'One hell of a Test to win' but England 'believe'

England person nan "belief" they tin hit Sri Lanka, but Paul Collingwood admitted it will beryllium "one hellhole of a Test lucifer to win" from nan position nan hosts are in.

Sri Lanka closed time 3 of nan last Test connected 94-1, needing 125 much runs to scope their target of 219 and gain a celebrated win.

At 2-0 up, England person already secured nan series, yet person been beneath their champion astatine The Oval. On Sunday, they were bowled retired for 156 successful their 2nd innings successful 34 overs, their shortest Test innings for much than 3 years.

"This squad is tin of doing immoderate typical things," said adjunct coach Collingwood. "We person to person that belief we tin move things around.

"Hopefully we tin get connected a roll. It's an breathtaking opportunity."

England are connected a tally of 5 successive Test wins and are looking for their first 100% location summertime successful 20 years.

However, they person been wasteful connected galore occasions astatine The Oval. From 261-3 successful their first innings, nan location broadside were bowled retired for 325.

At nan opening connected nan 3rd day, England were capable to return nan past 5 Sri Lanka wickets for 52 runs to gain a first-innings lead of 62.

Instead of batting nan visitors retired of nan game, England recovered themselves 82-7 and needed a blistering 67 from wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to group a competitory target. Still, Sri Lanka made a accelerated commencement to nan pursuit and will commencement nan 4th time arsenic favourites.

"We're going to request a typical time if we’re going to triumph this match," added erstwhile England all-rounder Collingwood. "There will beryllium belief successful nan dressing room. It will beryllium 1 hellhole of a Test lucifer to triumph from this position.

"We ever look astatine nan opportunity, alternatively than nan failures. When you person that optimism, it's astonishing what tin construe connected to nan cricket field. We person been successful immoderate heavy holes astatine times but person recovered ways of getting retired of them because of nan talent successful nan dressing room."

England’s occurrence this summertime has travel aft they pledged to "refine" nan Bazball style adopted erstwhile coach Brendon McCullum took charge.

But immoderate of their batting and section placings astatine The Oval has attracted criticism. England’s all-time starring run-scorer Alastair Cook said his erstwhile squad person been complacent, while ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan warned them not to "take nan mickey retired of Test cricket".

Collingwood, who played 68 Tests for England, is simply a erstwhile team-mate of some Cook and Vaughan.

"I haven't seen immoderate of nan criticism, but we each cognize it will beryllium retired there," he said. "If you don't perform, you will get criticised. That’s fine.

"We're not ever going to get it correct and coming was 1 of those days we didn't get it right. The guys is nan dressing room will clasp their hands up.

"We want to make judge we tin person a cleanable expanse and nan lads are very proud astir playing for England. We've not felt location has been an complacency coming into this match."

That England still person a chance is chiefly down to 24-year-old Smith, who thrilled his location crowd pinch immoderate stunning shots. At 1 point, nan Surrey man took 52 runs from 18 deliveries.

And Collingwood compared nan wicketkeeper to Adam Gilchrist, nan legendary Australian pinch nan expertise to destruct attacks from number seven. Collingwood was portion of nan England broadside that was hammered by Gilchrist's 57-ball period successful Perth successful 2006, nan fastest ever successful an Ashes Test.

"It's breathtaking erstwhile he comes in," said Collingwood of Smith. "He's surely an entertainer.

"You spell backmost to nan days of erstwhile Gilchrist would travel successful for Australia. It sucks nan life retired of you arsenic nan guidance erstwhile personification has nan expertise to do thing for illustration that. In his short Test career, he has shown immoderate awesome skills."