Sri Lanka vs England 2018: Test Series – Statistical Preview

After winning ODI and T20I trophies in the tour of Sri Lanka, England will now aim to win the Test series and bring an end to their struggles in Asia. This series will be crucial for Joe Root in many ways as he is yet to win an away Test and England’s last away Test win coming way back in November 2016. The first match of the series will be hosted by Galle which is set to be Rangana Herath’s final International outing.

All the key stats and numbers ahead of the three-match Test series in Sri Lanka:

4 – England are yet to defeat Sri Lanka in a Test match at the Galle. In the four Test matches at this venue, England lost two while another two ended in a draw. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, won five of their last six Tests at the venue losing only to India in 2017.

8 – Sri Lanka has won all their previous eight Test matches at home against the non-Asian teams. However, they won only two of their last eight home Tests against the Asian sides.

13 – England have not won any of their previous 13 Test matches away from home. Since defeating Bangladesh in the Chittagong Test in November 2016, England has lost ten of 13 Test matches away from home.

21 – Each of the last 21 Test matches that Sri Lanka hosted produced a result. In the 21 Tests since the thrilling draw in the 2014 SL-SA Test, Sri Lanka won 13 Tests and lost eight at home.

32.35 – Rangana Herath’s bowling average of 32.35 against England is his second-lowest against any team in Test cricket. The left-arm spinner has claimed 40 wickets in ten matches with three five-wicket hauls against England thus far.

51 – James Anderson has claimed 51 wickets against Sri Lanka in Test cricket; the most against them by an England player. Anderson played 11 Tests for those 51 wickets which he took at an average of 22.27. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (112) has taken more wickets in Sri Lanka-England Tests than Anderson.

99 – Number of wickets Rangana Herath has bagged in Test cricket at the Galle International Stadium. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (at three venues) and James Anderson (At Lord’s) have claimed 100 Test wickets at a venue.

992 – Runs Dilruwan Perera has scored in his Test career so far. He needs eight more runs to become the 4th Sri Lankan to complete the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Test cricket.