The three-match series between England and Sri Lanka heads to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the second Test, which is set to get underway on Thursday morning.
England secured a five-wicket victory in the opening match in Manchester and will look to wrap up the series here at the home of cricket before heading to the Oval next week.
Match preview
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After almost three years of treating Test-match run chases like T20 internationals, England took a more measured approach in the first Test, securing victory on the fourth evening at Old Trafford after successfully chasing a target of 205.
The result marked England’s fourth win of the 2024 summer, following July’s 3-0 triumph over West Indies, but, as had occasionally happened against the men from the Caribbean, the Three Lions were unable to dictate the match with the authority they might have expected at the halfway point.
Sri Lanka clearly showed the improvement they have made over the last 24 months to remain in the match despite setting a very achievable target, forcing England to put Bazball in cold storage and adopt a more measured and patient approach.
At the heart of the chase was Joe Root‘s unbeaten 62, with the 33-year-old once again showcasing his exceptional skill and calmness under pressure, while the team will also be encouraged by Jamie Smith‘s solid batting performance, which has helped to offset the impact of Ben Stokes‘s absence.
In the end, Smith was dismissed in the second innings with 22 runs still needed, but by that point, he had already revived England and brought them to the brink of victory with 39 runs off 48 balls – an effort that was arguably more valuable given the circumstances than his century in the first innings.
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Meanwhile, despite the defeat, Sri Lanka displayed admirable resilience at Old Trafford last week, driven by Kamindu Mendis‘s outstanding century and Dinesh Chandimal‘s determined 79 in the second innings.
However, the Lions’ recurring issues of failing to capitalise on strong starts, combined with their late-order collapses in both innings remain a concern – an area they must address if they hope to compete with the top Test-playing nations globally.
Sri Lanka’s bowling, spearheaded by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya, challenged the English batters but largely struggled to capitalise on crucial moments, and it was clear that the team lacked a top-quality spinner capable of creating breakthroughs, which was a key element that had contributed to their past successes, particularly during Muttiah Muralitharan‘s prime.
One particular situation that will be of interest at Lord’s will be the umpire’s decision on when and which ball to change to in this match after veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews criticised the match officials in Manchester for handing the hosts a newer ball than they were using in 41st over, at which point the tourists were 4-146 with Mathews not out on 59 and Mendis on 33.
Team News
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Nottinghamshire pace bowler Olly Stone is set to return to the Three Lions squad for the first time in over three years at Lord’s, replacing Mark Wood who picked up a thigh strain on day three of the first Test and has been ruled out for the rest of the series.
Stone’s promotion to the starting 11 sees uncapped Leicestershire quick Josh Hull included in the 13-player initial squad for the second Test, while Jordan Cox will have to wait for an opportunity to make his Test debut with the Three Lions batting order remaining unchanged.
Sri Lanka are yet to announce their starting 11 for the second Test but are widely expected to remain unchanged, though they will be looking for more from their opening pair of Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne, who scored just 33 runs between them across both innings at Old Trafford.
Mendis, Mathews and Chandimal will look to provide stability in the middle of the innings, while Milan Rathnayake‘s 72 off 135 in the first innings batting at number nine could see him promoted up the order with Jayasuriya being the most likely to move down a spot.
England squad: Ollie Pope (c), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes,
Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vc), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake
Series so far
Test 1 of 3 – England won by 5 wickets
Sri Lanka – 236 and 326
England – 358 and 205/5
We say: England to win
Sri Lanka proved in the first Test that they are not a team to be taken lightly, but England’s familiarity with the conditions at the home of cricket, combined with the form of players like Joe Root gives them a significant edge.
The second Test looks poised to be another intense battle, but we feel the Three Lions will be able to wrap up the series here before we head to the Oval on September 6.
