Mahela Jayawardene believes Sri Lanka are capable of shocking England and winning the forthcoming Test series between the sides. Having scored over 25,000 runs across all three formats for Sri Lanka during a hugely successful international career, Jayawardene has since worked as a batting consultant for England, putting the 38-year-old in a unique situation when it comes to assessing the two sides.Speaking to Sky Sports, the Sri Lanka legend discusses the potential of this England team, the challenges facing a young Sri Lankan squad and why he believes Angelo Mathews can lead them to victory… On working with England...I first worked with them in September in the Pakistan series. When I was down here last year playing for Sussex, Paul [Farbrace] was quite keen that I come in and work with the boys. When Trevor [Bayliss] took over, they were quite insistent that I come in and work with them. Straussy has had pretty much the same mind-set. Jayawardene worked with England in the UAE and at the World T20 It was a good start in Dubai but it depends on my availability as well with work and other commitments, so the World T20 was my next assignment and I had one or two weeks with them. Ive now done the Test and one-day sides, so Ive enjoyed it.On Englands potential...Theyre a very exciting young group of players and theyve got a lot of potential because this group will probably play together for another five to six years minimum, with the 50-over World Cup and the next T20 World Cup. It should be exciting for this group of players.Its about attitude and focus in what they want to achieve. As a group, I think they are all very focused right now in what they want to do and theyve got all the options in the sense that batting-wise and bowling-wise, its about evolving, not staying in the same place and improving their game over a period of time. England have the potential to go a long way, says Jayawardene As long as they do that - we saw in the last World T20, no one gave them a chance because they were inexperienced - theyve shown how good they are when they play as a team and how much confidence they have.Its about evolving. As a player and a team, you cant stay in the same place, you need to keep improving. As long as theyre committed to that, then they could go a long way.On Englands team spirit...I think for any successful team that is crucial, you stay very much close together and that allows them to play on the field as well. They know what triggers people, what makes them react.Its just simple singles to here and there, its the understanding and if theyre under pressure or if they need a bit of help, that togetherness helps a team to perform as well.You see in them as well, they dont react badly if people make mistakes on the field. They are all in it together, which makes a huge difference.On touring England with Sri Lanka... Sri Lanka celebrate victory at Headingley in 2014 It was brilliant in 2014, I think one of our best tours overseas. We pretty much won everything, all three series, it was brilliant for us. Weve always enjoyed touring England, weve always performed well.I think the time before that in 2013, we lost 1-0 but we had a chance of drawing that Test match as well and we had a great one-day series, before that we drew 1-1. In Test cricket, we havent lost that many Test matches or series in England and in one-dayers, weve dominated pretty much, most of the time.On overcoming English conditions...I think its the perception that the ball is going to do a lot and the conditions and the weather so if you can get over those things - I mean the weather is something that you cant control. Its the same for the English boys as well so you just need to have the awareness of what you can control. A closer look at Englands squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka After that, its just about the perception of the moving ball. Yes, the ball does tend to move a little bit but its about your preparation and having a game plan against that. So trying to focus on those elements is crucial rather than saying we need to do a lot of things - I dont think you need to do a lot, you just need to have a game plan and adjust yourself accordingly.On a new-look Sri Lanka squad...No one is going to play forever. Kumar [Sangakkara] and I have been there for a long time but we decided - and everyone knew - that we were going to retire. They had ample time to prepare for that.Its a young team but the bowling attack, especially the Test bowling attack, is something that they will bank on because theyve got that experience, theyre the same unit that came to England two years ago. Dhammika Prasad was part of the bowling attack during Sri Lankas last tour of England The young batting group really has to perform, thats something the Sri Lankans will be concerned about, but you still have good quality players who can put runs on the board so if that happens, then it will be good for that bowling attack.Im excited about the young batsmen that theyve brought on this tour, itll be a great challenge for them at a young age to come to England and experience the conditions - its an investment for Sri Lanka going forward, thats how I see it and thats how everyone should see it as well.I mean if these guys learn quickly and adapt, then theyll be brilliant, theyll do really well, but the experience factor is something they will lack in that batting line-up but all teams go through that.On Angelo Mathews... Captain Angelo Mathews adds experience to a young Sri Lanka batting line-up He is very important in that group. Hes probably been the best batsman in the last two years or so and the youngsters will look up to him even though hes still 28. Hes been around a long time, so everyone will look to him.He had a great summer when we last came here, a brilliant hundred in Leeds for us to get through - back-to-back hundreds, in fact, at Lords and Leeds.He understands that but at the same time, he shouldnt put a lot of pressure on himself because that will curtail his game. Hes a very naturally gifted batsman who plays his shots and he should continue to allow himself to do that.On who will win... Obviously, Im a Sri Lankan and my heart, everything about me is about Sri Lanka. When I work with England, obviously its a different thing but apart from that, its Sri Lanka. My heart says they should do well but my head says England are a strong, experienced side and playing at home so the Sri Lankans come in as underdogs but if they really truly believe in their ability, then they should do well.Watch England take on Sri Lanka in the first Test at Headingley from 10am on Thursday 19 May, live on Sky Sports 2. Also See: England call up Vince and Ball Who is Jake Ball? Root backs top order to deliver Watch England in the 90s Nike NFL Jerseys China . - Connor McDavid scored twice and added two assists as the Erie Otters beat the Sarnia Sting 7-3 on Saturday night in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . -- Terrelle Pryor took the opening snap of the game, put the ball in Darren McFaddens belly and saw LaMarr Woodley crash down. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Houston Texans, is recovering from sports hernia surgery. Fake Nike NFL Jerseys . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. NFL Jerseys China . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first big trade of the baseball season Friday. Now theyll try to secure a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays at O.co Coliseum. Following their extra-inning win on Friday, the As acquired starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs for minor-league shortstop Addison Russell, minor-league outfielder Billy McKinney, pitcher Dan Straily and a player to be named later. The deal is expected to become official today. On Friday, Melky Cabrera misplayed a ball in left field, which allowed Derek Norris to score the winning run from first base off a double from Nick Punto in the bottom of the 12th inning on Friday to carry the As to a 1-0 win. Tommy Milone tossed six shutout innings and the bullpen did the rest, as six relievers combined to throw six more scoreless innings, with Dan Otero (7-1) earning the win. Chad Jenkins (0-1) allowed one run in his two innings of relief in taking the loss. The Blue Jays, who also lost 4-1 to Oakland in the Thursdays series opener, had nine hits, left 10 men on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Mark Buehrle will attempt to keep his bounce-back season going on Saturday. The veteran left-hander had a tumultuous few seasons after departing the Chicago White Sox, with whom he spent the first 12 seasons of his career. Buehrle was part of the influx of big free agents that signed with the Miami Marlins in 2012 only to be sent to Toronto the following offseason. After a middling campaign a year ago (12-10, 4.15 ERA), Buehrle, and the Blue Jays themselves, have been much better this year. The 35-year-old has pitched himself to a 10-5 record and posted an ERA of 2.50, which as it stands would be the lowest of his career. Should he maintain the pace he is on, Buehrle would break his previous nest mark (3.12 in 2005) by more than half a run. Buehrle pitched against tthe White Sox his last time out and allowed two runs over eight strong innings.dddddddddddd Unfortunately, the Blue Jays were unable to find any offense to support him as they fell 4-0. It continued a disturbing trend for Buehrle, who has lost his last four decisions and has not earned a win since June 1. His career numbers against the As are solid enough (3.63 ERA), but he has never consistently pitched his teams to victory against them, with an 8-13 overall record against Oakland. Another lefty in the midst of a rebound year will oppose Buehrle in this one, as Scott Kazmir toes the rubber for Oakland. Kazmir, who was one a dominant force for the Rays, struggled following a trade in 2009 that sent him to the Angels. Kazmir never found his way in Los Angeles, going 11-17 with a 5.31 in parts of two seasons. After spending the 2012 outside of Major League Baseball, he caught on with the Indians last season and then signed with the As for this year. The returns have been phenomenal for Oakland, as Kazmir has gone 9-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 17 starts. He is also doing a great job of keeping runners off base (1.026 WHIP), despite a dip in strikeouts per nine innings (7.9). Kazmir bounced back from a miserable start when he last took the mound. Although he only lasted 5 1/3 innings, he managed to allow just a single run and strike out seven in a no decision against Detroit. In the previous start he had allowed a season-worst seven runs in just three innings against the Mets. Kazmir has already pitched against the Blue Jays this season, starting against them on May 23. He allowed three runs over seven innings of work to take a loss in a 5-2 final. In 19 career starts he is 10-6 with a 4.01 ERA against Toronto. Although Oakland has had the upper hand to start the weekend, Toronto has been the more dominant between these teams recently. The Blue Jays swept a three- game series at home from May 23-25 and won two of three in Oakland a season ago. ' ' '