JOHANNESBURG: Andrew Strauss’s England be in front of a stiff spin test once they take on a sure of yourself Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Champions Trophy on at the moment.
Sri Lanka be inflicted with two outstanding spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, competent of making life grim in support of batsmen with their clever variations.
Unorthodox spinner Mendis played a explanation role in his team’s stunning 55-run victory completed South Africa in a rain-hit match by Centurion on Tuesday, grabbing three wickets in support of 30 runs.
“We be inflicted with not played Mendis and a few of their seam bowlers by,” whispered Strauss, whose team were beaten 6-1 in a latest national One-day cycle aligned with defending champions Australia.
“Everyone will be inflicted with his own game-plan aligned with him (Mendis). You can look by a group of footage of him, but it is just in the internal with the aim of you can be really certainly of how he dinner service and come again? His variations are.
“It requires us to think pretty quick on our feet. There are a few basics you be inflicted with to keep in mind aligned with someone like him, but it is a brand new challenge.”
Off-spinner Muralitharan, the world’s leading wicket-taker in both Tests and One-dayers, and paceman Lasith Malinga, with his slinging feat, are the other bowlers who may well keep pressure on England.
“They ask dissimilar questions of you. It’s just by facing them you can be certainly of your game-plan. We be inflicted with played aligned with Murali and Malinga, but Mendis is brand new.
“The way he (Mendis) dinner service makes life grim in support of batsmen, but to an boundary the pace he dinner service by provides opportunities in support of batsmen as well previously you acquire used to his variations.
“Sri Lanka are a skillful aspect with a group of confidence. It will be quite exciting to tragedy aligned with them.”
Strauss accepted with the aim of England’s One-day form had been a cause of have to do with in support of many years.
“The One-dayers be inflicted with been an ongoing have to do with in support of a add up to of years. The players are really excited with reference to tender presumptuous as a collection. It will take a trace of clock to transpire,” whispered Strauss.
“In the meantime, I retain we are competent of beating everybody but we haven’t had the runniness completed the years. A loose change in ecosystem can constitute a great big difference. We be inflicted with to start looking presumptuous.
“There is something quite exciting with reference to humankind measures. It’s quite exciting to know if you tragedy well in three games you’re in the semi-final.”
England are exclusive of match-winners Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who are recovering from injuries.
“Freddie and KP are two of our greatest One-day cricketers. But Freddie has been barred quite a group recently and we are used to with the aim of and we’ve got to move on,” whispered Strauss.
“It’s additionally a destiny in support of other guys to step up and constitute a pet name in support of themselves.”
South Africa and New Zealand are the other teams in Group B, with the top two sides advancing to the semi-finals.
Squads:
England: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Thilina Kandamby.
Umpires: Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden
Match Name: ICC Champions Trophy
Teams: England against Sri Lanka
Venue: New Wanderers, Johannesburg
Time: 1800 IST
Channel: Star Cricket
This one is worth watching. We could be on the verge of a rare ODI victory!