He prepares now for his third and final tour of England. Although this is a different format, Alastair Cook’s men need to continue that momentum.
Advertisement
The former Sri Lanka coach, who was also in the hot seat in Nepal and Malaysia, is an experienced campaigner and is a widely acclaimed coaching professional.
Once again, the debate surrounding the England team concerns the batting, with the top order still unconvincing during the winter win in South Africa. “If it works brilliant and if it captures people’s imaginations, or do people like the simplicity of the Test series, the one-day series, the Twenty20 series being separate, then I don’t think there’s any harm in having a look and seeing”.
Mathews added the squad had a personal connection to the disaster, adding: “One of our support staff members, his brother has passed away yesterday (Tuesday)”. “But I have adapted better now and can change my game depending on the situation”.
There will though be a Test debut for James Vince.
“Rooty is one of the best players in the world at the moment and Stokesy has shown in the last 12 months just how good he is”. England were right to go for him over someone like Ian Bell, because this summer has to be about having an eye on the future.
By contrast, Sri Lanka have played seven Test series since overcoming England two years ago, losing five. “That’s the one condition they imposed”.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dhananjaya Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardana, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal.
Home victories over Pakistan, in 2014, and the West Indies previous year are their only successes and they come into the series on the back of a 2-0 whitewash in New Zealand.
I was all for it in the women’s game and I would even like to see it used in series between the Associate nations like Ireland and Scotland, because it can add context. “You have to be a good player of both spin and pace to do that”.
Cook, who himself averaged just 23 in those four Tests, said: “Until someone really grabs that opportunity as opener and nails it then there’s always going to be questions asked”.
England captain Alastair Cook said Wednesday he was well aware that his looming membership of the 10,000 Test -run club would be a significant landmark in an already successful career.
Tendulkar was 31 years and 10 months old when he set the record against Pakistan in 2005.
Since defeat to Sri Lanka in 2014, England have lost just one of their last six Test series in a run that includes victories over India, South Africa and Australia.
At that point, England were a mess, Cook was not scoring runs and he contemplated resigning, only to be talked out of it by his wife Alice.
“I’ll still play the same shots, but it’s knowing when to”.
Advertisement
But their first tour of England since that campaign sees them without Sangakkara and Jayawardene, both now retired from global duty. The system was introduced for the women’s Ashes to prevent the trophy being decided on the basis of a single Test as female worldwide cricketers play very little long-form cricket.
