Hehe, nice comment Duncan

If England collapse shortly and leave srilanka to chase around 300, I find following 3 reason to find Srilanka favorite to win:
1. Pitch still flat.
2. English bowlers after so much tiring effort havent had much rest to recuperate.
3.momentum with lankans. Their tail up.
And probably another is no graeme swann.

Duncan I will do nothing of the like.. you say if you want.

I didn't really expect you to apologise honestly.

Think Ballance may have been fortunate there. But wouldn't have been given out on review so good decision from SL.

The one thing we can take from this match, I doubt Indian will be quaking in their boots after seeing this.

Additionally I reckon England would be close to winning now had Monty played instead of Plunkett.

Biased view of course? ballance wasn't out..

Frivolous appeal from SL

The English batsmen' mindset is so totally negative.
They look one nervous bunch ,playing as if to save a match where the match situation demanded and actually allowed them the freedom to express themselves freely.
Remembering the 4th Ashes test earlier this year, when a similar negative 3rd inning batting handed Aussie the momentum for chase.
Australia would have been scoring at 5 or 6 run rate at such situation, no matter wickets falling.

"Biased view of course?"

Thank god we have you hear to give fair and balanced opinions.

England getting pretty close to having enough runs now, I don't think SL will manage to chase anything over 300.

England could have been a little bit more aggressive with a declaration had a front line spinner been picked.

Duncan, in recent times I have observed Australians being in similar situation ie a 100 plus lead, which seem to take pressure off the likes of Warner resulting in a 6 run per over for about a session and half and then declare to win the match.
Have you noticed Warners recent series of 2nd innings hundred scored in less pressure situation after getting lead?
Here England have batted about 50 ovrs for only 160. Australia would have scored 100 more and give themselves a fair channce of winning by declaring now.
So whats the difference? I think mindset.

I think aggression generally pays off in most sports, I think it's not secret that the Australians have got a lot better under Boof. He has encouraged them to not only play naturally but to try to attack as often as possible.

Perhaps England have been to negative but they are still in the box seat here.

Nicely done Ballance

If England dont declare now, they are likely to not lose but equally likely to not win.

If England dont declare now, they are likely to not lose but equally likely to not win.
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Did you not say this match wasn't decided yet few hours earlier?

Ballance needs to hurry up if he wants to get a century. Not going to be batting tomorrow so he's got 15 minutes to get 18 runs

Great job Ballance

well done mr Ballance. think you'll do well for England..

"Ballance first played in the Second XI Championship in 2006, having made five appearances for Zimbabwe in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup"

Anothe rplayer who has representd a different country at Under 19's.......

OK..before anyone gets their knickers in a twist...
Being born in a different country..dont see an issue.

Playing up to the Under 19's, for a different country, in a World cup.....

The BCCI (who run cricket) need to get tough on England for bending the rules.

Look at Boyd Rankin. Took him away from Ireland. Gave him a few games and realised he wasn't up to the mark and now he's desperate to play for Ireland again.

Kash - if the BCCI can, they definatly shoudl step in.

However, isent it the ECB which have the say on whos elligible to represent England, and who is not. i.e. The ECB were the ones who changed\planning to change, the minimum a player has to play county cricket before they are eligible to play for England.

I know previously it was 2 weeks..but the ECB were looking at moving this to 4 weeks.

I dont think the BCCI can do much here...correct me if I'm wrong.

Haha this wicket is ridiculous..day 5 and its like a day 1 pitch.. with englands preformances in the last year and the standard of this test pitch and the facts all the test wickets this summer will be like this.. am ,losing all interest in cricket.
20/20 is starting to dominate the sport,.test cricket as no chance..

That Silva dismissal was a classic case of a wicket caused due to defensive/cautious/negative approach. They decided to play for the draw, as a result, the mindset changed , and resulted in dismissal.
Thats probably why some genius must have said that attack is the best form of defense.

Sri Lanka really should have gone for this.

On that wicket it really wasn't a big ask.

Agree, they really shoudl have gone for it..

its heading for a draw now, but add another 30-4 runs to that score, and it woudl have been an exciting end