It was little over two years ago when England’s cricket team recorded one of its most notable modern-day achievements – certainly since the Andy Flower era anyway. In winning a Test series in Sri Lanka by a 3-0 scoreline, England proved themselves able to fight fire with fire – or spin with spin – and Joe Root’s side will bid to repeat history when the two sides lock horns again on Thursday.

This series takes on even greater significance as England begin 12 months of cricket that they hope will culminate with Ashes victory in Australia, while the hosts have much on the line, too, having yet to prove they can build a successful future without heroes of the past – Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. A recent 2-0 defeat in South Africa, on the face of it at least, does little to dispel that theory.

If you look beneath the surface, however, there is perhaps more cause for Sri Lankan fans to be optimistic and I certainly think they are capable of beating England on home soil.