With new management on both sides, and potentially extra edge provoked by Paul Farbrace's desertion from Colombo to Lord's, there is some welcome uncertainty about the result of the forthcoming ODI series between England and Sri Lanka. In 21 home matches across 21 years to date, history records a 11-10 lead for England, although most of their victories occurred when he opponents were a relatively inexperienced international cricketing nation.
They met twice in the 1983 World Cup when ODIs were 60 overs a side, and England won fairly easily. The first was clinched by a David Gower century and a Vic Marks 'five-for' while bowler Bob Willis was the Man of the Match in the next, although it was India who went onto win a memorable final against red-hot favourites West Indies.
Sri Lanka's first triumph on English soil came five years later. In the final of a triangular 50-over tournament at Lord's, a century opening partnership between Nick Knight and Michael Atherton was ultimately in vain as the new head coach Marvan Atapattu struck an uncharacteristically brisk 132 not out to ensure a five-wicket success. England again won 2-1 in 2002. The margins were relatively small but in retrospect, Andrew Flintoff's 28-ball half-century and 3-44 at Trent Bridge probably decided the series.
Four years later, Sri Lanka delivered a 5-0 drubbing. The most spectacular batting performance came in the final fixture at Headingley, by which time the series had long since been decided. Thanks to Marcus Trescothick's 121, England posted a decent total of 321-7. Enter Upal Tharanga and the wily Sanath Jayasuriya, just turned 37. The openers put on 286 for the first wicket, still the third highest ever seen in ODIs. Most of the runs flowed from the bat of the senior partner, as the man from Matara plundered 20 fours and four sixes in an innings of 152 in 99 balls. Jayardene and Sangakkara had the simple task of seeing SL to a series whitewash with more than twelve overs to spare!
In 2011, it was a much closer affair. Anderson and Swann got England off to a superb start at The Oval, but Mahela Jaywardene evened things up with his 144 in Leeds. Two days later at Lord's, Mahela scored another 75 runs but an unbeaten 105 by Dinesh Chandimal took his side to a 2-1 lead. England took the series to a decider after Cook and Kieswetter helped them to a ten-wicket slaughter. At Old Trafford, Cook opted to bat first. Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan scored half-centuries, then the SL openers were Bresnan-ed with the score on 12-2. Mahela didn't last long, but stands of 94 (Sangakkara and Chandimal) and 102 (Mathews and Jeevan Mendis) brought them back into the mix. However, with 37 needed in under four overs, Mathews was unable to marshal the tail, and England won the match by 16 runs and the series 3-2.
The most recent ODI encounter occurred last summer in the ICC Champions Trophy. A day-nighter at The Oval again saw England make a decent score thanks largely to Joe Root's 55-ball 68 and a late cameo from Ravi Bopara. However, this time, Sri Lanka made no mistrakes in their run chase. Sangakkara smacked an unbeaten 134 and Kulasekera discovered his inner Jayasuriya by clouting58 in 38 deliveries, and a seven-wicket victory was theirs. Both made the semis but neither won the competition.
Next up, I'll look back at the best players in the England-Sri Lanka ODI history. I promise the usual candidates and a few surprises!
