A fortress for Sri Lanka and Murali

Muttiah Muralitharan: 143 wickets from just 21 Tests at the SSC © AFP

Already 1-0 down in the three-Test series, England won't be encouraged by the recent trend at the Sinhalese Sports Club, the venue for the second Test, which starts on Sunday. Sri Lanka have a 15-6 win-loss record in the 29 Tests here, but in the last six years the numbers have been downright intimidating for the opposition: in 12 matches, the home team have won ten, and lost just one - to Australia, by 121 runs in 2003-04.

England have experienced victory here once - in 2000-01, when they achieved a famous series win - but the last time they played at this ground, they were drubbed by an innings and 215 runs. Only twice in their 865-Test history have they suffered a beating more severe than that. Just how dominant Sri Lanka have been in their last 12 games here is evident from this piece of statistic - during this period they've averaged 61.4 per wicket with the bat, and conceded just 24.7 per dismissal when bowling.

As you'd expect, Sri Lankans have done exceptionally well with both and ball here. Mahela Jayawardene leads the way with seven centuries in 18 Tests and an exceptional average of 74.68, which is more than four times the average his opposite number, Michael Vaughan, has managed in four innings here. England will also be wary of Kumar Sangakkara, who has been in irresistible form this year and averages more than 66 at this ground.

Together, the duo of Jayawardene and Sangakkara has feasted on bowling attacks at this venue: in just seven partnerships together, they have amassed 1052 runs at an average of 150. 28 with three century stands. The most famous of those was, of course, the world record 624 they added against South Africa last year. Jayawardene scored 374 while Sangakkara fell for 287 - both remain the highest Test scores for these batsmen.

Among the bowlers, the name on top of the tree is an expected one: Muttiah Muralitharan has nabbed a staggering 143 wickets from 21 Tests here, which is an average of nearly seven per match. Chaminda Vaas has excellent numbers here as well, and is the only fast bowler to take ten wickets in a Test here. (Click here for more SSC-related stats.)

That Murali has taken so many wickets here isn't a surprise, but his spread of wickets recently at this ground isn't what you'd normally expect from a spinner. In his last ten Tests at the SSC, Murali has been more effective - strictly in comparative terms - in the first innings, taking his 39 wickets at a measly 14.97. His second-innings numbers are impressive too, but not quite as good as the first.

Winning the toss is usually an advantage at most grounds, but at the SSC teams which have lost the toss have done much better - of the 21Tests which have ended decisively, two-thirds have gone in favour of the team which lost the toss.