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Sri Lanka have been accused of being a one-man team for years. The tag, however, could just as easily be applied to England as the two teams square up for the third and final Test here at Trent Bridge from Friday (today).

Muttiah Muralitharan and Kevin Pietersen have not only dominated the series but their enthralling head-to-head has also provided its focal point.

The Sri Lankan spinner has taken 13 of his team’s 19 wickets in the first two Tests but Pietersen’s 158 at Lord’s and his 142 at Edgbaston have proved even more valuable, giving the home side a 1-0 lead before Friday’s start.

The right-hander, as his captain Andrew Flintoff acknowledged, was the difference between the two sides at Edgbaston. His unique batting style, made up of his huge reach and a tennis-style top-spin stroke to leg, was once considered more suited to one-dayers than Tests but the critics have been dispatched as quickly as opposition bowlers. He has scored three hundreds in his last three home Tests.

Muralitharan has quickly joined the ranks of his admirers. “He’s got everything in his armoury,” he said, before comparing him to the likes of Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Sachin Tendulkar and adding: “He’s on top of the world.”

The 34-year-old Muralitharan, however, who is probably playing his last Test in England, had the consolation of dismissing his tormentor cheaply in the second innings at Edgbaston to limit the size of England’s six-wicket win.

The pair’s personal battle will again attract the most attention at Trent Bridge.

England, who look certain to be unchanged, already have much to celebrate. Their young imports have all scored successes, with fast-medium bowler Liam Plunkett and batsman Alastair Cook particularly impressive, in the absence of Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, while derided in some quarters for his fielding, has also provided a new edge to a bowling attack admirably led by the 11-wicket Matthew Hoggard.

Sri Lanka’s newest additions have been less convincing.

Farveez Maharoof, aged 21 like Tharanga, has also struggled, taking one wicket for 167 with his fast-medium bowling. His starting slot is likely to be reviewed, with quick bowler Nuwan Zoysa and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara as possible options. The more experienced Thilan Samaraweera could also face the axe. Batting at five, he is averaging 4.25.

Coach Tom Moody and the rest of Sri Lanka’s team management have opted to give youth a chance and a change of policy seems unlikely.

Sri Lanka have won only one of nine Tests in England and that success, in 1998, was built almost entirely on Muralitharan’s efforts. The off spinner took 16 wickets in the match and was deprived of a historic 10-wicket haul only by Alec Stewart’s run-out in the second innings.

Teams (from):

England: Andrew Flintoff (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Geraint Jones (w/k), Liam Plunkett, Matthew Hoggard, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar and Jon Lewis.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Upal Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Malinga Bandara, Nuwan Zoysa and Lasith Malinga.

Source:The News