Sri Lanka vs England - 1st Test - Match Preview
England are all-set to take http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the first Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium, on Monday, March 26, 2012.
Whilst the Poms are looking forward to overturn their topsy-turvy performance against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, which saw the World No. 1 Test side succumbing to a 3-0 Test series whitewash in UAE earlier this year, Lankans are still searching for their first Test series
win since spin-wizard Muttiah Muralitharan’s retirement in July 2010.
Whilst the tourists will be relishing their pace bowling attack, their batting still remains a cause for concern. The Poms do not hold a good batting record on the subcontinent wickets and with a tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to come later this year, Strauss’ men would
have to prove that they have learnt lessons from the disastrous series against Pakistan earlier in January.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s X-factor. The prolific top-order batsman seems to be low on confidence, and it is captain, coach and the team management’s job to make him forget about the low scores against
Pakistan and realize he is talented enough to turn it around.
Bell never looks threatened by an orthodox spinner, rather a mystery spinner makes him nervous. But it is encouraging for both the player as well as his team that the Islanders are without the likes of Muralitharan. The 29-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862 batsman will
be fine against Sri Lanka’s slow left-armer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559, as the spinner turns the ball only one way.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HAPW-Jayawardene-c1529 will also be returning to the squad to keep wickets for the first time since leaving the side in the midst of the Pakistan series in October last year on fitness grounds.
While Suraj Randiv is likely to compliment Herath in the spin department, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ranasinghe-Arachchige-Suranga-Lakmal-c83928 and Dhammika Prasad will be vying for the second seamer spot.
This will be Mahela Jayawardene’s first Test series since returning to captaincy in February. The home skipper is confident about the squad at his disposal and said that switching back to the longer version after a gap of five months would not bother his
team as such.
"We have about six guys, who are genuine Test players, coming in to the squad,” said Jayawardene ahead of the first Test, commencing at Galle on Monday. “They have been training hard, and for the rest of the boys who have been touring, it's a good challenge
switching back to the longer version," he added further.
The Galle pitch will also remain the focus as the last match played at the venue, between Sri Lanka and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625).
The English skipper, Andrew Strauss is hopeful the Galle pitch would be a good Test wicket.
"The history of the wicket is that it tends to deteriorate as the match goes on, but I expect it to be a pretty good Test wicket. You are looking for a good balance to your side to give you the best chance of taking 20 wickets," said
Strauss speaking to the media reporters on the eve of the match.
Sri Lanka (probable) 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Suraj Randiv, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Suranga Lakmal/Dhammika
Prasad, 11 Chanaka Welegedera
England (probable) 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Monty-Panesar-c2024
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