Finale: Sri Lanka face uphill task

Visitors go into the final Test without Dilshan as England look to seal series.


Agencies June 15, 2011

SOUTHAMPTON:


If  Sri Lanka manage a series-equalling victory in the third and final Test against England, starting today at the Rose Bowl, it will be one of their most impressive wins of recent times.


The visitors head into the Test without captain and in-form batsman Tillekaratne Dilshan who broke his thumb at Lord’s, where he made a superb 193. Sri Lanka had to persuade Kumar Sangakkara, Dilshan’s immediate predecessor as captain, to take up the reins. Team manager Anura Tennakoon revealed that the left-hander had given the request deep thought before acceding to it.

“When he undertook this tour, Kumar wasn’t officially appointed as vice-captain,” explained Tennakoon.”Because of Dilshan being unable to play in the third Test, a situation arose that Kumar has to captain which, I think, he wasn’t mentally prepared to do.

“But he gave it deep thought and tried to help the side by accepting that responsibility.”

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene echoed the team manager’s views about Sangakkara’s initial reluctance to take on the job.

“He had to think about it for a few days, but I think he felt that you have to take responsibility in such a situation,” said Jayawardene. “It’s a Test match, we’re one-nil down, and it’s an important opportunity to level the series.”

Bowling worries

Another problem for the visitors is their worryingly spineless attack, which has lost the bite it once had when retired greats Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas as well as Lasith Malinga were still part of the team.

The attack has struggled to make an impact taking just 21 wickets in two Tests.

Selection dilemma

The hosts’ bowling seems in better shape with Ashes hero James Anderson making a comeback, although he admitted that the Rose Bowl pitch will be tough for the bowlers.

“It’s going to be hard for us to get 20 wickets here if the pitch is going to be as flat as it looks,” said Anderson. “In Test cricket, a lot of the pitches are flat and it’s something we’ve had to learn to deal with.”

Steven Finn looks like being the man to make way for Anderson although Stuart Broad, for all his attractive lower-order batting, will be aware of a Test bowling average of nearly 36 could prove to be his downfall.

Cook in prime form

Much of England’s recent success has been built on the runs flowing from the bat of opener Alastair Cook, whose century at Lord’s followed on from his hundred in the first Test.

With a first-innings fifty, he can equal the England record of six in a row while two in the match would give him a share of a world record. Victory would see England go joint-second in the Test rankings, with South Africa.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ