With Sri Lanka and Pakistan both traveling to take on England in their upcoming Test and ODI Series matchups this summer, including ODI finales at The SSE SWALEC, Matthew Regan takes a look at three players likely to play a key role in their team’s success.
James Vince
The Hampshire batsman is widely tipped to press his case for inclusion in the Test squad announced tomorrow (Thursday). Following his impressive performances with the bat last season for Hampshire during the Natwest T20 Blast in particular, Vince earned a call-up to the England T20 side to face Pakistan last November.
Determined to make the most of his opportunity, Vince was named man of the series for his form in all three matches. Having built upon that success this season with a recent hundred against Yorkshire and had his chances of selection talked up by former captain Nasser Hussain, he is seen as a strong candidate to be included at Number 3 in the Test line-up and one that England have pinned their hopes on in the future.
Angelo Mathews
Not necessarily a new name to supporters, Mathews has been the captain of Sri Lanka in all formats since succeeding the legendary Mahela Jayawardene back in 2013, and will be known to England fans for his knock of 160 in Sri Lanka’s 2014 Test win here.
Despite a captaincy merry-go-round including Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, Matthews has now taken on the mantle and played a key role in the 2014 World T20 winning effort.
With a Test average of above 50, and coming in off a solid half-century in his last Test outing against New Zealand, Mathews is seen as a player England will need to focus on nullifying, in order to boost their ambitions of success this summer.
Wahab Riaz
Experienced and fast with his deliveries, Riaz will provide England’s potential new-look batting line up with some aggressive and testing periods during the course of the summer across all game formats.
With a bowling average of below 32 and a best of 5/46, Riaz has the accuracy to accompany his pace, which means he be an important part of the Pakistan team later in the summer. Pakistan are often underrated in English conditions.
England entertain Sri Lanka at The SSE SWALEC on July 2, before the visit of Pakistan to Cardiff on September 4. Tickets are available here.