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England Aim for Summer Sweep as Sri Lanka Seek Redemption at The Oval

England Aim for Summer Sweep as Sri Lanka Seek Redemption at The Oval

By September 5, 2024 0

England and Sri Lanka will face off in the final Test of the summer at The Oval, the traditional venue for the season’s finale. Despite the limited challenge posed by Sri Lanka, England has dominated the series, aiming to complete a first summer sweep since 2004.

Gus Atkinson has emerged as a star for England, taking 33 wickets in five appearances, while Jamie Smith has solidified his position as wicketkeeper. The hosts have also handed a debut to 6ft 7in left-armer Josh Hull, who impressed in the series warm-up.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has struggled to live up to expectations. Despite flashes of resistance from Asitha Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, two first-innings collapses have left them with too much to do. Dhananjaya de Silva’s decision to bowl at Lord’s also backfired, putting an inexperienced bowling attack under pressure.

The Oval Test will be a chance for Ollie Pope to improve his average as Test captain, while Sri Lanka will be determined to avoid a whitewash. The pitch is expected to favor pace, with Sri Lanka opting for a four-man pace attack.

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Gus Atkinson's All-Round Brilliance Secures England's Series Win

Gus Atkinson’s All-Round Brilliance Secures England’s Series Win

By September 2, 2024 0

England’s Gus Atkinson emerged as a true all-rounder in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, etching his name on all of Lord’s honours boards. His exceptional performance played a pivotal role in England’s 2-0 series victory.

In the first Test at Lord’s, Atkinson’s century and five-wicket haul were instrumental in England’s 190-run triumph. Batting alongside Joe Root, Atkinson scored a rapid 118 off 115 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. His aggressive batting helped England post a formidable 427 runs in their first innings.

With the ball, Atkinson proved equally devastating. He claimed 5/62 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, including the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen.

In the second innings, Atkinson continued to impress with the bat. He scored 50 off 62 balls, helping England set a challenging target of 483 runs for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka showed some fight in their chase, with half-centuries from Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva. However, Atkinson’s bowling brilliance proved too much for them. He claimed another five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/62.

Atkinson’s all-round performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. He became the first England player since Ian Botham in 1986 to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test at Lord’s.

Speaking after the match, Atkinson expressed his delight at his achievements. “It was special for me to get on all of Lord’s honours boards and bat with Joe Root in the first innings,” he said. “It will take a while to sink in.”

Atkinson’s performance has solidified his place in the England Test team. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the side.

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England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord's Test

England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord’s Test

By September 1, 2024 0

England’s dominance continued on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. After posting a mammoth 344 in their first innings, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 135 and enforced the follow-on.

In their second innings, Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, leaving them with a daunting task of chasing down 430 runs with just eight wickets in hand. Gus Atkinson, who has been a revelation for England this series, claimed the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second innings, adding to his tally of three wickets in the match.

England’s batting performance was led by Joe Root, who scored a magnificent 186 in the first innings. Jonny Bairstow also contributed with a valuable 111, while Ben Stokes chipped in with 56.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain England’s batsmen, with only Lasith Embuldeniya managing to take more than one wicket. The Sri Lankan batsmen, on the other hand, failed to put up any significant resistance, with only Angelo Mathews (49) and Niroshan Dickwella (35) offering some resistance.

With Sri Lanka facing an uphill battle to save the match, England will be confident of wrapping up the contest on Day 4. The hosts need just eight more wickets to secure victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

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Sri Lanka's Historic Debut at Lord's: Wettimuny's Masterclass Stuns England

Sri Lanka’s Historic Debut at Lord’s: Wettimuny’s Masterclass Stuns England

By September 1, 2024 0

In 1984, Sri Lanka’s debut at Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” marked a pivotal moment in their cricketing history. The young team surprised England with a dominant performance, declaring 491-7 in their opening innings, led by Sidath Wettimuny’s outstanding 190.

Wettimuny, then 28, recalled the historic event as a defining moment for both his country and himself. “England is the home of cricket,” he said. “We were very keen to show up and do something decent so that the world took notice of us.”

Despite an uncomfortable start with Tamil demonstrators storming the field, Wettimuny remained composed. “That helped me tremendously,” he said. “I just forgot about cricket, forgot about batting and I was relaxed for a few minutes.”

Wettimuny’s elegant square-drives punished England’s attack, led by Ian Botham. His success was attributed to his English education and his father’s influence. “He was a huge cricket enthusiast,” said Wettimuny. “He made us read CB Fry’s ‘On the Art of Batting’.”

Sri Lanka’s captain, Duleep Mendis, was another aggressive batsman, despite England’s current “Bazball” strategy. Mendis’s 111 included multiple sixes off Botham’s bouncers. “He was a phenomenal player when he got going,” said Wettimuny.

Wettimuny’s obedience to Mendis’s instructions led him to bat for almost 11 hours, falling 10 runs short of a double century. “I just say I was happy with what I got,” he explained.

England’s Jonathan Agnew, who played in the match, acknowledged Sri Lanka’s impressive performance. “Sidath played really, really well,” he said. “And Duleep Mendis murdered ‘Beefy’ (Botham).”

Arjuna Ranatunga, then 20, also made a significant contribution with an 84. “They’ve hardened up a lot,” said Agnew. “When they first appeared, they sounded a bit old-fashioned, and played a bit old-fashioned.”

Sri Lanka’s debut at Lord’s not only showcased their talent but also marked a turning point in their cricketing journey.

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England's Spin Decision Draws Criticism from Eoin Morgan

England’s Spin Decision Draws Criticism from Eoin Morgan

By September 1, 2024 0

England’s decision to halt bowling spin on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s has drawn criticism from former captain Eoin Morgan. With Sri Lanka struggling at 24 for 1, England opted to bring on seamers Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root instead of continuing with spin from both ends.

Morgan questioned the decision, citing the poor light conditions and Sri Lanka’s vulnerability. “It’s a questionable decision,” he said. “The reason behind that is just the whole context of the last hour or so: it is dark. There’s a reason the seamers can’t bowl: it is dangerous for everybody concerned.”

He emphasized the advantage England had with Bashir, England’s premium fingerspinner, and the fact that Sri Lanka had promoted Prabath Jayasuriya, a No. 9 batsman, to No. 4. “They’re bowling at a No. 9 at one end. Everything is in England’s favor,” Morgan said. “I question the decision… you have runs to play with, you have two or three new balls, everything in your favor. And yet you’re sitting in the changing room.”

England’s decision to come off the field left a near-capacity crowd at Lord’s disappointed. Captain Joe Root expressed the team’s desire to entertain fans, but acknowledged the safety concerns. “We pride ourselves on wanting people to come into the ground and feel like they’ve had a really enjoyable day of cricket, and can walk away wanting to come back for more Test cricket,” he said.

Ollie Pope, who is deputizing for Ben Stokes as captain, has faced criticism for his leadership. After scoring only 30 runs in four innings across the first two Tests, he was caught in the deep for 17 on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s batting coach Ian Bell expressed hope that his team could still save the game. “The more we can spend time in the middle and that ball gets a bit softer…” he said. “This wicket has been quite a new-ball wicket, if you can get through that. There’s still plenty of batting, and that’s probably been the strength so far this tour: that middle-lower order have got some good runs.”

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Sri Lanka's de Silva urges team-mates to seize county cricket opportunities

Sri Lanka’s de Silva urges team-mates to seize county cricket opportunities

By August 28, 2024 0

Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva believes that his team-mates deserve more opportunities to play in county cricket in England. He believes that this would be particularly beneficial for the batters, who would gain valuable experience in English conditions.

Counties have been allowed to field two overseas players in their XI in each format since 2021. However, Sri Lankan players have largely been overlooked, in part due to their touring commitments. Vishwa Fernando is the only member of the 18-man touring party to feature in the Championship this year, playing three matches for Yorkshire.

Dinesh Chandimal has also expressed his desire to play county cricket, but has been unsuccessful in securing a contract. “The last few years, I wanted to get a county deal,” said Chandimal, who has scored 15 Test hundreds. “I didn’t get it so far. If I can do well in this series, hopefully I will be picked by one of the counties. It is my dream to play a season of county cricket.”

De Silva believes that playing in the Championship would be beneficial for Sri Lanka’s batters. “Playing in these conditions will be better for the batsmen,” he said. “We are only getting the chance while we’re touring here. But if the batsmen can play county [cricket], it’ll be nice for them.”

Sri Lanka have a three-month gap in their international schedule after the Champions Trophy, which could allow their Test players to feature in the early stages of the county season. However, Wanindu Hasaranga, who is not part of the Test squad, has been denied No-Objection Certificates by SLC to play in the Hundred.

De Silva said that Sri Lanka have prepared well for the second Test at Lord’s and will make two changes, with Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Kumara replacing Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando. “Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment,” said De Silva. “He has a good mindset and he has a good technique.”

He also played down the absence of Mark Wood, suggesting that Chris Woakes had been harder to face. “The speed is not troubling me, but the line and length,” said De Silva. “The opening bowler, he bowls in one area for 20 to 30 balls and that’s the problem we have: with the swinging ball, not the pace… if the plans work here, we’ll get on top.”

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Kamindu Mendis: Calm and Basics Fuel Remarkable Test Batting Average

Kamindu Mendis: Calm and Basics Fuel Remarkable Test Batting Average

By August 27, 2024 0

Kamindu Mendis’ remarkable batting average of 92.16 in Test cricket, the second-highest among players with over 500 runs, is a testament to his unwavering focus on the fundamentals. The Sri Lankan batsman, who made his debut two years ago, credits his success to a simple mantra: “Do basic things, and try to keep calm.”

Despite making a promising debut with a half-century, Mendis had to wait for his next opportunity. However, he seized it with both hands, scoring twin centuries against Bangladesh earlier this year. “I knew the batting was packed, but I tried to do as best as I could in the chance that I had,” he said.

Mendis’ absence from the team during his two-year hiatus was not a setback but an opportunity for growth. “Even though I didn’t get to play, I was in the squad and travelling with the team, pretty much every tour,” he said. “Going on so many tours with experienced players on those tours also helped me play well in my first few innings.”

In the recent Test against England in Manchester, Mendis’ first-innings dismissal for 12 was followed by a second-innings century. He forged crucial partnerships with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, who played through a finger injury. “I had a lot of support from the others when I went to bat, both Angie aiya and Chandi aiya,” he said. “Their experience really helped me.”

Mendis’ batting philosophy is simple: “I do basic things, and try to keep calm in the middle.” He dismisses questions about his impressive average, emphasizing his commitment to contributing to the team’s success. “That’s really my only goal: to give as much to my team as possible, whether on the batting front, bowling front, or via fielding.”

For Mendis, playing a Test at Lord’s is a dream come true. “From when I was little, I had a dream to play a Test at Lord’s,” he said. “It’s not just my dream, I think every player has that target. I’ve been able to get there. If we can win this match, it’ll be even more valuable to us.”

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England Clinch Five-Wicket Victory in First Test Against Sri Lanka

England Clinch Five-Wicket Victory in First Test Against Sri Lanka

By August 25, 2024 0

England emerged victorious in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, securing a five-wicket triumph on Saturday. The hosts chased down a modest target of 205 runs, thanks to a composed 64-run stand between Joe Root and Jamie Smith.

Root played the anchor role, reaching his half-century off 108 deliveries. England’s chase got off to a shaky start with the early dismissals of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. Dan Lawrence was trapped lbw by Milan Rathnayake, leaving England in a precarious position at 119-4.

Smith, who scored his maiden Test century in the first innings, provided stability alongside Root. The duo patiently navigated a challenging period, going an hour without finding the boundary. England regained control before Asitha Fernando dismissed Smith for 39.

Root remained unbeaten on 62, hitting only his second four off the final ball to seal England’s victory. Earlier, Sri Lanka resumed the day at 204-6, with Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal adding 117 runs for the seventh wicket. Kamindu scored his third Test century, showcasing his consistent form.

However, England capitalized on the new ball after lunch, with Gus Atkinson dismissing Kamindu. Matthew Potts removed Chandimal, who battled through pain after injuring his thumb. Sri Lanka’s innings concluded on 326, adding just 19 runs for the last three wickets.

The second Test of the three-match series will commence at Lord’s on Thursday. England will look to extend their lead, while Sri Lanka will aim to level the series.

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Root's Gritty Knock Anchors England to Hard-Fought Test Win

Root’s Gritty Knock Anchors England to Hard-Fought Test Win

By August 25, 2024 0

Joe Root’s gritty half-century guided England to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. Root, known for his free-flowing batting, adopted a more cautious approach, channeling his “inner Nasser Hussain” to anchor England’s chase of 164 on a challenging wicket.

Despite the slow outfield and low bounce, Root remained composed, accumulating runs patiently and forming crucial partnerships with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. His 62 not out from 128 balls proved invaluable as England overcame a spirited Sri Lankan bowling attack led by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya.

Root acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions, noting that the wicket was “as close to Sri Lankan conditions” as England offers. He also praised the adaptability of his team, emphasizing that “sometimes it’s good to win ugly.”

The victory marked the first of Ollie Pope’s captaincy career. Despite his struggles with the bat, Root commended Pope’s leadership, particularly his tactical decisions during Sri Lanka’s fourth-morning partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal.

Root also lauded Jamie Smith, who followed up his first-innings century with a crucial 39 in the second innings. Smith’s all-round performance, including his exceptional glovework, earned him the player of the match award.

Root believes Smith’s composure and maturity have contributed to his success. He praised the environment created within the England team, which allows young players to thrive.

Despite the departure from their usual “Bazball” approach, Root remains confident in the team’s principles. He hopes to see a return to their more aggressive style in the remaining two Tests of the series.

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Mark Wood Injury Casts Doubt Over England's Sri Lanka Test Hopes

Mark Wood Injury Casts Doubt Over England’s Sri Lanka Test Hopes

By August 24, 2024 0

Mark Wood’s injury has cast a shadow over England’s Test series against Sri Lanka, with the paceman likely to miss the second Test and potentially the remainder of the series.

Wood suffered a right thigh muscle injury late on day three of the first Test in Manchester, forcing him to leave the field after bowling just 11 overs. An ECB statement on Saturday confirmed that Wood would not take the field on day four, and he subsequently underwent a scan to determine the extent of the damage.

England are hopeful that the injury is a strain rather than a tear, but it seems certain that Wood will miss the upcoming Test match at Lord’s, which begins this Thursday. Given his unique standing as the fastest bowler in the world, England may be reluctant to risk Wood for the final Test at the Kia Oval, which gets underway on September 6.

Olly Stone, the spare fast bowler in the squad, is likely to replace Wood in the XI. In terms of squad reinforcements, Sam Curran could come into the reckoning. The allrounder is currently playing for Surrey against Lancashire at the Kia Oval and took 1 for 21 in the first innings. Picking Curran would allow England to operate with the allrounder they are lacking after captain Ben Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a torn hamstring.

The loss of Wood was apparent as stand-in captain Ollie Pope oversaw a wicket-less start to day four. Sri Lanka batted past drinks and through to a rain interruption shortly before lunch without losing a wicket, as Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal extended the lead to 153.

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