Lankans face must-win game

Third Test begins today at Rose Bowl:

[Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting from England]

The Sri Lankan cricketers will be asking the rain gods to look benignly on them and allow the sun to shine on their backs when they take on England in a must win Final Npower Test at the Rose Bowl, beginning today. Every Sri Lanka game on tour has been rain shortened and it has not helped them to try out players, give batsmen, bowlers and fielders a long work out and even help them plan strategy.

With the Lankans trailing one-nil in the Three Test series, they will have to play from out of their skins if they hope to win the Test and square the series, like they did on the previous tour and go back with their heads held high.

Dilshan will be missed

The Lankans will miss their leader Tillekeratne Dilshan who has been leading by example on this tour.

He was unfortunate to be repeatedly struck on the thumb by vicious deliveries from England paceman Chris Tremlett and suffered a hairline fracture of the thumb.

When the new selection committee headed by Duleep Mendis gave Dilshan the nod to lead, several were his critics who expressed dissatisfaction and queried his appointment.

Even the official program put out by the England Cricket Board on the Sri Lankan tour, has an article headlined: CAPTAIN AUDACIOUS and asks – can Sri Lanka’s new skipper Tillekeratne Dilshan marry his flamboyant batting talent to the demands of the national captaincy?.

Big scores

Dilshan has let his bat do the talking as his big scores in all games show and his dazzling 193 at the holy land of cricket - Lord’s and his astute leadership would have answered the doubting Thomas’.

Dilshan’s influence will certainly be missed and former skipper and vice captain Kumar Sangakkara will lead and will have an onerous job to perform.

When Sangakkara resigned as captain of the 2011 World Cup team immediately after losing to India in the final, he had shown a desire to continue leading Sri Lanka in Test cricket.

No logic

But the new set of selectors did not see any logic in that request and asked Dilshan. Sangakkara has his wish somewhat answered and will be at the helm at the Rose Bowl which will be a make or break game for the Lankans. Sangakkara must be a bit more positive and aggressive.

In the absence of Dilshan, it will be memorable game for Lahiru Thirimanne when he sports the national cap, the dream of any cricketer and makes his debut as an opener. Thirimanne just 21, has loads of talent as a left hand batsman.

He will be under tremendous pressure and the England pacemen will come hard at him. If he can hold his nerve and early impetuosity, he should make a big score and one to remember.

Consistency

Tharanga Paranavitana must continue his consistency. Now that Kumar Sangakkara has found form, runs could be expected from him. Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardena must also chip in with big runs.

Pacemen Chanaka Welagedera, Suranga Lakmal and Dilhara Fernando must use the new ball and exploit the pace, movement and bounce in the wicket by keeping the ball up and not let the England batsmen dominate.

The Rose Bowl wicket will be lively early on and pace friendly.

It is expected to settle down and be batting friendly as the game progresses. Winning the toss and batting first will be positive thinking.

Randiv hat trick

When it comes to spin, Suraj Randiv who got a hat trick against Essex, Rangana Herath who bowled well at Lord’s and Ajantha Mendis will be in the frame and who the selectors will plonk for will be interesting to watch.

The Sri Lankan fielding, especially the slip men must be always on alert and must cling on to the snicks and let it bisect them which was an ugly sight at Lord’s.

As for England, skipper Andrew Strauss will be caving to get among the runs and make a big score. He was not in the runs in the previous Two Tests and will be out to strike with a vengeance.

Boring to watch

Alastair Cook who is boring to watch will again be difficult to dislodge. He is hell bent on going for records by staying put at the wicket, and is boring to watch.

Jonathon Trott is another accumulator of runs. But the batsman to watch unless he is dismissed early is Kevin Pietersen.

The England bowling will be strengthened with the return of strike bowler James Anderson.

Anderson could be menacing with the new ball and will be well supported by Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett.

Of the wicket turns spin friendly, then off spinner Greame Swann will be difficult to negotiate. If the weather stays fine and allows five full days of play an exciting finish is in store.

Rose Bowl, Southampton, Wednesday