Sri Lanka vs England 1st Test Live Scores | SL vs ENG 1st Test Day 2 Live Scores & Commentary
England find themselves in a bit of a race against time. In June next year the final of the third cycle of the World Test Championship will take place at Lord’s in London and England run the risk of being just hosts and not participants for the third straight time. As it stands they’re seventh on the nine-team table with a win percentage of 36.54 which is more than 30 points in arrears of what table-toppers India have got. The need to bring in an additional batter in tough conditions.
The race begins on Wednesday then in the first of their final three home games of this cycle. They arrive with the harrowing reality of not having Ben Stokes in the middle but will still fancy their chances under Ollie Pope against Sri Lanka who haven’t played a Test since April this year. They have also played just four Tests in this cycle and arrive on England shores as the overwhelming underdogs in this contest. who takes the reins in the absence of Ben Stokes. Dan Lawrence.
England meanwhile have Joe Root in the form of his life with more than 1000 runs in the ongoing WTC cycle. Ben Duckett and Pope too have been among the runs with the stand-in skipper doing well in the recently-concluded home Tests against West Indies. Even in an injury crisis England can approach this series with a sense of optimism and a means to make upward progression in the points table. The mercurial middle-order batter Harry Brook will deputise for skipper Ollie Pope.
For Sri Lanka this is their first series in England in eight years. They come with Ian Bell as batting coach for the series in the hope to gain some local knowledge that can go a long way in blunting the hosts and their Bazballian ways. The hosts announced their XI two days out from match start bringing in Durham quick Matthew Potts for the first time since June 2023. Lawrence will open the innings in place of the injured Zak Crawley. will have lots to choose from for their attack.