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England are set to retain Graeme Swann as their sole spinner for today’s second floodlit One-day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka here in Dambulla.

That would mean no place for Monty Panesar, who missed the 119-run defeat in game one of the five-match series. England must win at least one of the two remaining Dambulla matches to keep the series alive for the Colombo games.

Meanwhile, Swann said he hoped to pair up with former Northants colleague Panesar at some stage in the tour. Swann made an international comeback on Monday after more than seven years in the wilderness. He took 1-47 and was one of the few England batsmen to score his runs — 24 off 12 balls — at a decent rate.

Swann added: “I didn’t really look at it as me being picked instead of Monty. When the team was announced I was a bit hazy after my name was read out as to who the other bowlers were and I had to go and ask a few minutes later”.

“It would have been nice to have bowled with Monty and rekindle the partnership we had at Northants six or seven years ago. But there are four more games to go and hopefully at some stage on this trip I will get the chance to bowl with him,” he added.

England are likely to resist making any changes, and captain Paul Collingwood was pleased enough with wicket-keeper Phil Mustard’s debut.

Collingwood and Mustard are club colleagues at Durham, and the skipper added: “I thought the way he kept and the way he was buzzing around the field was impressive for his first game”.

“You do see a lot of people go into their shells a bit, but he had a big smile on his face, he enjoyed his little cameo and I’m sure he’ll learn a lot from that,” he explained.

“He’ll be disappointed to get out first ball to a new bowler without giving himself the chance to have a look at him. He’s shown potential there which is the exciting thing and he’s a great character to have in the dressing-room as well so it’s a good start for him,” he added.

But England may try to get more out of Ravi Bopara. The Essex all-rounder looked wasted at number seven in the batting order, and did not bowl an over.

With the wicket in Dambulla taking more spin than expected, Sri Lanka may ponder playing the specialist slow bowler Kausal Lokuarachchi after doing without one on Monday.

Squads: Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (wicket-keeper), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Kausal Lokuarachchi, Dilhara Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Farveez Maharoof.

England (from): Paul Collingwood (captain), Alastair Cook, Phil Mustard (wicket-keeper), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Monty Panesar, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Luke Wright, Chris Tremlett.

Source:Cricket News