England whitewash Sri Lanka - a new era or a false dawn?

England eventually won the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, and with it a 3-0 series whitewash, but not before a valiant rearguard gave the tourists a fright.

But Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out 42 runs shy of their target to hand England their first overseas clean sweep since 1963.

Nervy moments

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It wasn’t plain sailing for England, who had Sri Lanka four down overnight, but allowed them to put on an ominous 102 for the sixth wicket, before Jack Leach ran out Kusal Mendis, and 58 for the last.

The final pair of Suranga Lakmal and number 11 Malinda Pushpakumara gave England a few jitters as they launched what seemed like an impossible counter attack, before the final wicket fell after tea. Once again it was Leach who took it, trapping Lakmal LBW.

It as his 18th wicket of the series, bringing him level with Moeen Ali, and the 100th to fall to spin - a record in a three-match rubber.

A cause for celebration

A series whitewash is something to be savoured by England fans, who have become used to seeing their side flounder away from home.

“This was the first time England had inflicted such a result on Sri Lanka at home, and only the third time Sri Lanka had ever suffered such an indignity in their own back yard,” says Mike Atherton in The Times. “A triumph, then, for Joe Root, whose captaincy and leadership has flowered in the heat and dust.”

Strategy and selection were crucial, he adds. Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid and Ben Foakes are all recent additions to the squad but all made a difference.

“The strategy was a bold one, based around an unwillingness to play a traditionally English-style game on the sub-continent. Three spinners were picked, two of whom took the new ball from time to time. The batsmen were encouraged to take risks against the home team’s spinners and if they occasionally walked the wrong side of the line between daring and reckless, at least they were committed to the endeavour.”

Questions to answer

The performance has been good and England are on a roll having bounced back from their miserable tour of Australia and New Zealand last winter.

But there are still questions, says Jack Skelton of the BBC. “England still have issues to resolve and only three Tests against West Indies and one against Ireland in which to do so before their attempt to regain the Ashes at home starts on 1 August 2019.

“Coach Trevor Bayliss said Jennings and Rory Burns have done enough to retain their opening spots, but Jennings has failed to dispel the notion he is vulnerable to pace bowling and both need runs in the Caribbean to cement their places.

“Having three spin options is a virtue, although questions remain over who is first choice. Leach, Moeen and Rashid have excellent qualities, but all can be inconsistent and England will not pick all three in English conditions next summer.”