Taylor hopes Lions batsmen will click in Sri Lanka

James Taylor, captain of the England Lions side beaten in Bangladesh, has admitted that his squad has shown the same frailties as the England senior side struggling against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates - a lack of runs on Asian pitches.

England Lions had the consolation of a comfortable 32-run win against Bangladesh A in the first of two Twenty20 contests in Mirpur on Sunday, but whatever the outcome of the Twenty20 series they will head to Sri Lanka smarting over a 3-2 defeat in the ODIs. Taylor himself, who was regarded as the likeliest stand-by for the England side, should injuries strike them in the Middle East, has also yet to make a convincing case for promotion.

"Throughout the series, the batsmen haven't quite performed as they'd have liked," Taylor said. "We did a little bit better today. Bowlers have generally bowled well and we've fielded well as a unit. We just haven't fired with the bat yet. But I'm sure that'll come in Sri Lanka.

"The quality is good over here but the wickets couldn't be more different from England. It is all a new experience for us. It's been a tough tour but playing here at a young age will definitely help us in the future."

Bangladesh have changed their personnel so much that after six matches even the England Lions captain sounds no closer to learning the names of his opponents. "I don't know the individual names," he conceded, "but the slow left-arm bowlers have bowled considerably well. Different personnel coming in every match makes it hard to plan. They've got some talented players in Bangladesh that's for sure."