the last 100

[Shaggy]

Four losses on the trot for the world no.1 team.

[ChesterDave]

They'll probably go and win the World T20 now

[Buzzo]

Four losses on the trot for the world no.1 team.

Same as India last year

Doesn't take long to come crashing down to earth. They need to change something in the batting lineup. I can only really see Strauss or Bell being under pressure.

[Shaggy]

Bell has to go for me. Definitely need to freshen the batting up and unless we change captain, Bell has to go IMO.

[Alex]

Bell played pretty well last year though.

Trouble with this current set up, is that its harder to get dropped from the side than it is to be picked

[Shaggy]

I have a slightly irrational hatred of Bell. Spineless, fairweather batsman!

He did play well but it's difficult to choose a fall guy. He'd be mine.

[Alex]

To be fair the fall guy should be Strauss, but I suppose its not an easy call to drop him.

[Shaggy]

Not at all, given everything we have achieved under his captaincy...which has its critics, I know, but still.

[Chazza]

This tour party is lacking in any real batting cover though, only Bopara otherwise its all bowlers or all rounders

England squad: AJ Strauss (captain, Middlesex), JM Anderson (Lancashire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), RS Bopara (Essex), TT Bresnan (Yorkshire), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), AN Cook (Essex), SM Davies (Surrey), ST Finn (Middlesex), MS Panesar (Sussex), SR Patel (Nottinghamshire), KP Pietersen (Surrey), MJ Prior (Sussex), GP Swann (Nottinghamshire), JC Tredwell (Kent), IJL Trott (Warwickshire)

[Buzzo]

That's going to be the difference between England and the greats - **** all strength in depth. As Alex said easier to get picked than dropped. Can't see much changing any time soon - Bopara maybe in for Patel... Dunno who else is in the wings.

That said I am really looking forward to the Summer tests v SA. I have the chance of going to one day. And after the last time I went a mad charlie and beer fest at OT v the Windies, I must say I'm quite up for it.