Andrew Strauss wary of Sri Lankan comeback in the second Test
England’s Test skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964, has asked his bowlers not become complacent against the dangerous Sri Lankan batting line-up, despite England’s momentous win against the Lankan Lions in the first Test, at Cardiff. The second Test is all set to begin
today, June 3, 2011, at Lords.
Strauss believes that despite the lack of depth in the current Lankan side, there are some threatening players in their lineup.
The English side sealed an emphatic innings and 14-run victory in the Cardiff Test, courtesy of Jonathan Trott’s fabulous double ton.
The bowlers, in the absence of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Duncan-Anderson-c65612, also performed outstandingly in the second innings and bowled out the visitors on a paltry 82.
Top Lankan batsmen, such as, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Denagamage-Proboth-Mahela-de-Silva-Jayawardene-c53546, joined their side after six weeks of Twenty20 cricket in the Indian Premier League.
Strauss cited the IPL as the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Main-c73911 culprit behind Sri Lanka’s lackluster batting display in the first Test.
Speaking about difficulties in adjusting to the English climate in summers, Strauss said, "I think one of the bigger challenges is coming from the sub-continent to England in early summer - that's a http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032 did that
very well on his return."
Strauss is extremely confident about his side despite conceding the fact that the Lankan Lions would have acclimatized themselves to the English conditions by now and will come back harder in the second Test.
"With players of the quality of Jayawardene and Sangakkara, you're expecting them to score runs - not every innings but at some stage during the series. If they're still feeling for form a little bit, that's a great thing for us - and we need to exploit
that. But we are fully expecting them to be very tough nuts to crack over the next week," added the classy left-hander who led http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 last year.
To take full advantage of a weakened Lankan batting order, the English have inducted three pacers for the second Test. If the Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 don’t get their act together, they will have a tough battle ahead.
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