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Filed under England vs Srilanka

We'll call it a 'cricket tour', but most of the time, for the cricketers - its only about playing one match & moving to next stadium for another! Journey would be a better word. there's hardly any time to tour the country.

But not the case with England cricket board. ECB has planned a perfect tour for its boys, where all the 5 ODIs will have one reserve day, and then they play first 3 ODIs at one stadium & trevel to just once for next two. Simply put, England couldn't have hoped for a better touring scheme that they have this time in October-December 2007.

They even go back home for 3-4 days after the One day Internationals to come back for 3 test match series starting with 2 practice games!!

So,here's how England cricket will spread flavour in Sri Lanka :

01 Oct - Monday, 1st ODI - Dambulla.
04 Oct - Th'day, 2nd ODI - Dambulla.
07 Oct - Sunday, 3rd ODI - Dambulla.
10 Oct - We'day, 4th ODI - Premadasa, Colombo.
13 Oct - Sa'day, 5th ODI - Premadasa, Colombo.
All matches will be Day night affairs.

01-05 Dec - 1st test match - Kandy.
09-13 Dec - 2nd test match - Colombo.
18-22 Dec - 3rd test match - Galle.
England XI plays two 3-day tour games before test series - from 20th & 25th November, against yet to be named local first class level teams.

But wait a minute - you got to check out the Weather Report of Colombo before you plan to watch any of the above mentioned matches. Rain god is hovering over Lankan territory & we'll be lucky to get the full series without any intruption.

Telecast channels & match timing - are obviously sky sports in UK. Even Fox Sports will be showing this test & odi series between England & srilanka. In India, Tensports is the channel to catch the matches live whereas the match timing might be tricky. As all the England vs Sri Lanka one day internationals will be played day-night - they'll start at 1000hrs in the morning for UK people. 1430hrs is for Sri Lanka & Indian viewers. Hopefully, you can convert the timing according to your country.

Now my view on the series :
Tough for England, yet their best chance in recent years. SLanka is without star spinner - Muthiah Muralitharan (at least out of ODI series) & England have just come back from playing India, who used two spinner regularly against them. England batters should use the experience & build on good form of Alaister Cook, Ian Bell & captain Paul Collingwood.

Other than this encouragment, all I can remind is an article I wrote some 5 months ago - Srilanka - the toughest team to beat at home. Mahela Jayawardene is THE captain of will & agression to make things un-easy for the English.

England in Sri Lanka 2007 - tour schedule.

England pull one over mighty lankans, series sets up