Colombo - Sri Lanka will settle for nothing less than a 2-0 series loss in the second and last Test against England in Colombo from 03-04-12, as the happy hosts celebrate 30 years of Test cricket.
Sri Lanka won the 1st Test in win by 75 runs, meaning a draw would be sufficient at the P. Sara Oval in the Sri Lankan capital for a 1st series Test win since 2009, when they hit New Zealand 2-0 at home. We will go for 2-0 because we play our best cricket when we are positive, Captain Mahela Jayewardene said on Monday.
Andrew Strauss's spin-wary England will slip to number 2 in the world rankings behind South Africa if they lose or draw the 2nd Test, but Jayewardene said his team was not going to show the tourists any mercy. When play a team like England, you have to be violent and look to get in front of them from the 1st ball. They are a sturdy side and will come hard at us, he said.
But we are ready for that and ready to play excellent cricket. We played well in Galle and must now look to develop on that. It was at the same venue that Sri Lanka played their opening Test in February 1982 against an England side led by Keith Fletcher, which win by 7 wickets inside four days.
It is going to be a bit emotional; Jayawardene said of the landmark Test. Everyone who plays the match will happen to part of our rich history. We are modest and proud to be part of such an important game.
