The Sri Lanka 'A' team is studded with five test players and altogether they will be a different opposition under favourable conditions. But the England 'A' team have improved tremendously after losing their tour opener, a one day warm up match by 40 runs.
The visitors came out with a splendid performance and recorded a convincing 177-run victory over the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in their four-day match at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium. They also came closer to defeating the Board XI in a three-day encounter at the NCC grounds, Maitland Place.
The England 'A' team would be really pleased with their performances especially the manner in which the two spinners Ashley Giles and Dean Cosker have performed in their last outing. They have been among the wickets on this tour and look set to play a dominant role in the test match too.
The Sri Lanka 'A' team will also be depending heavily on their spinners with one day all rounder Upul Chandana, Tilan Samaraweera, Dinuka Hettiarachchi and Niroshan Bandaratilleke included in the squad. The team captained by Marvan Atapattu also have a strong batting line up with Russel Arnold, Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardena and Naveed Nawaz expected to form the top order.
However the England 'A' team in their previous two outings have scored over three hundred runs with Steve James, Daooren Maddy, Andrew Flintoff, Nick Knight and Mark Ealham all in top form.
The teams:
England 'A' (from): Nick Knight (captain), Steve James, Daooren Maddy, Mark Ealham, Andrew Flintoff, David Sales, Chris Read, Ashley Giles, James Ormond, Dean Cosker, Paul Huchison, Ben Hollioake, Dougie Brown, David Nash.
Sri Lanka 'A' (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Russel Arnold, Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardena, Lanka de Silva, Upul Chandana, Naveed Nawaz, Tilan Samaraweera, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, Mario Villavarayan, Suresh Perera, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Manoj Mendis, Ruchira Perera.