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England fast-bowler Stuart Broad on Saturday said he wants his side to aim for a clean sweep against both Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the upcoming summer tours.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 29-year old said that the forthcoming series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka would provide England’s Test side with the opportunity to prove they are the best in the world. “We’re in a great place as an England cricket team. We have seven of the nine Test trophies available to us. The two we don’t have are Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” he said.
“Both the opponents will be here this summer and what an opportunity that is, what a motivation that is for a group of guys to fight and play some exciting cricket and entertain,” he added.
Apart from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, England currently hold all the Test trophies which are on offer. However, Broad wants to extract revenge for the tense 0-1 loss at home against Sri Lanka in 2014 and the two terrible tours of UAE where his side lost five out of six Tests against Pakistan.
The Nottingham-born paceman, who is currently ranked as the top bowler by ICC in Tests, also promised to entertain the audience with an exciting performance. “Part of the new philosophy of England cricket is to entertain the people watching and we’ll be looking to do that every day we step onto that field,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s tour of England for a three-test series is scheduled to begin on 19 May, following which Pakistan will begin their four-Test series against the hosts from 14 July.
Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Chaminda Vaas (355) are the only Sri Lankans with 300 or more Test wickets.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is seeking an admission to the exclusive club of bowlers who have pocketed 300 or more Test wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Chaminda Vaas (355) are the only Sri Lankans with 300 or more wickets in whites. Herath is three short of reaching the milestone.
Herath, who retired from limited-overs cricket following Sri Lanka’s below-par campaign at the World Twenty20 in India, said he never sets any goals, but it will be a big achievement for him if he gets to the landmark.
“I have not set any goals for myself. Whenever I have played for my country, I have always wanted to see how best I could contribute to win. That has been my approach all the time. It would be a big achievement if I can get to 300 Test wickets, but after that, I don’t see any goals that I can pursue,” he said.
Sri Lanka will be playing 10 Tests this year and the 38-year-old, who has battled knee problem throughout his career, is planning to be part of each one of them.
“There are about ten Tests lined up for this year and I’ve decided that I can manage myself and my knees playing in that format rather than the hustle and bustle of one-day cricket,” he said. (India Today)
Test batsman Kaushal Silva, who was hit on the head with a ball during a training session, is out of danger, Sri Lanka Cricket said.
Kaushal Silva was hit on the head with a ball while fielding in Pallekele yesterday. Although CT scan was clear he was airlifted to Colombo for precautionary observation and tests, Sri Lanka Cricket said.
The batsman, who was admitted to a private hospital in Colombo as a precautionary measure, is out of danger, it said.
