Charlie Austin - 6 March 2001
Two hundred years ago Kandy was the bane of the British Empire. For 19 years the fiercely patriotic locals resisted their imperialist advance and retained their independence. England's cricketers can expect an equally tough fight over the next five days.
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Sri Lanka - one test up Photo CricInfo |
One down after the contentious First Test Match, England now face a moment of truth. In Pakistan and Galle their strong-mindedness and discipline would have had their imperialistic forbears nodding in puritanical approval. Now, however, resolute defence is not enough. England's cricketers have to display greater adventure if they are to have a chance of winning this series.
Hussain admitted today that they faced their "toughest challenge in the last 12 months", but also reasoned, "if we do well here then it will also be our most significant victory.".
Nevertheless, he doesn't want his players to focus too much on the importance of this Test Match: "We cannot go out there tomorrow saying that we have to win the Test Match. I will be telling the players to do the basics right, to play it hard and keep their dignity and try to win a Test Match in the same way that we have won recently."
England will take heart from the performance of South Africa last year. Beaten black and blue by the withering blade of Jayasuriya and fooled by the sorcery of Muttiah Muralitharan in the First Test Match in Galle, it looked for the all the world like South Africa would be routed in Kandy too. However, in one of the great Test matches, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and levelled the series.
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South Africa - equalize at Kandy Photo CricInfo |
Nasser Hussain would do well to watch the video. Yes, South Africa showed great resolve and patience, but there were also positive. Lance Klusener in the first innings and Jacques Kallis and Nicky Boje in the second, took the attack to the Sri Lankan trio of spinners. Not foolish daring, but tempered aggression.
Russel Arnold admired their approach: "The South Africans always had us thinking. They were willing to play positively and tried to rattle Murali. In Galle England preferred to just pad up and occupy the crease. I don't think you can play like that here."
Greater industry in Galle would surely have saved the follow-on and possibly the game. When Sri Lanka went through long periods without taking wickets, they were not forced to fret because England were barely crawling towards their first innings score.
Unfortunately for England, scoring more quickly will prove difficult, as they now have to confront a fully fit Muralitharan. In Galle the magical off spinner hobbled in from a shortened run-up and was not his normally potent self. Even so he took seven wickets. His confidence now restored and playing in his hometown, he could prove even more of a handful.
"Murali has fully recovered now and is bowling really well in the nets," said Sanath Jayasuriya afterwards. "He wasn't at his best in Galle and bowled from a shorter run-up than normal. Now, however, he is back off the long run and it is going to be difficult for the English batsmen as he should get more bounce on this wicket."
Jayasuriya believes that the brown pitch in at the picturesque Asgiriya Stadium will be better than the turgid surface in Galle, which powdered up after the first two days: "It looks a very good wicket and should stay so for about three days. It is hard, should have more bounce than Galle, but will definitely turn."
Hussain says that England will take one further look at the pitch before they decide on their final XI: "We had an interesting management chat last night where 14 names were thrown into the ring. I just want to have a look at how some people bowl today and have another look at the wicket."
Although they may consider playing Michael Vaughan instead of Robert Croft to bolster the batting and the impressive Matthew Hoggard in place of Andrew Caddick, they are expected to play the same team.
Marcus Trescothick practised with his knee heavily strapped, but England expect him to play and would probably play him even if he had just one leg, so well has he played in Sri Lanka so far.
Sri Lanka will replace Dilhara Fernando with Nuwan Zoysa who has recovered from a viral infection and is said to be bowling well in the nets. Although Russel Arnold experienced pain while batting in the nets today, the three stitches he required after Sunday's fielding practice should not rule him out. Kumar Dharmasena is expected to hold on to the second spinner's slot, ahead of Dinuk Hettiarachchi and the youthful Kaushalya Loukuarachchi.
Once again the toss will prove important, though perhaps not as much as in the First Test. Hussain will be praying that his luck finally changes this winter, after winning just one toss in four Tests, but whoever fields first will be aware that the fast bowlers have often taken wickets on the first day in Kandy, most famously when Australia lost seven wickets before lunch in 1998.
Dav Whatmore said: "I actually don't mind it either way. We have bowled out Australia and South Africa on the first day in Kandy during the last two years and Muttiah Muralitharan will prove a handful whenever he bowls."
© CricInfo Ltd.
| Teams | England, Sri Lanka. |
| Players/Umpires | Marcus Trescothick, Nasser Hussain, Muttiah Muralitharan, Russel Arnold, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lance Klusener, Jacques Kallis, Nicky Boje, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, Andy Caddick, Dinuka Hettiarachchi. |
| Tours | England in Sri Lanka |
