- England are on the point of a humiliating defeat to Sri Lanka within the third Take a look at
- Paul Collingwood refuted claims {that a} sense of complacency had crept in
- A loss would damage England’s bid for his or her first excellent Take a look at summer time in 20 years
England are plunging in the direction of an embarrassing defeat to Sri Lanka on the Oval that might made a mockery of their bid for a primary excellent Take a look at summer time in 20 years.
Ollie Pope’s crew capped a efficiency suffering from sloppiness once they have been dismissed for simply 156 on the third day and the Sri Lankans resume Monday on 94 for one, needing an additional 125 runs to copy their well-known 1998 victory right here.
Nevertheless, assistant coach Paul Collingwood countered a deluge of digs on the angle of Pope’s males, saying: ‘The lads are very happy with taking part in for England, so it’s not felt like there’s been any complacency coming into this match.
‘We now have been in some fairly deep holes at instances previously, however now we have managed to get out of them as a result of there’s a whole lot of expertise in that dressing room.
‘There may be nonetheless perception and it is going to be one hell of a Take a look at match if we win from this place. You may get wickets in batches on the market.’
England are hurtling in the direction of a humiliating defeat to Sri Lanka within the third Take a look at on the Oval
Assistant coach Paul Collingwood (proper) didn’t consider any complacency had crept in
A defeat to Sri Lanka would damage England’s bid for its first excellent Take a look at summer time in 20 years
Certainly, England have been lowered to a woeful 82 for seven earlier than Jamie Smith’s spree of 52 off 19 deliveries roused a full home south of the Thames, hoisting Sri Lanka’s goal to 219.
Of Smith, who ultimately succumbed for a 50-ball 67, Collingwood mentioned: ‘He’s definitely an entertainer. You return to the times of when Adam Gilchrist got here in at quantity seven for Australia. It sucks the life out of the opposition when somebody has the flexibility to try this.’
England headed into this contest making an attempt to finish six victories out of six in opposition to West Indies and Sri Lanka. Not since 2004 underneath Michael Vaughan have they maintained a 100% file in a house season.
