Second Test. England v Sri Lanka at Riverside. 27/5/16.
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:53 pmFriday sees the start of England's sixth Test staged at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, only their second since 2009; the last being the Ashes contest of 2013, where Stuart Broad's 6-50 on the fourth day won England the only high summer Test to take place in the north east. England have played five, and won five. Riverside is the ultimate fortress, an absolute banker, ever since England beat Zimbabwe by an innings in three days in 2003.
That's partly because the early summer games are intended to invite shivering tourists from the lower rankings to allow the home side to limber up for the main event (though Sri Lanka's early season win in England two years ago upturned that plan). Sri Lanka looked the part of undercard fall guys in losing in 160 overs to England at a wet, sombre Headingley last week.
Things will get no better on Friday. Only three travelling batters have ever made hundreds on the ground. Shivnarine Chanderpaul of course, on one of the two tours when England just couldn't get him out. And Chris Rogers and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Next is Aftab Ahmed's 82* for Bangladesh in 2005. Ryan Harris and Fidel Edwards have five-fers. Of touring spinners, just Nathan Lyon has taken more than two wickets in a match (seven).
Such is the turnover of England batting and the infrequency of Durham Tests, only Alastair Cook has made a five day hundred on this ground, 160 against West Indies in 2009. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow played in the 2013 Ashes, neither passing 30. James Anderson has 17 wickets in three games at 20.5. Broad has 14 in two at... 14.6. And unless there is a shock of Blyth Spartans proportions, this is where the game will be won, with swing and seam. Even Graeme Swann could hardly get his hands on the ball in Durham.
Since the Leeds Test, Ben Stokes and Dushmantha Chameera have been ruled out of the series with injury. England have called up a nicely tuned Chris Woakes, though could give a debut to the 25 year old Jake Ball. It's difficult to know what changes Sri Lanka can usefully make. Suranga Lakmal will come in and Sri Lanka will have to hope that the Durham groundstaff play cricket ground stars-in-their-eyes and prepare a dry Galle turner. Either way, they'll find the climate cold and cloudy and alienating. Tickets available, but running out fast.
That's partly because the early summer games are intended to invite shivering tourists from the lower rankings to allow the home side to limber up for the main event (though Sri Lanka's early season win in England two years ago upturned that plan). Sri Lanka looked the part of undercard fall guys in losing in 160 overs to England at a wet, sombre Headingley last week.
Things will get no better on Friday. Only three travelling batters have ever made hundreds on the ground. Shivnarine Chanderpaul of course, on one of the two tours when England just couldn't get him out. And Chris Rogers and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Next is Aftab Ahmed's 82* for Bangladesh in 2005. Ryan Harris and Fidel Edwards have five-fers. Of touring spinners, just Nathan Lyon has taken more than two wickets in a match (seven).
Such is the turnover of England batting and the infrequency of Durham Tests, only Alastair Cook has made a five day hundred on this ground, 160 against West Indies in 2009. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow played in the 2013 Ashes, neither passing 30. James Anderson has 17 wickets in three games at 20.5. Broad has 14 in two at... 14.6. And unless there is a shock of Blyth Spartans proportions, this is where the game will be won, with swing and seam. Even Graeme Swann could hardly get his hands on the ball in Durham.
Since the Leeds Test, Ben Stokes and Dushmantha Chameera have been ruled out of the series with injury. England have called up a nicely tuned Chris Woakes, though could give a debut to the 25 year old Jake Ball. It's difficult to know what changes Sri Lanka can usefully make. Suranga Lakmal will come in and Sri Lanka will have to hope that the Durham groundstaff play cricket ground stars-in-their-eyes and prepare a dry Galle turner. Either way, they'll find the climate cold and cloudy and alienating. Tickets available, but running out fast.
