Test previews / Ed Hawkins / 04 April 2012 /

Ed Hawkins has good reasons to be complimentary of England's display on day two and in Jonathan Trott they have a player who can help build a good lead. But batting last promises to be a nightmare so we should side with Sri Lanka for the time being at a big price.

It has been a winter of discontent if you are an England fan, or backer. Indeed, it has been easy to criticise following four consecutive Test defeats.

So it makes a welcome change to begin this end-of-day analysis with positive vibes about an England performance abroad. They ended day two of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo well-placed to square the series and end the season on a high.

England closed on 154 for one with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 77 and Jonathan Trott in ominously obdurate touch on 15. They trail by 121 runs.

Instead of criticising England, it is Sri Lanka who must come under the microscope for odd tactics, first with the bat and then in the field. Resuming on 238 for six, the home side would have been confident of at least making 300. That they did not was down to a curious knock from Angelo Mathews.

Stuck with the tail after the wicket of Suraj Randiv, one expected Mathews to cut loose in the style for which he made a name as one of the most impressive lower-order hitters in the one-day game. But he didn't.

Instead he batted for himself. Granted, he got to 57 but he should have thrown caution to the wind in an effort to gain an extra 20 or 30 runs. 'One big over', you kept thinking as he blocked and nudged. He took 129 balls for his 57.

It is perhaps an insight into the mindset of Sri Lanka. Instead of putting their foot down and trying to put England under pressure, they wanted to eat up time. This negative train of thought could cost them. They have fallen into the trap of the football team going 1-0 up early on and then defending deeper and deeper.

This was evident in the way they bowled to England. Instead of getting the spinners on and probing still-sore wounds, Mahela Jayawardene gave them a cosy start. Here's a couple of seamers to get your eye in, lads. Jayawardene was trying to contain the run rate with an off-stump line which was not tight enough to get Cook and Andrew Strauss to play.
As far as bets go for day three, we like the look of Trott. We said that yesterday. And the day before. Well, here he is in the flesh. Focussed, calm, oblivious. He is [1.60] for a 50. Not a great price but he is not far off.

England are [1.85] for victory with Sri Lanka [5.60] and the draw [3.50]. We'll have a bit of Sri Lanka. Why? Because there are signs of uneven bounce on this surface and England must bat last. Surely, too, Sri Lanka's negative mindset cannot last, particularly if their spinners come into play. So much for the positivity.

Recommended bet

Back-to-lay Sri Lanka at [5.60]

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