England v Sri Lanka pre-series build-up

[Mike]

As England found conditions not to their liking in Sri Lanka 2003/04 I expect Sri Lanka will also not be suited by England conditions in May. This was the case on Sri Lanka's last (first full) tour in 2002 when they were convincingly beaten 0-2. As usual, on tours which are four years apart, the touring side will have a lot of new faces who will be viewing this as a learning expedition. Unfortunately, some of them may not return to implement what they learned.

This year, Sri Lanka have a squad of 16 with just 5 players returning for a second tilt. Unfortunately, their top run-scorer from 2002, Marvan Atapattu, has withdrawn. The only century-maker from 2002 in this year's squad is Mahela Jayawardene. However, their chief wicket-taker from 2002, Muttiah Muralitharan, is back again in probably his last Test appearance in England.

Returning from 2002

+Kumar Sangakkara
*Mahela Jayawardene
Chaminda Vaas
Muttiah Muralitharan
Nuwan Zoysa

First Test series in England

Upul Tharanga
Michael Vandort
Thilan Samaraweera
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Chamara Kapugedera
+Prasanna Jayawardene
Farveez Maharoof
Malinga Bandara
Lasith Malinga
Nuwan Kulasekara
Jehan Mubarak

So, I'm interested to see if Sri Lanka have improved, relatively speaking, in the past 4 years. Will they cope better in English conditions this time around? I think they have improved going by the results in the warm-up matches so far.

Sri Lanka in England 2002 warm-up matches

Kent v Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka: (all out, 90.3 overs) 375 RR: 4.14
Kent: (6 wickets declared, 63.3 overs) 419 RR: 6.6

British Universities v Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka: (8 wickets declared, 94 overs) 383 RR: 4.07
Brit Uni: (all out, 58.3 overs) 216 RR: 3.7

Durham v Sri Lankans

Durham: (all out, 93.2 overs) 469 RR: 5.02
Sri Lanka: (all out, 48.5 overs) 167 RR: 3.42

Middlesex v Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka: (all out, 50.4 overs) 186 RR: 3.67
Middlesex: (all out, 74 overs) 274 RR: 3.7

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sri Lanka in England 2006 warm-up matches

British Universities v Sri Lankans

Sri Lanka: (all out, 74.2 overs) 289 RR: 3.88
Brit Uni: (all out, 49.4 overs) 125 RR: 2.52

Derbyshire v Sri Lankans

Derbyshire: (all out, 84 overs) 219 RR: 2.60
Sri Lanka: (7 wickets declared, 47.5 overs) 166 RR: 3.47

----------------------------------------------------
It seems to me that Sri Lanka's bowling has improved from 2002. They have kept the opposition run-rate down below three runs per over. Whether their batting has improved is debatable. They haven't broken the shackles against either team so there remains some doubt in my mind whether they can post big enough totals to put England under pressure in this series.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Mike

They haven't broken the shackles against either team so there remains some doubt in my mind whether they can post big enough totals to put England under pressure in this series.

Shri Lanka have their best chance to post large enoughtotals for their bowlers to bowl at, depending what attack England will be able to field.
Looks like a lot will depend on Flintoff and Hoggard, and more so Mahmood - if he plays.

England at home should be able to contain the Shri Lanka side, but then again after beating Australia England was expected to beat Pakistan, and we all know what followed..

Might just be tighter than people think.

[Vrock]

The Sri Lankan batting does look fragile, especially without Atapattu, and England's bowlers should be able to take advantage of this with quick bowlers at their disposal.

On the bowling side I think Muralitharan will work some magic during the series and ruffle the English batting weakness against spin. The pace attack spear headed by Vaas will certainly be able to get any help from the pitch but England's batting should hold up and be stronger.

[Ernest]

I just hope we have some bowlers Vrock to expose any weakness, looks like a lot is going to depend on Flintoff and Hoggy, and maybe Mahmood.
Michael Vaughan is taking some time to mend.

[greg]

I still fancy England to win the series despite all the injuries.I am looking forward to seeing Plunkett play in a home test match to see if he can improve on some promising winter performances.

Sri Lanka don't seem to be as strong a side as they were the last time they toured England and we had little trouble seeing them off then so i can't see any other result than an England win.

Sri Lanka will rely heavily on Sangakkara as Jayawardene is not the same player when he leaves home soil,(an average of 54 at home and under 40 away).

You also wonder what the tourists will think of the conditions if we get a few days of cooler weather which can easily happen in May.Must be in Englands favour and will possibly negate Murali if it is cold.

[liamg06]

i think if we had our whole first team we would have asily walked this and whitewashed them, with our youngsters in aswell it will be tough, but im sure we can still win the series

[Collyisamackem]

Sri Lanka are currently being destroyed by Jon Lewis, they are now 143/7 with Lewis returning figures of 14-2-46-6 having just bowled Tillekeratne Dilshan for a Sri Lankan top score of 45.

Also, Muttiah Muralitharan has had to go home because of a family bereavement. He will return for the first test, however. I wish him well with his family situation.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Sri Lanka are currently being destroyed by Jon Lewis

No surprise there: he's an excellent bowler who should have a stack of Test caps to his name. See the excellent write up here: http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/toppe...ry/245351.html

Alas, the pace-obsessed selectors will probably go woith Plunkett... who has (bowling in this same innings) done nothing of any note whatsoever... and who can't do anything like as much with the ball. Sadly, players like Lewis, Sidebottom and (before them) Bicknell are overlooked as a matter of course when less talented bowlers catch the selectors eye with pace, bounce or batting.

Test cricket should be about guys like Lewis: far more talented than Brett Lee, Ntini, Sami and the rest.. but neglected.

[Collyisamackem]

Why not both of them?

Having watched all the games he has played in, I say Plunkett has bowled very economically and bowled well in difficult conditions in Pakistan and India - don't forget his batting either. The selectors will go for like-for-like replacements with the seamers IMO, meaning we need two replacements for Harmy and Jones, a hit-the-deck bowler and a swinger. I've said in the England forum that I think Lewis may have just leapfrogged Mahmood, and so I think Plunkett (hit-the-deck) and Lewis (swinger) will be selected.

[Collyisamackem]

As I type, Plunkett takes Maharoof caught and bowled. Sri Lanka 160/8.

Update - Plunkett takes 3-47 from 14.5 overs (3 maidens) as he wraps up the SL tail. Sri Lanka all out for 179, here are the English bowling figures:

Bowling					 O	 M	 R	 W
Lewis					 15	 2	 49	 6
Plunkett				 14.5	 3	47	 3 (1nb)
Clarke					 11	 3	 29	 1
Broad					 10	 3	 22	 0
Bopara					 8	 1	 17	 0 (3nb, 1w)

Further update. England A are 0/1 after 1 over, with Vaas bowling Cook for a 6-ball duck.