ENG v SL, 3rd Test Preview: Lankans aim to salvage pride at Lords

The England v Sri Lanka Test series will finally conclude rather fittingly at Lords. The third Test will witness both sides aiming for a victory as the Lankans fight for pride and England aim for a whitewash. As far as Angelo Mathews will be concerned, a win for the Lankans would see them become the recipient of praise despite the events of the past two matches.

Team Analysis

England

Everything has gone right for England this series. The bowlers have been constantly ripping apart the Lankan batting unit while the batsmen have shined. Having already won the series 2-0, England will be hoping to complete the whitewash as overseas tours beckon for the Brits. Moreover, the occasion of playing at Lords will add to the determination of the Englishmen as they aim to complete the series they dominated on a high.

While all seems well for Alastair Cook and his band of merry men, the weak link is there for all to see. The performances of Nick Compton have been substandard in a plethora of stars thus far in the series. Compton’s plagued form in batting has seemingly been prolonged from their arduous tour to South Africa prior to the World T20.

Although it is not recommended that a winning combination is changed, Compton may well find himself out of favor with the likes of Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, and Adam Lyth waiting in the wings.

Sri Lanka

This tour has been one problem after another for the visiting Sri Lankans. Even their coach Graham Ford has conceded that their pace attack has been stretched too thin with the loss of pacers such as Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad. Shaminda Eranga is also doubtful for the Lords Test courtesy of a reported suspect action.

In spite of the bowling frailties, the batting was solid once again in the second innings of the second Test. Having been made to follow-on, Dinesh Chandimal and Rangana Herath smashed and crashed the bowlers to all parts. They will be hoping for a similar batting performance at the home of cricket.

Chaminda Bandara may be called up for the final Test of the series with the availability of Shaminda Eranga still uncertain.

Also read – I wasn’t too pleased after getting the hundred: Dimuth Karunaratne

Playing XI (Probable)

England: Alastair Cook (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Alex Hales, Nick Compton/Ian Bell, Joe Root, James Vince, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (C), Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardana, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Shaminda Eranga/Chaminda Bandara

Pitch conditions

The Lords cricket ground is usually called the home of cricket. And with good reason. The terracotta pavilion, the ballroom, the Lords balcony and so forth is something that has endured traditions of lifelong cricketing history. While the long history is certainly reason enough, the wicket has been a battlefield in the past. With overcast conditions expected to prevail, Lords will be a bowler’s paradise. James Anderson, perhaps the best bowler to have ever bowled at Lords, will be hoping to inch closer to 100 wickets at Lords.

StAttack

1. James Anderson is the highest wicket-taker in Test matches at Lords with 75 wickets to his name. He is followed by his partner-in-crime, Stuart Broad who has 65 Test wickets at this venue.

2. England has won just two of their last five Test matches at Lords. This record includes two losses at the hands of India and Australia and a draw against the Lankans in 2014.

3. Joe Root needs 14 runs to complete 3500 runs in Test matches. In addition, Root also requires 209 runs to complete 1000 runs at Lords. If he does, he will become only the ninth batsman to achieve this feat. Graham Gooch is the only player to have scored over 2000 runs at Lords.

4. Moeen Ali’s 155 against the Lankans in the previous Test at Chester-le-Street saw him become only the 5th batsman to score a 150 batting at number 7. Others include Derek Randall, Jonny Bairstow, and Stuart Broad.

5. Dinesh Chandimal requires 12 runs to complete 2000 runs in Test cricket.