Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd ODI

England took a 2-1 lead in the one day series in Sri Lanka after a tense and low-scoring game in Dambulla. On an agonisingly slow pitch both teams struggled to score, with only Dilshan looking like he had the measure of the conditions.

England were on top for most of Sri Lanka’s innings, making the most of rain breaks to restrict them to 42-4. If there was a Spirit of Cricket award for each match it would have surely gone to Sangakkara who walked after he was caught off the thinnest of thin edges, with neither Broad nor Mustard appealing.

Dilshan dug in to score 70, taking Sri Lanka to a near-respectable 164 (although England’s target was reduced by 1 run by the obscurities of the Duckworth-Lewis system), but England made hard work of it, the top order once again failing to fire. Mustard was unlucky to be bowled when the ball clipped his trousers and rebounded onto the wicket, and he looks like he could make a decent one-day opener.

Collingwood and Shah steadied the ship, but both were undone by Jayasuriya’s slow bowling. It was left to the bowlers to make it to the end, Swann and Broad both solidifying their reputations as handy lower order batsman.

Undoubted man of the match was Graeme Swann, taking 4-42 and scoring 25 runs off 37 balls (England’s second highest score). In honour of the new spinning star, who must surely have earned himself a place on the return trip to Sri Lanka for the Test series, I present some facts about the man they call Swann:

Nine facts about Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann shares a birthday with Alan Sugar and actor Richard Conte (he played Barzini in The Godfather)
Graeme Swann has hit 4 centuries in first class cricket.
Graeme Swann’s bowling action can break a man’s arm.
Graems Swann’s nicknames include ‘Chin’ and ‘Swanny’.
Graeme Swann has a brother called Alec who has played for Lancashire and Northamptonshire.
Graeme Swann is owned by the Queen.
Graeme Swann mates for life.
Graeme Swann can migrate up to 3,000 miles each winter.
Graeme Swann was believed to be a duckling until he reached adolescence.

Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI

England rediscovered the attitude and discipline that powered them to ODI victory over India in the summer when they recorded a convincing 65-run win over Sri Lanka.

England’s top order again failed to fire, only Mustard making a real contribution with 28 from 36 balls. Pietersen in particular looked out of sorts, struggling to make 12 runs off 41 balls. Collingwood and Shah had the task of getting their team back into the game, and it was Shah’s 82 that set England up with a competitive target. Swann again proved his usefulness as a lower order batsman with a handy 34 off 37 balls.

By contrast to the batting, England’s bowling was a team effort, the wickets evenly shared out amongst the bowlers, only Jimmy Anderson failing to take a scalp, although he bowled well enough to deserve at least one. Ryan Sidebottom proved that he can prosper away from English pitches, but again it was Graeme Swann who shone, taking 2-27 from his 10 overs.

In his current form there is little danger of Swann being replaced with Panesar. England might fancy playing two spinners in one of the forthcoming games, but who would be dropped? All three of the fast bowlers have proved themselves capable in Sri Lankan conditions, and given the last two matches the selectors would be wary of weakening the batting.

Sri Lanka vs England, 1st ODI

Sri Lanka cruised to an easy victory yesterday over a dismal England. Sri Lanka on home soil were always going to be tough to beat, but England failed to even compete as their old nemesis Mid-Order Batting Collapse decided to put the boot in.

Panesar was left out of the squad for Graeme Swann, and Phil Mustard (as tipped by me) was in for the injured Matt Prior. This is in line with England’s long-term policy of selecting players whose names can be used to make amusing headlines in the papers. Expect to see SWANN-SONG, PHIL CUTS THE MUSTARD and KEEN AS MUSTARD in a tabloid near you soon. Bell, Cook, Broad and Sidebottom can rest easy while this policy is in place, but Kevin Pietersen should watch out.