2nd Test: England v Sri Lanka at Birmingham, May 25-28, 2006 /

Second Test

England v Sri Lanka, 2006

2007: England v Sri Lanka, 2006

Michael Vandort interview

'When you get a chance, you need to cash in'

May 30, 2006: Michael Vandort's hundred in the second Test against England has not only given him immense satisfaction, it has also silenced the critics who had questioned his ability to score runs against opponents other than Bangladesh

England v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Trent Bridge

Jayawardene conscious of brittle batting dilemma

May 29, 2006: Ahead of the third and final Test against England, the Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has called for an improved batting performance if they are to avoid a 2-0 series defeat

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 4th day

Flintoff hails Pietersen

May 28, 2006: After leading England to a convincing victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Edgbaston today, and hitting the winning runs, Andrew Flintoff paid tribute to Kevin Pietersen whose 142 in England's first innings set them up for victory

Caption competition results

Levitating bats and shopping trolleys

May 28, 2006: The results of our latest caption competition featuring Andrew Flintoff

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 4th day

A win's a win but England lack intensity

May 28, 2006: If it looked like a commanding victory by England, it didn't feel like it

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 4th day

England amble to six-wicket victory

May 28, 2006: Led by a powerful new-ball bursts from Liam Plunkett and Andrew Flintoff, England crushed Sri Lanka's resistance on the fourth day at Edgbaston, completing a six-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the series

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 3rd day

'Anything above 130 or 140 would be challenging' - Moody

May 28, 2006: Tom Moody, the Sri Lanka coach, believes that a target of over 130 to 140 could pose a challenge for England in the second Test at Edgbaston, especially with Muttiah Muralitharan to contend with

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 3rd day

Birmingham's beleaguered-but-merry crowd

May 27, 2006: When play finally started at 4.45pm, the Edgbaston crowd was somehow almost full. For nearly six hours, Birmingham's hardiest, most fanatical (or drunk?) cricket-lovers remained in their seats, or at least in the bar

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 3rd day

Vandort carries Sri Lanka but Hoggard strikes

May 27, 2006: Michael Vandort and Tillakaratne Dilshan formed a resolute fifth-wicket stand of 125 as Sri Lanka moved into the lead on a truncated third day at Edgbaston

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 2nd day

Pietersen's intoxicating mix

May 26, 2006: Only when Kevin Pietersen raised his arms to cheer his sublime hundred did he show his one sign of fallibility during the entire innings: he dropped his bat

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 2nd day

Freaks united ignite summer's entertainment

May 26, 2006: At Edgbaston today, two extraordinary cricketers - Kevin Pietersen and Muttiah Muralitharan - starred in the first freak show of the season. And what gripping viewing it was&

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 2nd day

Bowlers build on Pietersen's stunning century

May 26, 2006: Kevin Pietersen's breathtaking 142 and a productive final session in the field put England within sight of a swift victory at Edgbaston

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 1st day

Plunkett and Mahmood fight it out

May 25, 2006: Daniel Brigham examines the value of England's two reserve pacemen, Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood, who are fighting for one spot in the team

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 1st day

Monty's lapses are no laughing matter

May 25, 2006: Andrew Miller's verdict from the opening day of the second Test at Edgbaston

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston, 1st day

England close in after Sri Lanka collapse

May 25, 2006: After the nightmare performance by their fielders last week at Lord's, Geraint Jones promised a greatly improved effort by England and his team-mates didn't disappoint on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston

Another step on the road to Brisbane

England need another Edgbaston boost

May 25, 2006: England know that all roads lead to Brisbane but they don't know which route will take them there or exactly who will be driving the car, says John Stern

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston

England's lair

May 24, 2006: A lowdown on Edgbaston, the venue for the second Test between England and Sri Lanka

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Edgbaston

All eyes on the heavens

May 24, 2006: Sanath Jayasuriya has been left out of Sri Lanka's 12-man squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but Lasith Malinga, the pace bowler, is included