Jonathan Trott
England may not have won an ICC World Cup but when it comes to test cricket they certainly raise their level of gameplay. England just proved they are the lions at their own backyard as Strauss’s bowlers put up a master class bowling display to uproot the Lankans for a mere 82 in the Cardiff test to edge 1-0 in the 3 match test series.
Sri Lanka were already on the back of their seat when the news came in that their star opening batsman Tharanga was tested positive for a drug test. It was a matter of shame when the news further deepened that he had been dosed with drugs even during the ICC World Cup 2011. England batsmen thoroughly dominated the proceedings with a double century from Jonathan Trott. They had posted 496 on the board and only 50 minutes were left for tea on the final day’s play. Not a single person would have thought to produce a result in this test which was hampered by rain but the Ashes heroes’ skipper had other intentions. Sri Lanka was immediately put on the back foot with Tremlett striking first blood in the 2nd over removing Paranavitana. Dilshan smashed 2 boundaries but was caught and bowled by Tremlett once again. The experience duo of Sangakkara and Jayawardena had to come in place but Mahela was removed eventually by Tremlett leaving the Lankans at 33/3. Swann set himself in and got busy scalping Samaraweera for a duck. Then came the defining moment when the former captain Sangakkara too fell for the spinning maestro and with the wicket of Maharoof, Sri Lanka was left hampering at 43/6. It became more worse when the wicket keeper batsman who notched up a 100 in the previous innings edged Tremlett for an easy catch to Matt Prior. Herath did not take too long as he departed leaving his team’s scorecard in disarray at 52/8. Tremlett and Swann bowled 17 overs together and wrecked the top 8 of the Lankan line-up. Strauss had used only 3 of his bowlers and ensured all the 3 had their name in the wickets column as he turned up to Stuart Broad. Despite Perera’s resistance Sri Lanka could not touch the 100 score mark as Broad cleaned them up with a victory of innings and 14 runs.
England still gives plenty of importance to their traditional cricket and this has been an excellent display of both seam bowling and spin. England today are the toughest team to beat and at their own back yard and it definitely takes some nerves for the opposition to emerge as the best of the two.
Tags: 1st Test, Cardiff, Cricket, England, Jonathan Trott, Review, Rose Bowl, Sri Lanka, Test Cricket
