creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[TANGODANCER]

On the promise of two days gardening (Sun,Mon) I get to follow the cricket today. Lord help me if it rains tomorrow.

[TANGODANCER]

Sounds like we're dicing it a bit or the Lankans are not so sharp today. Two dropped already.

[TANGODANCER]

Approaching 400 and a bit of "what happens next?" about it. Do we keep going as long as possible or decide on a declare total?

[Worthy4England]

Approaching 400 and a bit of "what happens next?" about it. Do we keep going as long as possible or decide on a declare total?

We're on day 2. Keep batting. If you can't bowl 'em out twice in three days, you probably aren't going to bowl 'em out twice in three and a half.

[Prufrock]

See where we're at later on but I'd be tempted to chuck em in for an hour at the end of the day.

Edit: ha, hadn't checked the score. Not sure we'll get that far!

[Worthy4England]

See where we're at later on but I'd be tempted to chuck em in for an hour at the end of the day.

Aye, that'd work.

[Bruce Rioja]

See where we're at later on but I'd be tempted to chuck em in for an hour at the end of the day.

Aye, that's where I am, although with 7 down they may be in a bit earlier than that.

[TANGODANCER]

What a fantastic effort from Moeen Ali as he gets his 100. Brilliant from No 7.

[BWFC_Insane]

Put them in. Inexperienced batting lineup that failed miserably in the last test. We have more than enough to be guaranteed at least a draw against this lot already.

[Bruce Rioja]

Put them in. Inexperienced batting lineup that failed miserably in the last test. We have more than enough to be guaranteed at least a draw against this lot already.

Set your sights high, why dontcha? Jesus!

[TANGODANCER]

498-9 declared. Ali on 155, Jimmy on 8. Very nice job. Brilliant from Ali.

[BWFC_Insane]

Put them in. Inexperienced batting lineup that failed miserably in the last test. We have more than enough to be guaranteed at least a draw against this lot already.

Set your sights high, why dontcha? Jesus!

Eh? The only reason to bat on is if you are worried you could declare and lose. So my point was we were already past that point and there was nothing to be gained by scoring more runs, just taking time away from our bowlers.

[Bruce Rioja]

Put them in. Inexperienced batting lineup that failed miserably in the last test. We have more than enough to be guaranteed at least a draw against this lot already.

Set your sights high, why dontcha? Jesus!

Eh? The only reason to bat on is if you are worried you could declare and lose. So my point was we were already past that point and there was nothing to be gained by scoring more runs, just taking time away from our bowlers.

As Worthy pointed out earlier - if we can't bowl Sri Lanka out twice in three days then and extra few hours today is unlikely to make any difference,

[Worthy4England]

Put them in. Inexperienced batting lineup that failed miserably in the last test. We have more than enough to be guaranteed at least a draw against this lot already.

Set your sights high, why dontcha? Jesus!

Eh? The only reason to bat on is if you are worried you could declare and lose. So my point was we were already past that point and there was nothing to be gained by scoring more runs, just taking time away from our bowlers.

Not really - nowt like a bit of batting practice, given your assertion that their inexperienced batting line-up is rather shoite.

No point whatsoever declaring at 12:00 on day 2 really. Makes no sense. Keep 'em out in the field, dispirit them, get 'em well and truly knackered, give the bowlers a few free runs (they like thinking they can bat a bit and will no doubt let some of the batters know that they coulda done a bit better ). Every reason to bat a little longer.

[thebish]

gonna be close...

Sri Lanka 70-6

Woakes has three and looks the fastest we've got.. has he got quicker over the last year or so?

[Bruce Rioja]

gonna be close...

Sri Lanka 70-6

Woakes has three and looks the fastest we've got.. has he got quicker over the last year or so?

See, BWFC-I told us that we should have declared when we were guaranteed "at least a draw". I wish I had such foretelling qualities. Whenever will I listen?

[BWFC_Insane]

gonna be close...

Sri Lanka 70-6

Woakes has three and looks the fastest we've got.. has he got quicker over the last year or so?

See, BWFC-I told us that we should have declared when we were guaranteed "at least a draw". I wish I had such foretelling qualities. Whenever will I listen?

You do.

Cook wins the toss and puts us in to bat in perfect bowling conditions. #prayforsun

We were never going to need 500 runs. That was my only point. Once Moeen got his hundred we had more than enough.

[thebish]

gonna be close...

Sri Lanka 70-6

Woakes has three and looks the fastest we've got.. has he got quicker over the last year or so?

See, BWFC-I told us that we should have declared when we were guaranteed "at least a draw". I wish I had such foretelling qualities. Whenever will I listen?

You do.

Cook wins the toss and puts us in to bat in perfect bowling conditions. #prayforsun

We were never going to need 500 runs. That was my only point. Once Moeen got his hundred we had more than enough.

it wasn't your only point though - you went on to say there was no reason at all to bat on... Worthy offered a couple.

[BWFC_Insane]

gonna be close...

Sri Lanka 70-6

Woakes has three and looks the fastest we've got.. has he got quicker over the last year or so?

See, BWFC-I told us that we should have declared when we were guaranteed "at least a draw". I wish I had such foretelling qualities. Whenever will I listen?

You do.

Cook wins the toss and puts us in to bat in perfect bowling conditions. #prayforsun

We were never going to need 500 runs. That was my only point. Once Moeen got his hundred we had more than enough.

it wasn't your only point though - you went on to say there was no reason at all to bat on... Worthy offered a couple.

Aye. And those reasons may be valid against an opponent that can actually bat a bit.....

[TANGODANCER]

Anyway. Just watched an hour of highlights after following the commentary all day and it was a great day's cricket (for us that is). Not sure Silva's "out" was 100% but a fine team effort from us and Moeen a real hero.