Thursday 9 June 2016 11:09, UK
England head into the third and final Investec Test with Sri Lanka at Lord's having already won the series and, given their decidedly mixed recent record at the Home of Cricket, that may come as something of a relief.
The hosts have won just three of their last seven Tests at NW8, losing three and drawing the other. Of course, many greats of the game have famously struggled at Lord's but many visiting players have been inspired by the historic surroundings.
Here we look at England's less-than-magnificent last seven at Lord's…
Smith makes England suffer
England went into their most recent Test visit to Lord's on a high after recording a convincing victory in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, the previous week. However, the Aussies took revenge to level the series, thanks in no small part to Steve Smith.
Coming in at No 3, with Australia 78-1 in the first innings, Smith put on 284 for the second wicket with Chris Rogers and by the time he was eventually dismissed, he had amassed 215 with Australia 533-6.
The tourists declared soon afterwards and gained a healthy first innings lead as they bowled England out for 312. Smith added another half-century in the second innings, the Aussies eventually declaring on 254-2 before skittling England for 103 to seal victory by a mammoth 405 runs.
Super Stokes down Black Caps
It had all been very different just a couple of months earlier as Alastair Cook's team warmed up for the Ashes with a two-match series against New Zealand. The Kiwis won the toss and put England in to bat, a decision that looked fully justified as the hosts slipped to 30-4. Enter Ben Stokes.
The all-rounder, alongside Joe Root, counter-attacked and reached 92 from 94 balls before he was bowled, England having recovered to 191-5. Root then fell two short of his century but Jos Buttler's 67 and 58 from Moeen Ali took England up to 389.
A fine century from Kane Williamson saw New Zealand go well past that total, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood taking three wickets apiece as they were bowled out for 523. However, England's second innings put them back in control; Cook making 162 and Stokes a stunning 101 from 92 balls as they set the Black Caps 345 to win.
From there England's bowlers' took over, New Zealand found themselves 0-2 and never recovered, eventually falling to 220 all out - Stokes picking up three wickets to round off a man of the match display.
Seven for Sharma as England crumble
Ishant Sharma was the star for India as they took a 1-0 series lead over England in 2014 as he took 7-74 in England's second innings to give the visitors a 95-run win.
Gary Ballance's century had earned England a first innings lead but important runs down the order from Ravi Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (52) in India's second left the hosts needing 319 for victory.
Jadeja got the ball rolling by removing Sam Robson lbw but from there on it was all about Sharma. The seamer ripped through England's top order and despite some stubborn resistance from Root (66), England succumbed to 223 all out.
Root in the runs but Sri Lanka survive
Earlier that summer, England believed they had snatched a dramatic victory in the final over of the fifth day and, in years gone by, they would have done. However, DRS has changed matters and here it allowed Sri Lanka to escape with a draw.
A brilliant unbeaten double hundred from Root had seen ensured England were in control for much of the match, despite centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews in the visitors' first innings. Ballance struck an unbeaten ton of his own in England's second innings before England declared, leaving themselves a day to bowl Sri Lanka out.
Mathews' team battled hard but James Anderson's 4-25 left them eight down, albeit with time running out for England. Two wickets were still required going into the final over. However, Stuart Broad had Rangana Herath caught behind to leave Nuwan Pradeep five balls to survive.
He was rapped on the pads off the penultimate ball, the umpire raised his finger but the No 11 asked for a review and was handed a reprieve, thanks to a thick inside edge. Sri Lanka held on and would go on to win the series with an equally dramatic victory at Headingley.
Swann puts Aussies in a spin
Another Ashes summer and again England arrived at the Home of Cricket in high spirits, this time after a narrow 14-run victory at Trent Bridge. Having elected to bat first, England recovered from 28-3 to reach 361 all out - Ian Bell with a century - before Graeme Swann took over.
The England off-spinner was sensational, taking 5-44 as the Aussies, having been 42 without loss, were bowled for just 128 in less than 54 overs. A magnificent 180 from Root cemented England's position of dominance and despite an improved showing with the bat, Australia were defeated by 347 runs.
Swann was again in the thick of the action, taking 4-78, including the final wicket James Pattinson lbw to seal the win.
Broad brilliance sees off Kiwis
Broad took 7-44 as England rolled New Zealand over for just 68 in their second innings to win by 170 runs in May 2013.
In a low-scoring affair, Jonny Bairstow had top-scored with 41 for England in their first innings before Anderson picked up 5-47 as the hosts established a small first innings lead. Half-centuries from Jonathan Trott and Root saw England post 213 second time round to set the Kiwis 239 to win.
A close finish looked on the cards but Broad had other ideas. He removed New Zealand's top four in no time to leave them 21-4, while it was Anderson who took to final wicket to put the tourists out of their misery.
Philander leaves England floundering
In what proved to be Andrew Strauss' final game in an England shirt, South Africa replaced England as the world's No 1 ranked Test side with victory by 51 runs.
Vernon Philander was the star for the Proteas, scoring 61 batting at No 8 in their first innings before picked up a couple of wickets in England's reply. The hosts came out with a six-run advantage but Hashim Amla's century helped South Africa to 351 in their second innings - Philander with a useful 35.
Needing 346 to win and level the series, England lost both openers in the first four overs, Philander accounting for both of them. Half-centuries from Trott, Bairstow and Matt Prior gave England hope but Philander (5-30) returned to get rid of the latter and bowled Steven Finn the very next ball to seal the win.
Watch England take on Sri Lanka in the third Investec Ashes Test at Lord's on Thursday from 10am, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
