Former Test players among 40-member English media team

CRICKET: Five former Test players are among the 40 member strong English media team which is currently covering the Test series against Sri Lanka which began with the opening Test at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy yesterday.

Media Manager of Sri Lanka Cricket Samantha Algama said that this is probably the biggest media contingent to visit the country for a three Test series since the country gained Test status in 1982.

Former Warwickshire and England left arm spinner Ashley Giles is probably the most capped England player in the line up and he will be covering the series as a commentator for the British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Sport.

Giles has happy memories in Sri Lanka where he had figured in some of the most interesting contests with both bat and ball. In eight Test matches he captured a total of 31 wickets at an average of 33.48 with a best performance of five wickets for 116 runs. In addition he put on a stubborn 102 runs for the eighth wicket along with Alec Stewart at Manchester in 2002.

Giles will be remembered for his match saving partnership in the first Test at the Galle Stadium during the previous tour here where he also picked up 18 wickets in that series.

The other former England players who are currently covering the series are Vic Marks (The Observer), Angus Fraser (The Independent), Michael Selvey (The Guardian), Derek Pringle (The Daily Telegraph) and Jonathan Agnew (BBC Radio Sport).

CD