What was supposed to be a gentle hors d'oeuvre to the India main course has blossomed into a fascinating brace of games which both went right down to the wire. Ten days of fluctuating fortunes but while Pradeep managed to keep Broad out for five spine-tingling deliveries at Lord's, monumental defensive efforts from Moeen Ali and tailenders Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson at Headingley were ultimately in vain.
T20 fans will no doubt scoff at the disgraceful lack of 'maximums', dancing girls and taped trumpet trills. However, despite only 37 runs coming from the last 28 overs it seems crazy to say it but this was cricket at its most exciting. A shame I was at work or on the train home and missed yet another thrilling climax. Beats a penalty shootout any day!
The series was definitely a triumph for Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews. Not just because his side upset the odds by winning a multi-match series in England for the first time but also on a personal level. His Lord's century was in some way outshone by Sangakkara's knock but last weekend's Test-best 160 and 149-run partnership with Rangana Herath did much to decide the series. His 4-44 in England's first innings was also by far his finest bowling figures in a five-day game and included the wickets of Ballance and Root.
It had all been going so well for England. Stuart Broad's second Test hat-trick, Liam Plunkett's five-for and Sam Robson's first Test century combined to give the home side a 108-run lead at the halfway stage. However, with Kumar Sangakkara's world record-equalling sixth successive half-century and Mahela Jayawardene's 79 steadying the ship, followed by Mathews' brilliant innings, things were swinging back SL's way. Nevertheless, a target of 350 in more than a day on a flat pitch was not impossible. Enter Dhammika Prasad.
The recalled 31 year-old seamer ripped out the top four, including Alastair Cook for the second time in the match, and England were reeling at 57-5 at stumps. That they took the contest to the very last over was in itself a heroic backs-to-the-wall performance more akin to the football team in tournaments gone by. It was also testament to Moeen Ali's batting skills. Better known as a silky strokemaker, the number six kept the scoreboard ticking over while marshalling the tail. Broad is no mug with the bat but dug in admirably for 24 balls before falling plumb LBW to Herath. Anderson did even better, defending for 81 minutes without scoring until Eranga forced him to fend a lifter to backward square. Shades of the Ashes 2005 but this time England just couldn't hold on long enough.
I certainly didn't predict a Sri Lanka series success and it wasn't entirely down to Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Mathews was great and for once his bowlers didn't disgrace themselves, emerging from the shadow of Murali. In all honesty, it wasn't a disaster for England, either. All the new boys, Moeen Ali, Sam Robson and Chris Jordan had their moments, while Joe Root and Gary Ballance each produced valuable hundreds. Ian Bell managed a first innings 64 to mark his hundredth cap so the only man to emerge with egg on his face was Cook.
His 78 runs in total must leave him disappointed but there's not yet a reason for vilifying him and either dropping him and/or removing he honour of captain status. Let's see what happens against India. Will he get the chance to get more batting practice for Essex? Might be an idea. However, I think this England line-up deserve another opportunity in a few weeks' time.
