I have to be honest I'm really not sure why we didn't take the full batting time. Our players need time in the middle not not time slogging it out in extreme heat in the field.
Exactly what I came on here to post. Pietersen is in form from the ODIs so surely they could have batted Bopara at three and Patel at four with Bell at five and KP at six. Once the openers had got in they could have retired out, I doubt their 1st class averages mean that much to them (as if 100 or 50 would make a lot of difference over 100s of innings anyway)
The bowlers already toiled for 100 overs, Swann did nothing and Patel nothing special, so I'm not sure other than trying to get Swann in the wickets what they are hoping to achieve - especially as bowling wasn't the biggest problem in UAE,
batting was
I think there are signs of favouritism, trying to get KP and Bell in form and not the batsman or batsmen that could be pivotal. Think about it captain, if you want to play Patel then he needs to spend time in the middle as well. Although I suspect England have already predetermined who will play, I think they think they are tactical geniuses and it doesn't really matter what happened before and during warm ups. I think they'll be undercooked under-strauss once more, just long enough between series and not long enough preparing. Aren't Sri Lanka playing a ODI competition so some of their players will be bang in form, even if Malinga is not going to play.