LONDON — England has a knack of coming unstuck as it chases a Test series whitewash but it will hope to complete the job against Sri Lanka at Lord’s this week — despite clear signs of improvement from the tourists.
England is 2-0 up with one Test to play, but the match starting Thursday has more riding on it than it might appear for the host after recent series victories ended on a low note.
Last year, having won the Ashes, England suffered an innings and 46-run defeat by Australia in the fifth Test at The Oval.
There was a similarly heavy reverse in South Africa in January when, 2-0 up with one to play, England lost the fourth Test at Centurion by 280 runs.
Although it won the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chester-le-Street by nine wickets, there were warning signs for England during that success.
Sri Lanka, having become the first team since New Zealand in 1958 to be dismissed for under 120 in three successive Test innings, made 475 in the second knock in Durham — including a fine hundred by Dinesh Chandimal.
A typically good Lord’s pitch could make life harder still for fast bowlers in London, with the most even contest of the series so far in prospect.
“I expect them to continue improving,” England batting coach Mark Ramprakash said Tuesday of Sri Lanka.
England’s two biggest doubts concern a pair of players who know Lord’s well as it is their Middlesex home ground.
Top-order batsman Nick Compton has been struggling for runs, and fast bowler Steven Finn for wickets.
With England having again selected a 12-man squad, it looks as if Compton will get another match at number three.
Finn’s place is under threat from uncapped seamer Jake Ball, although England appears ready to retain the Middlesex quick.
With England captain Alastair Cook now having completed the burdensome business of getting to 10,000 Test runs, the left-handed opener could be in the mood to make a major score at Lord’s.
Meanwhile England new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad, first and third in the world Test bowler rankings respectively, will look to maintain their standing.
Sri Lanka may however make changes to its side. Stylish wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Perera — a late addition to the squad — could end more than six months out by replacing injured all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana (twisted ankle).
Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga was reported for a suspect action during the second Test and is understood to have undergone tests at the England and Wales Cricket Board’s training center at Loughborough University this week.
Although Eranga is still available to play, Sri Lanka could give a debut to uncapped 29-year-old left-armer Chaminda Bandara in the absence of the injured Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera.
Maharoof back for ODIs
Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof inched closer to a return to international cricket Wednesday after being called into the squad for one-day series against England and Ireland.
Fellow all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka, batsman Upul Tharanga, leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna and off-spinner Suraj Randiv will also join the squad for the one-dayers, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.
Maharoof, who played the last of his 104 ODIs against Bangladesh in March 2012, was rewarded after the 31-year-old emerged as the Premier Limited Over Tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
SLC did not specify cricketers who would return home after the Test series.
