England preparing for clash against Sri Lanka– Cricket News update
The world number-1 ranked Test cricket team, England, has arrived in Sri Lanka for the planned Test series due to start from March 26, 2012, at Galle International Stadium. The English team is led by the skipper Andrew Strauss, who has not played any Test
match in Sri Lanka so far.
After being routed 3-0 in United Arab Emirates by the Pakistani team, the English players are looking for a quick rebound from the dip in their Test performance. The England team was earlier rendered powerless by the spin of Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman
in the three match Test series in the gulf country.
However, Andrew and his men are looking forward to acclimatise to the Sri Lankan playing conditions before the series kick starts later in the month.
“The conditions here are very different to Dubai. “There’s a lot more humidity and the heat is much more of a factor out here,” remarked the 35 year old Captain.
There has been a lot of pressure on the English team after the dismal performance against Pakistan in UAE. This has not only affected the team’s performance but its Test ratings have also taken a brunt even though the team continues to cling to the number-1
ranking spot.
The South African Captain, Graeme Smith, had earlier threatened to replace England as the number-1 ranked Test team by gaining a 3-0 series win over New Zealand. This demonstrates how fragile the English team’s position is as the world’s top ranked Test
side.
The English batsmen who were tormented by the spin of Pakistani bowlers in UAE are increasingly under pressure. The skipper Strauss is particularly suffering from a poor run of form as he happens to be century-less for the last 14 test matches, while he
scored a lone 50 just once in the last seven innings.
“You always want to be in good form, you always want to lead from the front. I was quite encouraged by how I started to play towards the end of the Pakistan series,” said the English skipper hoping to resume his form.
With South Africa just one rating point below England, the English team needs to display a scintillating performance against Sri Lanka to cement their place as the top ranked Test team in the world.