Colombo, Nov 08: With star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan out of form, Sri Lankans were worried about the resurgent England cricket team that arrives here next week to play three Tests and an equal number of one-day internationals. "For Sri Lanka cricket it is not only going to be a testing time, but a test of character," Saadi Thawfeeq, a cricket commentator, wrote in the state-run daily news.
Sri Lanka's team wants to break a 16-month losing streak in Tests.
The team has gone through three two-Test series with three losses and three draws against South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies. The team's last test win was against Bangladesh at home in July 2002.
Sri Lanka's one-day record is slightly better, with 16 wins and 18 losses since September 2002. Sri Lanka now occupies seventh position in both Tests and one days. The West Indies, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh rank below Sri Lanka in Tests and New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Bangladesh are below this South Asian island nation in the one-day rankings.
Before its run of bad fortune, Sri Lanka occupied third position in both rankings.
England now holds that spot.
England, under new captain Michael Vaughan, has led the team to victories in one-day series against Pakistan, South Africa and Zimbabwe and a Test series draw over South Africa and a 2-0 Test win against Bangladesh.
At the heart of Sri Lanka's struggle for success has been two key bowlers, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, who have not been performing well. The last three Test series has seen their strike rates go up as high as over 70 balls per wicket.

Muralitharan takes a wicket every 70 balls and Vaas every 76 balls.

"For Sri Lanka to win, Muralitharan must regain his form quickly. This our main hope," said T R Fernando, a cricket fan.

England arrives in Colombo on November 13. The first one-day match is scheduled for November 18.
Bureau Report