Mathews bites back at Vaughan quip
Captain Angelo Mathews was pleased to counter former England captain Michael Vaughan's insistence that Sri Lanka have "a glorified county attack", after welcoming a superb 100-run win – and historic one-nil series victory – at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday.
Captain Angelo Mathews was pleased to counter former England captain Michael Vaughan's insistence that Sri Lanka have "a glorified county attack", after welcoming a superb 100-run win – and historic one-nil series victory – at Headingley on Tuesday.
Led by talented seamers Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad and veteran spinner Rangana Herath, the tourists successfully combated centuries from opener Sam Robson and the left-handed Moeen Ali to succeed in Leeds.
The hosts almost forced a draw, as a defiant 10th-wicket stand between Ali and tail-ender James Anderson spanned late into the day. The reintroduction of Eranga, though, soon saw Anderson dismissed off the penultimate scheduled delivery amid a cliffhanger conclusion.
"Eranga bowled a brilliant ball to dismiss Anderson. I'd tried my best to change the bowlers, change the end and we pulled through. I hope my attack is better than a county attack, there was a little bit of debate about that, that maybe my attack was not good enough for county cricket but I think we showed we are so I am happy," said Mathews.
The stalwart Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, meanwhile, have probably played Test match cricket in the United Kingdom for the last time. The pair quit Twenty20 International cricket earlier this year, and are arguably not far away from retiring from the longest form of the game.
"I am trying my best to convince them so you never know. It's up to them to make that decision, but I'm doing my best because the way they are playing they can carry on forever," added Mathews.
"Already we don't have Chaminda Vaas or Muttiah Muralitharan in the team, but we have guys who are willing to do the job, work hard and are excited about playing Test cricket."
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