England turn up the heat

LONDON (AP):

After skittling out Sri Lanka for a pitiful 82 on the final day of the first Test, England do not plan to ease up on the opposition at Lord's.

Seamer Chris Tremlett and spinner Graeme Swann took four wickets each as the tourists collapsed on Monday to lose the first Test in Cardiff by an innings and 14 runs - when a draw had looked inevitable.

"We showed that we are a team that aren't afraid of kicking the opposition when they're down,'' the 29-year-old Tremlett said. "That's what we'll be looking to do in this game.''

The second of the three-match series begins today at Lord's, where England are unbeaten since 2005, but the hosts' captain Andrew Strauss expects Sri Lanka to "come out fighting''.

"I'm sure they would have been disappointed to be bowled out on that last day, and with the quality of players they have they'll want to prove a point or two, so we're expecting a pretty strong fightback from them,'' Strauss said. "We've got to make sure we're better.''

Tremlett is likely to take on more responsibility in the bowling attack in the absence of the injured James Anderson, who picked up a side strain in Cardiff.

"I'm just trying to grow with each performance,'' Tremlett said. "Obviously, it's a big responsibility for me to come into this Test match and not have (Anderson) in the side - it'll be the only Test I've not played with him.

"It's a big loss for us. He'll be back soon, but whoever comes in ... we've all got to step up.''

Steven Finn or Jade Dernbach, who was added to the squad for the Lord's Test, will replace Anderson. Finn, with his knowledge of the Lord's pitch as a Middlesex player, appears the most likely to make the team.

Sri Lanka's collapse, and the failure of their bowling attack to prevent three England players reaching centuries, has led to speculation that Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas might be tempted out of retirement.

Out for two years

Muralitharan immediately ruled out the prospect, but Vaas, who is currently playing county cricket in England with Northamptonshire but hasn't played a Test for two years, said he was "always ready to give 100 per cent for my country''.

However, Sri Lanka coach Stuart Law said that despite the "embarrassing'' defeat in Cardiff, he wasn't tempted to make any rash changes.

"It's good to see Vaasy going strong, and he looks after himself,'' Law said. "But we've picked a squad, and settled on it, so to draft someone in to make up numbers wouldn't be the right way to go about it.

"We've got to put faith in the players we've got in the squad now, and try to go forward, although if there's an injury then we'll consider.''

Law added that he expected fast bowler Dilhara Fernando to be fit for inclusion after missing the first Test with a knee injury.

Sri Lanka - and veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene - at least can draw on some positive memories of Lord's. In 2005, Sri Lanka batted for 199 overs to salvage a draw against England, with Jayawardene scoring his second century at the venue.

"It's a good thing we've come straight to Lord's, it's a good inspiration,'' Law said. "The boys aren't stupid, they know what's expected, and there's no one more disappointed than the 11 guys who played that game in Cardiff.''

If Finn does come into England's side, Sri Lanka will face an imposing bowling unit featuring Stuart Broad (6-foot-6), Finn (6-foot-7) and Tremlett (6-foot-8).

Tremlett, despite being the tallest of the three, has struggled in the past to intimidate the opposition despite his height, but after his devastating spell of 4-40 against Sri Lanka on Monday, he says he is developing into a more aggressive character.