England have flattered to deceive during the past year. Against Pakistan last May and New Zealand during the winter they squandered 1-0 leads, losing the last match of the series. So this time, at Old Trafford, having gained the upper hand against Sri Lanka, Nasser Hussain is looking for his team to win their first series for 15 months.

"Last year, against Pakistan, we played well for four and a half days and then a genius bowled us out on the last afternoon," said Hussain after the team's morning net practice. "As I have always said, to win matches and series, because of the type of side we are, we have to play well throughout all five days," he said.

"We have given ourselves our best chance of continuing the momentum, with two really good days of practice," he added. "But in England, where the conditions can vary so much, it's really about how we rock up and play."

Sri Lanka also recognise the need to perform consistently, session after session. Coach Dav Whatmore is still bemoaning his side's batting collapse on the first day at Edgbaston. "You can't win a game in a session, but you sure can lose one; and that was the story of the last game when we lost six wickets between lunch and tea."

Whatmore is calling for the Sri Lankan players to brush aside that innings defeat, reasoning that it was their only bad game in the last six months. Nevertheless, the tourists are sufficiently concerned about their top order to be considering drastic changes.

Sanath Jayasuriya admitted that he has still not decided whether to drop down the order and bat at number six after three failures so far in the Tests. "It is an option that we are seriously looking at," he said.

In all probability he will resist the pressure to move down the order, reasoning that Old Trafford offers his audacious brand of strokeplay the best chance of success so far in the series. Russel Arnold would open the innings if he plumped for a demotion.

Sri Lanka will make one change to the side that lost the second Test, bringing in pace bowler Dilhara Fernando for his first international game in eight months since sustaining a stress back fracture at Sharjah last October.

His inclusion is a gamble – he has only bowled only 18 first-class overs on the tour and broke down in March during Sri Lanka's domestic season, when he first returned from injury. But it is a gamble they are prepared to take; on song he would be the quickest bowler on either sides, capable of making inroads no matter how bland the surface.

The pitch promises to suit Sri Lanka. According to Hussain it is "a typical Old Trafford pitch which might quicken up as the game progresses and could turn." Certainly Muttiah Muralitharan, who is now closer to full fitness, will be encouraged by its dry, cracked appearance.

Although the pitch could have pace, England appear unlikely to blood fast bowling rookie Stephen Jones. Hussain kept his options open, denying that it would be an "experiment" if the raw Jones played, but claiming that they were "erring on the side of playing the same team."

Both Mark Butcher (knee) and Graham Thorpe (groin) have recovered sufficiently from injury to play. Hussain reckoned them to be "95% fit."

He was unperturbed by the fact that conditions (except for the perennially cold English weather) appear to suit the tourists. "This is a difficult wicket to win on (England have only won once here in the last 20 years) being the most non-English pitch we play on, but we have played a lot of good cricket on similar surfaces during the past year and have every reason to be confident."

Steve Bucknor will overtake Dickie Bird to become the most capped umpire in the history of the game when he officiates in his 67th match tomorrow.

Likely teams:

England: Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Alex Tudor, Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillakaratne, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando.

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