The English cricketers are back again in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka. The English who first came to Sri Lanka in 1982 are back in coloured clothing to play 7 ODI matches in what will without a doubt be a hotly contested series which commences on 26th of November in Colombo.
Both teams will have involved weather reports to plan their series as they will have to look at taking on and beating the monsoon rains as well if they are to successfully win the trophy. Yes, the tropical rains in Sri Lanka will play a pivotal role, though everyone will be looking forward to a uninterrupted a gruelling battle.
The last time both teams played each other was few months before in England where a controversial and close 5-match ODI series was won by the visiting Lankans at a tally of 3-2. At the pre-series media briefing English skipper Alastair Cook mentioned they were here for revenge, but its left to be seen if his men can live up to the threat of ‘cooking –out’ the Lankans in their own backyard? Can Angelo and his team flush out the atrocious Indian series from their minds and comeback to winning ways?
Last time the Poms were here in 2007, they went home with the trophy. Cook and his army are well aware of the wounds the Indians have inflicted on the home team and they know how to win as they have a quality outfit with many young match-winners. Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous teams on home soil and they have beefed up their spin bowling attack to tackle the British batting threat and they will most definitely put their best available spin combinations to test the foreigners.
Both teams are not yet settled in terms of their perfect combinations for the World Cup and the final auditions for a few places in the staring XIs will take place during the series though the world cup will be played in different conditions.
Perfect farewell to the twin towers
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara will most probably play their final series in white balls in Sri Lanka when they take on England. Both the stalwarts have insinuated that 2015 World cup in Australia/New Zealand will be their last ODI assignment. Twenty million fans will be eagerly waiting for their superhero-duo to fire them to victory and see their masterpieces of batting one final time. There is no bowling attack in the world to stop them when the right-left combination of Maiyya and Sanga work in motion. They have a pretty good record at home and they have 7 games in total before they bid adieu to all the die-hard cricket-crazy Lankans whom they always keep on top of their list of priorities.
The late 120s vs early 140s
If a fan was to query whether the speed of the fast-bowlers in the subcontinent have an impact? The reply would have to be, yes! There is a vast bearing of a bowler who bowls in mid 120s and early 140s. No matter where you play, fast bowlers can trouble the batsmen with their pace; the ball coming at you a yard faster does have its effects. The Lankan seamers who hover around at bowling speeds of the late 120s took a strong pounding by the Indian batsman. If they are to avoid the same fate, they will have to improve their accuracy, temperament and discipline against the Englishmen. The visitors have a good attack of seam bowlers who can regularly strike you at 140kmph+ and they will surely test techniques and skills of the Lankan batting line-up in the coming weeks.
Makeup of the England squad
This winter will be very important for the Brits with the World cup around the corner. They have brought a strong squad of 15 players to Sri Lanka minus their most experienced pair of fast-bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad as they are nursing injuries. Moeen Ali’s inclusion at the top of the order will provide a spin bowling option in the top 6 while the likes of Ian Bell, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler will have to cope with the pressure and play out of their skins to cement their places in the English batting order. Fast-bowlers such as Steven Finn, Harry Gurney and Chris Jordan need to give their best if they are to make the trip to Australia/New Zealand next February.
Full Squad:
Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.
Makeup of the Sri Lanka squad
The selectors have gone to experience over youth when they named their 15-man squad for the first three ODIs. Young batting hopefuls of Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan have been left out of the squad after their mediocre performances in India and they have named middle-order batsman Thilina Kandamby and leg-spinning all-rounder Jeewan Mendis in the squad who have been consistent performers in the domestic circuits. Kandamby last played an ODI in 2011 while Mendis last played for Sri Lanka in 2013. Another experienced off-spinner Dilruwan Perera who last played an ODI match in 2008 has also been included to bolster the spin attack of Sri Lanka which sees the return of left-arm spin maestro Rangana Herath.
Nuwan Kulasekara has been left out to accommodate much more versatile Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga. Kusal Janith Perera will have another go in the opening slot after a disappointing series against India where he was Umesh Yadav’s first-over bunny.
Full Squad:
Angelo Mathews (captain), TM Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeewan Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Thisara Perera, Lahiru Gamage.
Final Prediction
Beating the Englishmen will not be easy for the home team but they will certainly hold the edge in familiar conditions and with a much stronger bowling unit than in India. Sri Lanka tame many great sides with ease on their soil and this time around too there will be no difference unless the visitors pull a rabbit out of the hat.
