With 5 bowlers it must surely be an extra pace bowler in these hot and humid conditions. I cannot imagine us going with 3 spinners when we are normally reluctant to go with two.

I can't see Bressie playing. He didnt do much in the warm up games and I can't see England dropping Bell yet but that may mean that Patel gets the nod ahead of Bopara as he can't bowl anymore. My team:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell
Patel
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Monty

They are ranked no.1 but I long to see some charisma in the english team.Most of them come off as politically correct dead beats

KP might be the closest that comes to being interesting and well he was born in SA.

maybe they are considering playing finn ?

strauss
cook
trott
pietersen
bell
prior
broad
swann
anderson
panesar
finn

Andy Flower is very batting orientated, so if they go for 5 bowlers surely he will go for better batter batsmen among the bowlers. Finn comes off third best.

two 1* for a match thread, I had no idea i'd been so controversial.

it wasnt me

Just given it a 5*

Thanks kash, you make me feel wanted. I do find it odd that when you try to create debate it's less interesting than a WUM article.

Lol yeah its an interesting debate as to who will play tomorrow in an more important game than the ones that have been on recently. I do have a feeling Patel will be playing.

I have a similar feeling, but have you read that rather sneering article about him on cricinfo? talking about his weight and fitness in the hot and humid conditions. cricinfo have hardly stopped talking about his weight since he returned to the squad.

i dont see how patel has any long term future in the side. england's 2 top spinners are well established. we would only play a 3rd spinner maybe once every decade or so. if he was selected he would purely be a horse for a course, and to be honest i dont think he's needed even for this game.

One minute I think Patel the next Bresnan. So I'm going to stick my neck out and pick the followig if it's 5 bowlers.
Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Bopara ( I hate choosing him ahead of Bell but.....)
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
swann
Anderson
Pansar

if the internet existed when i was a kid, i can guarantee that i would have been on here before every test match, posting my predicted card for the match.

I'll just hitch up my short trousers.

Can't imagine anyone who knows the game picking Bopara ahead of Bell ever!

Bitesyerlegs - The team I picked was what I expect not what I want. I've been a Bell supporter through thick and thin. However his form this year must have put his place in jeopardy.

Not directed at you Hope, just my opinion of their relative merits at Test level.

Really hope you are wrong about Bopara being picked.

Up early tomorrow 5.30 BST start, coin toss half hour earlier then we shall know all about the chosen eleven.

After a diet of ODI cricket which seems to have gone on for ever, it's great to have a test involving England. A game involving them is rarely boring. Mind you, sad to say, after Pakistan in the UAE a boring draw would be an improvement.

English players are petrified after their performance against Ajmal and Rehman?Will their batting performance be any different against Herath , Randiv and co, I do not any reason to believe why it shoud not.England should win this series.if they dont then doubts will be raised over their potential on playing on diverse pitches.

Who would of thought 3 months ago that the pummy supporters would be the least bit concerned about Sri-Lanka......how the slippery dip & merry-go-round can change an opinion is amazing......

So we have gone with 3 spinners. Interesting call but I think probably the right one. Patel's not going to bowl a lot though but I think he's a better batsman than Bopara

I think Patel is in because he's seen as a good player of spin and he offers a bowling option. Bopara's injury may have played a role.
Glad to see they've continued with Bell..

Yeh I think dropping Bell would really knock his confidence leading into the summer. Don't understand why Sri Lanka are playing Prasanna Jayawardene when they could have played Silva and Chandimal or Sangakkara could have kept wicket.

Stupid review. We should be saving them for the spinners