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Rediff.com  » Sports » Sri Lanka expect strong England fightback

Sri Lanka expect strong England fightback

November 20, 2003 22:43 IST
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Sri Lanka coach John Dyson expects England to return to form quickly following their humiliating 10-wicket loss in the opening match of the three-game one-day series.

Sri Lanka bowled England out for 88 at Dambulla on Tuesday, almost a record low total, but Dyson said he knew Michael Vaughan's side were capable of big scores.

"We have seen that England are gelling into a good unit and that defeat might have been a wake-up call," Dyson told reporters on the eve of Friday's second match.

"I would expect them to come back very strongly," the former Australia opening batsman added.

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said his side remained full of confidence.

"We know that we can wrap up the series if we play like we did on Tuesday," the skipper told reporters.

Sri Lanka are expected to name an unchanged team with moist conditions again likely to favour the seam bowlers.

England must decide on their replacement for paceman James Anderson, who will miss the next two one-day matches and is in doubt for next month's first Test because of an ankle ligament injury.

"We need a couple of days to assess but the doctors are optimistic that he will be back between 10 days and two weeks," England physiotherapist Dean Conway said.

James Kirtley, who was playing squash with Anderson when the injury occurred, is tipped to be included.

"The opportunity to play would be great but my concern now is for Jimmy (Anderson)," said Kirtley.

"No one likes losing like that but we are a young side and it would be foolish to not learn from it."

Anderson's injury came just hours after it was revealed that England strike bowler Steve Harmison would miss the three-match Test series with a back injury he suffered last month.

The third match in the one-day series will be played on Sunday.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, TM Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Kumar Dharmasena, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chamara Silva, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Dinusha Fernando.

England: Michael Vaughan (captain), Gareth Batty, Ian Blackwell, Rikki Clarke, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Richard Johnson, James Kirtley, Anthony McGrath, Chris Read, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick.

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