Sri Lanka vs England Day 2

Saturday, December 20 2003

Sri Lanka vs England
3rd Test Day 2

England 265
Sri Lanka 264 - 2

After two days of this test, it seems that the frailties that have dogged England throughout this tour are going to prove decisive after all. Although the corresponding match two years ago was a low scoring affair, England's first innings total always looked inadequate, and so it proved, as the home side comfortably moved to within one run of it by the close of play with eight wickets still standing.

Today's play belonged to Sri Lanka from the start. Any thoughts that England would follow the example of the Sri Lankan tail in Kandy were swiftly extinguished, as Vaas trapped both Kirtley and Anderson leg before, each of them for only one run. What a fine bowler he is. We regularly hear how difficult these conditions are for England's fast-medium bowlers, but Vaas has now taken 12 wickets in five innings at slightly over 20 a-piece. Although today's victims were rabbits, most of the others have not been. He has frequently dismissed top-of-the-order batsmen, often when they have been well set. It is not unreasonable to suggest that without his contribution, England may even have won one of the first two tests. It is entirely reasonable to suggest that he has bowled with far greater skill and intelligence than his English counterparts.

Of course, Vaas is also vastly more experienced than the English bowlers, and today it really showed. Despite the moans about how Sussex have prepared wickets to suit Mushtaq, Hove is not the same as Columbo, and Kirtley rarely threatened. Anderson, of course, has barely played in the last three months and he was understandably rusty. In addition, the home batsmen were far more positive than in the first two tests. Jayasuria's previous innings in this series have been strange affairs. A naturally attacking batsman who is quite capable of destroying better attacks than this one, he had been strangely cautious and seemed much the poorer for it. Today, however, we saw the real thing as he set about England's bowlers with relish. Maybe Dilshan's performance at Kandy had been an inspiration or maybe it was a deliberate attempt to undermine the opposition's confidence. Whatever the reason for his more aggressive approach, it was hugely effective as he and Sangakkara, opening in place of the injured Atapattu, easily put on 71 for the first wicket. It came as something of a surprise when the wicket keeper was removed, caught by Trescothick off the bowling of Kirtley.

67 runs later, it was an even bigger surprise when Jayasuria departed. He had looked absolutely certain to reach his hundred but, on 85, he edged Flintoff to Trescothick at first slip. In the circumstances, he will consider himself unlucky. Not that there was anything controversial about the dismissal, but the same fielder twice dropped Samaraweera today. Afterwards, Trescothick said it was just one of those things and nothing to worry about. Those of us who have seen him juggling catches all series weren't so sure.

Either way, Samaraweera and Jayawardene then proceeded to add 126 for the third wicket by the close of play. To say they were comfortable would be an understatement. You know England are struggling when Trescothick has to bowl a couple of overs, and England looked very ordinary indeed. Unless they make spectacular use of the new ball in the morning, their batsmen are going to need to produce something very special indeed to save the game. Based on what we've seen so far in this series, neither of these options are very likely, and Sri Lanka will be highly confident of winning this one.


Posted by David