Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardena heaped praise on England team for their clinical performance in their recent 2-0 whitewash against his home side, saying Joe Root and his team are “very well prepared” to face strong India in the upcoming Test series.
On Monday, England beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the second and final Test to complete a clean sweep 2-0 at the Galle International Stadium and former Lankan captain said their latest comprehensive Test series win makes the upcoming India Test series “a very exciting” and can pose a challenge against India.
However, England might have thrashed Sri Lanka in the recent Test series to start their sub-continent campaign on a high note and got a lot of confidence ahead of the crucial India tour, but Jayawardena said Root and his team will face a much more daunting task against India.
India and England will play four Tests starting with the first Test from February 5 in Chennai followed by five T20Is in Ahmedabad and 3 ODIs in Pune and Jayawardena said having the likes of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer back is a massive boost for the tourists ahead of the four Tests in India.
Jayawardena told Sky Sports: “I think that’s going to be a very exciting series and a very good challenge for this group of players. That’s what cricket is all about. You need to go away and win the Test series.”
Stokes, Archer, and opener Rory Burns have already reached India and are currently undergoing quarantine in Chennai and former Sri Lankan batsman feels the star all-rounder’s return will give England the much-needed experience of playing in India and further strengthen their batting unit for the crucial Tests.
He further noted, “Getting Ben Stokes back will be a massive advantage for England because he will bring that experience and be another left-handed batsman in their top-order which can be crucial. ‘It will be a challenge for Rory Burns if he opens. He hasn’t played much cricket lately.”
The legendary cricketer was disappointed that England’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow – who was rested after the Sri Lanka Test keeping in mind the complex life of a bio-bubble and a hectic 2021 calendar ahead, will return home from Sri Lanka, will not play in India Tests.
Jayawardene further noted: “I’m disappointed Bairstow is leaving the squad given his experience and the way he batted in this series. He should be at that touring party.”
He signed off by saying, “Jofra Archer will bring something to the table with his pace, especially on slower wickets. So I think overall they [England] are very well prepared. The two spinners [Dom Bess and Jack Leech] will have learned a lot here but it will be a bigger challenge in India.”
