Andrew Strauss

Newly crowned Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan and England test captain Andrew Strauss both hit century in a practice match. It has startled the action for Test series between Sri Lanka and England beginning on May 26.

Dilshan made 123 against Middlesex on Sunday complying with his counterpart’s patient 151 in the same match on Saturday. Dilshan joined the national squad after playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Dilshan delivered a particularly impressive performance, after seeing the England captain, Andrew Strauss; make 151 on his first appearance of the season for Middlesex.

Strauss has already resigned from ODI, stated that he is focused to perform in test series. Strauss’s last innings was the World Cup quarter-final against Sri Lanka and seven weeks on from that poor display in Colombo he returned to the middle with a breezy 151 against the same opposition as the visitors began their tour. Sri Lanka’s pace bowling will be their major weakness on this tour and they are also missing Dilhara Fernando for this game as he’s at the IPL along with Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Suraj Randiv and Thisara Perera.

Strauss, skipper of England Test team, expressed England’s mission to raise to No 1 in the Test rankings by the end of the summer. And he is excited about challenges in Test cricket over the next two or three years – Sri Lanka and India this summer, South Africa next year. Strauss also believes that Pietersen would contribute for England, who was in captaincy contention.

Strauss made improvement in the England team under his stint as captain since 2009. England also won the Ashes series against Australia at home after a long period of 24 years. The 34-year-old decided to quit ODIs in order to fully focus on the longer format of cricket.

Strauss hopes the decision will prolong his Test career. He can now concentrate exclusively on being a Test match batsman. Strauss, who helped beat Australia twice and there are two more Ashes campaigns in his sights – in 2013 and 2013-14 – but he is careful not to take it for granted that he will still be in charge.

Tags: Andrew Strauss, Captain, England, Middlesex, Sri Lanka, Test Cricket, Tillakaratne Dilshan