England's request for such a pitch comes from the fact that Sri Lanka have always struggled against the bounce produced by Perth pitches. England want their pace bowlers to wind up Sri Lanka as they did to South Africa at the Oval in 1994, and also for the ball not to grip for the Sri Lankan spinners, especially Muthiah Muralitharan, who ran through their batting at Lord's in the Emirates triangular final.
England named Darren Gough, Angus Fraser, Dominic Cork and Allan Mullally in their squad of 13 announced on Sunday for the Test, and all four quickies are likely to play.
Meanwhile, ECB chief executive Tim Lamb announced that all seats have been sold out for the first three days of the Test.
Lamb gave an assurance to the Sri Lanka team during a dinner given in their honour, that on their next visit to England, Sri Lanka will be given more than one Test match.
The question is when is Sri Lanka's next tour to England?
England are scheduled to play their first series comprising three Tests in Sri Lanka in 2001, but with a crowded international schedule, a return series in England may not be possible until the year 2003, by which time, the Wisden Championship of Test cricket would be established with all countries playing a similar number of Tests annually.
Back-up team
The England cricket team have 12 people (11 men and one woman) referred to as the 'backroom squad' who are responsible for transforming them into a winning unit.
They include from coach David Lloyd, the driving force behind getting this unit in place, to a sports psychologist, a video expert, a dressing room Mr. Fixit, a fitness adviser and dietician and many more.
Team administrator Medha Laud is the only fairer sex in the backroom team dominated by men. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have gone to great lengths to try and make England the best team in the world. England's 2-1 victory over South Africa this month was their first major Test series triumph for 12 years, and the back-up team can proudly say they have helped put English cricket back on the winning trail after years of disappointment.
England fast bowler Darren Gough who writes a Sunday column for the 'News of the World' said: ``No England team has ever had the back-up and the support we get now. I find it very reassuring. Now it's up to the players''.
Two of the more unusual members of the backroom team are sports psychologist Steve Bull and cricket video analyst Nick Slade. While Bull psyches the players up to give them that extra edge over the opponents, Slade is referred to as a 'walking cricket video library'. He has a massive database where every ball bowled by England since last year's Texaco trophy competition has been logged on his laptop computer. Players use Slade to try and spot a weakness in the opposition or to identify their own faults.
Where the backroom squad failed in their attempt to extend England's successful run for the summer was in the Emirates Triangular tournament. England lost the final to Sri Lanka by five wickets at Lord's.
England's backroom team comprises: David Lloyd (head coach), Graham Gooch (batting coach), Bob Cottam (bowling coach), Alan Knott (wicket-keeping coach), Wayne Morton (physiotherapist), Dean Riddle (fitness adviser), Simon Pack (team director), Steve Bull (sports psychologist), Theo King (dressing room executive), Nick Slade (video analyst), Medha Laud (team administrator) and Brian Murgatroyd (media relations officer).
Broken bats
Sri Lanka are not alone in voicing their concerns about white balls used in the Emirates triangular tournament breaking their bats.
Neil Smith, the Warwickshire all-rounder who opens the innings in 40-over Axa Sunday league matches supports their claims. Smith suffered four broken bats in the space of a month against the white ball.
``Most people would admit that these white balls are harder, although when they go soft, they do so quickly. I have busted a lot of bats this year. I now make sure that I use a harder piece of wood in the Axa games,'' Smith was quoted in 'The Sunday Times'.