In 2011, the tourists from Sri Lanka are being seen as the starter course for the Indians later this summer. However, Eng;and should ignore them at their peril. Sri Lanka have been such a force in modern cricket that it is hard to remember Test matches without them. However, it was as recent as February 1982 when England deigned to be their first ever Test opponents, tagging the fixture on to the end of a long, tedious, rain-affected tour of India.
It was no surprise that England emerged triumphant, by seven wickets. In a low-scoring game, spinners Derek Underwood and John Emburey produced the most memorable performances against Bandula Warnapura's side but the junior Asian nation had finally been permitted to sit at the sport's top table. Two years later came Sri Lanka's first match in England. Three times between 1984 and 1991, the one-off fixture was slipped in around the August Bank Holiday weekend, almost as an afterthought, which was frankly a bit insulting.
The 1984 game is perhaps best remembered for opener Sidath Wettimuny's 10-hour knock of 190, supported by skipper Duleep Mendis and Arjana Ranatunga. Declaring at 491-7, it ensured they would not lose. England batted even more slowly, featuring an Allan Lamb century and a six-hour 86 from Chris Broad, and the only entertainment came from Mendis in the second innings. The game petering out into a draw, the captain attacked some mediocre bowling and narrowly failed to reach three figures for the second time in the match, a rare feat for Lord's.
Four years later, England were back in winning form, taking the tie by seven wickets. This was hardly one of their finest sides but they bowled Sri Lanka out for only 194 before Gooch, Barnett, Russell and Lamb all passed 50 on the way to a substantial first innings lead. The visitors showed a bit more resistance second time around but to no avail.
In August 1991, the fixture was the first Test match I ever experienced at first hand. On the first day at Lord's, Alec Stewart had struck an unbeaten 113, but Rumesh Ratnayake's 5-69 had kept his side in the running. However, Phil de Freitas took 7-70 to restrict Sri Lanka to just 224. In the second innings, I watched Graham Gooch hit an imperious 174, abetted by an unbeaten 63 from Robin Smith, then on the last day, a five0for from Phil Tufnell secured the inevitable victory.
In March 1993, the action switched back to Colombo but by then the newcomers were gaining experience. Sri Lanka came into the England match on the back of a victory over New Zealand and Ranatunga's team were feeling confident. However, Robin Smith hit a patient hundred before being bowled by a 20 year-old spinner with a unique delivery action. His name: Muttiah Muralitharan, and it was a name and action which would haunt English batsmen, and those around the world for the next twenty years or so! When Sri Lanka batted, the top six each passed 40, Tillekeratne leading with 93 not out on the way to 469. England struggled to reach 228, leaving the home side to gain their first Test success over England, by five wickets. The tide was beginning to turn.
It was more than five years before they would meet in a Test again, a period in which Sri Lanka had well and truly announced themselves on the international stage by becoming one-day World champions. They had yet to emulate that success consistently in the five-day format but with players of the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, a young Mahela Jayawardene and Muralitharan, it couldn't be long. In August 1998 at the Oval, England made a solid start; Hick and Crawley each scored centuries in a total of 445. However, Jayasuriya produced a thrilling double-hundred, helped by 152 from de Silva, and Sri Lanka enjoyed a 146 first innings lead. Going into the last day, England were 54-2 and looking to bat for as long as possible and get a draw. Enter Murali.... He bowled a total of 54.2 overs, half of them maidens, and claimed nine wickets. Incidentally the other one, that of Alec Stewart, was a run-out! Jayasuriya followed his 213 with 28 overs, 0-30 but Murali's 9-65 destroyed England and with time running out, the openers helped themselves to a rapid 37 and Sri Lanka had beaten England for the second successive match.
By this time, England had been humbled and could no longer pretend that Sri Lanka were minor league cannon fodder, worthy only of a solitary game every five years.
For the first time, a three-match series was scheduled for 2001. From then until today, there have been five series, and I shall continue the story of the nations' Test rivalry. Watch this space...
