Date-stamped : 24 Mar95 - 18:37 England `A' v Sri Lanka, First One-day Old Trafford, 14 August 1991 ====> Prematch, 13 Aug 91 Sri Lanka to face a testing line-up - Richard Streeton SELECTION for the winter tours and the World Cup in Australasia are the main incentives for the England A team when it meets Sri Lanka in two one-day internationals at Old Trafford, today and tomorrow. The Sri Lankans are in good heart after an encouraging win against Somerset on Monday which ended a modest start to their tour. Sri Lanka have always been capable of causing upsets in limited-overs matches the basic diet in their domestic programme. In the absence of their Test side in New Zealand, they still won four of the five one-day internationals at home against England A last winter. The present team`s attributes could be well suited to the hard, bouncy pitch at Old Trafford. Their attacking batsmen, like de Silva, Gurusinha, Jayasuriya and Kuruppu, should be able to play their strokes and they have the spinners to capitalise on the turn which should become avail- able. Both sides expect to give everyone in their squads at least one match. The Sri Lankans face a severe examination against mostly ex- perienced opponents, led by Martyn Moxon, whose man-management skills have emerged so successfully since becoming the Yorkshire captain. Until Malcolm withdrew yesterday, with a shoulder inju- ry, eight of the England players were aged 27 or more. At the other end of the age scale, Hussain and Ward are 23 and Cork 20, and they are now joined by Malcolm`s replacement, Peter Martin, who is 22. Moxon, at 31, is the oldest member of the side and must now be considered the front-runner to lead the A team this winter in the Caribbean. His opening partner today will be Ward, whose penchant for clean striking has in no way been dimmed by opening for Kent. Goodness knows what odds might have been available in April against Hick playing in these two games. His problems against the West Indian fast bowlers, however, created the need for technical readjustments. Not much will be proved either way, one feels, in these two fixtures. Johnson, whose forceful approach has con- sistently brought him runs this season, deserves his chance. The other batsmen are Fairbrother and Hussain, whose qualities are well known. Marsh, aged 30, is the wicketkeeper. Watkinson, who is also 30, has an opportunity to answer those who query whether, as an all-rounder, he is good enough either as batsman or bowler for the game`s higher levels. A similar ques- tion mark hangs over Illingworth, the slow left-arm spinner. Such has been given the off-spinning role, while Pick and Martin will share the new ball. ENGLAND A: M D Moxon (Yorkshire, capt), G A Hick (Wor- cestershire), T R Ward (Kent), N H Fairbrother (Lancashire), N Hussain (Essex), P Johnson (Nottinghamshire), M Watkinson (Lan- cashire), S A Marsh (Kent), R K Illingworth (Worcestershire), R A Pick (Nottinghamshire), D G Cork (Derbyshire), P M Such (Essex), P J Martin (Lancashire). SRI LANKA (from): P A de Silva, A P Gurusinha, F S Ahangama, S D Anurasiri, M S Atapattu, U C Hathurusingha, S T Jayasuriya, R S Kaluwitharana, D S B P Kuruppu, M A W R Madurasinghe, R S Mahana- ma, M Muralidaran, H C P Ramanayake, R J Ratnayake, H P Til- lakaratne, K I W Wijegunawardena. Umpires: J H Hampshire, and D O Oslear. Source :: The Times ====> Match TReport, 14 Aug 91 Sri Lanka`s batting falls to spin attack - Richard Streeton OLD TRAFFORD (England A won toss): England A beat Sri Lanka by 63 runs. SRI LANKA batted with a disappointing lack of judgment against the England A spin bowlers yesterday and suffered a heavy defeat in this first one-day match. Too many indiscreet strokes were played as Sri Lanka, set to make 244, were dismissed for 180. Only Roshan Mahanama, the opening batsman, who was out to the last ball for 73, emerged with any credit. By batting so poorly, Sri Lanka let themselves down, as earlier their bowlers did well to keep the England total within bounds. The ball turned more as the day progressed but never excessively as the batsmen succumbed to over-ambitious strokes. Illing- worth, the left-arm spinner, took wickets in his second and third overs and both off spinners, Such and Hick, in their first, while the England A fielding was consistently good. Sri Lanka never got the start they needed, losing the experi- enced Kuruppu in the fifth over to a direct hit from an underarm throw from cover by Ward. Illingworth came on for the twelfth over and his quick successes established the pattern that fol- lowed. Gurusinha mistimed a lofted drive and was held at wide mid-off, de Silva was caught behind as he tried to cut. Jayasuriya and Atapattu, the last recognized batsmen had both gone by tea when Sri Lanka were 66 for five. Watkinson got one to bounce more than most and Jayasuriya was caught down the leg side as he tried to glance. Atapattu pushed an awkward, low return catch that Such did well to hold. When Hick bowled, Tillakaratne drove a catch to short extra cover. Well judged catches by Ward and Fairbrother at long-on brought the next two wickets before Wijegunawardena slogged with relish as 53 came for the ninth wicket. Mahanama was resolute for three-and-a-half hours until Watkinson had him leg-before. He hit only one four and faced 149 balls. Sri Lanka had bowled tidily earlier but several overthrows and 35 extras did not help them. England were 157 for three after 40 overs, with Fairbrother and Johnson scoring well. Both were out soon afterwards and England were never allowed to mount a signi- ficant, closing acceleration. Moxon was forced to pla an anchor role after Ward and Hick failed and faced the responsibility with calm assurance. Ramanayake and Ratnayake, the new-pair, always bowled with good control and Madurasinghe, the off spinner, and Jayasuriya, the left-arm spinner, restricted the batsmen in the late stages. Ratnayake dismissed Ward when he played across a yorker. Hick`s disappointing performances at representative level continued when he prodded at a ball from Ramanayake without moving his feet and was caught behind. It was the thirteenth ball he faced. Moxon and Fairbrother added 86 in 18 overs for the third wicket before Moxon was run out. He played a ball from Wijegunawardena to deepish point and was unable to beat Gurusinha`s throw when Fairbrother rightly sent him back. Fairbrother hit strongly on the leg side and past extra cover as he and Johnson provided the most entertaining strokeplay in the England innings. Johnson was out when he moved forward against Jayasuriya and made room but the spin beat him. Fairbrother fell when he checked a drive against Madurasinghe and gave a return catch. Source :: The Times Contributed by Gihan (Gihan.N.Wikramanayake@cm.cf.ac.uk)