New-look ENG look for fresh beginning (Preview)

Without a question, England is one of the well settled test sides in the world. And, it has legions of laurels, including back to back Ashes triumph, to support the assertion. However, there isn’t much one can write home about their limited overs’ performance. Save for a T-20 World Cup, 2010 conquest, English fans have hadn’t much to cheer about. Abysmal performance in recent concluded fifty over World Cup didn’t better the record either.

All this prompted England Cricket Board to go for wholesale changes in the shorter formats. Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, ODI and T-20 skippers respectively, were not only relinquished with from their posts, the duo couldn’t find any place in either of the squads. It appears that they no more fit in England’s long term scheme in the limited overs’ cricket. Similar fate was meted to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. As of now, England has three different skippers in as many formats. Strauss still captains the test side, Stuart Broad is in charge of t-20 side and, surprisingly, Alistair Cook will take the reins in fifty over cricket.

A new era has been initiated in English cricket. And, a message has been sent across-passengers will not be part of the set up-a feature of Andy Flower led team management. In line with England’s new policy, many discards have won their place back in the squad announced to play against Sri Lanka, notable ones being Samit Patel and wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter. 

The first assignment for a new look home side will be only Twenty20 International at County Ground, Bristol. It gives some players a good opportunity to give a good account of themselves and England a chance to make a head start in their quest to resurrect their not so impressive record. One thing is for sure; under Broad’s stewardship the young side will be full of energy and aggression.

Their opponents, Sri Lanka that looked an average bowling side without Lasith Malinga and champion off-spinner Muthaih Muralitharan look a better limited overs’ outfit. Malinga returns to the fold and so does fit again all rounder Angelo Mathews. While Malinga, one of the best in shortest format of the game having a toe-crushing Yorkers, a well guised slower one and a surprising short ball, lends penetration to the attack, Mathews brings about flexibility which Sri Lanka lacked big time in the test series. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekera will add teeth to the bowling unit having a good pair of spinners Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv to boast of.

Most of the tourists’ batsmen did well in a practice game against Worcestershire. Back into the team after a political interference, 42-year old Sanath Jayasuriya warmed up with a 60-ball 78 for his last hurrah in international cricket. Runs also came from Mathews and Jeevan Mendis to get ready for the battle. Sri Lanka team management will be keeping a close eye on some young batsmen, none more than D Chandimal, already having a century under his belt in the ODI’s.

The touring side is sweating to get their regular skipper T Dilshan fit in time. As of now, in all likelihood, he is going to miss the game due to a fracture in finger that kept him out of the third test as well. If he doesn’t get fit in time, Thilan Kandambi will skipper the side.

A good look at both the teams makes you believe roles could well be reversed in the limited overs’ leg of the tour. It was England that dominated the test series and won it 1-0 but Sri Lanka have an arsenal to get results in their favour. The home, though, will be charged up under the new captain to make a headway in their pursuit to achieve new goals in the limited overs’ cricket.

ENGLAND SQUAD: Stuart Broad (c), Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright.

SRI LANKA SQUAD: T Dilshan (c), T Kandambi, K Sangakkara (wk), M Jayawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, D Chandimal, J Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Damikka Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews.