The Hundred: 40 to 31

40: Garfield Sobers

As any young cricket fan in the Seventies would know, the West Indian all-rounder scored 8,032 Test runs and 365 not out, both world records lasting many years. I’m just about old enough to remember seeing him on the News tonking poor Malcolm Nash all over Wales in 1968 and his batting masterclass against England at Lord’s in ‘73. He was a bit creaky bowling Sunday League stuff for Notts but Dad would remind me I was watching one of the world’s greatest players – and he was right. 

39: Mahela Jayawardene

OK, so his record outside Asia was rather modest but the man from Colombo was one of the batsmen I most enjoyed watching this century. The adjective ‘elegant’ is normally reserved for tall men but, at 5 feet 7,Jayawardene was the exception. He could play shots all around the wicket with effortless ease and no right-hander has surpassed his immense 374 against South Africa in 2006. His century deserved to win the 2011 World Cup Final, but MS Dhoni had other ideas, and Mahela also really rocked the helmet-and-bandana look. 

38: Richard Hadlee

As a contemporary of Lillee, Holding, Marshall, Kapil Dev, Botham, Imran Khan and others, he rarely gets a look-in when it comes to video montages of 1970s/80s pacemen. However, it was the New Zealander whose new-ball pace and swing made him the first man to reach 400 Test wickets. He was the lynchpin of the Black Caps’ excellent Eighties outfit and played many county seasons for Notts. I never saw him bowl but he came on for the tourists as 12^th man at Chelmsford just after his knighthood was announced. The applause must be the loudest ever heard for a sub fielder! 

37: Gordon Greenidge

Another familiar face (and moustache) on the county circuit - for Hampshire – Greenidge was the epitome of explosive strokeplay yet calmness under pressure. I loved it whenever he strode out to the middle for the West Indies because we were usually in for a treat. He notched well over 50,000 runs in all formats and of course was an excellent catcher, too. Gordon’s final day 214 not out at Lord’s in ’84 was nothing short of sensational and to think he was once qualified to play for England…. 

36: Jonty Rhodes

I can’t think of many cricketers who people would pay to watch just for his fielding but Jonty Rhodes as certainly one of them. His Test career was delayed by South Africa’s ban but for 11 years he was one of the most electric fielders on the planet, not so much for his acrobatic catching but his athleticism and throwing from the covers or backward point. Batsmen took him on at their peril. He was ostensibly a batsman, albeit down the order, and he averaged a decent 35 or so in Tests and ODIs. However, he was worth many more runs and wickets with his stops and run-outs. I was fortunate in 1998 to witness a few of these against Essex. 

35: Virat Kohli

I remember seeing a young Virat Kohli playing in an ODI for India and wondering why on earth he wasn’t in their Test team. He wasn’t a slogger, yet scored quickly, efficiently and unflappably. Since his 2011 Test debut he has gone on to become the greatest – and richest – all-round batsman of his generation, accumulating centuries, ODI run records and a global fanbase. He may not be the best traveller but I always enjoy watching him bat as well as marshal his fielders. At Cardiff I also noted his willingness to respond to adoring crowds urging him to “Give us a wave”, the sign not only of a great sportsman but also a superior role model. Kohli has it all. 

34: Ian Bell

I often attach myself to cricketers who go about their business skilfully but without fanfare. Walking egos like Botham, Petersen and Stokes crave attention but I prefer my players to be like Ian Bell. It’s amazing to think he made his debut against the Windies sixteen summers ago, top-scoring with 70, since when he played 118 Tests and 161 ODIs. He has endured some torrid times but was imperious in 2010 and 2011, then again in the 2013 Ashes series.  I also appreciate his loyalty to Warwickshire, although he is currently woefully out of form. 

33: Hallam Moseley

At a time when I lapped up every West Indian fast bowler, it’s fair to say that Hallam Moseley didn’t exactly hog the headlines. He was no Joel Garner, but proved a great servant to the county throughout the 1970s. I saw him play live only once (in 1981) but he was a frequent fixture on TV. Besides a very useful limited-overs seamer, the bespectacled Barbadian was extremely popular for his under-arm throwing to the wicket, good humour and readiness to sign autographs on the boundary. 

32: Craig Kieswetter

A decade ago, Somerset were blessed with two classy wicketkeeper-batsmen. One was the teenage Buttler, but even he wasn’t the best. Instead the SA-born, Millfield-educated Craig Kieswetter was for a while England’s preferred option for ODIs and T20, in which he was an outstanding improviser, but it was his superior red-ball batting which led the county to sacrifice Jos at the end of 2013. This made his horrific facial injury suffered the following July all the more galling. He never fully recovered, officially quit cricket in 2016 and at Somerset has never been replaced. 

31: Greg Chappell

The Aussie also played briefly for Somerset but a few years before my time. Then, during the ‘70s, Greg became one of the most prolific Test batsmen in the world. He was very hard to get out and always looked so upright and elegant at the crease. He blotted his copybook in a 1981 ODI by, with a six needed off the last ball, instructing his brother Trevor to bowl a sneaky daisy-cutter. I recall as a boy trying to copy his tidy medium-pace seam-up bowling action but it’s for his imperious batting – and he scored centuries in his first and last matches - that he should be remembered.

Great week for Middlesex and Surrey

The open nature of the County Championship was again much in evidence after the latest round of matches. Non-playing Somerset slipped to fifth but aren’t out of the running. Nor, it can be said, are Hampshire, in eighth place!

However, Middlesex’s crushing defeat of Durham, only their fourth of the season, extended their lead at the top to 26 points. Nicks Gubbins and Compton shared a second-wicket stand of 247, then Ollie Rayner was the star bowler (4-17 and 5-85) as the visitors crumbled twice. No Durham batsmen managed even a half-century.

Yorkshire have a game in hand but failed to beat their Roses rivals at Old Trafford in a high-scoring match. Alex Lees scored 199 runs for the away team but Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed is on a hot streak right now. He picked up a couple of centuries, ably supported by Tom Smith, leaving Yorkshire, bolstered by Root and Bairstow, no time to meet the formidable target.

Surrey are also flying right now, leaping to third after seeing off Warwickshire by 226 runs with a solid all-round performance. Sam Curran’s 62 and match stats of 6-76 were probably the key contributions, along with Kumar Sangakkara’s 135 runs.

Hampshire won the battle of the bottom two by 176 runs, leaving Nottinghamshire in serious trouble. Wheater struck 102 early on but Scottish teenager Brad Wheal’s second innings 6-51 proved decisive.

In Division Two, Essex also collected win number four, making mincemeat of Derbyshire who have yet to record a single Championship success. Nick Browne pursued his penchant for big scores, making an unbeaten 229, before Ravi Bopara and Graham Napier led the way with the ball. The home team’s ex-Essex opener, now Derby captain, Ben Godleman did manage a hundred but all in vain.

At Northampton, Ned Eckersley scored his third successive century, and team-mates Cosgrove and Pettini also reached three figures for Leicestershire. However, Rob Newton was instrumental in depriving the opposition of a crucial victory, aggregating 224 without losing his wicket.

Sussex collected maximum points in their demolition of Gloucestershire at Hove. Luke Wells and Ben Brown stroked hundreds for the home side but Michael Klinger couldn’t follow his first-innings 129 with another big score and they failed to make Sussex bat again. Worcestershire’s promotion challenge faltered at home to Glamorgan, who delighted in a rare win. Bragg and Morgan scored the all-important runs and Mark Wallace bagged nine catches behind the stumps. A shame for Worcester’s Joe Leach, who was the stand-out all-rounder on display.

It wasn’t Worcestershire’s day, either, in the Royal London Cup quarter-finals. Somerset massacred them by nine wickets with several overs to spare at Taunton. Mahela Jayawardene rewarded his county’s patience with a beautifully-judged 117 not out. They will now take a trip to Edgbaston, after Warwickshire beat Essex by 70 runs. Jonathan Trott’s 101 set them on their way before his spinners finished the job.

It was a closer finish in the Yorkshire-Kent encounter at Canterbury, but the England trio of Willey, Plunkett and Adil Rashid wiped out the tail when Kent looked set for victory in their chase. However, you couldn’t have witnessed a more exciting climax than the one served up by Surrey at Northants. The home side had Surrey nine men down with 14 balls remaining and 27 required. That they succeeded was almost entirely down to the brilliance of Sangakkara, who farmed the strike, hitting a six and four in the final over. Had he not been dropped on seven, things may have been rather different!


Team of the Week: Browne (Ess), Newton (Nor), Hameed (Lan), Sangakkara (Sur), Bragg (Gla), Brown (Sus +), Franklin (Mid), Leach (Wor), Napier (Ess), Rayner (Mid), Wheal (Ham)

Team of the Week: Hail, Herath and Monty the spin kings!

It was a really well-balanced week in terms of eye-catching performances. Big scores at the top, consistent runs in the middle-order, double-wicket hauls from experienced spinners and excellent all-rounders.

I don't normally do this but I have included three opening batsmen in my Team of the Week, although one is there as an all-rounder who just happens to be a captain and new-ball number one. England's under-19 team beat their South African counterparts 4-0 in one-dayers this week, and Will Rhodes and partner Haseeb Hameed were central to each victory. The former plays for Yorkshire 2nds, the latter for Lancashire 2nds but the Roses differences were put aside for the internationals. Captain Rhodes weighed in with 168 runs and 11 wickets while Bolton-born 17 year-old Hameed delivered a sequence which reads: 97, 97, 125, 32. Maybe in five years' time, he'll be gunning for the Bell, Bopara or Root slot in the senior team.

Before heading for The Oval, I'll divert to the southern hemisphere and select Phil Hughes. The second unofficial 'A' Test at Townsville was ruined by rain, but the maddeningly inconsistent Aussie struck a superb unbeaten 243, to go with another double in one of the earlier one-day fixtures.

The aforementioned Joe Root also makes my team for the latest of his big scores for England. 149 not out was the simple statistic but it seems that once he is set, nobody can get him out, especially an Indian attack seemingly desperate to go home or play the limited over format. Few players average more than 100 in a five-Test series but the young Yorkshireman managed that landmark. Another handy biff-bash merchant, Luke Wright enjoyed a good week personally, if not for his Sussex side. His 113 and 52 in the Championship defeat to Yorkshire were followed by 127 in 115 balls against Glamorgan, also in a losing cause. If Jacques Rudolph had produced runs in the four-day match, his county record-breaking 169 not out in that game would have given me even more of a selection headache, and Kane Williamson (189 for Yorkshire) also just misses out.

My final specialist batsman is Steven Davies. No longer keeping wicket for Surrey, he plundered 174 and 38 against Leicestershire in the Championship and a run-a-ball 50 in the Royal London Cup win against Somerset. With the gloves, Northants' Adam Rossington is narrowly nudged aside by Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed. He made his fourth successive Test 50, including 103 in the latest loss to Sri Lanka.

David Willey, Jim Allenby and Adil Rashid all caught the eye as all-rounders but one of the season's stars, Tom Smith, forces his way into my squad this week. His wicket-taking consistency was maintained in both first-class and List A contests, alongside a 47-ball 54 in the Cup plus 44 and a match-winning 35 not out in the nerve-shredding climax versus Durham.

For once, Anderson and Broad let the supporting cast take the spotlight at The Oval, and Chris Jordan lapped it up with 3-32 and 4-18 as India's batsmen capitulated miserably.

Finally to those slow bowlers. Monty Panesar has produced the goods for England before now but in a rare outing for Essex in these days of misbehaviour the former beard that's feared claimed eleven wickets in the Championship triumph over Glamorgan. Rangana Herath is vying with Saeed Ajmal for player of the summer, and he added another fourteen to his Test career tally in the second win against Pakistan. The retiring Mahela Jayawardene may have been given the greater ovation but the spinner, just one year younger than his outgoing colleague, took his wicket tally in the last three five-dayers to a Murali-like 32, and 23 in the two-match series. More records abound!

In conclusion: Rhodes (Eng u-19, *), Hameed (Eng U-19), Hughes (Aus A), Wright (Sus), Root (Eng), Davies (Sur), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak +), Smith (Lan), Jordan (Eng), Herath (SL), Panesar (Ess).

Time for Sri Lanka to make a Test impression in England

The recent ODI series has shown that England and Sri Lanka can engage in a really competitive series of cricket over here. It hasn't always been so in Tests. The first four encounters were all one-offs tagged on to the end of a more lucrative series, followed by a trio of triple-headers. In 13 games, Sri Lanka have won only twice, whilst losing six and drawing the remaining five. Things could have been a lot worse but for the incomparable Muttiah Muralitharan, who took more wickets (48) than just about anyone else put together in the six Tests in which he participated. It goes without saying that he played a huge role in his country's pair of triumphs. To succeed in 2014, new players will need to show the right stuff. Too often, the legendary batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have disappointed on England tours so could they sign off with match-winning innings, or will it be left to younger men like Senanayake (if allowed to play!) or Angelo Mathews?

It all began on the August Bank Holiday weekend of 1984. England had been slaughtered by the West Indies so this would be the chance for David Gower's shellshocked side to regain confidence by thrashing the new kids on the block. However, it wasn't the easy ride everyone predicted. Gower won the toss and inserted the visitors, who proceeded to bat solidly and tediously for more than two days! Sidath Wettimuny persevered for almost eight hours for his 190, although skipper Duleep Mendis was much quicker to compile 111. Jon Agnew, Ian Botham and Paul Allott have become highly regarded cricket commentators in recent years but they were made to slog through nearly 100 overs of seam and swing before Mendis declared on 491-7. Despite a hundred from Allan Lamb, England were bowled out 120 short at the end of Day 4. WIth no chance of a result, Amal Silva and Mendis again made batting look easy on a benign closing day.

In 1988 and 1991, England enjoyed routine victories but there followed a seven-year hiatus before Sri Lanka returned for a Test match. By this time, they were no longer easily dismissed as cannon fodder; indeed, they were reigning one-day world champions. Arjana Ranatunga was by now the captain and a draw looked most likely as England scratched around for five sessions and 445 runs, most produced by Graeme Hick (107) and Jon Crawley (156 not out). In place of the snail Wettimuny, Sri Lanka boasted an opener in a very different form: Sanath Jayasuriya. His 213, along with Aravinda De Silva's 152 took the game away from Alec Stewart's hosts. Mr Muralitharan did the rest, finishing the game with 16 wickets for 220 runs from 113 overs! Sri Lanka had broken the duck.

By 2002, the Sri Lankans had finally been granted the respect of a three-match series. Despite the arrival of Mahela and Sanga, Jayasuriya's men were well beaten despite making England follow on in the Lord's opener. Four years forward, and England were in a topsy-turvy Ashes period. Trescothick and Pietersen held their nerve and their wickets while Murali wrought havoc at the other ends to take a 1-0 lead. However, at Trent Bridge, it was a low-scoring affair and came down to a tense fourth day climax. The scene was set for that man Murali yet again. The wily wizard claimed 8-70 and even Monty Panesar was the third top-scorer that afternoon with 26. He even struck the sole six of the innings, but all in vain. The series ended all-square.

Three years ago, Cardiff witnessed an amazing finale. Sri Lanka made a decent 400 but Jonathan Trott's double-century and three figures each for Cook and Bell left Sri Lanka with the fifth day in which to bat out for a draw. Instead, Broad, Tremlett and Swann required a mere 24.4 overs to dismiss Dilshan, Sanga and co for 82 and snatch a memorable innings success. Not even Murali would have been able to rescue that one. Batsmen were on top in the remaining matches and the series ended 1-0 to England.

So what about the best performers spanning the thirty years and thirteen Test matches? For England, it's a difficult task to narrow it down to eleven. For Sri Lanka, it's almost impossible to pick eleven worthy of a place in any fantasy team! Murali would have to bowl non-stop from one end and hope his team-mates didn't concede too many. A winning strategy on occasions but not in a 'Dream XI' like this! My all-time England v Sri Lanka competitors reads as follows:-

England: Alastair Cook (*), Marcus Trescothick, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Alec Stewart (+), Andrew Flintoff, Graeme Swann, Matthew Hoggard, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar.

Sri Lanka: Sidath Wettimuny, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Aravinda de Silva (+), Duleep Mendis, Chaminda Vaas, Chanaga Welegedera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath

It wouldn't be tough for Kulasekera, Mendis or Senanayake to topple Vaas and Welegedera from that team, but England's class of 2014 may struggle to displace Swann and Hoggard. I still predict a 1-0 win for England.

England v Sri Lanka ODIs - too close to call?

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!

Sri Lanka make it through

So it's Sri Lanka to meet India in Cardiff on Thursday. Just for once, my prediction was right. However, there was a period when, having blown their chance of winning quickly enough to qualify, Australia's final pair seemed to be coasting to an unlikely victory to spoil the Sri Lankans' party. The team's over-exuberant appealing can be really annoying, but they know how to celebrate and so do their fans who filled The Oval today.

It may have been Dilshan's brilliant caught-and-bowled which clinched the win by just twenty runs but it was the earlier contribution from Mahela Jayawardene which deservedly won him the Man of the Match award. One of my favourite players of modern times, Mahela just oozes class when he gets going. Sangakkara may have failed this time but his veteran team-mate compensated with a run-a-ball 84 featuring eleven sparkling boundaries. Xavier Doherty did well to quieten things down mid-innings but Sri Lanka passed 250 to leave the Aussies knowing a rapid start was necessary. A simple win would not be enough to progress; they had to do it within 29 overs or so to improve their net run rate sufficiently to overtake New Zealand.

George Bailey set the standard early on but wickets fell and the Voges/Marsh partnership was too slow. Thereafter it became a matter of pride for the Aussies, although Black Cap players and supporters found themselves in the unusual situation of cheering for their neighbours and rivals. So Sri Lanka advance having beaten both England and Australia, while the latter, badly missing Michael Clarke, are heading home. Maybe there'll be a few last-minute temporary contacts being signed on the county circuit instead!?

I said an England-India clash would be the organisers' dream final and that must be the most likely outcome. When even Alastair Cook strikes two sixes in a limited over match, you kinda feel it's meant to be. However, in yesterday's rain-shortened game against New Zealand, it was the suite of bowlers who produced the decisive performance. That and the fielding. While Nathan McCullum at first seemed unable to pull off even the most basic of catches (forget the ball-tampering, was Nathan in the pay of Cook?!!) - the home team looked the keener outfit. Perhaps NZ were putting too much hope in the Cardiff clouds to deliver the pre- 20 over abandonment they needed. However, Broad, Anderson, Bresnan and even Bopara bowled pretty tightly and the field placements were spot on.

The weather forecast looks OK for the England-SA fixture and if AB, Amla and Steyn are firing on all cylinders, the home squad will have their work cut out to reach another final. The Thursday prognosis is not so good for Cardiff. A washout will see India through because they won their group. If an abbreviated game takes place, it could be anybody's match and Messrs Duckworth Lewis may be heavily involved in deciding the result. Nevertheless, I look forward to the opportunity of witnessing a game whose outcome owes more to Dhoni, Dilshan or Dhawan than downpours. It's what the sell-out crowd deserves.

Gayle takes the Windies to the brink

Hats off to Chris Gayle. Every opposition captain knows that if you remove the charismatic opener you have a far greater chance of beating the West Indies. Yet, match after match they seem unable to get him out until it's too late, if at all.

Against the Aussies, he plundered a typical bravura 75 not out which, assisted by a brutal Pollard cameo, set Bailey's men a target which was way out of their reach. Shane Watson had earlier won four consecutive Man of the Match awards and now Gayle has struck three successive half-centuries. Sri Lanka must now be a bit nervous as they prepare for a world final on home territory.

Their own victory over Pakistan highlighted the special trio at the top of the batting order, especially Mahela Jayawardene who has long been a favourite of mine in any format. Their batting has a frail look further down the order apart, maybe, from Angelo Matthews. Nevertheless, on paper the Sri Lanka bowling looks stronger, from the formidable Malinga and under-rated Kulasekera to the spin of Herath and the two Mendises.

Twenty20 cricket, of course, is not played on paper and is more unpredictable than any team sport I can think of. I don't know whether home advantage has been the key factor but Sri Lanka have deserved to reach the final. Their only defeat so far has been in the 7-over slogathon at the hands of South Africa, with a further Super Over narrow squeak over New Zealand and perhaps the cup is destined to nestle in the capable hands of Mahela.

But the Windies have surprised me at the ease of their progress, particularly in the semis at the expense of the other form team. Darren Sammy has the look of a man who doesn't really believe he is he captain of an international side on the verge of success. It's been so long since a Caribbean team have looked world-beaters, two decades in the shadows of Lloyd, Richards, Lara, Marshall, Walsh et al. OK, so it's only T20, but a trophy of any kind will give West Indian cricket a shot in the arm it so badly needs. T20 is a game where one innings can win a match and, if Gayle falls short, Bravo or Samuels has to step up and deliver a match-winning score. A spinning wicket will hurt them but they do have a genuine chance. Form teams have a habit of coming a cropper in this type of competition and that may well give the West Indies the confidence and motivation to beat the local favourites and keep the T20 World Cup out of Asian hands for another two years.

Sangakkara (nearly) at the Double

Poor Kumar Sangakkara. In two consecutive Tests, he has narrowly missed out on reaching a double-century, a landmark he has previously reached eight times. Last week he was cruelly left high and dry on 199 not out, something only Andy Flower had experienced in Test history. This week, at Colombo, he was dismissed to an airy-fairy shot for 192 when well set with no pressure given that the match was heading for a certain draw.

Let's face it, he's not so poor really. Aged 34, he has one of the highest career Test averages in history, at almost 57, with 30 hundreds to his name from 110 games, and an aggregate fast approaching the magic 10,000 runs. Yet this week we will consider his excellent innings to be 'failures'! With more and more Test series these days, double centuries have become more common, but Sri Lankans seem to be particularly associated with scores of 200+. Indeed, of the ten batsmen to have achieved the feat at least six times, three hail from the island: Sanga on eight, Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu on six.

Unsurprisingly, the incomparable Sir Don Bradman heads the list on twelve (in only 52 Tests), followed by Brian Lara, the only man to hit the dizzy heights of a 'quadruple'. The elegant Kumar is third on the list with a personal best of 287, struck against South Africa at the SSC six years ago. Five of his 'doubles' were on home territory, one each at Bulawayo, Karachi and Abu Dhabi.

So are home pitches behind the record run-getters from Sri Lanka? In that innings when Sangakkara compiled 287, amazingly he was not the highest scorer. His partner, Mahela Jayawardene, slightly senior to Sanga, made an incredible 374 as his side racked up a first innings lead of - wait for it - 587 runs! And yes, they did win that game against the Proteas. For such a great player, his statistics would be somehwat less impressive if you exclude home matches. Four of his 'doubles' have been in Sri Lanka and all in the Asian subcontinent. In fact, his highest score outside Asia is a mere 141, in Napier, New Zealand.

Marvan Atapattu last played for Sri Lanka in 2007 after a 90-Test career. He usually played second-, or even third fiddle to the likes of Jayasuriya, Da Silva or Sangakkara. He was often the rock at the top of the innings while others flashed their blades and enjoyed a good conversion rate of single- to double-hundreds, progressing to 200 six times out of sixteen. Like his two compatriots, four were struck in Sri Lanka and the other two in Zimbabwe. Marvan's career was almost still-born. On his debut against India at Chandigarh, he bagged an embarrassing pair and didn't play again for two years. He then improved, scoring 0 and 1! He then played only one Test in the next five years. Hardly surprising given that in February 1994, he was again twice dismissed without scoring against India. Fortunately he was batting well in domestic cricket and after being given an extended run in 1997 he finally cracked it with 108 in Mohali. In total, his record includes 22 ducks, more than his century count. Of the other notable double-centurions, only Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle and Stephen Fleming can claim this unfortunate record.

While Atapattu has retired from first-class cricket, Sanga and Mahela roll on and, with more home Test series, they will surely add to their tally of 200s. If any man deserves the 'poor' tag this week, it's Mohammed Hafeez. Before Kumar went for 192, the Pakistani opener had been bowled on 196, missing the sweep which would have presented him with a very first double-century. Gutted!

England remain at Number One

There should be much relief at Flower Towers after England ended their losing streak of four matches and therefore clung on to their number one position in the ICC Test rankings. The defeat at Galle left the tourists with a number of headaches, particularly the issue of the top batsmen dealing with Herath and Randiv. Strauss and Pietersen were all allegedly playing for their positions but England's first innings performance allayed many fears.

A rare century stand between the captain and Cook got them off to a great start, while Trott and Pietersen extended the lead. Poor Ian Bell. His fourth wicket partnership with KP reached 94, yet the Warwickshire man contributed a mere 18 of them. Pieteren was in one of his determined yet skittish moods, plundering a century in boundaries alone, finally falling for 151. With a 185-run lead, Sri Lanka desperately needed a similar response from their top order but yet again they failed to deliver. Only Mahela Jayawardene showed the way with another century and, while Angelo Mathews provided some typical late order steel in both innings, the team failed to set a three-figure target. I suppose it was inevitable that Pietersen would wrap up the game with another six, with eight wickets to spare.

So an encouraging response from England. Anderson and Swann have again demonstrated they are world class bowlers, and the top four batsmen all look secure for the Windies series. Bell, after a prolific 2011, looks very scratchy and the jury is out on Bopara and Patel. Tim Bresnan should be in the team if only as a lucky mascot. In eleven Tests England have a 100% record, regardless of whether he scores runs or takes wickets!

As for Sri Lanka, they have now failed to win a series since 2009 against New Zealand. Without Mahela's runs, their batting looked unusually frail, even at home, and the spinners also spared their side's blushes. I can't see them repeating their success outside the subcontinent so there is work to be done. For all Jayawardene's appetite for runs against England, his record away from home is mediocre. Thirimanne is the only leading batsman under the age of thirty and he has just one 50 from 14 innings so far.

Maybe some of the players on show here had the IPL on their minds. Whether that is true of Kevin Pietersen I can't say, but the way he dominated the Sri Lankan attack suggests he has an eye on a place in the Delhi Daredevils side. Trouble is, he will be in competition with a certain Mr Jayawardene....

England up against history as well as Herath

Last time, England were in Sri Lanka for a Test, back in December 2007, there was a proper three-match series at stake. If they are struggling against Herath this week, remember they had the mighty Murali to worry about four years ago. While at the time of writing, the First Test could go either way, last time, it was Sri Lanka who dominated. In fact, England got off lightly with a 1-0 defeat.

It started at Kandy, where the visitors unusually established a first innings lead. Matthew Hoggard took 4-29 but it was that man Prasanna Jaywardene who, with Kumar Sangakkara, prevented an early embarrassment. As in the Galle Test in 2012, Ian Bell top-scored for England with 83, frustrating Muralitharan who nevertheless took 6-55. Things then swung Sri Lanka's way. The openers put on a century partnership before Sanga made 152, including another 122 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene, who later declared to set England an unlikely 350 to win. Bell passed 50 again, as did Matt Prior, but the bowlers did their job and the home side won by 88 runs to make it 1-0.

A few days later, the circus moved on to Colombo. This time it was a gritty Cook and a swifter Vaughan who shared a big opening stand. However, it was a patchy England innings, featuring a first-ball duck by Bopara. Debutant Stuart Broad and his colleagues had a tougher time of it, as Sri Lanka amassed 548-9 declared. Opener Vandort scored 138 and both Jayawardenes were again in the runs, led by skipper Mahela, who contributed a hefty 195. Rain and more solid English batting on the final day ensured a draw.

Galle hosted the final Test and England's hopes of equalling the series were soon dashed. Hoggard returned in place of new boy Broad but Sri Lanka once more posted a considerable score, and Mahela was even more dominant, compiling an unbeaten 213. He does seem to enjoy making big hundreds at home against England. Things went from bad to disastrous as Vaughan's side crashed to 81 all out. Only three reached double figures and this time it was the seam of Vaas rather than Murali's spin which did most of the damage. Their second innings spanned more than two days, which lent more to rain than Alistair Cook's patient century, and near certain defeat was averted.

Weather looks unlikely to intervene in March 2012 so there will be a positive result. Sri Lanka must be favourites to go 1-0 up just as they did four years earlier, but when you have KP, Trott, Prior et al, there's always hope. Just don't play back to full deliveries and be thankful you're not up against Mr Muralitharan!

Player of the Week: Mahela Jayawardene

Two players in particular caught my eye this week, Firstly, India's Ishant Sharma claimed ten wickets in the drawn Barbados 2nd Test. His first innings analysis of 6-55 gave his side the initial edge but rain and bad light prevented either side from winning.

One man who did finish on the winning side - twice in two days - was Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene. After failing in the first ODI against England, he struck a brilliant 144 from 150 balls at Headingley, followed by 79 at Lord's at more than a run a ball. This combination wins earns him the Player of the Week prize.

Now 34, the stylish Sri Lankan former captain has been one of the world's greatest batsmen for a number of years now. While statistically his best format would appear to be Test cricket, he has produced some scintillating performances in ODIs this year. That 103 not out in the World Cup Final would have merited a Man of the Match and the big trophy itself 99 times out of a hundred. However, MS Dhoni deprived him of both. Now he has returned to his habit of giving English bowlers a hard time. A s ever, he achieved his high scores without the need of rustic heaves to long on, but with elegant field-piercing cuts and drives to the boundary, supported by neat flicks and nudges for ones and twos. Jayawardene's ODI average is better against England than any other Test-playing nation, although in Tests he also seems to excel against India and South Africa.

Mahela made his international debut in August 1997, against India in his native Colombo. It was to be a memorable match. Not so much because he struck 66 but because those runs contributed to Sri Lanka's world record total of 952-6 declared. Saneth Jayasuriya made 340 in that innings but the veteran opener's efforts would later be eclipsed by Jayawardene's 374 in the same city nine years later, part of a stupendous 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene seems to make a habit of hitting doubles and trebles and has advanced his career aggregates in both Tests and ODIs to almost 10,000 in each. His ODI average of 33.5 is fairly ordinary but in Tests it is a mighty impressive 52.6, including 28 hundreds.

An astute captain of his country, by all accounts he is also a nice guy, and commits a lot of time and money to charity projects. Mahela remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka's international squad, which needs him to play on for a good few more years yet if they are to remain one of the world's top nations. He may not hit the headlines for beefy T20 knocks but it's always a pleasure to see such a master craftsmen at work in Test and ODIs.