Sangakkara anticipates stiff competition in England

Former Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, gears up for a hard-fought encounter as Sri Lanka take on England at home in a three-match Test series.

The stylish left-handed batsman, who will be playing his fist international match after stepping down from Captaincy, is highly alert of the menace that England present. The Poms claimed a historical Ashes triumph last year in Australia and boast a well composed Test team.

The left-hander revealed to The Cricketer that England have a fantastic Test team.

Moreover, he said that what he noticed in the Ashes was their discipline and mechanical efficiency in the bowling department. They did not have outstanding pace but they definitely had tremendous control and line and length in their bowling. That will be the main problem for Sri Lankans.

The 33-year-old left hander admitted that England have a sturdy batting line-up ably supported by their bowling.

"England have also been successful because [Graeme] Swann has come in and done very well. They have that balance, a quality spinner to back up quality seam. Our current spinners may not be in the same class as Murali yet but they're getting there".

The dependable l left-handed batsman accepts that Sri Lanka have not fulfilled their promise at Test level entirely. He pondered that he does not know if they have done enough in Test Cricket.

Sangakkara revealed that Australia, South Africa, and, England are three places Sri Lanka have to go and win. They have not won a Test in India either, which is astonishing because India has almost the same playing conditions as Sri Lanka.

The current Sri Lankan team will have a hard time against England, as they start life without their magical off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, a man that played a vital role in Sangakkara’s progress.

He elucidated that the biggest thing he learnt from Murali was the devotion and obligation you need to perform.

"The more Murali played, the harder he worked. For me the first year or so was the easiest. The opposition didn't plan much for you. After that you walk in and you see these fields set for you, and you think: 'Oh my God, how do I score my runs now?' I had to go back into the nets and work out a new way - improve my leg-side play, drive a lot straighter. From Murali I learnt how much evolution takes place in a cricketer's career".