Time For A Change

England named their squad for the third and final test with Sri Lanka yesterday morning, and it contained no surprises with Jimmy Anderson for Jade Dernbach being the only change from the drawn test at Lord’s. It seems fairly clear that Steve Finn will be the one to miss out, despite having been top wicket taker last week.

Anyone who’s watched any England matches on Sky since Adelaide in December will have almost certainly heard a Michael Holding rant about how bowlers are picked to take wickets. Finn has done that and should therefore still be in the team. His point becomes more persuasive with every passing game. The Middlesex paceman became the youngest ever England bowler to 50 test wickets during the Lord's test, and seems to have the happy knack of taking wickets without bowling particularly well. If the team were picked purely on a bowler’s contribution to the wickets tally, it’s difficult to argue that Finn should be the man to go.

Equally, it’s just as tough to make a case for Chris Tremlett to fall victim to the selector’s axe. Since his re-introduction to the side in Australia, Tremlett has provided an excellent foil to Anderson and seems to have mastered the balance between back of a length bowling, forcing the batsman back into his crease, and fuller yet still bat-jarring deliveries that create uncertainty about playing forwards.

So that leaves one man in the firing line, assuming the management team isn’t going to go back to the four seamer, five man attack they tried with such disastrous consequences at Headingley two years ago.

That man is Stuart Broad. It's been a long time since Broad bowled a genuinely match changing spell – tearing through the South African middle order in Durban was probably the last such occurence - and he's appeared rusty so far this season. He has the look of a bowler who would benefit from some time back on the County circuit.

Since it’s (in theory at least) a straight fight between Finn and Broad, let’s have a look at their respective records since Finn first broke into the team:

Finn – 50 wickets in 12 matches at 27 apiece (strike rate 41)
Broad – 28 wickets in 10 matches at 36 apeice (strike rate 73)

No contest.

As our player reviews of the second test pointed out, Broad’s batting will probably save him for now but do England really need runs from number eight? Of course it’s a bonus, but is it worth weakening the bowling to strengthen a batting line up which doesn’t really need strengthening?

The answer is no. At present, England’s strongest bowling attack does not include Stuart Broad. That is not to say he should be ditched forever, but his situation is quite similar to that of Jimmy Anderson a few years ago. Both were picked very young, and Anderson only became the bowler he is today after he was able to develop away from the international spotlight. Maybe Broad requires the same break if he is to fulfil his potential.

Right now it isn’t clear what type of bowler he wants to be or what type he is most suited to. Clearly he is not a swing bowler in the Anderson mould, but he also doesn’t have the powerful action to be a genuinely fearsome pace bowler a-la Tremlett. On top of that, for a tall man his pitched-up deliveries seem remarkably ‘floaty’ and unthreatening. There have been signs of him becoming a line and length merchant, only for those spells to be followed by him completely losing his radar and banging in a whole load of half-track pies, the likes of which Australia cunningly fed Kevin Pietersen during his double hundred in Adelaide. Until he himself has worked out where his true strength lies it’s difficult to see him becoming a consistent wicket taking threat.

It’s understandable for England’s selectors to want to give Broad time, their patience with Alastair Cook whilst most of the cricket world was calling for his head has been rewarded quite spectacularly, but this time there is a genuine alternative banging on their door. Steve Finn’s figures do not warrant him being left out of the side. It’s time for the new T20 captain to take a break.

Second Test preview: England vs Sri Lanka, Lord's, 3-7 June 2011

In a sentence:

After one of the great Test match victories, England will enter this game in full confidence of wrapping up a series victory at a venue where they have not lost a Test match since 2005.

The home team:

James Anderson will miss out with a side strain and will almost certainly be replaced by Steve Finn on his home ground. Otherwise, the team will remain unchanged. England's last five Test match wins have been by an innings - an impressive feat.

The away team:

The Sri Lankan camp have massive issues. Their attack looked popgun in the extreme at Cardiff and Dilhara Fernando will return, perhaps at the expense of Farveez Maharoof. Ajantha Mendis was disappointing in South Wales and he could be replaced by the left arm seamer Chanaka Welegadara. The batting, which collapsed like a poorly made crème brulée on Monday, is likely to be unchanged.

Weather forecast:

Chances of rain are low, which is good news after we watched more of groundsmen doing their job than cricketers last week.

Key player: England

Chris Tremlett. With Anderson absent, it will be left to the Surrey paceman to lead the attack and dominate as he did in the Sri Lankan second innings in the First Test. His steepling bounce is sure to cause problems on a Lord's track which has livened up in the last couple of years.

Key player: Sri Lanka

Kumar Sangakkara. With inexperienced players all around him, it is critical that their most experienced player sets an example and makes a big score.

England v Sri Lanka, First Test - Player Reviews

England

Andrew Strauss A quiet match with the bat for the skipper as he was undone by a rare threatening ball from Lakmal. Barring one sharp drop off Swann, his slip fielding was as exemplary as ever and his captaincy equally so; allowing Bell to make his century avoided any loss of morale and a sustained attack helped gain the most unlikely of victories.

Alastair Cook Gone is the player of twelve months ago who relentlessly fiddled outside off-stump. His century was as good as chanceless and the presence he now offers at the top of the order is more reassuring than the price of Stella Artois. Took the catch that sealed the match.

Jonathan Trott Quite simply a run-scoring machine. Attracted some ridiculous criticism for his scoring rate on day four but asking Trott to change his style is like asking Status Quo if they wouldn't mind adding in a couple of extra chords to their repertoire. His average is now approaching freakish proportions. Ran out Maharoof fortuitously off his own bowling.

Kevin Pietersen Well well. KP dismissed by unheralded left-arm spinner. It isn't all that simple; even with the benefit of technology, it took five full minutes for him to be given out and the ball did keep horribly low. However, his body position and approach to this most filthy style of bowling are well out of kilter. There's no question of him losing his place - yet - but it's an issue he has to deal with quickly. In 19 out of his last 61 Test innings, it's the cursed left arm tweakers who've removed him. We're being generous here and including Xavier Doherty in that.

Ian Bell The form of his career continues with another excellently compiled century, and how nice that he was allowed to complete the job before England's declaration. If we were saying he was wasted at six in Australia - is he wasted at five now? Also cemented his reputation as one of the world's best fielders at short leg.

Eoin Morgan We learned nothing about him. He isn't great in the field, he doesn't bowl and his innings of 14 off 19 tells us little. His time to shine, or otherwise, will come.

Matt Prior Tidy behind the stumps including a sharp catch off Swann in the second innings. Didn't bat.

Stuart Broad Looked as ring-rusty as you would expect of a man who has played precious little cricket over the last six months. Improved steadily and wrapped up the tail in convincing and hostile fashion. Question marks still remain over a man who takes his wickets at around 35 apiece, but they're really for another day.

Graeme Swann The world's best spinner showed once again that even on unresponsive tracks, he offers control and a genuine wicket taking threat. At one stage he had the incredible figures of 4-0-4-4. A world class performer who will be licking his lips at the further prospect of bowling at this brittle Sri Lankan line-up.

Chris Tremlett Beginning to secure his place as a bona fide England regular. Bowled well with little luck in the first innings, but was truly devastating when Sri Lanka came out to bat what they surely would have felt would be a routine net through 51 overs. They were wrong. Is also beginning to show that he isn't just a bang it in short merchant - his fuller length, as shown with Paranavitana's second innings dismissal, is equally dangerous.

James Anderson Bowled beautifully early on but was cruelly sidelined by a minor side strain. He'll miss Lord's and most likely the Rose Bowl, not necessarily a bad thing as the important thing is to have him fit and raring to go against the Indian top order.

Sri Lanka

Tharanga Paranavitana Played a methodical innings first up against some challenging bowling from Anderson and Tremlett which indicates that he has the right temperament for Test cricket. Like so many, looked ill at ease from the off on the final day and was out for a duck, which set the tone for the eventual collapse.

Tillekeratne Dilshan A poor game for the new skipper. Threw away his wicket in the first innings when well set, then his captaincy was a litany of confusion. Mendis was barely used, he brought himself on as first change, and wasted the second new ball by bowling Herath over the wicket to the right handers. Then wasted a referral by reviewing his own dismissal in the second innings when he'd manifestly hit the ball. Big improvements required all round.

Kumar Sangakkara A modern great had a very disappointing game. Possibly unfortunate to be ruled out under the UDRS in the first innings - he almost certainly *did* hit the ball, but the supporting evidence available was flimsy. His body language in the field wasn't the best and was comprehensively undone by Swann as all around him was falling. Sri Lanka need him to return to form, quickly.

Mahela Jayawardene Still an exceptional slip fielder, but was given a real working over by first Anderson, and secondly Tremlett to be dismissed cheaply both times. Both he and Sangakkara could well be suffering from difficulties in re-adjusting to the red ball format after a prolonged IPL spell.

Thilan Samaraweera Looked composed for his 58 before falling to Anderson's first over with the second new ball, wiping out his previous dismal record in England. Clearly has talent but his attempted cut to Swann, given the match situation, was faintly ludicrous.

Prassanna Jayawardene A very well made century against testing bowling helped partially dispel the theory that he has been promoted beyond his abilities at number six. With such a long tail, Sri Lanka will need big contributions from him with the bat if they are to salvage anything from this series. Looked competent behind the stumps although little was offered in the way of chances thanks to an anodyne attack. In the second innings, suffered a similar fate to Sangakkara in the first innings - a UDRS decision that was almost certainly correct, but not necessarily arrived upon satisfactorily.

Farveez Maharoof The cult-hero of Lancashire's early season looked every inch the journeyman county pro. Little more than medium pace, poor in the field (one "slide tackle" attempt to stop a boundary was laughable) and contributed little with the bat, though he was unfortunate to be run out backing up first time around. It seemed fairly clear just why he hasn't played Test cricket for nearly four years.

Thisara Parera Willing but wicketless, Parera is the epitome of this limited and unthreatening seam attack. Could be vulnerable to the returning Dilhara Fernando at Lord's. Did at least show some resistance with the bat in both innings, which may just save him.

Rangana Herath Failed to impress in a spell at Hampshire last season and again, it was clear why. His brand of left-arm spin is most easily comparable to the phalanx of twirlers that Bangladesh habitually field, though predictably enough, he did dismiss Kevin Pietersen. Played a truly horrible shot as the second innings came towards its close.

Ajantha Mendis The "mystery spinner" is only a mystery because it's hard to work out why he was selected in the first place. Short on form in a brief spell at Somerset, he picked up the solitary wicket of injured nightwatchman Anderson and rarely turned the ball, and was used for a mere three overs on day four.

Suranga Lakmal Just a solitary wicket for the young seamer who did little to convince that he is a viable option at this level.

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day Five Review

Close of play
England 496-5d (Trott 203, Cook 133, Bell 103*)
Sri Lanka 400 and 82ao (Perera 20, Swann 4-16, Tremlett 4-40, Broad 2-21)
England win by an innings and 14 runs.

In a sentence
An unbelievable few hours saw England steal victory from the jaws of a damp squib of a draw.

Player of the day
Chris Tremlett. After yet another late start, Strauss kindly allowed Bell the two overs required in which to reach his 13th Test century. Sri Lanka were thus left with approximately 50 overs to bat through to a dull draw. Tremlett tore into the openers and had them both out before tea. After the break Swann bowled splendidly and Tremlett's bounce and movement took two further wickets to leave Sri Lanka in disarray (although the wicket of Prasanna Jayawardene caused further debate over the UDRS: he attempted to hook and the ball went through to Prior to a mass appeal; Umpire Doctrove gave him not out; England reviewed the decision and HotSpot seemed to show no evidence, but the sound and path of the ball indicated it did make contact. After a discussion between Umpires Tucker and Doctrove, the decision was overturned, however the evidence was probably not irrefutable). A late flurry of runs by Perera saw Tremlett removed from the attack, but Broad wrapped things up with some hostile fast bowling. Sri Lanka were dazed and confused, England were confident and inspired; fortune favoured the brave.

Moment of the day
The 18th over of the Sri Lankan innings. From around the wicket Swann bowled a beautifully flighted off-break that dipped and with a hint of turn took the edge of Sangakarra's bat and carried to slip. Three balls later, this time over the wicket, Swann bowled a slightly quicker ball wide of Maharoof's off stump. Despite a bold forward defence, he nicked it to the grateful Prior.



So now on to Lord's. On a day that threatened nothing but rain and a chance for batsmen to play for their averages, a monumental achievement from England and complete loss of control from Sri Lanka leaves the series looking one-sided. Nevermind five bowlers, England won this with three. Anderson will be missed at Lord's, but Finn is a capable replacement on his home turf. The tallest bowling attack ever will surely give Sri Lanka more discomfort, unless their top order knuckle down and show some focus and discipline for the duration of the match. Meanwhile England storm forward, having now won four out of their last five matches, each won by an innings.

Sri Lanka's New Spin King?

“Never before Mendis has a spinner dominated Indian batsmen so comprehensively and collectively”

That was how Cricinfo reported Ajantha Mendis’ meteoric rise nearly three years ago, as he exploded onto the test match scene, taking 26 wickets in three matches as Sri Lanka beat India. Now, 13 matches later, his wicket haul has stumbled to a relatively paltry 62 and 6/117 remains Mendis’ best innings figures. We at 51allout love a good stat attack, so let’s delve into the numbers to see if we can explain this seemingly incredible fall from grace.

Perhaps the most remarkable stat is how few matches he’s actually played. By way of comparison, Graeme Swann, who made his test debut four months after Mendis, is playing his 30th test in Wales this week. If confirmation of the two countries' vastly differing priorities were needed, that’s it. Remarkably, the SWALEC Stadium is also the setting for Mendis’ first test outside of the sub-continent and thus far he has barely threatened England at all. Reports from the county game describe his short stint at Somerset in much the same way. On early-season English pitches, the lack of help from the surface has effectively reduced Mendis to a medium pace dobbler in the Paul Collingwood mould.

We can forgive him a slow start in England. He wouldn't be the first overseas spinner to struggle during these May tests that are fast becoming a tradition (England have never lost the early season mini-series), but looking at more numbers his problems would appear to go deeper than that. In five test matches outside Sri Lanka only 11 batsmen have fallen at Mendis’ hand and those have come at a rather princely 46 runs apiece. Indeed, since that extraordinary start to his career, Mendis’ figures look distinctly average – 36 wickets at a shade over 42. To put that into perspective Suliemann Benn’s career average is 41. Mediocrity has become the norm.

So why is this?

Put simply, in an age of analysts and saturation coverage, the world has worked him out. His action is unique and it's not hard to see why the Indians struggled when first presented with him, but it’s telling that a mere eight wickets have followed in three tests against that opposition since then. On top of that, Sky’s excellent piece on Mendis’ variations during Saturday's tea interval provided us with a further explanation: he makes no effort to shield his grip before delivery. On the contrary, the ball is virtually presented to the batsman as he comes in to bowl. Whilst it’s unlikely Mendis will ever re-create his unbelievable entrance onto the international stage, he would become considerably more threatening by simply covering his grip – consider how dangerous Jimmy Anderson’s reverse swing has become since he learnt to shield the ball in his run up.

A lot of pressure has been put on Mendis to replace the retired Muttiah Muralitharan, but aside from the fact their actions are both extremely unorthodox, there is little comparison to be made. Mendis looks far from a man who will cause England problems.

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day Four Review

Close of play
England 491-5 (Trott 203, Cook 133, Bell 98*)
Sri Lanka 400 (P Jayawardene 112, Anderson 3-66)

In a sentence
Easy pickings for England as Trott continued his serene progress while Sri Lanka pursued a defensive attitude, seemingly fearful of final day gremlins in the pitch.

Player of the day
One IJL Trott. A second double century for the man now homing in on a Test average of 70. Aesthetically pleasing, no, but this was attritional batting and to condemn the man, as has been seen in some media circles is as bizarre as OMC's 1996 smash hit. Looked utterly untroubled until getting himself out to Dilshan's part-time off-breaks.

Moment of the day
The slapdash fielding by Farveez Maharoof which enlivened a becalmed period of play. Slide tackles are for the football stadia a few miles down the road, lad, not trying to stop boundaries. Otherwise, it was a highly uneventful day.

Outlook for tomorrow
It's totally up to England. Batting practice or let Broad, Tremlett and Swann get some overs under their respective belts. Either way, the game is dead as a contest, which reflects badly on Cardiff as a venue, for they have now produced shirtfront pitches for each of their two Test matches. The weather forecast once again looks unhelpful so it could well be a case of seeing Eoin Morgan bat out a meaningless half-century to half-heartedly enhance his Test credentials.

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day Three Review

Close of play
England 287-2 (Cook 129*, Trott 125*)
Sri Lanka 400 (P Jayawardene 112, Anderson 3-66)

In a sentence
Trott and Cook cruised along at a gentle pace in 240 run partnership where neither player ever looked seriously troubled by a popgun attack.


Player of the day
The two headed monster that is Johnister Trook. A familiar sight to watchers of English test cricket over the last 6 months, Cook and Trott were as comfortable as a Cheshire cat spread out on a pillow in front of the fire. The runs were carefully shelved and ordered rather than piled on, but another day of obedient work at the crease from these two would be very welcome indeed in the England dressing room.


Moment of the day
The England pair took advantage of the extra pace of the new ball and the marginally more adventurous fields that accompanied it, best summed up by a powerfully succinct cover drive for 4 played by Cook off Herath in the 87th over. It was a terrific display of the command over bowling Cook now possesses and served as a warning for any who may write off the Essex opener's feats in the winter as a fluke.

Outlook for tomorrow
It's difficult to see such a moderate Sri Lanka attack dismiss England for a low enough total to create themselves a lead. Barring the weather the home side should push past 400 tomorrow - but with no Anderson in the field and more rain to come predicting anything other than a draw seems fanciful.

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day Two Review

Close of play
England 47-1 (Cook 24*)
Sri Lanka 400 (P Jayawardene 112, Anderson 3-66)


In a sentence
Sri Lanka are in command after making hay against a disjointed attack shorn of Jimmy Anderson for most of the day, whose series is now in doubt.


Player of the day
Prasanna Jayawardene had the confidence to take on the England bowling in the afternoon session and was rewarded with several boundaries, a Nick Knight eulogy in the commentary box and a fine century to boot.  Comfortable against Swann and rarely troubled by England's largely flat seam attack, his runs at no. 6 have gone some way to justifying the tourists' selecting five genuine bowlers.


Moment of the day
Anderson's working over of Mahela Jayawardene to start the day was swing bowling par excellence. 11 consecutive outswingers pitched up tempted the right-hander, followed by a full inducker that flummoxed the former Sri Lankan captain as he edged to second slip. But this expert piece of bowling also highlights how much England missed the Lancastrian when his strain put him out of action in the late afternoon.


Wickets

M Jayawardene c Strauss b Anderson 4 - thick edge high up the bat on an inswinger and was well taken by Strauss at second slip

Paranavitana b Tremlett 66 - dragged on flashing at a full ball pitching on off-stump


Samaraweera c Swann b Anderson 58 - angled into the body with a touch of swing and 
edged to second slip

Maharoof run out (Trott) 16 - guilty of lax backing up as Trott feathered a delivery driven 
back at him onto the stumps

Perera c Tremlett b Broad 25 - mistimed pull looped to mid-on 

Herath c Trott b Swann 25 - filthy delivery slapped straight to cover

P Jayawardene c Prior b Broad 112 - tight line and length induced a regulation edge to the 
keeper 

Lakmal c Broad b Swann 2 - excellent diving catch at mid-on to grasp a fulsome drive

*****

Strauss c M Jayawardene b Lakmal 20 -  a touch of away movement created an edge and a 

fine catch at second slip

Outlook for tomorrow

England will have to bat all day to avoid a significant deficit. The key question is whether 

Mendis and Herath can extract any venom from a benign surface, because if not a draw 

looks nailed on.

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test - Day One Review

Close of play
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat - rain prevented play until 3.30pm
Sri Lanka 133-2 (Paranavitana 58*, Dilshan 50)


In a sentence
Considering rain cut the day in half the tourists would probably have accepted 133-2 at the close, though with Sangakkara back in the hutch England won't be disappointed.

Player of the day
Newly appointed skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan was classy and composed at the crease for his half-century before limply giving his wicket away misjudging a stock Swann delivery. Scored at a good clip by exploiting Broad's lax control of line and length with a range of crisp offside play.


Moment of the day
Kumar Sangakkara falling victim to a combination of a superb delivery from Anderson and questionable umpiring from Rod Tucker up in the TV booth. Whilst it is true that there was a noise as the ball passed the edge, and indeed there was a fleck of heat on the hotspot image, to say it met the conclusive standard supposedly required to overturn a standing umpire's decision is highly debatable. As ever, the DRS debate will run on and on.


Wickets
Dilshan b Swann 50 - bottom edge into the stumps trying to cut a ball slightly too full and straight

Sangakkara c Prior b Anderson 11 - jaffa of an inswinger pitching on the stumps induced the faintest of edges (given out on review)

Outlook for tomorrow
England will have to bowl with more discipline on a slow and steady pitch to dislodge the compact Paranavitana. If the Sri Lankan left-hander can continue at his own untroubled pace and let the flashier stroke players of the two Jayawardenes and Samaraweera to kick on around him then an imposing score could be in the offing.