England Cricket 
/ Michael Vaughan / 25 May 2011 / 1 Comments 
James Anderson can have a big role to play as ever if the ball is swinging early on
"Andrew Strauss has far fewer things to worry about. This is virtually the same side that won the Ashes a few months ago and these are of course conditions that should suit this side even more."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan gives us his take on the challenges Sri Lanka face in this Series, why Kevin Pietersen can come good this summer and how to approach the betting for the First Test.
There's only ever been one Test match played at Cardiff - the First Test of the 2009 Ashes series - so we don't have a huge amount to go on as regards assessing the wicket over five days. I did play a few county matches there over the years though and my memories of it are that it's a good batting track that doesn't really deteriorate so I'm expecting plenty of runs. If we cast our minds back to that Test in 2009 where England hung on for a priceless draw, it was more the pressure of the situation that saw wickets fall on the final day rather than any gremlins in the pitch. That said, if there's a bit of moisture in the air on the first day the new ball could swing and that obviously means James Anderson could become a huge factor; if England bowl first they'll need the Lancashire man to be on the money early on if they're to put Sri Lanka under pressure from the start because I suspect batting will become easier.
You have to feel for Tillakaratne Dilshan. In his first-ever Test series as captain he's going to have to do what no Sri Lankan captain has had to do for almost two decades: try and win without Muttiah Muralitharan in the side. Admittedly the spinner didn't take quite as many wickets in England as he did in other countries but there was always that fear factor about him and even on the flattest of tracks you always suspected a wicket was never too far away. To make matters worse Dilshan is also without Lasith Malinga, who has retired from Test cricket due to ongoing injury concerns. But some would say that, because the pace bowler has played so little Test cricket, he's not nearly as much of a loss as Murali.
Without those two and Chaminda Vaas, who also retired a while ago, I simply can't see Sri Lanka bowling England out twice, especially as it will take them some time to get properly used to conditions over here. That said, they do bat quite deep and in Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene they have three fabulously talented batsmen who can occupy the crease for long periods. England will have to make the most of any chances that come their way as regards getting that trio out.
Andrew Strauss has far fewer things to worry about. This is virtually the same side that won the Ashes a few months ago and these are of course conditions that should suit this side even more. The one player who Strauss may have a few concerns about is Kevin Pietersen, who by his own very high standards has been somewhat out-of-sorts. In the Surrey man's defence though, he did have a double hernia operation which is always tough to recover from, and his Test form has actually been pretty good. Pietersen's still averaged over 40 in the longest format of the game over the past two years. If you offered that to most Test batsmen around the world they'd bite your hand off. It's actually been in limited-overs cricket that he's struggled somewhat in but, if I know KP, he'll play his best cricket now that he's under a bit of pressure. He's just that sort of guy.
The forecast isn't great for the first couple of days with showers expected and that's the only thing that's putting me off taking the [2.08] on England. So the best way to play this is to back the draw now at [2.66] and lay off your bet if it goes odds-on. When you do that it may be best to keep most of your profit on England and a small green position on the draw with no loss (or win) on Dilshan's side. The weather could possibly save the tourists, as could an inspired second innings batting performance from one of those three I mentioned earlier, but I simply can't see them winning the match.
Recommended bet:
Back-to-lay the draw at [2.66]
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