1.10pm start as England look to take some wickets at Lords today
Published:The rain may have dampened the spirits of the punters who have headed over to Lords for the fourth day’s play of the second England vs Sri Lanka Test, but spirits have been lifted with the news we are in for some cricket as the afternoon brightens.
While the second Test looks like petering out into a draw, England have plenty of work to do today to stop Sri Lanka building a score capable of winning this Test match.
It was an expensive day to be an England bowler yesterday and Messers Broad, Finn, Swann and Tremlett have to up their game in the 86 overs the umpires are expecting to play today.
Should the England bowling attack fail to function under the overcast conditions that currently cover Lords, Andrew Strauss’s side will be the team facing the prospect of a final day collapse.
Last week a strong first innings from England saw them build a 96-run lead with just the final day to play and the England attack subsequently bowled Sri Lanka out for just 82 runs.
Strauss will be weary of that tomorrow should his bowlers fail to take the eight wickets needed to end Sri Lanka’s first innings today, and while the Sri Lankan attack isn’t as strong as the English attack, nobody expected a final day like we witnessed in Cardiff.
Sri Lanka are 10/1 to win this second Test and there will be many willing to take a punt on Sri Lanka avenging their final day collapse last week.
The final day in Cardiff breathed life into this Test series and after a mundane three days in which the batsman on both sides have flourished, this second Test needs something or someone to influence it.
Mahela Jayawardene could be that man and with 40 runs to his name off of just 69 balls, Sri Lanka will be looking to him to establish a lead that gives them a chance of winning this Test match.
