As the first Test plays out at Old Trafford just a few days away, the home side is put in a position of having to evolve rapidly and show a lot of resilience. Beginning on Wednesday, this match becomes very important because England has no talismanic captain Ben Stokes who was injured. Stokes has been at the forefront of England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style of play but he will be unavailable for the entire series against Sri Lanka consisting of three matches after suffering a hamstring tear while playing for the Hundred.
Change of Leadership and Other Squad Adjustments
While most of that is out of his control, the remaining availability has meant that vice-captain Ollie Pope has been thrust into the role. Pope has little experience of captaincy: he led Surrey in one first-class game, but now he has the mantle of responsibility of guiding England in this pivotal series. The pressure on Pope will be immense – this will be the first Test England has played without Stokes since the dawn of the Bazball era under coach Brendon McCullum.
England’s selection for the first Test is a mixture of caution and confidence. The fast bowler Matthew Potts has been called up; that’s as clear a statement as any that England will field a five-man attack. Potts, who has offered up very good signs in his previous matches, will take a vital role in continuing England’s aggressive bowling policy.
However, in the batting lineup, which has become quite unexpected, there are changes. Dan Lawrence, not an opening batsman in county cricket, gets his recall after more than two years. He only finds a place in the team because of Zak Crawley’s bad luck — a finger fracture that kept him out of England’s 3-0 series win over the West Indies last month. Given Lawrence’s aggressive style of playing, he is expected to fit in well with the current England setup that thrives on attack.
Sri Lanka Preparedness and Experience
This series will see Sri Lanka fielding an amalgam of veterans and youngsters. Even though Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, their storied batsmen, will not play for them again, the squad still boasts an array of obstinately seasoned players. In batting, Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne are expected to take on the lead roles. There are also other experienced personalities like Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal who form the support cast for this group of cricketers from Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan camp is also not untouched by leadership changes. The resignation of coach Chris Silverwood, former England paceman, has put Sanath Jayasuriya in charge of stewardship as the interim coach. Jayasuriya brings to the table experience and a deep understanding of the game, especially in English conditions. His experience, together with the knowledge of former England batsman Ian Bell, who is part of the backroom staff, will be key to Sri Lanka’s success in this series.
Their recent form suggests that, despite the last Test match Sri Lanka played being in April, this is quite enough to challenge the hosts. A much-needed confidence was given when they recently won their three-match one-day international series against India with a 2-0 series win. The time this tour is taking place in late summer; this is advantageous to Sri Lanka in terms of the conditions, unlike the tours taking place in early summer when it is challenging for visiting teams.
England’s Problems Without Stokes
Without Ben Stokes, England will have their approach under the scanner in this series. Stokes was England’s workhorse and crowd-puller, both emotionally and strategically. His absence leaves shoes to be filled, both in terms of performance and leadership. From now on, it’s about inspiring the team, and it’s up to Ollie Pope to keep up this devil-may-care style of playing, something that England fans have come to associate with the ‘Bazball’ era.
Matthew Potts is recalled, this selection alluding to the fact that England wants to go into the battle with a robust bowling attack. He’s quick and gets the ball to move off the surface, so Potts will be expected to deliver those key breakthroughs. The replacement of Zak Crawley with a specialist opener might be a point of concern. Although talented, Dan Lawrence will have to step it up in opening the batting order in Test cricket, where he will be exposed to the attack from the likely sledding Sri Lankan attack he opens against.
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Anticipation and Expectations
Both sides would be eager to put their hands on some early points in the tour, with the first Test just around the corner. Playing at home, England would look to dominate, but again, the chance might balance if there are vital players like Stokes and Crawley out of the squad for Sri Lanka. With many successes under their back and experienced hands on their shoulders, Sri Lanka will look to prey on any possible loopholes and extend it to their advantage.
The series is considered promising for fans, featuring exciting cricket on the wicket. One can get a chance to “watch live cricket for free” and all “cricket match highlights” on the Winexch site. The energetic clash is quite certain to throw up plenty of thrills during the series, where the aggressive, contemporary approach of England hosts the experience and newfound confidence of Sri Lanka.
FAQs
1. Why isn’t Ben Stokes playing in the series against Sri Lanka?
Ben Stokes is sidelined from the series after injuring his hamstring during The Hundred; therefore, he is out for all three countries.
2. Who takes the captain’s role in the absence of Ben Stokes for England?
Ollie Pope takes up the captaincy of the England team as the vice-captain with hardly any experience of leading a side.
3. What are England’s changes in the team for the first Test?
The fast bowler Matthew Potts is recalled. While Dan Lawrence comes back due to Zak Crawley’s injury, it will be a good opportunity to open the batting for England.
4. Where can one view the series and find the highlight reels?
Fans can “watch live cricket for free” on sites like Winexch and catch all “cricket match highlights”.
