Ed Joyce has been cleared to represent Ireland at the World Cup in February next year after being granted a special dispensation by the ICC

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2010Former England batsman Ed Joyce has been cleared to represent Ireland at the World Cup in February next year after being granted a special dispensation by the ICC. However, ex-New Zealand international Hamish Marshall’s request to be allowed to play has been denied, meaning he won’t be eligible to play for Ireland until April.Both players last played international cricket for their respective former countries at the 2007 edition of the World Cup, and under normal ICC regulations would not have become eligible to play for Ireland in official ODIs until April next year. Looking to strengthen their squad, Ireland asked the ICC earlier this year to allow a slight shortening of the usual four-year qualification period to allow both to take part in the World Cup.”Ed was granted permission for his four-year standout period to be slightly reduced so that he could compete in the World Cup,” explained an ICC spokesperson. “This was done on the basis of exceptional circumstances and the unique facts of his specific case, which included his Irish background and his very strong ties to Irish cricket from childhood up to senior national representation.””It’s obviously tremendous news,” said Joyce, who had already joined Ireland on a pre-World Cup training camp in India. “Playing for Ireland again is something I’ve given a lot of thought to over the last few years and to be given the opportunity to do so, a little earlier than expected and on the biggest stage, is absolutely fantastic.”Having seen the talent and work ethic of the squad over the last week or so in India, I feel Ireland will, once again, make a huge impact at the World Cup and I look forward to hopefully offering a lot to the team in the tournament and the whole of 2011.”Joyce, 32, was one of Ireland’s strongest batsmen at ICC Trophy level, scoring 758 runs in 14 matches between 2001 and 2005 at an average of 84.22. He had played in 50 games for Ireland – the last of which was in the ICC Trophy final against Scotland in July 2005 – before he switched allegiance to England and made his one-day international debut his former team at Belfast in June 2006.”It’s a huge boost to have Ed available for the World Cup, adding to the selectors’ headaches in an already strong squad – but that’s a nice problem to have,” said Ireland coach Phil Simmons. “Of course, it would have been fantastic to have both Ed and Hamish available, but it’s not to be.”I’ve seen first hand over the past 10 days here in Pune just what hard working and talented players both are. Their dediciation and professionalism is evident for all to see, and everyone has responded positively to their being with us. I feel very sorry for Hamish, but this squad will be at other big tournaments – of that I’m certain.”Marshall, 31, was born in Auckland and played the last of 66 ODIs against Ireland at the 2007 World Cup. He subsequently turned down a New Zealand contract so that he could continue his county career with Gloucestershire as a non-overseas player and also joined the ICL. But in April this year he made clear his intentions to qualify for Ireland as an Irish passport holder, and is also eyeing a coaching role in Irish cricket.”Cricket Ireland is delighted to welcome back Ed to the fold again, and we are sure he will make a massive contribution to the squad,” said chief executive Warren Deutrom. “We regret that Hamish has missed out on this occasion, but we have no doubt he will play a huge part in future World Cups and we are looking forward to him taking the field against England at the RSA Challenge ODI next August in Dublin.”We would like to thank the ICC for its positive consideration of the case for Ed, and express our special appreciation to both the England and Wales Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket for their great cooperation and generosity throughout this process in terms of facilitating Ireland to have its best possible squad at the sport’s showcase event.”

England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, has challenged his players to raise their intensity back to the levels they produced for their crushing victory in the second Test at Adelaide

Andrew Miller at the WACA15-Dec-2010England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, has challenged his players to raise their intensity back to the levels they produced for their crushing victory in the second Test at Adelaide, as they prepare to take on a youthful Australian team that has no option but to throw everything they’ve got into a match that could decide the destiny of the Ashes.With Australia trailing one-nil in the series with three games to play, Strauss knows that a victory at the WACA would guarantee the retention of the urn, but that in itself is a tall order at a venue where England have won just once in 11 Tests. “We’re expecting five days of very tough Test cricket,” he said. “If Australia were wounded in Adelaide and have a point to prove, then they’re going to be that much harder to beat. We’ve got to be ready to counteract that.”England have dominated the last seven days of this Ashes series, including all five days of their “perfect” performance at Adelaide. But the one occasion in which they have been truly unsettled came on the first day at Brisbane, when Ricky Ponting unleashed a side containing ten of the players who lost the series in England in 2009, and with Peter Siddle’s hat-trick epitomising their emotional onslaught, claimed ten English wickets in little more than two sessions.Though that surge of adrenalin could only take the Australian team so far on that occasion, Strauss was aware of the dangers of being caught cold after a week of relative down-time in an otherwise intense campaign. “I think motivation to win and desperation to win can be pretty positive things,” he said. “If it spills over into getting too emotional about things then it can be detrimental. But we’ve got to be just as desperate as Australia – because if we’re not, we’ll come unstuck.”Nevertheless, the past week of down-time has been full of potential pitfalls for England. A low-key practice match in Melbourne fizzled out into a momentum-sapping draw, and while the team’s key strike bowler, James Anderson, was on the other side of the world attending the birth of his second child, the rest of the squad were being reunited with their families ahead of Christmas, with all the attendant disruptions that that can cause.”We’ve obviously got some good momentum in the series from how we played in Adelaide, but we’ve had a good seven or eight days off, away from Test match cricket,” said Strauss. “The intensity dropped over that period, so it’s important we get the intensity again, and start this game well. It’s about us keeping our feet on the ground, remembering what we’ve done well so far in the series and making sure we replicate that. It counts for nothing if we give it away here.””But in a lot of ways, it’s a good thing,” he added, “because you can get too caught up in the euphoria and expect to just be able to turn up and bowl teams out again. That’s not the way cricket works. You’ve got to earn the right to get on top of opposition sides, so it’s been quite helpful in a sense to get away from it for a few days, let it sink in, come to Perth and realise these are going to be slightly different conditions.”What we need to do as both batters and bowlers here is slightly different to Adelaide,” he said. “We’ve also built up those energy reserves. It’s going to be five hot days here, and we’re going to need to play consistent cricket for the entire match.On the subject of the families, Strauss insisted that their arrival had been nothing but beneficial. “It’s been a great fillip for the squad to have the families here,” he said. “After six weeks or so in each other’s pockets, dinnertime conversation gets a bit staid and boring after a while. It always provides a big lift when they arrive – and I think that good, positive, warm feeling is a nice way to start a Test match. Jimmy’s fine, absolutely spot on, he’s brought back that slightly euphoric feeling with him. We’re in a good place mentally, and I hope we transfer that on to the pitch.”The greater concern for England is the loss of Stuart Broad to a stomach injury, a set-back that has deprived the side of their most in-your-face seam bowler, which in turn has raised questions as to whether Chris Tremlett, an improbably gentle giant at 6’8”, is the right man to maintain the aggression in England’s bowling ranks, despite the likelihood of wicket that will suit his imposing frame.Despite bowling tidily at the MCG, Tremlett went wicketless in two innings, and was outplayed in the conditions by Tim Bresnan, whose solitary wicket was the seamers’ only success in 76 overs. “All our back-up bowlers have got something they can add to the mix, no doubt about that,” said Strauss. “The challenge is always to pick the XI you think is most likely to win you this Test match. We’ve got to balance the different attributes those bowlers have with what we think is going to be most effective. We will be announcing that decision at the toss.”Ponting, meanwhile, knows he is staring into the abyss – a third Ashes defeat as Australian captain would leave him in an untenable position regardless of his formidable personal record – but if that is the case, he’s determined to face the music and dance. The twin selections of Phil Hughes and Steve Smith is the sign of a new youthful approach that the former Australian captain, Steve Waugh, believes is the only way forward for a team in transition, and Ponting believes that an energetic attitude is the best way to catch England cold.”I think there’s a great opportunity for us here,” said Ponting. “I’ve been really excited about the last few days. England will have at least one change in the side, one that we know of anyway, and Anderson, much as he’s talking it up and not really worrying [about jet-lag], we’ve all done those flights in the past and it takes a couple of days to get over them. So we’ll see how he pulls up. I honestly feel that the pitch conditions here are as foreign to English players as probably anywhere else in the world, and hopefully we can exploit that this week.”England, however, have done their homework in that regard. The planning for this series involved 10 days of preparation including a three-day warm-up at the WACA against Western Australia, and Strauss believed his team was ready for all eventualities. “The last Test match I played here four years ago wasn’t massively quick and bouncy, [nor was] the warm-up game. But there are differences here. You need to leave balls, and have to be more judicious about which ones you play and leave here than on other pitches.”You need to adapt your game – and that is what cricket is about all over the world. You go to India, you need to adapt your game to the conditions there – and likewise here. Australia’s record here is very good, so that suggests they’re better at adapting to these conditions than other teams. But that means it’s a great opportunity for us to show we’re a better side than we used to be.”But if the WACA really is to be Australia’s last stand in this series, they are primed to go down swinging. If England are even fractionally off their game, they can expect to be chinned much as they were on that first day at the Gabba.”If you look back at the great success we’ve had as the Australian team in the last few teams, it’s been with guys who are willing to take the game forward whether we’ve been in trouble or dominating the game,” said Ponting. “That’s the way that we play our best cricket, so these guys have grown up playing their cricket that way, and if they play their natural games they will have some impact on the game.”

If you say something often enough you start to believe it. At least that’s what Australia’s resident hypnotist Brad Haddin is hoping

Peter English at Adelaide04-Dec-2010If you say something often enough you start to believe it. At least that’s what Australia’s resident hypnotist Brad Haddin is hoping. “This game does turn,” he said repeatedly after England had taken a 72-run lead by finishing the second day at 2 for 317.The series is only seven days old but Australia have been swamped by England over the past four. They own a willing attack but it hasn’t found an answer to the prolific Alastair Cook, who is 136 not out, and it will also have to contend with Kevin Pietersen starting the third day 15 from a century.It wasn’t so long ago that Australia could make things happen, but this version of the side has to wait and wait and wait. In 1989 David Gower sipped champagne during a break to celebrate an England wicket and it wouldn’t have been a surprise today to have seen Ricky Ponting head straight for the marquees for a cup of VB at tea. Ryan Harris removed Jonathan Trott for 78 in the middle session, the first time in 502 runs that the Trott-Cook partnership had been broken.The mood in the dressing room was definitely not bubbly. “We’re not at our perky best, but life goes on,” Haddin said. Adelaide’s new ground has been full and loud, but the local spectators are in various states of shock.For the Australians, there is a party everywhere outside their dressing room. The music from England’s area is louder than the roars of the Barmy Army whenever their batsmen find the boundary.Haddin knows the local players have their “backs to the wall” and wants them to “stay tough” over the rest of the game. “Everything seems to be going England’s way,” he said a couple of times. “The game does turn.”On the first day Haddin was involved in an argument with James Anderson that eventually led to Ricky Ponting having a long exchange with Andrew Strauss about the behaviour of the touring side. Haddin is chirpy from behind the stumps and when he’s holding a bat, but he wouldn’t give any details of the discussions.However, he couldn’t hold a straight face after being asked about Anderson getting under Australian skins. “Nope,” he replied, before breaking into a huge smile.When the lips say one thing, look to the eyes. Australia’s have lost their sparkle, even if this game does turn.

The Newlands pitch is “more challenging for the batsmen than it is for the fielding team,” Hashim Amla said at the end of the opening day

Firdose Moonda at Newlands02-Jan-2011The Newlands pitch is “more challenging for the batsmen than it is for the fielding team,” Hashim Amla said at the end of the opening day of the deciding Cape Town Test. Amla was pleased that, despite the challenging conditions, South Africa finished at stumps “in a good space, considering we were put in to bat.”With moisture in the air and heavy cloud above, it was considered a good toss to lose, since there was uncertainty over whether the winning captain should exploit conditions by bowling or bat in the knowledge that the weather was expected to clear. “I may have bowled,” Amla said. “The pitch has a lot in it for the bowlers. If you hit a decent length, it has a lot of swing and a lot of nip.”Amla felt the South African batsmen did a good job negotiating their way through the tricky conditions. “The day went quite well for us especially since the track has some juice in it and given the overhead conditions.” Amla also praised the batsmen for not allowing the breaks in play to cause jitters in the line-up, as 112 minutes were lost to rain and bad light. “It is a mental shift to switch on and switch off. Fortunately, it went quite well for us after the break.”After just nine overs, the players marched off the field for light drizzle and bad light. An hour and 15 minutes of play was lost in that delay. At that stage, Amla had scored just one run off 10 balls and South Africa were in a tricky position at 23 for one. The early lunch break allowed for some reflection and in Amla’s case provided an injection of intent for the session that followed. He came out and scored 58 off 70 balls in the post-lunch session, including nine fours and a six. “I had a couple of chocolates, I think it was a sugar rush,” Amla joked.Of course, for the measured man from Durban, it was nothing of the sort and although he had not planned it, he was able to take advantage of some of the bowling he was presented with. “I think I just had a lot of bad balls. There were a few full balls that I got to capitalise on and momentum just went with me for that bit.” Three fours and the solitary six came off the bowling of Sreesanth, whom Amla eventually gave his wicket. While there was nothing of the fiery exchange witnessed between Sreesanth and Graeme Smith, some words in anger were muttered from the Indian bowler. Amla said that had nothing to do with his dismissal. “There weren’t any words exchanged, I didn’t say anything back. I tried to keep it down and I got a top edge.”Sunny skies saw South Africa to the close of play, them having lost just four wickets, and a bright forecast is predicted for tomorrow. Amla didn’t think that would necessarily translate into better batting conditions. “I don’t know if it will be very good for batting since there is a fair covering of grass on the pitch. The ball is 70 overs old and it’s still nipping.”He did think a sustained presence of sunlight may “dry the wicket out” but predicted a “crucial first session” for the hosts. For that reason, Amla could not identify a total that South Africa would be comfortable posting. “Let’s see what the conditions are like. If it’s cloudy it will be a lot tougher, if it’s a sunny day, maybe the wicket might flatten out.”

Michael Hussey is in major doubt for the World Cup after having surgery on his left leg just hours after being named in Australia’s 15-man squad

Peter English18-Jan-2011Michael Hussey is in major doubt for the World Cup after having surgery on his left leg just hours after being named in Australia’s 15-man squad. Hussey hurt his hamstring in Sunday’s ODI victory in Melbourne and initially thought the problem was minor. But scans revealed one of the hamstring tendons had torn from the inner side of his knee.”The recovery time and availability for the World Cup will be dependent on his progress with the rehabilitation programme in the coming weeks,” Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. Hussey has been replaced for the next three games of the one-day series by Shaun Marsh, who is now a big chance of playing at his first World Cup.Australia’s first match of the global event is against Zimbabwe on February 21 in Ahmedabad, leaving Hussey racing to recover. The quarter-finals start a month later and Hussey is such an important player that he could be allowed to enter the tournament when the knockout games are approaching. Australia were in a similar situation four years ago when Andrew Symonds hurt his arm, but returned to help the side to the trophy.”It’s just happened at a bad time,” Hilditch said before Hussey had surgery. “Obviously Mike’s a key player of our squad so he’s in this squad, but a final decision whether he’s going to be fit or not will be made closer to our departure date.”Ricky Ponting hopes his little finger will be right for the start of the tournament. He broke it while fielding during the third Ashes Test in Perth and missed the Sydney match, with the surgery ruling him out of the England ODIs.”I’m hoping to be right for the start of the World Cup,” Ponting said. “My finger’s coming along okay, I guess. I haven’t been able to do anything for the last couple of weeks post-surgery, but I’ve got a bit more movement now.”The finger is still in a splint and Ponting said it would be looked at by a doctor once a week. “I’m pretty keen to get a bat back in my hands again and I’m going to be around the team, certainly this week down in Hobart for the second game,” he said.Ponting is 36 and heading to his fifth World Cup, but he said even a fourth consecutive victory would not hide the pain of the Ashes defeat. “I’m not sure if anything would erase what’s just happened,” he said. “Payback’s going to be hard to get after losing the Ashes.”Australia’s position in ODIs is much better than in Tests, where they sit fifth, and Ponting remains confident of his side’s chances. “We’re quite clearly the No.1-ranked one-day team in the world, and I think just little things like the great win that we had the other night shows that this one-day team is certainly on the right track,” he said. “We’ve got a really proud record in the subcontinent and we’ll be going there to do everything we can to win another World Cup.”

Abdur Razzak has promised to not take a backward step when he comes up against Chris Gayle in Bangladesh’s crucial game against West Indies on Friday

Sidharth Monga in Mirpur02-Mar-2011Abdur Razzak has promised to not take a backward step when he comes up against Chris Gayle in Bangladesh’s crucial game against West Indies on Friday, a game that could determine both teams’ chances of making it to the knockout stages of the tournament. “It is difficult for a left-arm spinner to bowl to a left-hander,” Razzak said. “But I can’t sit and keep thinking about it. I have to move forward and irrespective of who is batting, whether it’s Gayle or someone else, a good ball is good for all batsmen.”I am absolutely ready to take on Gayle. There is no way you can take a step backwards or you could get pushed over. It does not help if you go on to the back foot.”Although not a star in the Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan mould, Razzak has been a constant in Bangladesh’s success over the years. Twice in this World Cup, he has been called upon to bowl inside the first five overs, and on both occasions he has had some impact. That being the state of affairs, Razzak v Gayle promises to be a key contest.Razzak’s plan against Gayle? “No particular plan. The plan is always the same: maintaining a proper line and length, and using pace variation. I have tried to do well in both matches, but it has not worked yet. Hopefully I will come good against West Indies. Actually you cannot take wickets by force. But I will stick to my job and hopefully the wickets will come. There is no extra pressure.”Razzak is hoping he will get a track that will provide him more turn than the pitches in the first two games. “Hopefully we will get some turn on this pitch,” Razzak said. “We did not get enough in the first two matches. This one looks like it is going to turn, but then you can’t say for sure before you actually play on it.”Razzak sought to not take added pressure of this being a virtual play-off for quarter-finals. Especially considering this is the game that coach Jamie Siddons had pencilled as their third expected victory, to go with Ireland and Netherlands. “Actually every game in the World Cup is big, and it is not that we are just thinking of Ireland and Holland or for that matter West Indies. We are looking forward to all the matches.”One of those expected wins came the hard way, when Bangladesh had to put all their resources together to come back from behind and beat Ireland last Friday. Such wins can stir teams onto larger things, Razzak said. “A win like the way it came against Ireland makes a lot of difference to the team’s morale. It was a pretty tight game. The first six overs were excellent, but then we lost our way in batting. But we came back strongly with the ball and it was very good for the team. Everyone contributed.”

Ravi Bopara has received positive news after a scan on his side showed no sign of an injury

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2011Ravi Bopara has received positive news after a scan on his side showed no sign of an injury and he has been cleared to bowl in Essex’s match against Cambridge University at Fenner’s on Saturday.Bopara, who has turned down a £100,000 IPL contract in order to focus on regaining a spot in the England Test team, returned from the World Cup with some discomfort in his side but will now line up alongside Alastair Cook as Essex continue their preparations for the Championship season.”Ravi had a scan on his side strain but there was nothing shown on that so he’ll be able to bowl short spells if we need him to, so that’s very promising,” Paul Grayson, the Essex coach, said.His decision to decline an IPL deal shows his desire to get back into the Test reckoning against Sri Lanka with a vacancy to be filled in the middle order following Paul Collingwood’s retirement. Eoin Morgan is generally regarded as the favourite for the position having been the spare batsman in Australia, but he will spend the next five weeks at the IPL so a strong start from Bopara in the Championship will keep the selectors interested.Bopara also comes with the advantage of being able to offer some useful overs which would replace the part-time medium pace of Collingwood and supplement a likely four-man attack from England. He has played 10 Tests for England and scored three hundred in consecutive innings against West Indies in 2009, but then struggled in the Ashes series batting at No. 3 and was dropped for the final match at The Oval.

A round-up of the ninth round of matches from the 2010-11 Plunket Shield

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2011Canterbury moved to the top spot on the points table from joint-third position after registering a 28-run win over hosts Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.In a match that featured several cameo performances with bat and ball, Canterbury made 334 after being asked to bat. Shanan Stewart anchored the innings with patient 90 as most of his team-mates got starts before being dismissed. Seamer Colin de Grandhomme and left-arm spinner Bruce Martin caused most of the damage, picking up seven wickets between them. Auckland’s reply followed a similar course, with several batsmen getting their eyes in but not making significant contributions – the top score was 71 by Tim McIntosh – as opening bowler Matthew Henry and legspinner Todd Astle picked up three wickets apiece. The innings folded on 277, allowing Canterbury a 57-run lead.At 3 for 35, Canterbury were in trouble in their second innings, as the two Martins, Chris and Bruce produced incisive spells. But three solid half-centuries from the middle order, including Stewart’s 65, steered them to 231 for 8. Set 289 for victory, Auckland’s batsmen came a cropper for the second time, barring Bradley Cachopa who scored 71, as they fell short of the target. Astle carved up the middle order with four scalps, taking his match haul to seven.The Northern Districts v Otago match at Seddon Park in Hamilton ended in a high-scoring draw. Asked to bat, Otago piled up 389 on the back of steady tons from Aaron Redmond and Derek de Boorder. Northern Districts were emphatic in their reply, making 559 for 9 declared at an impressive rate of 4.83 runs per over. Daniel Flynn powered the innings with a knock of 241 off 253 balls that included nine sixes. Otago then batted out the rest of the match, scoring 343 for 6, with Redmond producing another ton.In another batsmen-dominated encounter, Central Districts played out a draw against Wellington at the Basin Reserve. Choosing to bat, Central Districts built their innings around opener Peter Ingram who scored a steady 135, and declared their innings at 337 for 9. Hundreds from Stephen Murdoch and Neal Parlane helped Wellington take the first innings lead by a sizable margin, despite legspinner Tarun Nethula picking up a six-for. The run-fest continued as Ingram powered to his second ton of the match, an explosive 143 off 136 balls laced with 26 boundaries, Central Districts ending day four on 368 for 6.

The announcement of the England Lions squad has presented the possibility of a batting shootout to fill the vacant slot in England’s middle order

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-2011With the first Test against Sri Lanka just over two weeks away, the announcement of the England Lions squad for the tourists’ final warm-up match starting on May 19 has presented the possibility of a batting shootout to fill the middle-order vacancy created by Paul Collingwood’s Test retirement.Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan are the main contenders and will play alongside each other at Derby, but the Lions top order will be crammed with county talent. James Hildreth has been named captain while there is also a place for James Taylor and Samit Patel, the Nottinghamshire allrounder, has been handed another chance after being left out of the World Cup squad due to his lack of fitness.Bopara is nudging ahead in the race to fill the No. 6 spot after overcoming a tricky start to the season to find some useful form and has also collected handy wickets with his medium pace. Morgan had been the stand-by batsman during the Ashes but his stock appears to have slipped. He has spent the last six weeks at the IPL and the Lions match will be his one first-class outing before the Test series.Hildreth and Taylor were both consistent performers during the Lions tour of West Indies but Patel’s selection is an indication he must have taken on board the seriousness of Andy Flower’s remarks about meeting fitness targets. The England team director didn’t hide his frustration at Patel’s lack of progress, but the message may finally have hit home and his early-season form has been promising.In the bowling department, Graham Onions’ returns to an England squad after a 15-month absence through injury. Onions has enjoyed a bright start to the county season with Durham following his rehabilitation with 12 wickets in his first two games of the season.Seamers Ajmal Shahzad and Steven Finn will have the chance to present their cases for higher honours this summer, while Jade Bernbach will look to take advantage of Chris Woakes’ enforced absence. Hampshire left-arm spinner Danny Briggs will also be able to showcase his youthful talents as the only specialist slow bowler in the side.”It has been very pleasing to see many of the players selected for the England Lions squad last winter make good starts to the domestic season and they have been rewarded with an opportunity to play a strong Sri Lankan side and push for further international honours,” said Geoff Miller, the national selector.”England Lions games are crucial stages in a player’s development and give selectors a good indication of whether players are ready to make the transition into the full England side. Furthermore it’s an excellent chance for fans to enjoy watching a talented young England squad take on a very good Sri Lankan Test side.”England Lions James Hildreth (capt), Jimmy Adams, Jonny Bairstow, Danny Briggs, Ravi Bopara, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Samit Patel, Ajmal Shahzad, James Taylor

The Sri Lankans gave themselves the perfect pre-Test tonic with an outstanding come-from-behind victory by 38 runs against England Lions. Despite following on 227 adrift they transformed the match and dismissed the Lions for 183 during the final session a

Andrew McGlashan at Derby22-May-2011
ScorecardEoin Morgan became Dilhara Fernando’s third wicket in six balls as Sri Lanka overcame England Lions•Getty Images

The Sri Lankans gave themselves the perfect pre-Test tonic with an outstanding come-from-behind victory by 38 runs against England Lions. Despite following on 227 adrift they transformed the match and dismissed the Lions for 183 during the final session at Derby. Dilhara Fernando took three wickets in six balls including Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, a pair who had contrasting emotions after England’s Test squad was named, while Nuwan Pradeep went through the rest with 4 for 29.It was a superb performance from the Sri Lankans who were a distant second-best for the first two days. But they then batted with conviction in the second innings to amass 448 and bowled with real desire. The effort was led by Fernando’s 11-over spell and backed up by Pradeep, who could well have bowled himself into the Test side, and he took the key scalp of James Hildreth who was the Lions’ last real hope.The second half of this match included a host of positives for the visitors, beginning with the 200-run opening partnership and then the performance of the fast bowlers who made the most of a howling gale from their back. Sri Lanka’s pace attack is still their weakest suit heading into Cardiff, but they will have taken huge confidence from this performance.Hunting down 222 in 73 overs, the Lions had moved to 58 for 1 when Fernando began to make inroads. Bowling with the wind – which was actually a gale – from his back he gave James Taylor a roughing up with some short bowling before trimming his off stump with an excellent delivery. In his next over he claimed Bopara, to complete a tough day for the Essex man, when another short delivery brushed his glove as he failed to get out of the line.Morgan, who received good news last night from national selector Geoff Miller, came and went in a flash. He pulled his first ball to midwicket but two deliveries later pushed forward at a good length delivery and edged to second slip where Mahela Jayawardene, who dropped two in the first innings, was back in safe-hands mode.During the afternoon session Dilshan largely used his spinners into the howling wind so that his quicks could benefit from the assistance. Hildreth and Samit Patel set about reviving the innings from 67 for 4 although Patel should have gone on 20 when he tried to hit down the ground with the wind and Thisara Perera, at long-off, made a mess of judging the catch. Patel then flashed a low catch to gully where the fielder was slow to move. Either side of his two lives he played some handsome strokes until being given lbw when height looked an issue to end a stand of 61.After tea the Lions suffered another swift slump. Firstly Jonny Bairstow poked a catch back to Pradeep who took it well in his follow through and then Ajmal Shahzad was lbw to the first ball of a new spell from Perera, a pace bowler given a rare burst into the wind. Hildreth had played calmly for his 38 but then flicked a catch straight to deep square-leg where it was well held by Dinesh Chandimal.It meant Thilan Samaraweera’s stubborn 74, which extended the lead beyond 200, proved crucial. The Sri Lankans had lasted another 14 overs on the final morning as Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach wrapped up the innings. Dernbach, who took 5 for 44 in the first innings, ended with career-best match figures of 9 for 138 but, as Sri Lanka showed the fight that has made them such a successful team, they ended up in a losing cause. England will need to be switched on come Thursday.