It's going to turn into a very interesting Test match Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff said England must be aggressive against star Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan when play resumes on day three of the first Test.

Muralitharan took both wickets as England finished day two in Galle 234 runs in arrears on 97-2.

"You've got to be aggressive in attack and defence against him, and hopefully you'll score a few," Flintoff said.

"Every ball you face off him is a massive event and you've got to be up to it."

Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher saw off Muralitharan in the closing overs, but he is sure to be even more threatening as the pitch deteriorates.

Flintoff added: "We knew Murali would spin it a lot and we've got to combat that when we go out there."

Sri Lanka recovered to make 331 in their innings after looking in trouble on 239-7 just before lunch.

Flintoff admitted England had let Sri Lanka off the hook but described the fielding conditions as the toughest he had encountered.

"Murali scored a few runs down the bottom which was a bit frustrating," said Flintoff, who took two wickets in three balls on the stroke of the first interval.

"But it was tough and it was hot and I thought we stuck to our task very well in the field.

"It's probably the first time I've bowled that amount of overs in conditions like that, but I think I've come out of it well.

In the fourth innings it will be difficult to bat on this pitch Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara

"You do get tired and it's hard out here. It's not just the heat, the wicket is a bit docile also.

"It's a battle of patience and you've got to just keep running in and putting the ball in the right area.

"I trained hard at home before I came out here and we've trained hard as a unit out here, so we were very well prepared for this tour."

Flintoff conceded the Test match was hanging in the balance.

He added: "At the moment it's probably honours even and it's going to turn into a very interesting Test match."

Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara believes, however, that they are in a good position.

"In the fourth innings it will be difficult to bat on this pitch, so our bowlers will just have to make sure they take advantage of this strong position and that England's last innings is a tough one.

"It was great for us to get rid of Trescothick because last time he was here he played Murali very well."