Sri Lanka v England 2007-07

At Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo, November 25, 26, 27, 2007. England XI won by five wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI.

A game that was going badly wrong for England was turned on its head on the second evening by Hoggard, who swung the new ball, found the bat's edge and reduced the home side to 40 for six to set up victory. After Harmison had suffered a back spasm and Anderson had been hit on the left ankle, Hoggard needed support and found it in Bopara. He had already top-scored in England's first innings, when he also cost the Sri Lankans a bowler: a hard return drive resulted in a serious hand injury for Lokuarachchi, their specialist spinner. When they started their second innings 164 ahead, Bopara shared the new ball with Hoggard, collected two wickets and assisted in a run-out to complete the case for his Test selection. The need to settle the choice between Bopara and Shah, and Anderson and Harmison, led to the omission of Collingwood and Sidebottom.