England vs Sri Lanka

[The Dark Knight]

Some test cricket going on over the other side of the world, England all over Sri Lanka on day two after the Lankans probably took the honors on day one.

England made 298 in their first innings with Hales making 86, is he capable of being a good ally for Cook? The second openers spot has been a bit of a revolving door in recent times. Bairstow, who is some very nice touch of late top scored with 140.

Then disaster for Sri Lanka being rolled for 91 on their first innings and have been forced to follow on. James Anderson was at his very best taking 5/16 in 11.4 overs, his 19th five wicket haul. He was well supported by Broad who took 4/21 from 10 overs. Just watched the replays of the wickets and their lines and length were spot on. Angelo Mathews top scored for SL with 34.

[heater31]

Jimmy Anderson grows another leg in English conditions.

The crowd get behind him with their Jimmy Jimmy chant. Very intimidating with a full house and you are on the opposition....

[bennymacca]

rivals mcgrath as the most accurate pace bowler in my lifetime.

[The Dark Knight]

Well England thrash Sri Lanka, winning by an innings and 88 runs inside three days. Anderson takes his second 5 fa for the match (5/29), his second at Headingley. He is the first seam bowler since Terry Alderman in 1989 to take a 10 wicket haul at Headingley.

To my surprise he wasn't the man of the match! That went to Bairstow for his century and nine catches behind the wicket.

Some of the Sri Lankan dismissals were pathetic while other batsman got some rip snorter deliveries, there was some real nice pace bowling on display.

[Corona Man]

Jimmy Anderson grows another leg in English conditions.
..

That must make his run up a bit awkward!

[Grenville]

The Sri Lankan batting I saw last night was woeful. Poms bowled well but some horrid techniques were exposed.

[Corona Man]

The Sri Lankan batting I saw last night was woeful. Poms bowled well but some horrid techniques were exposed.

Remember they exposed our blokes as well last winter.

[heater31]

The Sri Lankan batting I saw last night was woeful. Poms bowled well but some horrid techniques were exposed.

Remember they exposed our blokes as well last winter.

Correct. Our shot selection with a hooping Duke at Edgebaston (I was there )and Trent Bridge (Thank god I'd left the UK at that point ) was deplorable.

[Corona Man]

The Sri Lankan batting I saw last night was woeful. Poms bowled well but some horrid techniques were exposed.

Remember they exposed our blokes as well last winter.

Correct. Our shot selection with a hooping Duke at Edgebaston (I was there )and Trent Bridge (Thank god I'd left the UK at that point ) was deplorable.

While watching a test in the old dart is a bucket list thing for me... Seeing our blokes bat like that, wouldn't have been much fun....

[heater31]

The Sri Lankan batting I saw last night was woeful. Poms bowled well but some horrid techniques were exposed.

Remember they exposed our blokes as well last winter.

Correct. Our shot selection with a hooping Duke at Edgebaston (I was there )and Trent Bridge (Thank god I'd left the UK at that point ) was deplorable.

While watching a test in the old dart is a bucket list thing for me... Seeing our blokes bat like that, wouldn't have been much fun....

Seen 2 days of a Test in England the past 2 tours......2013 Trent Bridge Day 4 (we played shit) good day though with a heap of mates on the gas!

Last year Edgebaston managed to get hold of a corporate ticket through a friend of a friend.....again we played shit and being the only Aussie in the room good thing the beer was cold and free. Drank so much I had to change it up to cider. Good day met a heap of Pommy blokes that work in a similar industry to me so we swapped stories and even discussed the Adam Goodes saga.

**** this watching Test Cricket in England.... next Overseas Test I watch is the Caribbean drinking Rum!

[Corona Man]

Caribbean test match... That would be gold!

[Grenville]

If you only go to one Test overseas it has to be Lords. I was there in 2001 and it was gold. Saw the Trent Bridge Test as well so got to see us win The Ashes.

[heater31]

If you only go to one Test overseas it has to be Lords. I was there in 2001 and it was gold. Saw the Trent Bridge Test as well so got to see us win The Ashes.

Bloody hard to get a ticket though! Well Ashes at least.

As I said earlier, Edgebaston continually rates as the best Atmosphere for Test Cricket. The Brum locals get on the gas and forget they are at the Cricket. Jimmy Anderson Chant was amazing and I had to bite my tongue from joining in.

[Grenville]

I booked through a travel mob in Sydney who got the tickets. Cost me 42 quid per day (which equated to about $110-$120) , shitloads dearer now I reckon.

[bennymacca]

I went to England Sri Lanka at lords in 2014 and the ashes at the oval in 2013, both tickets were around £70 I reckon.

Worth doing if you ever get the chance though, especially lords. Just has a vibe about the place

[Corona Man]

Not wanting to get to far off topic here guys.... but how hard was it to get tickets? Did you secure them here before going over, or wing it once you arrived? I assumed tickets to Lords would be nigh on impossible, like a ticket to Augusta!

[bennymacca]

No idea about lords as a mate organised them.

With the ashes test at the oval, if I remember correctly I went into a ballot to get them through Surrey cricket club.

I imagine if you do some sort of tour they would be included though, but I only went to a single day of both.

[heater31]

Not wanting to get to far off topic here guys.... but how hard was it to get tickets? Did you secure them here before going over, or wing it once you arrived? I assumed tickets to Lords would be nigh on impossible, like a ticket to Augusta!

SACA member?

Since Keith Bradshaw become CEO they have offered a small number of tickets to members. Just find your own way there.

or chance your arm on a ballot, run the risk of being the only Aussies in a large number of soap dodgers but they are overall a polite bunch just give as good as you get. Before I got my ticket to Edgebaston I had also purchased one myself. Flogged it off to a scalper outside, I lost money on it as it was only a paper print at home ticket but as I said to the bloke I'm not going to use it and if you have any hope of getting rid of it its yours for 10 quid. He agreed and I used the tenner for the bus home

[bennymacca]

Yeah if you are a saca member just contact lords. One of my other mates did that and got to go sit in the members stand, go have a look in the long room etc

[Corona Man]

Thanks for the info guys. No not a SACA member. It will be a few years I suspect before I do it, but a day of cricket over there would be great. Could you possibly just do a "walk up" at say Edgbaston or Old Traff, and buy a non scalped ticket at the gate?