English summers begins, face SL challenge (Preview)

Second half of last year and major part of first three months this year saw English cricket team on a travel. The major fixtures included a long tour Down Under followed by 50-over cricket world cup in Indian sub continent. The Andrew Strauss led team had a successful ashes campaign beating Australia in their own den after a long period of 22 years but had nothing to write home about in the limited version of the game. Australia thrashed them in the ODI series 6-1 and Sri Lanka showed them the exit door in the quarter finals to end their world cup winning dreams.

It had serious repercussions leading to the change of guard in both the ODI’s and t-20 cricket which meant Strauss was relieved from ODI captaincy. The mental and physical fatigue due to a long time away from home was palpable and many attributed England’s dismal performance in the world cup.

Nothing major has changed for them in the test cricket though. Under Strauss and no non-sense kind coach in Andrew Flower, England have been one of the most consistent teams in the longer format with two back to Ashes series to their name.

The first test against Sri Lanka at Cardiff will start a long summer for the home side which would later see them hosting India. England, more or less, are same side that featured in their Ashes winning campaign with Eoin Morgan drafted in place of retired Paul Collingwood. Morgan piped Essex batsman Ravi Bopara who was favourite to make the cut but Morgan’s big hundred against Sri Lanka in a practice game favoured his selection. It makes England a settled side that should hold them in a good stead against their opponents this summer.In England camp, all eyes will be on star batsman Kevin Pietersen who has found it difficult to score runs after hernia operation.

For Sri Lanka, so much has changed with dashing opener Tilkerattne Dilshan leading the side after stepping down of Kumar Sangakkara. Ace spinner Muthaih Muralitharan has called it a day in international cricket and slinga Lasith Malinga retiring from the test cricket to prolong his limited over cricket career makes you wonder where from wickets are going to come for the visitors. The absence of their star bowlers would mean Dilhara Fernando and off spinner Ajantha Mendis will have to be on top of their game if Sri Lanka boast off any good things in England.

Batting remains Sri Lanka’s strong suit with world class duo of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in their ranks. Much will depend on the duo as they are very much capable of driving Lankan batting forward on their own. They will find capable allays in Dilshan himself and consistent Thilan Samaraweera to give solidity to the batting unit.Not often England has an edge over any sub-continent team but brilliance of off-spinners over last two years are so have given them this welcome luxury. The early English summer should assist fast bowlers that would mean likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad will have a big say in the final outcome of the series.

As of now, odds are stacked in home team’s favour and heavily too. Sri Lanka, under new captain, will make it sure they give England good run for their money.

England Squad: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Steven Finn.

Sri Lanka Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (c), Ajantha Mendis, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Farveez Maharoof, K Sang akkara, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, M Jayawardene, P Jayawardene (wk), Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal, Tharanga Paranavitan, Thilan Samaraweera, Thissara Perera,