Sri Lanka had not celebrated a home test win since Muttiah Muralitharan’s retirement in July 2010. After a strong winning performance against England, they put an end to that streak.
Buoyed by strong performances from Mahela Jayawardene and spinner Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka went on to celebrate a 75-run victory over the British in Galle.
Herath finished with match figures of 12/171 and was instrumental in bowling out the tourists cheaply in the second innings – squashing any late hopes of revival.
England will look back on the match and seek to improve on the basics – which they know cost them the chance at winning this match.
They dropped Jayawardene four times as he went on to make a match-defining 180, and their bowlers failed to finish off the Sri Lankan tail who, to their credit, batted well and made valuable runs.
England are ranked as the world’s top test team, but showed little signs of that as they slumped to another test defeat – this time to the sixth-ranked Sri Lanka.
Without Jonathon Trott and James Anderson, the score could have been a lot worse for England. They will desperately need to find depth by the beginning of the second test.
The second and final test begins on April 3rd in Colombo.
jameswm
Guest
If the Aussies can get 3 of pattinson, Siddle, Cummins, Harris, Hilfy and Starc in form at the right time, they're a real handful. They bowl fast, in the right areas, and move it enough. Watson is a great foil for them - 130kmh of slightly moving accurate skidders. It's the Aussie top order batting that's the worry. Who will bat 3? Watson? If so, how much can he bowl? Will Warner have 6 off innings in a row? Is he just running a hot streak and will get found out eventually (like Hughes)? Will Hussey and Ponting be any good or even there?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
England's great strength since 2005 ashes ( except their pathetic 2006/7 defence ) has been there superior fast bowling I reckon. SL is a tough gig for speedsters. Anyway if England have Ando, Tremlett, Broad, Finn, Bresnan to choose from it's going to be a battle for the aussies. By the same token England batting is ageing and will likely struggle against a rejuvenated Aussie attack.
lolly
Guest
But as I said, he's not the bowler the aussies have to fear. You said it was because of swann that england would win the next ashes. It's the seamers who stitch the aussies up. Not Swann.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
@Lolly I fear Dave Warner and Michael Hussey (if he's playing) ... but not against Graham Swann. A BIG reason to pick an offspinner such as Swann is that he has a bowling average of under 23 against the lefties.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
@Ian Adelaide might not be a spin friendly wicket but it's less unfriendly to the spinner than it is to the seamer/swinger. Good place to play 2 spinners: Monty and Swann. Due to India's refusal to play under it, Australians have yet to see the full impact of DRS making the playing of spin far more complicated especially for those players who don't use their feet. We should see yet another Clarke masterclass of footwork-based batting against spin in the upcoming test series against West Indies ... if Narine gives the IPL the elbow in favour of test cricket against Australia. Here's hoping the Australian board pays Narine to play against them. If Australia want to be number 1 again, they need to test their players against the best opposition possible.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
Swann's record is good against Australia when it counts eg The Oval in 2009 and Adelaide in 2010. The games when the spinner is expected to win the match. The rest of the time, he bowls quite economically, scores runs and he catches at slip. Swann doesn't need to be good when the conditions favour Anderson, Finn, Bresnan and Broad.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Part of the problem is its been about 15 years since I've seen a spin-friendly wicket in Australia.
Lolly
Guest
Swann's record against Australia is hardly worth giving him the sort of credit you just have. It's the seamers that caused the problems for Aus in the last 2 series and I think they will again
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
@Johnno England rarely play in the subcontinent and after Nov & Dec tour of India, they don't go to the subcontinent again untill October 2015. 2013 is New Zealand away and home and Australia home and away. Via a process of elimination and set cycles, I reckon that England will play Pakistan and India at home in 2014 then go to South Africa in 2014/15. NB: The Ashes were brought forward to avoid clashing with the world cup in aus in 2015. It's now very easy to remember: Every odd year is an Ashes year. The Ashes being brought forward means more money for both sides and a bigger chance of England winning because the next 3 series [2013 in Eng, 2013 in Aus, 2015 in Eng] should all happen b4 Swann retires. He's now 33. The next ashes after 2015 is Nov 2017 where Swann will probably be too old but Monty [4 years younger] might still be around.
Johnno
Guest
England seem to only fire up now for the Ashes. Since the Ashes of 2010/11 there away test record has been hopeless.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
I'm gonna be writing a preview of the 2nd Test on Sunday [UK time]. There are two facts: (1) England MUST win to retain #1 status, (2) Stuart has left Sri Lanka due to injury. In hindsight, his carried ankle injury is why he bowled so many no balls and why Finn should have played in his stead.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
"Like" = read. ;) Also, I don't dislike your article. I'm neutral on it.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
"over the British in Galle." - Strictly, the team should be referred to as "England and "Wales" because it's the "England and Wales Cricket Board". Scotland have thieir own national team. I think it should be called England and Wales inorder to give the Welsh some love. The most recent proper Welsh players being Robert Croft and Simon Jones. Robert Croft onced said that playing for Glamorgan is like playing for Wales.
Ben D.
Roar Rookie
@JJ, England can't play quality spin but, fortunately, Australia can't bowl it. ;)
JJ
Guest
sucked in England, we're gonna smash you in the Ashes.