Stuart Law has warned England against taking Sri Lanka lightly even though he concedes it faces “the toughest deal on the planet” playing the Ashes-winner in a Test series starting here on Thursday,
Former Australia batsman Law is the interim coach of Sri Lanka following the decision by compatriot Trevor Bayliss, to whom he was the assistant, to return home to take charge of New South Wales after guiding the islanders to this year's World Cup final, where they lost to India.
This three-Test series sees Sri Lanka without legendary off-spin star Muttiah Muralitharan, now retired completely, and slingshot fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who has quit Tests on injury grounds.
As if that were not bad enough, first-choice seamers Nuwan Pradeep (cruciate ligament) and Dilhara Fernando (knee), each of whom was in the wickets during the win over the second string England Lions last week, which followed a tour-opening victory over Middlesex, could both be ruled out of the first Test.
Nevertheless, Law told reporters here on Tuesday: “I would be very surprised if England took us cheaply or under-estimate us. Last time we met was in the World Cup quarters (where Sri Lanka thrashed England by 10 wickets) so I think they realise no matter where we play, we are going to be competitive.”
Law, a prolific batsman in State cricket, knows England well from his successful stints with county sides Essex and Lancashire. And he's been impressed by what he has seen of late.
“I've said openly, in the last 18 months England has been the best team in world cricket. We are preparing for them to be the toughest deal on the planet at this stage.”
There are concerns as to whether Sri Lanka's depleted attack can bowl England out twice, but Law said: “It seems that everybody else isn't confident in our bowling.
“We haven't got Murali but we've got good spin. In English conditions, I believe we've got the seamers who can take 20 wickets.”
As for his own future, he said: “No doubt a lot of our board will turn out for the (second) Lord's Test match and maybe there are conversations to be had then. I'm not really thinking too far ahead. We have a big five days ahead and that's what I'm focusing on.”
Sri Lanka's batting has been bolstered by the arrival of former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene from the Indian Premier League (IPL) while all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, in good form for Lancashire, has been drafted in as seam bowling cover.
Encouragingly for the tourists both skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana have made two hundreds apiece on tour.
But England captain Andrew Strauss got a good look at Sri Lanka's bowlers while making a century for Middlesex, as did county colleague Eoin Morgan while scoring 193 for the Lions — an innings that sealed the former Ireland left-hander's return to the Test squad following Paul Collingwood's retirement.
Another Middlesex man, fast bowler Steven Finn, could be the player to drop out of England's 12-strong squad, leaving fellow Ashes-winners James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann to form an attack that will be without the injured Tim Bresnan.
England has lost just three out of 22 home Test series since 2000, winning its last four in a row. And its record since Strauss replaced Kevin Pietersen as captain in 2009 is played eight, won six, drawn one and lost one.
But stranger things than Sri Lanka winning in Cardiff have happened in the Welsh capital — for example, six years ago Bangladesh beat then World champion Australia in one of the great ODI upsets.
The teams:
England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt.), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson and Steven Finn.
Sri Lanka (from): Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt.), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Farveez Maharoof.
