ICC probe Sri Lanka fix claims
England hopes of stunning victory lie with Jos & Dom
SRI LANKA CRICKET has promised the “fullest co-operation” with the ICC over allegations of plans to fix matches in the country.
A newspaper report, based on footage to be screened today in a documentary on Al Jazeera, alleged that a groundsman had told an undercover reporter he could prepare pitches which would prevent a game ending in a draw.
It was suggested England’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in November could be manipulated in such a way, allowing anyone involved to back against the draw.
The England and Wales Cricket board said it supported the ICC’s investigation and SLC said it would take action against anyone found to be involved.
A statement read: “Sri Lanka Cricket will extend its fullest co-operation to the International Cricket Council to investigate the latest allegations levelled via media reports over match-fixing.
“CEO Mr Ashley De Silva is in contact with the CEO of the ICC, Mr David Richardson, and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit on the matter.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to state that it has zero tolerance towards corruption and will take immediate action against any person involved in the alleged incident, if found guilty.
“In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket is constantly engaged with the ICC and following its guidelines on how to handle anti-corruption operations for the forthcoming tours in Sri Lanka.”
An ECB spokesman said: “We are aware of the planned documentary, though not the full content.
“We endorse the ICC’s position and fully support their work and investigations.”
JOS BUTTLER last night gave England a sliver of hope in the first Test of the summer after his impressive unbeaten half-century put the brakes on Pakistan’s victory charge at Lord’s.
Buttler and debutant Dom Bess both passed fifty in the final session to prevent England from slipping to a humiliating innings defeat inside three days.
And their unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 125 has even raised the slim possibility of a miraculous win for Joe Root’s team.
England were wobbling on 110-6 when the pair came together at the crease late in the afternoon session.
At that stage, the hosts needed 70 more runs to even make Pakistan bat again.
But now there is hope England can put their opponents under real pressure and avoid what would be a seventh defeat in 10 Tests.
A grim winter, when Root’s men lost five out of seven Tests in Australia and New Zealand, has put this team in a downward spiral.
Another here would be only England’s third loss at home in May in 140 years of Test cricket.
But Buttler, 34 runs shy of a first Test century, retains belief he can help pull off what appeared impossible just hours earlier.
The Lancashire star said: “We wanted to scrap hard and try and get ourselves back in the game. Any lead and you never know.
“Partnerships are crucial and Dom and I managed to put together a good one there and we need to make it as big as we can.
“Of course there is belief. In the ground the atmosphere was great at the end and also in the dressing room as well.
“Fourth innings scores are never easy to chase and if we can set a challenging total we can put them under pressure.
“I think 150 would be great but we’re thinking 200 would be tough.”
Recalled Buttler also heaped praise on young Somerset off-spinner Bess, who is playing his first Test having only made 16 first-class appearances.
He said: “With Dom Bess, it was like Joe Root walked back out with his back foot punches and cover drives. He’s got a great character and he really showed that.”
The danger signs were there for the hosts when they went into lunch on 37-2 after losing openers Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman in the morning.
They then lost four wickets for 19 runs to slip to the brink of defeat during the afternoon session.
As if to follow on from the theme of the winter, there was another battling but what appeared an ultimately futile half century from skipper Root, whose run of fifty-plus scores without converting has now stretched to 10.
He had managed seven half centuries in as many Tests Down Under and he made it eight from his last eight before he was trapped lbw for 68 by Mohammad Abbas.
That came during a devastating spell in which England lost four wickets in just 37 balls.
Among the highlights of a hectic afternoon session was a sublime spell of bowling from Mohammad Amir who got rid of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow in the space of three deliveries. The second was a magnificent inswinger that clattered into Bairstow’s off stump.
There was also an abysmal shot by Ben Stokes to leg-spinner Shadab Khan that saw the Durham all-rounder caught at midwicket.
Root’s dismissal then plunged England even deeper into the abyss.
However, the partnership between Buttler and Bess has changed the complexion of the match just enough to keep alive slim hopes of a home victory.
Bess ended day three unbeaten on 55 and at just 20 and 308 days he is the third youngest player to score a fifty on debut for England after the great Denis Compton in 1936 and Haseeb Hameed in 2016.
And if England could manage to pull off a remarkable victory here it might prove a turning point for this troubled team.
However impressive the fightback by Buttler and Bess was, though, it still feels like too little too late.