England Show Familiar Failings in Crushing Defeat

They were flying the Union Jack upside down at the Rangiri Stadium and they were not wrong because England were sending out distress signals for much of the day. They have now lost eight of their last nine ODIs against Sri Lanka and this overwhelming 119-run defeat will fill them with foreboding for the four matches ahead.

England's batsmen had practiced for Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling, only to twig belatedly that he was injured, and instead they capitulated against the pace of Farveez Maharoof, who had disappointed on Sri Lanka's tour of England last summer but who looked an altogether different proposition as he took the first three wickets within 17 balls. He then ended Alastair Cook's prolonged if futile resistance to finish with four for 31.

This was the first 50-overs match after World Twenty20, apart from an abandoned match in Bangalore, and it was a tame, one-sided affair which encouraged the suspicion that the format will eventually give way to its younger, brasher cousin. A sluggish low pitch drained the life from the game, a passive crowd was no more than 5,000 and the smattering of England fans could not even drown their sorrows, the Buddhist monks from whom the land is leased having prohibited sales of alcohol.

Even England's team selection was highly controversial with Monty Panesar omitted in favor of Nottingham shire's off-spinning all-rounder Graeme Swann. Nearly eight years have elapsed since Swann's sole previous ODI appearance, against South Africa in Bloemfontein - only Shaun Udal has returned after a longer absence - and he acquitted himself ably. He completed his 10-over stint for 47 runs and claimed an excellent first scalp in Kumar Sangakkara, whom he had surprised with turn twice in his first over and eventually dismissed "on the walk", Phil Mustard's stumping also bringing his first international dismissal.

Sri Lanka might not have batted with their customary flair - it was not that sort of pitch - but they were overpoweringly sensible. Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga added 71 in 12 overs while the ball was new, before Jayasuriya fell attempting to launch Ryan Side bottom over midwicket and Stuart Broad outfoxed Tharanga as he advanced down the wicket. Broad's first international since Yuvraj Singh struck him for six sixes in an over in Durban was solid enough.

Sri Lanka's middle-order accumulated shrewdly, led by Mahela Jayawardene's gentle 66 from 74 balls. England had spoken of intensity and momentum (this year's cricketing buzz word), but it is hard to show intensity when a batsman is stroking singles without a care in the world.

England's batsmen lacked such serenity. Mustard mustered a bold blow or two on debut before toe-ending to mid-off, Paul Collingwood hit across one and Owais Shah was duped by Lasith Malinga's slower ball. Ravi Bopara kept the third umpire busy as he spent most of his innings flinging himself into the dirt. England have some thinking to do.