The Lankans are sans Muralitharan for at least the first three of the five one-day internationals against England, as he still recuperates an elbow injury suffered while playing for Lancashire.
The spinning whiz earning 700 Test wickets and 455 in one-dayers has indisputably been a trump card for his team.
Skipper Collingwood and the English squad would breathe a sigh of relief since much of England’s practice over the past few days has been much about how to combat him on turning Sri Lankan pitches, such is the shadow that Murali casts over his opponents. In his non-appearance, Lokuarachchi has been entrusted to exhibit some worth, with the leg-spin.
Sri Lanka’s top most priority is also to get Murali on top form for their tour to Australia which follows almost immediately after the one day series against England, where he yearns for a glorious retort to those who have questioned the legality of his action.
England would be aiming to claim their first one-day series win ever on Lankan soil and it won’t be an easy go for the home side under newly appointed coach, Trevor Bayliss. The match will also be a significant moment for Dimitri Mascarenhas, who will play for the first time in his country of origin.
Via: BBC
