Whilst this Sri Lankan side aren't exactly the match of the true greats of their so called golden era, so many stars have now called time on their careers, it's by no means a bad Sri Lankan team although possibly badly led, make no mistake there is still plenty of talent in their line up and in home conditions - unbearably hot with virtually 100% humidity - and especially against non-Asian opposition not traditionally strong in the spin department, they are extremely formidable indeed.
This side although admittedly with the addition of an ageing Herath, who looked well past his best in Galle, have recently hammered South Africa and whitewashed Australia, Sri Lanka on their home patch are a very tough proposition and were understandably pre-series favourites with almost everyone.
Today typically it was a quite stunning piece of fielding from the tourists that was the defining moment of the fourth day as, thanks to Jack Leach's direct hit, England snuffed out a fighting sixth-wicket stand, then withstood some feisty hitting from the No. 11, to complete a sensational 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka. It's the first time England have achieved an away whitewash since 1963, only the third time ever against anyone and the first ever on the subcontinent (two test series aren't a series and just don''t count).
Ed Smith, the selectors, the coaches and Joe Root deserve a lot of credit, how many times have we seen an England team go to the subcontinent and let alone play two spinners but play three and effectively gone in with two seamers, one out and out seamer and Ben Stokes an all rounder? They were lucky in having Sam Curran pretty much effectively playing for only his batting in the first two as well but he hardly bowled, this has taken a change of mindset and acceptance of horses for courses mentality.
At the end of the summer and on the back of a comprehensive 4-1 result against India, the perception was yes England can play at home, we know they can play in their own conditions but what are the selectors going to do differently once they get out into completely foreign conditions as they met here in the subcontinent? Are they going to be brave? Are we going to see something different?
Well we have seen exactly that, three spinners, a leg spinner, the way that they've thought about this has been exactly what people have been criticising England for over the last few years when they have gone abroad. This is a side that haven't won away from home for a while, since early 2016 infact, so there's lot of credit due to those responsible for the planning and the way they've actually thought about this series. We haven't tried to field a side best equipped to take on Australia next August and repeated are mistakes of the past, but have instead thought about the opposition, wickets and climate they face now, what's in front of them, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, the oppressive heat, humidity and turning pitches not the ashes at home next August, they have planned correctly.
