Fitness of trump cards cause concern

By Ted Corbett

GALLE, FEB. 21. Ashley Giles, the left-arm spinner, who emerged from the England shadows to win the Test series in Pakistan with 17 wickets, swears he will be fit for the first Test when it begins on Thursday. ``I have lived with my Achilles tendon problem from the start of my career and I think it can be managed,'' he said as coach Duncan Fletcher looked on anxiously at nets on Tuesday.

``I often play for Warwickshire in discomfort, but I get through most games and I am confident that I will be fit when the Test begins. It's part of my life and I just have to put up with my condition. But, don't worry, I will be fine,'' Giles said.

For the last week the speculation in hot and sweaty Sri Lanka has been that Giles, a big man with an awkward action that places a big strain on his ankles, will not play in the opening game of the series in the southern port of Galle.

It is essential from the England point of view that Giles is able to continue as its main strike weapon. England needs to prove its improvement in the last year is still on the march against a Sri Lankan side which will want to show that it has shaken off the effects of the disastrous tour of South Africa.

The two sides will battle for supremacy in front of a unique audience. At the moment you would hardly know that Galle belonged to Sri Lanka as hundreds of British tourists flaunt their Union Jack tee-shirts, drink their beer and sing their nationalistic songs. They have come to Sri Lanka to get away from the winter at home, to have a few days on the beaches and to watch the newly- popular England chalk up its fourth successive series victory. Following England abroad each January has become a national pastime in the last seven years but never have the supporters travelled with such an expectation of success. England has beaten Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan and the last triumph, in the dark in Karachi, sealed one of its best years, with six wins in 10 Tests. Captain Nasser Hussain, one of the main architects of victory, has added to his own stature even though he has not made a century at any level for 14 months.

Hussain says, ``It's not going to be any easier. Hard work and dedication are the only answers, but I know now that my lads have got tons of both qualities. I hope they turn out their strongest team because we want to return home saying we defeated their best.''

That depends largely on the fitness of Muttiah Muralitharan, the most devastating off-spinner in the game's history, who tore one groin muscle in South Africa at the beginning of January and another in New Zealand early this month after a year in which he has taken 75 wickets in 10 Tests. ``I hope he plays and my lads knock him all over the park,'' said Hussain, half-seriously, about a most unlikely scenario.

The Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore says, ``I am confident Murali will be fit.'' But there is doubt in his voice and the whisper from the dressing room is that, although he has netted three days in a row, Muralitharan will be kept back for the second Test. It is a crucial decision since he spun out 16 England batsmen at the Oval in 1998 when Sri Lanka won by nine wickets. Sri Lanka has not won a Test without him since his career began eight years ago.

England has had second thoughts about playing its standard team, with Robert Croft, a second division off-spinner compared to Murali, in place of the leg-spinner Ian Salisbury and may use seven batsmen and leave out Andrew Caddick to include Michael Vaughan. England seems to have the stronger batting line- up and the more varied attack, but victory will probably depend on the old faithful Mike Atherton.

He is 32, approaching the veteran stage after 104 Tests in the last 12 years, but his innate ability to play marathon innings could be crucial. He has often reminded me how rarely he gets out to spin and if anyone can conquer Murali's mix of off-spin and leg-breaks it is this dour opening batsman. Just how much he learnt when Muralitharan was the Lancashire overseas professional in 1999 could swing the first three-match series between the two countries.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Kumara Dharmasena, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Mahela Jaywardene, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Muttiah Muralitharan, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kumara Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa.

England (from): Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Graeme Hick, Michael Vaughan, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough and Robert Croft.

Umpires: Messrs A.V. Jayaprakash (India), P.T. Manuel (Sri Lanka). Third umpire: Asoka de Silva. Stand-by: T.H. Wijewardena. Match referee: Hanumant Singh (India).

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