i still think they are more likely to move vince to #3, bairstow to #5 and bring back buttler

i think compton kept his spot for this series because of the concerns over hales as opener and they didn't want to have 2 debutants at #3 and #5

(i know technically it wouldn't be a debut for borthwick but i dont think that one test when he was brought into a dead rubber and batting at #9 really means anything)

What are the commentators been watching, the sri lankan bowlers have been bowling quite average and poor.
far too many 4 balls or poor balls in the over.
God knows what they been bowling to Cook.

the opening bowlers bowled fairly well, the first half hour anyway

the first change bowler has been a big step down

Can't see them changing keepers till india or later.
Buttler not playing Championship games till august because of ODI makes it very unlikely that they will remove the gloves from Bairstow and buttler won't be picked as a batsman right now.

in other news Barmy army will be fuming with the grounds picked for the Test matches against India.
Mohali, Rajkot, Mumbai, Vizag and Chennai.
only two grounds that they be ok with and the other 3 is the 3 grounds they would have not wanted at least Nagpur is not in the rota for this series.

Australia get a Dharamsala Test match.

if buttler shows good form in the sri lanka ODIs then i doubt the selectors will care whether he has played first class cricket, they already know what he is capable of

personally i think its more important not to waste bairstow down at #7 and allow him to focus on his batting

Interesting seem like England will only play 3 odi/ 3 T20s in india guessing the squad will be the same for both formats.

ever since you posted about how poor the sri lankans are bowling bhav we have had just one scoring shot in 4+ overs

No surprise when ever I actually post on this forum the opposite always happens.
Although not sure I will say Sri lanka bowling better, more they been very defensive and bowling wide and not allowing the batsman to score any runs.

Hales now goes because of that pressure created by the defensive bowling.

sily dismissal from hales in the first over from herath

at least give yourself a few deliveries to get used to the change of pace before trying to slog one to cow corner

Think that is Hales 4th dismissal to herath in this series doesn't make good reading for the winter considering in most cases he struggled to pick herath flight or length.
in india could get messy since he would have to pick flight, length alongside the Turn or lack of turn.
Think herath gotten him out couple of times in his first over as well.

No more than 90 overs

that could be the end of compton's england career barring a miracle in the 2nd innings here

Are you going to tell those ladies at mid wicket that they are in Cow Corner

Geez don't want to kick a man when he's down, but another Compton failure is unacceptable! What, if any options for a replacement?

Not a waste of a review

Root is out now as well.

root gone on review

this has been a very poor second hour for us this morning

cruising at the drinks break at 51-0 and 22-3 since

Only catching bits on TMS, seems like it's an excellent batting strip

Big chance for Vince to cement his place in the side

I agree it's probably the end of Compton as most players are judged on first innings runs

Think we need a big score from Cook if we are to get past 400

fixed that last bit for you

Cook showing his class compared to the others in favourable batting conditions and Bairstow showing what a man in form can do.

Do umpires ever give run out decisions on their own anymore? That was miles in.

They do sometimes, but TBH if there's an appeal they've been found out before with a bat that was in the air, not worth the risk for them.

Does anyone else think Cook may have been more nervous about getting to 10k then he let on, this innings is just so more prime Cook then we've seen for a little while.

**** it, I'll never learn got him out.

the DS jinx strikes again

The strange thing is that the less important the game, the more the umpires have to do.