England lost the first Test in Kandy by 88 runs despite holding a first innings lead of 93 runs and failed to bat out an extra 30 minutes on the final day that could have drawn the match.

Moores said the lessons learnt from the Kandy Test will help them match the formidable home team during the second match at the Sinhalese Sports Club, one of Sri Lanka's favourite hunting grounds.

"We have to be a bit more savvy, a bit more streetwise and find different ways of attacking," said Moores.

"We have got to be able to sustain periods of pressure for longer with both bat and ball and, if we do those things, then we can make it hard work for them.

"One of the worst things we could do is chase the game. If we create pressure there is some fragility there we can expose."

England will be inspired by their 2001 predecessors under Nasser Hussain who fought back after losing the first Test to win the next two and take the series 2-1.

England must choose between the experienced Steve Harmison and Test rookie Stuart Broad to replace frontline strike bowler Matthew Hoggard, who is an unlikely starter after the back injury sustained in Kandy.