3 things England need to do right to beat Sri Lanka in 1st Test in Manchester
England are set to take on Sri Lanka in a three-match Test series, starting August 21 in Manchester. The hosts will be without their skipper, Ben Stokes, who suffered a hamstring injury while playing in The Hundred. Ollie Pope has been appointed captain in Stokes's absence, while Harry Brook will be his deputy.
This will also be the first full series without James Anderson in the side. The England veteran retired last month after playing the first game of the three-match series against the West Indies.
The hosts will be confident, having played brilliant cricket against the Caribbean side. They are currently placed seventh in the World Test Championship standings and will look to improve their ranking with a strong series against the Island Nation.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka defeated India in an ODI bilateral series for the first time in 27 years. They will look to carry the momentum and put up a good show in England. Led by Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka have a strong side capable of upsetting the hosts.
As both teams look to create an instant impact in the series, this article will examine three things England need to do right to beat Sri Lanka in the first Test in Manchester.
#1 Getting off to a decent start in the absence of Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett will be without his opening partner, Zak Crawley, who suffered a finger injury in the last Test match against the West Indies. In 35 innings, the pair of Duckett and Crawley have amassed 1,475 runs with 10 fifties and two century stands. In Crawley’s absence, Daniel Lawrence is set to open with Duckett.
Lawrence has represented England in 11 Tests, scoring 551 runs, including four fifties. Meanwhile, Duckett is coming off an amazing performance in The Hundred. The left-handed opener was in top form, scoring 269 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 171.33.
This new England opening pair will have the responsibility of providing a decent start as they aim to deliver a strong performance against Sri Lanka.
#2 Middle-order batters need to play around Joe Root, with Ben Stokes not in the team
Sri Lanka’s bowlers will look to test the England batting lineup, which is missing their main player and skipper, Ben Stokes. The left-handed batter is unlikely to feature in the series, presenting a great opportunity for the Island Nation’s bowlers to rattle the English batters.
England have already announced their playing XI, with Chris Woakes coming in at No. 7. With six batters and no Stokes, the former captain, Joe Root, will need to step up. The right-hander was brilliant against the West Indies, scoring 291 runs in four innings, including two half-centuries and a hundred.
England, known for their attacking style of play, ‘Bazball,’ will look to build their innings around Joe Root. Ollie Pope and Harry Brook can play big innings, while Jamie Smith looked promising in his debut series. English fans will be hoping for a good performance from their middle-order batters.
#3 Maintaining discipline in the bowling attack
England’s bowlers were on fire in the series against the West Indies, with Gus Atkinson leading the way. The 26-year-old took a five-wicket haul in the first innings of his debut Test. Overall, in three games, he took 22 wickets, starting his career on a bright note.
In the West Indies series, different bowlers shone in different situations. The England camp will be hoping to continue this trend. While Chris Woakes took four wickets in the first innings of the second Test, Shoaib Bashir claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings, helping England win by 241 runs.
In the third game, Mark Wood picked up seven wickets. England’s bowlers will look to continue their good form by maintaining an accurate line and length, not allowing the Sri Lankan batters to score easy runs. The hosts have shown their ability to adjust to different conditions and match situations. Their coach, Brendon McCullum, will be hoping for another strong performance from his team.