Sri Lanka leave for England for three Test series

by Rex Clementine

The national cricket team left for London yesterday morning to begin preparations for the three match Test series that is coming up later this month. The players who represent Sri Lanka in red ball cricket had already left for England a week before and those who took part in the white ball series against India left yesterday.

The team will take part in a four day warm-up game in Worcester against England Lions before travelling to Manchester for the opening Test match. The remaining two Tests will be played in London with Lord’s and The Oval hosting the two games. Sri Lanka are playing a Test match at The Oval after 26 years.

Sri Lanka are well placed in the ICC Test Championship occupying number four slot and a good showing in England will help them to move up the ladder. England are placed sixth and their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final next year are slim. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will play nine Test matches in the next eight months and would fancy their chances.

Pathum Nissanka has made a comeback to the Test side following his tremendous success in white ball cricket. Nissanka last featured in a Test match more than two years ago.

Uncapped fast bowlers Nisal Tharaka and Milan Rathnayake are also in the squad. Leg-spin bowler Jeffrey Vandersay has also been included in the squad. He might come in handy in the final Test at The Oval partnering left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Sri Lanka have not beaten England in Test cricket in ten years. Their last win came in June 2014 in Headingley. Since then, there have been eight Test matches between the teams with England winning seven and one game ending in draw.

“It’s a crucial tour for us. We always want to do well in Test match cricket. I hope everyone will do their best. We don’t often get to play three Tests in England. I think for all of us it is a special thing. We would like to give our best and finish off this campaign well,” Sanath Jayasuriya told journalists before the team’s departure.

“This is my last assignment as Interim Head Coach. I hope to finish it off in good style. You have to appreciate the commitment the players showed during the Indian series. I knew the setback in the T-20s was just short term. The fans turned up in numbers during the ODIs and we are ever so grateful for them. I hope they will keep backing us.”