(MANCHESTER) Alex Tudor's burgeoning international career took another significant step forward as the England quickie rose to the challenge of spearheading a weakened attack on a batsman's paradise at Old Trafford.

On what is still a quick and true wicket Tudor was the pick of England's bowlers as he collected 4-65 to help enforce the follow-on as England pushed for a 2-0 series win.

Matthew Hoggard (3-38) and Andrew Flintoff (1-65) also played their parts but it was Tudor, with sustained spells fo pace and aggression, who really caught the eye as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 253 – a first innings deficit of 259.

Hoggard made further inroads when he then bowled Sanath Jayasuriya before bad light caused yet another premature close with Sri Lanka 63-1 and the injured Marvan Atapattu effectively sidelined for the rest of the match.

``It is a good day's work to bowl them out for that on that wicket - it was a great effort,'' said Tudor.

``We knew it was going to be hard for us once Andy walked off. Someone would have to bowl well - and everyone did,'' he added.

The Surrey bowler agreed he had probably bowled as aggressively on this pacy Manchester pitch as he has ever done in his short England career so far.

``The captain came up to me and wanted me to take that approach. It worked out for us, with Andrew (Flintoff) and I wanting to bowl the ball quick - and then Hoggy swings it,'' he explained.

``There was a lot of short-pitch bowling on that wicket just to try and unsettle the batsmen. Our guys showed if you do that properly it can be part of your bowling effort.''

That aggression threatened just once to boil over - although Tudor himself was not involved.

He was bowling but well away from the action when a discussion between his captain Nasser Hussain and Sri Lanka tail-ender Dilhara Fernando attracted the attention of Steve Bucknor.

``I was at the end of my mark when Steve (Bucknor) walked over to Nasser. I don't know what he talked about,'' said Tudor.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman was a little better informed and reported: ``Words were exchanged between Nasser and the new Sri Lanka batsman. Steve Bucknor stepped in and told them to `cool it'. The match referee has been informed, and no action will be taken.''

Tudor, meanwhile, is simply hoping for more success for himself and the remainder of the England attack tomorrow - but he knows victory will be no formality.

``They still have quality players, but if we put in the hard yards we can still win,'' he predicted. ``If the weather is okay I hope we can go out there with the same attitude and bowl successfully again.''

17 Jun, 2002