ts time to come out of decent hibernation after an intense world cup and long boring IPL to preview the start of some interesting cricket around the globe. Its time for SL vs Eng, WI vs Ind and then the biggest drawcard of the year India vs England in England. The undercurrent to the series Ind vs Eng in Eng is the fact that India have not lost to England in any test series home and away in 15 years. But that series for later, as both the teams have to account one more opponent before they square off against each other starting Lords on 21 July.
Pakistan are done with the Windies tour and they are going to Ireland under a new captain in ODIs, yet again. What's new? Nothing, they are going to be up against Ireland and they should be able to win the series comfortably, but you never know if Ireland combine well to upset the stanis yet again like in 2007.
West Indies are doing some brave talk to take on India in the upcoming series, but thats 15 days away. Only chance WI could have against India is in T20I where they are yet to lose against India.
Time now for SL vs England.
England come from an Ashes triumph and SL come into the series out of Murali's retirement and Malinga's bowing out of the Tests.
SL have a lot of new things in their stable viz a new captain, 2 ex-captains, no match winning bowler who thrived when none delivered (at least he took wickets in England, if not won them the series) and inexpereinced pace attack. No Malinga, no Vaas and no Kulasekra. Nuwan Pradeep is out, Dilly Fernando is under injury cloud. Anyways he has had a stop start career and never delivered outside SL. But he got some wickats in the tour games and he would be leading the pace attack. How SL win the test matches without Murali would be a huge think to watch.
The batsmen might still pile on runs mostly ex captains and Dilshan, but how would they take 20 wickets is a huge question. Its an imperious stat that they havent won a test since Murali's retirement (5 tests in their own home turf, 2 against India, 3 against WI in a rain affected series). They have Mendis, they have Herath and of course Randiv, but would they deliver in England and would the pacers continue to rattle Ashes winners is a huge question.
Dilshan is an attacking batsmen who can set the tone of a test match, but he is no Sehwag in terms of consistency. Plus he is captain now and has added responsibility of seeing the Lankans through a torrid times in terms of non cricketing things affecting them.
How does SL fare in this test series would depend a lot on the starts he and ParaXXXX provides and how much ex-captains build up on that. Will be a keen thing to watch if Samaraweera continues to make runs in alien conditions and how the keeper Jayawardhena makes runs here.
On the other hand England do not have that many concerns as does SL. They wont have Colly around, they would have Broad back and Steve Finn shall compete with Tremlett for a spot in the final 11. How does Anderson torment the visiting lions shall be another deciding factor in the outcome of the series. He comes after a disastrous world cup, but he is a different proposition in tests in home conditions.
It would be a metronomic achievement if SL win at least a test here given their bowling resources and shocker if they win the test series....After all their coach is hell bent to prove that England are the best team in the world in Tests conviniently ignoring the Test rankings all the time.
