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Sri Lanka tour of England (2024)

Predict the outcome of the 3-match Test series between Sri Lanka and England

  • England will win the series 3-0

    Votes: 11 64.7%

  • England will win the series 2-1

    Votes: 6 35.3%

  • Sri Lanka will win the series 2-1

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sri Lanka will win the series 3-0

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • The series will end in a draw

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    17
FearlessRoar

FearlessRoar

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England Men announce Test Squad for Sri Lanka Series

England Men's selection panel have named a 14-strong squad for the three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, 21 August 2024.

England Men's Test Squad:

Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)

Opening batter Zak Crawley will miss the series due to a fractured right little finger sustained in the third Test victory over the West Indies.

Seam bowler Dillion Pennington, who featured in the Test squad during the recent series victory over the West Indies, will also miss the series after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing in The Hundred competition.

There is a first call-up for Essex middle-order batter Jordan Cox. The 23-year-old right-handed bat has been in excellent form for Essex this season after joining from Kent at the start of the year. He has been involved in the England set-up previously, having toured Pakistan with the England white-ball squad in the autumn of 2022.

Nottinghamshire seamer Olly Stone returns to the Test squad for the first time since June 2021 and will be looking to add to his three Test caps.

Rothesay Test Series Versus Sri Lanka:

1st Test: England v Sri Lanka, 21-25 August 2024, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

2nd Test: England v Sri Lanka, 29 August-2 September 2024, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

3rd Test: England v Sri Lanka, 6-10 September 2024, Kia Oval, London

www.ecb.co.uk

England Men announce Test Squad for Sri Lanka Series

England Men's selection panel have named a 14-strong squad for the three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, 21 August 2024.
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk
 
Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee approved the following 18-member squad to play the three-match test series vs. England.

Honorable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Harin Fernando, approved the squad. The test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship.

The Squad

Dhananjaya De Silva – Captain
Dimuth Karunaratne
Nishan Madushka
Pathum Nissanka
Kusal Mendis – Vice Captain
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

 
As per reports:

Sri Lankan cricketers currently in England for an upcoming three-Test series have raised concerns about their safety following recent anti-immigrant riots across the country.

A few members of the Sri Lankan team and support staff have already arrived in the UK.

Of the nine individuals present, including seven players and two support staff, security concerns have been voiced due to the ongoing nationwide protests and riots against immigrants.

The remainder of the Sri Lankan squad is expected to arrive in the UK on August 11, coinciding with the implementation of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) security plans for the series. In response to the team's concerns, the ECB has assured them of robust security arrangements during their stay.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has requested increased security measures for the players as they travel to and from training grounds, particularly those situated near London.
 

Sri Lanka begins England Test tour with confidence as Jayasuriya pushes for full effort​


Following their confidence-boosting ODI series win against India in Colombo, the Sri Lanka national cricket team departed for England yesterday to play a three-match Test series.

The Test series is set to begin on August 21, with Sri Lanka hoping to carry their ODI success into the longest format of the game.

Interim Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya expressed high expectations for the team, saying that he expects all players to give their maximum efforts for the team during this series.

"As we expect 100 percent from the players, we also hope to give 100 percent for the players. If we perform well in all three departments, Sri Lanka can climb into the top rankings of the table," he said.

Jayasuriya, serving as the temporary coach, urged both batsmen and bowlers to deliver their best performances. "This is my last series as the Interim Head Coach, and I expect the England series to end victoriously with the confidence and commitment of the players," he said.

The team is set to play a warm-up game in Worcester before heading to Manchester, where the first Test will be hosted at Old Trafford. The second Test is scheduled at Lord’s, followed by the third game at The Oval. This marks Sri Lanka’s first visit to The Oval for Test cricket since their historic win in 1998.

Sri Lanka has called up two uncapped players, pacer Milan Rathnayake and all-rounder Nisala Tharaka, for the series. The 33-year-old Tharaka, who has an impressive first-class record with 257 wickets and 2358 runs, has received his maiden national call-up. Rathnayake, though previously named in Test squads, is yet to win a cap.

The fast-bowling duties will be handled by Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara, with veteran Angelo Mathews also included in the squad.

Led by Dhananjaya de Silva, the squad also sees the return of batter Pathum Nissanka and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who last appeared in the longest format in 2022. Vandersay’s inclusion follows his career-best haul against India in the second ODI, where he took 6/33.

Kusal Mendis, recently replaced by Charith Asalanka as the ODI captain, will serve as De Silva’s deputy.

However, the Sri Lankan team has raised concerns about the security situation in England due to ongoing anti-immigrant riots in various cities. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reassured Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) about the security arrangements in place. Players already in England for pre-series training have expressed anxiety about the unrest and requested better security measures from SLC as they travel near London.

www.dailymirror.lk

Sri Lanka begins England Test tour with confidence as Jayasuriya pushes for full effort - Breaking News | Daily Mirror

Following their confidence-boosting ODI series win against India in Colombo, the Sri Lanka national cricket team departed for England yesterday to play a three-match Test series. ..
www.dailymirror.lk www.dailymirror.lk
 
Firstly a long overdue tour. SL haven't toured England for Tests since 2016.

Much better batting lineup than WI with the old guard of Karunaratne, Chandimal and Mathews still there but a slightly weaker bowling attack.

Really hope SL compete and at least nick a Test.
 
seems bad weather in Manchester on match days - what say local boyz ?
 
England have named Matthew Potts in their side as an extra seamer for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday

The 25-year-old comes in for his first Test in more than year in place of injured captain Ben Stokes, who misses the three-match series with a hamstring injury.

It means England have chosen to cover for all-rounder Stokes with a fourth specialist fast bowler, rather than a batter.

As a result, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith moves up to number six, followed by Chris Woakes at seven, then Gus Atkinson, Potts, Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir.

In Stokes' absence, Ollie Pope will lead England for the first time, becoming their 82nd men's Test captain.

Harry Brook has been promoted to vice-captain, while Dan Lawrence returns for his first Test in more than two years, taking the place of injured opener Zak Crawley.

Crawley will miss the series after breaking his finger attempting a slip catch on the final day of the third-Test win against West Indies last month.

Both Crawley and Stokes are hoping to be fit for the tour of Pakistan in October.

Stokes was at England's training session on Monday and is likely to remain with the team throughout the series against Sri Lanka, but it was Pope and coach Brendon McCullum who addressed the squad.

In the absence of injured pace bowler Dillon Pennington, who was in the squad for the West Indies series, Potts gets the nod ahead of Nottinghamshire's Olly Stone.

The Durham man won the last of his six caps against Ireland at Lord's more than a year ago and has 23 wickets at an average of 29.

Surrey's Lawrence has not played for England since Stokes and McCullum took charge, the most recent of his 11 Tests coming on the 2022 tour of the West Indies.

The 27-year-old averages 27 with the bat and has not previously opened in Test cricket.

However, Lawrence - who came through the ranks at Essex as an opener - has often opened in white-ball cricket, and done so five times in first-class matches.

———————————————————

England XI for first Test v Sri Lanka: Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

———————————————————

Source: BBC
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jayasuriya wants Sri Lanka to remain ‘hungry’ for rare England opportunity

Sri Lanka will take on England in a three-match Test series, which will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

Touring the country for a Test series after eight years, with several red-ball veterans in their ranks, Sri Lanka’s interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya told ESPNCricinfo that he wanted to ensure that his players had the right mindset before the series started.

“I want to make sure there is that hunger,” Jayasuriya said while stressing the importance of the upcoming series. “Playing three Tests like this is not an opportunity you will get easily again.

“So we have to take it while we can. Scoring runs here is challenging, because even if the pitches are flat, the ball can still start swinging, or seaming. We have to know how to adjust to that.”

Jayasuriya’s take on English conditions came from personal experience – in six Tests in England, he scored 421 runs at an average of 42.1. His best of 213 came in Sri Lanka’s historic one-off Test victory over England at the Oval in 1998.

While the southpaw believed that Sri Lanka had enough experience in their ranks, including Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews who had won a Test series in England in 2014, he added that the players needed to be flexible in their approach in challenging conditions.

“We have the personnel there, but we need to fight hard. If you play six or seven batters, only two or three will perform for sure. If they get a start they need to play big innings.

“They know they have that responsibility on challenging wickets. Everyone should play their natural game, but once you get that start, there are places where you need to break things down a little, and either bat quickly, or slow down for a bit.

However, he also believed that this Sri Lankan side might have a slight edge compared to previous touring sides from the nation, given that they are playing in the latter half of the English summer, conditions that might suit them.

“The fact that we have got a late-summer tour is great, because a lot of wickets have been used a lot, and there's more sunshine at this time of year. It's more similar to our conditions than the early summer tours. I have made sure the players know it's a great opportunity.”

Jayasuriya had great expectations from Karunaratne, who is 75 runs away from overtaking his interim coach on the all-time Sri Lanka run-getters list.

“He is a very strong-minded player. He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are, and has worked on them. He can do something major on this tour.”

Sri Lanka's last Test win against England came in 2014
Apart from the batting, Jayasuriya was also readying plans to counter England’s aggressive style of play with the ball.

“It's in the first ten overs that there will be the most pressure I think,” Jayasuriya added. “If you look historically, they have been attacking in that first ten overs and getting runs on the board quickly.

“We have got some plans to counter that. And we know this is how they will play. We have to bowl in the right places, and if they hit the good balls, that's okay. We need to identify the right lengths given the conditions.

“There will be times when we need to cover the areas of the field where they are attacking, to cut down the boundaries.”

Sri Lanka are placed in the 4th position on the ICC WTC standings, with a point percentage of 50% while England are 7th with 36.54%. The first Test begins on 21 August in Manchester.

Source: ICC
 
Test cricket on its last legs another 2.5 day finishes incoming.. borderline depressing
 
Sri Lanka will play the 1st test match of the tour, starting tomorrow at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester.

Playing XI against England in the first Test match

1. Dimuth Karunaratne

2. Nishan Madushka

3. Kusal Mendis

4. Angelo Mathews

5. Dinesh Chandimal

6. Dhananjaya De Silva – Captain

7. Kamindu Mendis

8. Prabath Jayasuriya

9. Asitha Fernando

10. Vishwa Fernando

11. Milan Rathnayake
 
Human786 said:
any locals around ?
Click to expand...
seems weather is dicey & no locals on PP - love the ENG11 with Potts replacing Stokes and Woakes as 5th bowling option , terrific bowling attack , if SL bat 1st then we might get a result ! c @James - any thoughts ?
 
Ollie Pope says England are still Ben Stokes’ team, despite the batter taking charge for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka

Regular captain Stokes misses out after injuring his hamstring playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

Pope, 26, will become England men’s 82nd Test captain in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, but Stokes is remaining with the squad throughout the series.

“He leads us and he’s still in the changing room,” Pope told BBC Sport. “It’s great to have him around.

“None of the messages are going to be different, we’re not going to play any differently. I’ll just be getting similar messages across, in my own way.”

The England Test captaincy seldom changes hands. Pope will become only the fifth man to take the job since 2009.

England rarely need stand-ins, either. Only once in England’s past 177 Tests has the regular captain missed out, when Joe Root was at the birth of his second child in 2020.

On that occasion Stokes stepped in, with Root leaving a note telling him to “do it your way”.

Surrey’s Pope continued: "That's probably the difference - I've had no message in my locker, but I'm sat next to him in the changing room.

“He's going to let me go do my thing over the course of this series, which is good for me. At the same time he's obviously going to be watching, so I can have those conversations in the intervals if I think anything needs to change. It’s only a positive having him around.”

Pope has played 46 Tests and been Stokes’ deputy for almost two years. He steps up to lead England despite only previously skippering Surrey in one first-class and eight T20 matches.

“Having the vice-captaincy role has given me the opportunity to get my head around it if this opportunity came about,” he said.

“I’ve thought about it on the pitch, watched Stokesy closely as to how he manages the bowlers and the way he goes about it in the changing rooms. There are a few little bits I’ll take from him. It’s not a massive issue that I haven’t captained a lot in first-class cricket.”

Along with all-rounder Stokes, England are also missing opener Zak Crawley, who broke a finger on the final day of the 3-0 series win against West Indies last month.

In their absence, Dan Lawrence will open the batting and Matthew Potts has been named as an extra seamer. Harry Brook steps up as Pope’s vice-captain.

England’s last Test at Old Trafford, against Australia last summer, was ruined by rain, ending the home side’s chances of regaining the Ashes. The forecast this week is mixed for Sri Lanka’s first Test in this country in eight years.

“I've not looked too closely at the weather because if it rains, it rains, but it's not going to change the way we necessarily go about it,” said Pope.

“A 3-0 win is always the target. If we can keep playing our best cricket, like we have, then hopefully we can look back in three or four weeks and that’s the end result.

Source: BBC
 
Foolish selection by Sri Lankan management - not playing Nissanka & Asalanka in this series.

Asalanka is not even in the touring party.
 
England vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first

Teams:

England (Playing XI): Daniel Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(w), Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake
 
Mentioned this a couple of times but 2024 is the year Test cricket is going to die.

And not a slow burning death either. It's hurtling towards the end.
 
Sri Lanka have now lost three wickets in 10 balls, with no runs added during that time.

11/3 atm.
 
Former England captain Michael Atherton via Sky Sports:

"It's a strong-looking batting line-up on paper [for Sri Lanka], with averages of over 40 for the top seven.

"Kamindu Mendis is very early on in his Test career, so that's reflective of not much Test cricket.

"But the rest have all played a significant amount and therefore good performances over a long period of time."

PRHbvXv.jpg
 
Never seen such a low bounce in England.

SL 5 down for 72 now.

zyxCG6E.png
 
Sky Sports Cricket's Stuart Broad on Sri Lanka

"They just need to get something on the board that can create pressure.

"A 230, a 240. It doesn't have to be a 370.

"But it can't be a 120."
 
Former Sri Lanka batter Kumar Sangakkara via Sky Sports:

"I think the decision to bat first was correct and it was unfortunate for the two openers because I think they'll be kicking themselves a bit.

"They kept a lot of the good balls out early and you'd be expecting some early movement and there was, but both got out to perhaps being slightly indecisive.

"Those two dismissals, unfortunately, set Sri Lanka back because batting 10 overs would have forced a bowling change."
 
What a pathetic bit of batting that was from Jayasuriya. Gets out, gets reinstated due to an illegal 3rd bouncer in the over, goes for a yahoo the next ball like it’s a free hit, then gets out on the following ball again. And now actually is out. Absolutely rubbish
 
James said:
What a pathetic bit of batting that was from Jayasuriya. Gets out, gets reinstated due to an illegal 3rd bouncer in the over, goes for a yahoo the next ball like it’s a free hit, then gets out on the following ball again. And now actually is out. Absolutely rubbish
Click to expand...
if only Potts had chipped in , these guys would been rolled out under 150 .
 
We have to give credit to Dhananjaya de Silva

He currently has 66 runs from 65 deliveries with eight fours and is steadying the ship

t5aCRqp.jpg
 
Rathnayake's fingers have taken a battering and he's being seen to by the physio but it's nothing alarming by the looks of it.

Rathnayake brings up his maiden half-century with a first Test match six. The field was in tight to stop the one but he lofted Bashir over the long-on fence for a maximum.

3CdQY5M.jpg
 
England made a strong start to life under Ollie Pope’s temporary captaincy, bowling out Sri Lanka for 236 on the first day of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford

Pope’s first act standing in for the injured Ben Stokes was to lose the toss. Pope indicated he wanted to field first anyway and his instincts were proved correct as Sri Lanka immediately slumped to 6-3.

Mark Wood produced a snorter to remove Kusal Mendis, then Shoaib Bashir a scuttler to pin Dinesh Chandimal, a two-paced pitch with some uneven bounce playing a part in Sri Lanka’s lurch to 113-7.

It was captain Dhananjaya de Silva who showed the grit and application to keep the tourists respectable. He added 63 for the eighth wicket with Milan Rathnayake, the seam bowler playing his first Test.

Even after Dhananjaya was caught at leg slip off Bashir for 74, Rathnayake continued to 72, the highest score ever made by a number nine on Test debut.

When Vishwa Fernando was run out to end the Sri Lanka innings, the light was so poor that England were unable to bowl their pacemen.

That meant Sri Lanka had to open the bowling with spin, not necessarily a disadvantage on a surface already turning.

In four overs, Ben Duckett and the recalled Dan Lawrence moved to 22-0. Sri Lanka wanted to call on pace, so the umpires intervened over the light, leaving 12 overs unbowled.

Oliver's Army
On the day Pope became the 82nd man to lead England in Test cricket, there were periods when captaincy seemed straightforward. England enjoyed help from some woeful Sri Lanka batting and the occasionally unpredictable surface.

Some of the home players were emotional during pre-play tributes to Graham Thorpe, the former England batter and coach who died earlier this month at the age of 55.

The action that followed was initially frantic – Sri Lanka lost their first three wickets inside seven overs – but became more attritional when the tourists dug in. As the morning sunshine gave way to strong winds and grey clouds, it was as tough to be a spectator as a visiting batter.

Rathnayake was an unlikely candidate to test Pope’s tactical acumen, first in the stand with De Silva, then battling on after the loss of the Sri Lanka captain.

Overall, Pope led in similar fashion to Stokes. Catchers were regularly employed, often in creative places, and England were quick to go to a short-ball plan. If anything, Pope’s only bum notes were to ask the recalled Matthew Potts to bowl bouncers, not the Durham man’s strength, and the over-enthusiastic burning of two reviews on poor caught-behind appeals.

In the gloom, Pope was prevented from bowling Wood and Rathnayake got after the spin of Bashir and Joe Root. In a Stokes-like move, Pope kept the field in and was rewarded when Rathnayake finally miscued to mid-on.

Source: BBC
 
The second day of the 1st Test between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford Stadium has been delayed due to rain
 
SL - 236-all out.
England - 22/0 (4 overs).

England are looking good to get a big win (if no rain).
 
6 years of utter mediocrity from Ollie Pope. Even in the Bazball era of flat pitches and useless Dukes balls , he averages 36 with the bat (ignoring Ireland).
 
Asitha Fernando takes 3 wickets so far, including the prized scalp of Joe Root - amazing stuff! This shows that talent is emerging in Sri Lanka.
 
156/4 - if somehow SL can restrict ENG to under 50 runs lead it would be nice .
 
Sky Sports Cricket's Kumar Sangakkara:

"I have understood that they wanted to stop boundaries but that hasn't stopped England going at four or five runs an over anyway.

"They were concentrating on delaying the run-making rather than trying to think of 'how do I get a wicket while I am doing this'.

"You have got to be really exacting when setting a field to try and have a chance of getting a wicket.

"You can't expect the batter to always get bowled or the ball to do something because it is not really doing much out there except a little bit of reverse.

"I think they need to reset their plans again."
 
Stumps - Day 2 Update

England 259/6 and lead Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the 1st Innings.
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Stumps - Day 2 Update

England 259/6 and lead Sri Lanka by 23 runs in the 1st Innings.
Click to expand...
England nudged ahead of a spirited Sri Lanka on a truncated second day of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

Half-centuries from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith took the hosts to 259-6, an advantage of 23 runs, after rain delayed the beginning of the day and bad light brought an early close.

The home side had to work hard to keep Sri Lanka at bay. At one stage, England lost three wickets for 37 runs to be 67-3 before Brook added 58 with Joe Root and 62 with wicketkeeper Smith.

When Brook was bowled for 56 by Prabath Jayasuriya's ripping turner, England were five wickets down and still 49 behind Sri Lanka's 236.

But Smith, already so at home in Test cricket in only his fourth match, found support from Chris Woakes to push England into the lead.

They shared England's third half-century stand of the day before Woakes became another victim of the beguiling Jayasuriya.

Smith remained unbeaten on 72 when play was abandoned with 22 overs unused, while there is the threat of more bad weather across the final three days o f the match.
 
Prabath Jayasuriya with Sky Sports Cricket's Kumar Sangakkara...

"That is the hardest part, the weather, but we can't control it.

"We can one week before the start of the series so we had good practice sessions in this weather.

"I think it is working.

"We have to take these four wickets for minumum runs so that is our plan."
 
122 that's a good lead by England.

SL top order needs to put up a fight in the 2nd inns if they've got what it takes.
 
Dimuth gone. 52/3 Another contest that is one sided and unwatchable .


2024 : The year Test cricket finally died.
 
Dinesh Chandimal took a nasty blow to the right thumb from Mark Wood and has retired hurt!
 
SL trail by 15 , 4 down - 5 if Chandi has broken something in his right hand , day 4 forecast is poor , we might not have play till Tea . ENG need to get 3 more wickets in last session hope Gus is on immediately !
 
Update from Sri Lanka team manager that he has asked me to pass on - Dinesh Chandimal’s X-Ray reveals no fracture and he should be able to bat again.
 
sweep_shot said:
SL are effectively 76/6.

England should win, unless SL can give a target of 300.
Click to expand...

Agree. England are likely to win because Sri Lanka's lead is very low. If Sri Lanka's lead goes very high, then they can have a chance of winning this match unless England chase it down before they get bowled out.

Irrespective of all , Sri Lanka will try to pick up 10 wickets in the last innings...unless England decide to chase the total down before Sri Lanka can pick those 10 wickets.
 
Jamie Smith will be a "world-class player over a long period of time", according to former England international and Sri Lanka batting coach Ian Bell

Smith, 24, made his maiden Test century on the third day of England's series opener against the Sri Lankans at Emirates Old Trafford.

Bell, who played 118 Tests, has worked with Smith for England Lions and Hundred side Birmingham Phoenix.

"The small part that I played in his development, I've watched a guy who's worked extremely hard," said Bell.

"I'm sure he's going to be a massive part of this England team in all formats over a long time."

Surrey's Smith was given the gloves by England ahead of county team-mate Ben Foakes and Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow for the series against West Indies earlier this summer.

He missed out on a maiden century in the third Test against the Windies, making 95 at Edgbaston, but made no mistake with 111 in Manchester on Friday.

Overall, he is only the third England player to have three scores in excess of 70 in their first five Test innings and his 318 runs after five knocks is the second-most of any wicketkeeper in Test history.

And 42-year-old Bell, whose 7,727 runs put him ninth on England's all-time list in Tests, said he was "not at all" surprised by the start Smith had made at the highest level of the game.

"He's going to be a world-class player for England over a long period of time," said the former Warwickshire batter. "He's confident, and he's taken to international cricket with ease."

Smith's knock helped England to 358 in their first innings, an advantage of 122 runs.

When their top-order batting failed, Sri Lanka were in danger of being beaten inside three days before rallying to 204-6 - albeit only leading by 82.

Smith's celebration on reaching three figures was low key, but he later spoke of his "pride" over the achievement.

"I probably didn't show it, but inwardly I was obviously very happy," he said.

"That's just me as a person. I don't want to show too much emotion, it's all inward and it's mainly about the job to do for the team.

"Once you reach the moment, you can enjoy that 30 seconds, but then it's back on to what the team requires."

Smith was initially selected to bat at number seven and has now found himself at number six as England cover for injured captain Ben Stokes.

He has spent most of his first-class career in the top six for Surrey and former captain Michael Vaughan said England have a "lovely headache" over where Smith should bat in the future.

"The only question to come is whether Smith is batting too low," Vaughan told Test Match Special.

"England have such a powerhouse line-up, they want someone at seven who can bat with the tail and he's certainly got the skillset for that.

"I admire his aggressive strokeplay, but mostly I admire his defence. If you've got that, if you can nullify the best balls and play straight, you can bat anywhere you want in the order."

Source: BBC
 
Haha, Bashir as usual getting spanked by Sri Lankan lions. Good fightback from SL but they will likely bowl out in first hour.
 
Probably an England win, but still an outside chance of SL nicking something from the game and they have shown some fight here.
 
Update:

England pace bowler Mark Wood has sustained a right thigh muscle injury late on the third day of the first Rothesay Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford.

He will not return to the field today and will continue to be assessed by the England medical team to determine the full extent of the injury.
 
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