Sanath Jayasuriya demands aggression from Sri Lanka in upcoming England Test series

Sri Lanka's interim coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, has called on his team to display "hunger" and determination as they gear up for the three-match Test series against England, beginning on August 21. 

In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Jayasuriya emphasized the need for the players to have the right mindset, highlighting the importance of seizing this rare opportunity.

“I want to make sure there is that hunger,” Jayasuriya said. 

“Playing three Tests like this is not an opportunity you will get easily again," he added.

The former Sri Lankan captain particularly noted the tricky nature of the pitches, where even seemingly flat surfaces can suddenly start swinging or seaming.

“So, we have to take it while we can. Scoring runs here is challenging, because even if the pitches are flat, the ball can still start swinging, or seaming. We have to know how to adjust to that,” he said.

Reflecting on the current Sri Lankan squad, Jayasuriya expressed confidence in their potential but underscored the need for resilience and strategic play. 

“We have the personnel there, but we need to fight hard. If you play six or seven batters, only two or three will perform for sure. If they get a start they need to play big innings," he said.

The seasoned cricketer turned coach also pointed out the challenges posed by the Duke ball, which is known for maintaining its ability to swing and seam even as it ages.

“They know they have that responsibility on challenging wickets. Everyone should play their natural game, but once you get that start, there are places where you need to break things down a little, and either bat quickly, or slow down for a bit," he said.

“When the ball gets older, it can still seam here, which is the uniqueness of the Duke ball, " he concluded.

It is worth noting that England has announced their playing XI for the first Test match.

The Test matches are part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, and both teams are set to give their best efforts. Sri Lanka currently holds the fourth spot on the WTC points table with a 50% points percentage, while England is ranked sixth with 36.54% points percentage.

England Playing XI: Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook (vc), Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.