So what are the learnings India can take from the Eng whitewash of Sri Lanka-
1) Dom Bess and Jack Leach are unable to sustain pressure
Despite ending the series with a combined 22 wickets to their name,it was quite clear that they were unable to sustain pressure for long periods. They(Bess and Leach)ended the series with economy rates of 2.99 and 3.20,providing a boundary opportunity every over. Their in disciple was at full display in the first innings of second test when James Anderson had to bowl more overs than Bess to regain control. India would certainly be licking their lips at the prospect of milking free runs off the duo.
2)Preparing rank turners would be erroneous
India should resist the temptation to prepare rank turners because of two reasons, one it makes the toss an absolute lottery,team that wins the toss become instant favourites,two because it helps bridge the gap between skillset of spinners. Bess or Leach who might struggle on a good batting deck would fancy themselves on rank turners like the Galle second test. India should therefore make good batting tops that disintegrate slowly to gain an edge over the English,like they prepared during the last home season or the 2016 tour of England for this takes their spinners out of the equation making it a bat off between the two teams.
3)The openers struggle against spin
Sibley and Crawley were dismissed 7 times in the series,all to the left arm spin of Embuldeniya. While Crawley had problems with his stride,Sibley was caught stuck at the crease and bringing all the dismissals into play(got out bowled once,leg before once and caught at slips once). Even the regular opener Rory Burns is vulnerable against quality off spin. India could start with spin from one end and pace from the other to exploit the weakness.
4)A different duo might be more dangerous
The veteran duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson ran havoc on a Galle pitch that had nothing in it for the pacers. They are probably bowling the best they have ever in Asia and have prompted a question,can the duo play together given the pitch reports suggesting more assistance for the seamers. Whether or not they can replicate the feats of someone like a Steyn in India might be doubtful but they can very well be the biggest thorn in India's way.
5)Joe Root-The sweeper
Joe Root swept and swept and swept his path to glory on Sri Lanka scoring two big hundreds. He used the sweep not just as an attacking option but also to rotate strike. So ridiculously good is Joe Root with the sweep that the second innings dismissal in the second test marked his first dismissal playing the sweep in 4 years and 220 attempts. Having successfully devised a plan to hinder the rhythm of Marnus and Smith in Australia,it will be interesting as to how India and Ashwin in particular tackle the sweeper in Root.
6)The Buttler-Bairstow absence leads to uncertainty
By the time the first test ends,India would have seen the back of the two JBs,who were on current form the second and third best players of spin in their lineup. Both of them played invaluable knocks under pressure,and their authority was overshadowed by only Joe Root from either side. Their absence makes the middle order fragile. Yes Stokes would be back,but all the others-Zak Crawley,Ollie Pope,Ben Foakes,Dan Lawrence haven't played a single test in India and two of them come on the back of no match practice. Thus India has a great opportunity in the first two tests as Root and Stokes have to score the bulk of runs in the middle order.
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