Sri Lanka v. England - 2nd. Test

[Donny]

England's escape at Galle gives them the momentum

Andrew Miller in Kandy


It may have been guarding Sri Lanka's southern coastline for the best part of 400 years, but the old Dutch fort at Galle can rarely have witnessed a more magnificent backs-to-the-ramparts effort than England's tailenders produced to save last week's first Test. From a position of apparent hopelessness at lunch on the final day, England rallied sufficiently to cling to their positions until nightfall, before being airlifted to Kandy on Sunday in a military helicopter, with their spirits at a higher ebb than at any other stage this winter.

It was a match in which an English defeat ought to have been a formality, especially after losing the toss at Muttiah Muralitharan's most prolific hunting-ground. Instead, they held out, and for all the brave words being uttered publicly by the Sri Lankan players and officials, their failure to break through England's defences has been a shattering disappointment. On a local radio phone-in on Sunday afternoon, the presenter referred bleakly to "Sri Lanka's defeat" on more than half-a-dozen occasions, and not one single caller felt the need to correct him.

By escaping with a draw, England are already in a stronger position in this series than they were two years ago, when Kandy was the venue for one of the most explosive Test encounters in recent years. England eventually won a nailbiter by just three wickets, although the result said nothing of the main incidents of the match - dodgy umpiring that brought even the mild-mannered Sanath Jaysuriya to the brink of apoplexy, a finger-jabbing face-off between Kumar Sangakkara and the rarely ruffled Mike Atherton, and most crucially of all for England, a hard-fought (if fortunate) century by Nasser Hussain, which brought an end to the most desperate run of form of his career.

Two years on, and Hussain is once again at the centre of England's thoughts. He withdrew on the morning of the first Test after succumbing to flu-like symptoms, but his return to the side was guaranteed as soon as he had come through a tough two-hour net session on Monday afternoon. "He's a fighter and he has declared himself fit, so Nasser will play and bat at No. 4," said Michael Vaughan. It will be Hussain's 90th Test - 89 more than the man who stood in for him at Galle. But Paul Collingwood capped his debut with a crucial second-innings 35, and may yet retain his place if England opt to go into the Kandy Test with six specialist batsmen.

That decision will depend on the management's assessment of the pitch. "We might go in with six batters," admitted Vaughan, "But we also have to try to get 20 wickets out there as well. We will just try to work out over the next few days what we think the best formula is." At the centre of England's considerations will be Andrew Flintoff, whose hit-the-deck bowling style has traditionally made more impression at Kandy than the approach favoured by, say, James Anderson, who is back in the reckoning after twisting his ankle before the first Test.

Despite England's eagerness not to overburden Flintoff, he was nonetheless the most hard-worked of their seamers at Galle, largely because of the measure of control he was able to exert from his high-kicking length. Flintoff sent down 40 overs in the match - almost twice as many as Richard Johnson - and with two more Tests in the next fortnight, this is bound to be a concern.

Ironically, one of the best ways of limiting Flintoff's workload would be to promote him to the new ball in place of Johnson, and hand the donkey work to the third spinner, Robert Croft. This option was considered but ignored at Galle, and is even less likely to be taken up at Kandy, for the simple reason that Johnson and Matthew Hoggard have overs under their belts and deserve another chance to cement their partnership. But Vaughan expects plenty of assistance for the spinners at Kandy's Asgiriya Stadium. "This pitch is damper than last time," he remarked. "It will probably dry out with a couple of days' sunshine, and be a bit slower than last time and help the spinners more."

For a time on Sunday afternoon, Croft looked as though he might be vying for one of two spinning slots. Ashley Giles, the man who produced the most famous asterisk in Galle since Goscinny and Uderzo, was struggling with a throat infection and rated a doubt for Kandy. But he has since been fed some magic potion, and will resume his partnership with Gareth Batty. Giles missed Monday's net session, but Vaughan termed his absence as "optional resting".

Sri Lanka's permutations are equally numerous. Although they have announced an unchanged squad for this second Test, it would be a surprise if they entered the match with the same ill-balanced line-up they settled for at Galle. By anyone's standards, the selection of five spinners was excessive, and it seems likely that one of these, Upul Chandana, will make way for an extra batsman. The two men in contention are Tillekaratne Dilshan and Michael Vandort, who would open the innings if selected. Given the importance of the match, however, Sri Lanka are more likely to go with Dilshan and retain their tried-and-tested opening partnership of Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu.

One further change is predicted in the bowling department, with Dilhara Fernando fit and ready to resume the new-ball duties at the expense of his namesake Dinusha, who recovered from an ineffectual first innings to bowl a fearsome spell on the final morning at Galle. Muttiah Muralitharan caused a ripple or two when he appeared with his shoulder strapped in ice and failed to bowl during Tuesday's nets session, but he was rated as a 100% starter by Sri Lanka's coach, John Dyson.

"Our morale is very good," said Dyson. "On this tour, we gave England a whacking in Dambulla in the one-dayer, and we were the only team that looked like winning at Galle."

All the more galling, then, that they are not 1-0 up with two to play.

Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Marvan Atapattu, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillekaratne Dilshan, 6 Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), 7 Thilan Samaraweera, 8 Kumar Dharmasena, 9 Chaminda Vaas, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

England (probable) 1 Michael Vaughan (capt), 2 Marcus Trescothick, 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Nasser Hussain, 5 Graham Thorpe, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 Chris Read (wk), 8 Gareth Batty, 9 Ashley Giles, 10 Richard Johnson, 11 Matthew Hoggard.

[Donny]

Sri Lanka beef up batting
From correspondents in Kandy - Fox Sports
December 10, 2003

SRI LANKA have dropped a spinner to beef up their batting for the second Test with England, starting tomorrow.

The selectors met the team management today before recalling middle-order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan in place of off spinner Kumar Dharmasena, one of three specialist Sri Lanka spinners in the first Test.

Dilshan, 27, who played the last of his 10 Tests against West Indies in June, will bat at six with Thilan Samaraweera at seven.

The selectors considered recalling fast bowler Dilhara Fernando after he recovered from a stress fracture but remained loyal to Dinusha Fernando.

He took one wicket in the opening encounter of the three-Test series.

England, who name their team tomorrow, will welcome back former captain Nasser Hussain who missed the first game with a throat infection.

Paul Collingwood, who helped save the first Test in Galle with a three-hour 36, is expected to step down.

Seamer James Anderson is tipped to return and replace Richard Johnson after recovering from an ankle injury sustained playing squash just before the first test.

Teams:
Sri Lanka: Hashan Tillakaratne (c), Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Dinusha Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan.

England (from): Michael Vaughan (c), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Nasser Hussain, Rikki Clarke, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft, Gareth Batty, James Kirtley, Richard Johnson, Matthew Hoggard, Chris Read, Geraint Jones, Paul Collingwood, James Anderson.

[Donny]

Sri Lanka won the toss and are batting.

In the 6th. over, they are 0/20.

James Kirtley and Andy Flintoff are the opening bowlers which means they have a medium quick opening the bowling with the batting all-rounder.

The other 3 bowlers are the occasional medium pacer, Paul Collingwood, and two spinners who'd really struggle in the Pura Cup, Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty.

Don't England realise they need 20 wickets to win a Test match or is this all they have to offer ? Sri Lankan run feast coming up.

[Donny]

2/81 in the 24th. over. 1 to Kirtley and 1 run out.

Jayasuriya is 24 n.o.

[Donny]

At lunch, England have the upper hand, due to Jayasuriya's dismissal on the last ball. 3/84.

He got a glove to one from Giles which popped up and Read juggled it as he crashed into Hussain at short leg.

[Donny]

A good partnership is developing between Dilshan (50 n.o.) and Jayawardene (36 n.0.)

S.L. are 3/172.

[Donny]

Jayawardene (45) top edged a sweep shot and was caught on the boundary from Giles (2/64)

Dilshan is 56 n.o. and the score is 4/191

[Donny]

4/201 from 60 overs. Dilshan is on 63 n.o.

[Donny]

At stumps, England are 7/277 with their skipper, Hashan Tillakaratne, 45 n.o.

Giles took 3/85 and Kirtley, 2/75.

[Donny]

Two Tillakaratnes swing it Sri Lanka's way

The Wisden Bulletin by Freddie Auld

A see-saw opening day of the second Test at Kandy ended with Sri Lanka on a respectable 277 for 7. After an early wobble to 84 for 3, handy partnerships between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene, and then Hashan Tillakaratne and Chaminda Vaas, kept them afloat against an England attack which refused to give up.

England sprang an early-morning surprise by calling up James Kirtley ahead of three of England's supposed front-line seamers to take the new ball alongside Andrew Flintoff. It was a bold move by the selectors, and although it's still too early to say whether it was the right decision, it certainly paid dividends at first as England made the early running.

After Michael Vaughan lost the toss for the ninth time in ten matches, England battled hard all day, and Kirtley's skiddy wicket-to-wicket line quickly accounted for Marvan Atapattu. He had flicked Flintoff for a brace of fours, but was caught bang in front of middle as he failed to put in a full stride (20 for 1). Sanath Jayasuriya, who was clattered on the back of the helmet by a well-directed Flintoff bouncer, still appeared to be feeling the effects as he and Kumar Sangakkara compiled a careful 56-run partnership for the second wicket.

But just as Sri Lanka looked to be taking control, Jayasuriya had a brainstorm. He pushed Paul Collingwood - who retained his place in the side as England went for an extra batsman instead of a seamer - into the covers and took off for a single. Sangakkara turned it down, seeing Flintoff swoop in from short cover, but the ball actually went straight to Kirtley at mid-off. Sangakkara eventually had no choice but to run - shades of Steve Waugh's recent dismissal at Brisbane - and was comfortably beaten by the throw (76 for 2).

Things then got even better for England when Jayasuriya attempted to work Giles off his hip. There was some doubt as to whether Jayasuriya got a touch as Chris Read and Nasser Hussain flung themselves towards the ball, with Read winning the race and Hussain earning himself a squashed head for his efforts.

Jayasuriya was rather harshly given out by Daryl Harper, and he has now failed to reach a half-century in 12 attempts against England. More importantly, though, at 84 for 3, England were edging it.

However, Dilshan and Jayawardene changed the pattern of the game with the sort of aggressive batting yet to be seen in this series. Dilshan, on his return to the Test side, made a blistering start, smashing five boundaries in three overs, four of them off Giles. He drove anything full and cut anything remotely short, and he and Jayawardene swung the momentum back Sri Lanka's way.


Jayawardene was in good form as well. He took a liking to Kirtley, slashing him past point, and then square-driving a wide one for another boundary. The batsmen posted a fifty partnership off only 56 balls, and after their good morning session, England were beginning to feel the heat.

Jayawardene stroked Giles through the covers, then next ball launched him for a straight six. Vaughan was left scratching his head, given his light bowling options on such a lifeless pitch. Dilshan cruised to his half-century, including eight fours, and the century stand soon followed off only 159 balls.

However, just when England were on the ropes, the pendulum swung back once again. Jawayardene gave the fielders a much-needed lift when he top-edged a sweep off Giles. Kirtley charged in from the square-leg boundary and took a smart catch diving forwards (187 for 4). That wicket meant England went to tea in much better spirits, and Flintoff returned after the break a different bowler, cranking up the pace a notch or two. He banged one in short which rose sharply and flicked Dilshan's glove on the way to Marcus Trescothick at first slip. Dilshan tried to leave the ball, but it was on to him quicker than he thought, and he was on his way for an impressive 63 (201 for 5).

Thilan Samaraweera soon followed when he was given out by Daryl Harper. He padded up to Giles, and the ball hit him outside off stump and looked to be holding its line. However, Harper had no doubts (206 for 6).

England were right back in it, the force with them, but the adhesive 64-run stand between Tillakaratne and Vaas wrenched the advantage back for Sri Lanka. Despite mustering only one run in the first Test, Tillakaratne played with a reassuring authority for Sri Lanka. He used his feet well to the spinners - whose ranks even included Vaughan - and put away anything loose as the bowlers tired. Vaas also smacked a few meaty blows, waiting for anything short and belting it over midwicket.

England took the new ball with five overs remaining, and, in keeping with the fluctuating nature of the day, Kirtley removed Vaas with an offcutter which trapped him plumb in front (270 for 7). Kirtley gave him an unnecessarily mouthy sendoff, but Vaas and Sri Lanka know that England still have a lot of work to do to regain control of this fascinatingly evenly poised match tomorrow.

[Sultan of spin]

England have done pretty well considering how weak their attack is, I would almost be prepared to say they have the upper hand cos they have a pretty good looking batting team, well on paper at least.

Donny how has Chris Read gone behind the stumps and with the bat? I'm yet to see him play but he has big shoes to fill replacing Alec Stewart.

[Donny]

8/300 as Flintoff (2/52) gets Tilla for 45.

Read has taken 1 catch in this innihgs, SoS.

[Donny]

Yes, England did do fairly well yesterday but they don't seem to be able to finish the job.

Dharmasena (15 n.o.) and Fernando (33 n.o.) have added 51 for the 9th. wicket after Vaas scored 32 at #8. 8/329

[Donny]

Sri Lanka made 382. Fernando was 51 n.o. and Giles took 5/116.

England are 0/37 in the 6th. Obviously making hay while the sun shines - scoring quickly before Murali comes on.

[commonwombat]

Sultan,

Wombat raised his eyebrows at yr comment re Alec Stewart and Read having to fill large boots to fill.

Stewart, to my mind, was done a massive disservice by being dragooned into being a full-time keeper. His greatest talent was with the bat and he may have progressed to being one of England's front line batsmen. The demands of full-time keeping saw his batting decline along with his net value to his team.

As a keeper, he was serviceable but no more. Certainly, it was a valuable string to his bow and he was certainly the no.1 option for many years for ODI and I would consider as a STOPGAP for Test level.

Alec Stewart has had a long and quite distinguished career but it may have been considerably better had he been considered first and foremost as a specialist batsman who would serve as a second keeper on tour when required and for one dayers.