England left hot and bothered despite Broad’s double strike

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20 March 2012

England were today given a clammy taste of things to come in the Test series against Sri Lanka. It was oppressive, sticky and unrelenting after the so-called Development XI, containing six players past their 29th birthday, set a pace almost to match the blazing heat of the day.

Former Test batsman, Chamara Silva, made a twinkling century and shared a third-wicket partnership of 151 with Thilina Kandamby, another international albeit of the one-day variety. They rattled along merrily at four runs an over, which can only have enhanced the tourists’ exhaustion.

Silva may have been feeling the sun on his back as well since he virtually gifted his wicket to Steve Finn, having made 163 from 181 balls. He was caught at fine leg, attempting to pull his 25th boundary, and for some bizarre reason Finn thought it fitting to accompany the dismissal with a verbal barrage.

The batsman merely gestured to the scoreboard. England should watch it because these long, draining days in the sun may be part of their routine in the next three weeks. The Development side cruised past 350 with only five wickets down.

As previous England sides to the tear drop island have discovered, the temperature was not only searing (37C) but also humid. They might have preferred to win the toss and batted but this was precisely the sort of work-out they needed since Sri Lanka’s batsmen in the Test series will mean serious business.

Stuart Broad unexpectedly passed a late fitness test on his sprained ankle and struck twice with the new ball. His fourth delivery of the match was driven to mid-on by Malinda Warnapura, a soppy fashion of departure for a man with two Test hundreds. Then, in his fifth over, Broad bowled Dilshan Manaweera with a beauty which beat a half forward stroke.

But Silva expressed his intentions early and it was perhaps significant that he refused to allow Graeme Swann to settle into any kind rhythm. Swann may still be the second highest rated spin bowler in Test cricket — the top spot having been taken by Saeed Ajmal — but these are challenging times for him.

Silva hit Swann’s first ball for four and his seventh for six, and then Thilina Kandamby took a four and a six in one over. Although Swann pegged it back a little this was not the holding role England will require from him in the Test matches, especially if they select a four man attack.

Before the morning was out, England’s wicketkeeper Matt Prior had removed his pads. He is already changing his shirt every hour and was finding it much too sticky. It begs the question, of course, that if he could do without leg guards of any kind in the heat he might cope as well in the cold of England in May.

With Broad deemed fit enough to play, England took the opportunity to rest his fellow fast bowler Jimmy Anderson. In addition, Alastair Cook, who scored a century in the opening practice match, and Monty Panesar, who outbowled Swann then in taking six wickets, were omitted. In came Tim Bresnan and Samit Patel, making it clear that England still have definite options for the Test series.

Patel bowled as steadily as England could have hoped, at least initially, and produced a teasing delivery to dismiss Kandamby.

Broad returned to trap Kushal Perera leg before but the tempo rarely faltered on a beauty of a batting pitch. It may or may not be a different kind of surface when the tourists reach Galle for the First Test next week but it will still be sappingly hot.

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Alastair Cook

England left hot and bothered despite Broad’s double strike

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