Sri Lankas Mickey Arthur: England can expect tough cricket | sport

EEngland has been warned to expect a war of attrition in Sri Lanka, with the country's new head coach, Mickey Arthur, also keen to release one of the young talents brightest spin he saw in the next round of tests.

Arthur had talks with Ashley Giles about the head coach of England's vacancy last year, but, after Chris Silverwood got the green light to replace Trevor Bayliss, the 51-year-old signed with Sri Lanka in December, his fourth such role in international cricket. He followed three years in charge of Pakistan, a roller coaster period in which they switched to the world's No. 1 test team, won the 2017 Champions Trophy in England and embarked on a streak. of 11 serial victories in Twenty20 cricket which made its withdrawal before this year's World Cup in the shortest format a surprise.

Now installed in the Sri Lankan camp and pretending to be still as hungry, the brilliant South African is considering the visit of Joe Roots to England for a series of two tests and hopes that his players want to recover the 3-0 defeat at home in which they suffered. 2018.

England can expect tough cricket, says Arthur, taking the time for a T20 home series against the West Indies to speak to the Observer. It's very hot here in Colombo right now and with a series of two tests in which you cannot relax, you must pass the first test.

England came from South Africa where the pace dominated (in a 3-1 victory) but it will be different. The games will run slower until days four and five, where spin will dominate. It will be a war of attrition and a compelling series to watch.

Such expectations suggest that Sri Lanka has indeed moved away from the irregular terrain observed 18 months ago. We don't want to be as drastic, says Arthur, but despite the increase in tailoring stocks, the rotation will always be in the foreground. And in this regard, there was a changing of the guard.

England has lost Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, and only Jack Leach remains of the trio who shared 48 wickets the last time, and he is accompanied by his Somerset teammate Dom Bess and the uncapped Matt Parkinson.

Arthur feels blessed with options. In addition to veteran spinner Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, a gunsmith with huge hands who gives him a serious hit, and wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan, head trainer purrs about Wanindu Hasaranga.

The versatile 22-year-old who turns his legs is not capped at the test level and although his statistics of 27 appearances of white balls have not yet come out of the page (except a hat-trick at the start), Arthur is categorical Hasaranga is the next big thing. Arthur says: This guy is something very, very special. It has all the tricks, including a top-spinner and googly on the back of the hand that I can't choose. He's also a good drummer, he made 44 out of 34 in a T20i the other night and an outfielder.

I would put him in the top 10 most valuable cricketers in the world right now and yet people don't know him. It really is a hidden gem. Remember the name because it is human.

Such enthusiasm is typical of Arthur, as well as a suggestion that Kusal Perera might return after the unbeaten lefties 153 against South Africa a year ago a yard blitz which many say prevails over Ben Stokes at Headingley last August was followed by a lean patch and ax.

Kusal lost his way in tryout cricket after these innings with a few low scores but that was before my time, says Arthur. It will be in the melting pot and could give us a boost against English spinners. He has the X factor and that’s my playing style.

Arthur was disappointed to leave Pakistan a passage which he describes as putting out fires every day, but a privilege and a thrill per minute and is quick to point out that in the campaign for the 50 years of the World Cup which brought about the change they missed in the semifinals. only net run rate, and beat the two finalists in the group stage. In addition to a solid rapport with their supporters, his greatest satisfaction came from seeing players such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi begin to believe in themselves and consider the challenge of moving Sri Lanka from the sixth and eighth place in the Test and two white – the classification of balls is a similar case of encouragement of raw talent.

The relationship with the captain is essential and Arthur seems in love with the one he inherited, claiming that his team loves to play for Dimuth Karunaratne, the silent but steel opener. Watching in England before the series opens in Galle on March 19, he sees another team playing for their leader. Arthur says: I think Moeen is a big loss for England. The finger spin plays a big role and he is a quality cricketer. But I watched them in South Africa and they gelled on the right side. Joe Root asserted himself and developed a style. But they will be tested in different ways here and it will be interesting to see how they fit.

In a parallel universe, England could have been under the watchful eye of Arthurs and when asked if in the future he planned to add the role to a International coaching CV that started with South Africa and then Australia, he replied: never say never who knows?

But I know I would love to settle in county cricket for a few years to complete my career.