Sri Lanka are set to make one change for the must-win final Test against Old Trafford, with Dilhara Fernando likely to come in for Charitha Buddika. Fernando, like Muttiah Muralitharan, is not fully fit - he has bowled only 18 first-class overs on this tour because of a back injury - but he is the fastest of the Sri Lanka bowlers, a quality that could be vital on a pitch that is one of the quickest on the county circuit. Buddika has struggled in this series, taking only four wickets at an average of 67.

"This wicket will, I think, be a little more kind to us," said Dav Whatmore, Sri Lanka's coach. "With our knowledge and experience, we can take a little bit of confidence into this Test.

"We need to put that one bad [Edgbaston] defeat out of our minds and reassure ourselves that we'll be playing good cricket in different conditions."

As always, their key man will be Muttiah Muralitharan. He should prosper on a pitch that usually takes turn, and one that he knows fairly well having played for Lancashire in 1999 and 2001.

"Murali did well [at Old Trafford] because he is able to bowl tightly, get to ball to turn and get a little bit of bounce," Whatmore said. "It's a pitch to win the toss and bat first."

England have yet to take a decision on the fitness of Mark Butcher, whose knee injury may well keep him out. John Crawley stands by, as does Simon Jones if England decide his raw pace makes him a better option than Alex Tudor.

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