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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
Stumps Day 1

England 358-7: Root 143, Atkinson 74*
Sri Lanka: Yet to bat
====

Joe Root’s record-equalling 33rd century ensured England did not waste the chance to bat first on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Root’s flawless 143 took him level with Sir Alastair Cook for the most Test centuries for England and was the bedrock of the hosts’ 358-7.
Without Root, England would have been in severe trouble, having surprisingly been inserted by Sri Lanka on a docile pitch under blue sky and sunshine.

Almost all of the England batters were to blame for their own downfalls, including makeshift opener Dan Lawrence, caught behind walking down the pitch for nine, and stand-in captain Ollie Pope, who was caught off an ugly pull for only one.
Root added 48 with Harry Brook and 62 alongside Jamie Smith, but it was only in a seventh-wicket stand of 92 with Gus Atkinson did it feel like England were making the most of the conditions.

Root’s controlled innings was ended by a wild moment, an attempt at his trademark reverse-scoop ending in the hands of point.
Atkinson remained, completing his maiden Test half-century and attacking the second new ball for an unbeaten 74, accompanied by Matthew Potts on 20 not out.

Their partnership is 50 and growing.

Source: BBC
 
jnaveen1980 said:
This bowling is very limited. I still can't believe they ran England close in the first match with Asitha Fernando as your lead bowler.
Click to expand...

It’s a weakened England team - no Crawley and no Stokes, Pope a lame duck captain, tail that starts at seven. England at full strength would be more comfortable against SL.
 
Ton for Atkinson. He doesn't have one even at FC level. SL have been utterly humiliated here.
 
Good score posted by the hosts.

Gn7n6DP.png
 
It's quite cool to see the ground full of spectators for this game

gVq5cCC.png
 
Watching mid Test sides getting massacred while making losses for the home board must be absolutely delightful to hard-core Test cricket fans.
 
124/7 .... 44 overs left for the day . Can anyone foresee play on day 5 ? no follow-on btw
 
Former England captain Nasser Hussain via Sky Sports:

"I was very, very impressed with England [in the afternoon session]."

"They look like a side which understand conditions here and understand the ends."

"Sri Lanka are the complete opposite - when they were in the field and definitely when they batted."

"All of the cricketing reasons are to bat again."

"You've got back to back to back Test matches, and bowlers - Olly Stone has got a history of injury and Chris Woakes looked fairly tired at the end of the last one."

"On a dry pitch, Shoaib Bashir can bowl and spin them out on day four."

"I would personally bat again."
 
Former England bowler Stuart Broad via Sky Sports:

"England have out-bowled Sri Lanka for sure, but just the tactics of knowing this ground and having this experience of how the angles work, the tactics have been better too."
 
154/8 & time permitting 28 overs left - SL bowlers after being in for 102 overs & a rest of 4-5 hors will be bowling again today with ENG 240 ahead .... you think they can bundle out hosts under 200 ?
 
lead of 231 - 30 minutes to bat on day 2 - predict at what lead will ENG pull the plug on day 3 ?
 

Sri Lanka 196 all out​

Trailing by 231, Job done. An excellent day for England.

GPlzl7T.jpg
 
That was England's first opportunity to enforce the follow on since the 2023 Wellington Test, in which they lost after asking New Zealand to bat again. They also haven't declared since Edgbaston 2023, for what it's worth
 
Second Test, Lord's (day two of five)

England 427 (Root 143, Atkinson 118; A Fernando 5-102) & 25-1

Sri Lanka 196 (Kamindu 74; Potts 2-19, Woakes 2-21)

England lead by 256 runs

=====

Gus Atkinson continued the sensational start to his career with a maiden century as England utterly dominated day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Atkinson, who took 12 wickets on debut against West Indies on this ground last month, became the first England number eight to make a Test ton in 11 years, before joining a pace quartet that laid waste to the Sri Lanka top order.

The 26-year-old, playing only his fifth Test, needed 22 deliveries on Friday morning to move from an overnight 74 to his first century in professional cricket.

Only two England number eights have made more than Atkinson’s 118 in Tests and it took a breathtaking diving catch by Milan Rathnayake to dismiss him as part of the home side's eventual 427 all out.

In blameless conditions, Sri Lanka should have made England work hard, only to fold in the face of some relentless pace bowling.

Olly Stone took two wickets in an over in his first Test for more than three years, while Matthew Potts repeated the dose in a calamitous spell when Sri Lanka crashed from 83-3 to 87-6.

Resistance came from Kamindu Mendis, who followed up his century in the first Test with a defiant 74. His was the last wicket to fall to leave Sri Lanka 196 all out, 231 behind.

England opted against the follow-on and Dan Lawrence felt aggrieved to be caught behind for seven.

Ollie Pope joined Ben Duckett and England closed on 25-1, a lead of 256.

Source: BBC
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Ton for Atkinson. He doesn't have one even at FC level.
Click to expand...

That is a bit of a surprise to be honest. Gus looked mostly technically correct and played some gorgeous shots. Even a “bowler who can bat” like Adil Rashid whose batting is totally unorthodox and ordinary at the international level has 10 FC tons.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Demoralised SL got Bazballed . Will be even worse in 3rd Test.
Click to expand...

England have played mostly conventional Test cricket in this series. They have toned the run rate down from 5/6; they still score at 4 an over but with a lot of strike rotation and minimal risk.

Assuming the series gets wrapped here, I can see them loosening up a bit at the Oval and putting on a Bazball show.
 
James said:
England have played mostly conventional Test cricket in this series. They have toned the run rate down from 5/6; they still score at 4 an over but with a lot of strike rotation and minimal risk.

Assuming the series gets wrapped here, I can see them loosening up a bit at the Oval and putting on a Bazball show.
Click to expand...
Well Atkinson was the one doing the Bazballing :p

FWIW, I'm a huge fan of the new approach.

If you remember I was one of the biggest critics of their batting for the last couple of years.

What the likes of Jamie Smith are doing is far more impressive and sustainable.

Also, I think your seamers are quality. Proper hit the deck seamers who can be effective on all types of surfaces - Potts and Atkinson in particular.

Maybe too early to say but I think seam attack will create more impact than the endless Jimmy/Broad "tie the batsmen up" type seamers even if they may not have that longevity.

Beginnings of a world class Test side imo.
 
England has firm grip on this game as well. Lead is now 390 and both Root and Smith are playing at good pace.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Root is on 45*.

Can he get another century? He already scored a century in 1st innings.
 
Eoin Morgan on Sri Lanka's fielding via Sky Sports:

"I think England need to keep the level of intensity up. Sri Lanka might get flat throughout the day and England need to take advantage of that."

"They can target the short pitched bowling and Joe Root has been the key to that. He's looked at ease throughout the innings as he has done throughout the summer or even his whole career."

"When he wants to up his run-rate he never increases the risk and that's the type of control he brings to any partnership or team and it's a joy to watch."

"I think we'll see more of the same. England will look to get to 450 or 460 and then declare before tea."

"I think Sri Lanka started well, they brought the intent and energy."

The fielding is always a nice insight into the collective determination of any team. It's about effort, attitude and body language."

"It was strange it was the same spot [as where Root dropped a catch yesterday] but a little bit sloppy throughout Sri Lanka and yes, they are up against it, but if you're looking to take something into the batting innings, it could be some sort of confidence with your fielding."
 
What a moment for Joe Root - hus fastest test century till date and also most centuries by an England player.
 
They should've declared when they lost their 8th wicket and Root would've gone back not out.

Well it's all over Root got out in the end.
 
Root will surpass Sangakkara by next test match. Opposition will be Sri Lanka only.
 
That was unplayable stuff from Olly stone. Pitched on a 6 meter length decked away off the seam with pace and prodigious bounce. Nissanka had no choice but to poke at it.
 
Conditions look murky out there. Not sure how it looks from the ground. But on TV screen it looks pretty dark. Night watchman rather light watch man (as per Hussain) Jayasuriya in.
 
Play abandoned for today. 98 overs tomorrow. 1100 start. 6.30pm close of play plus 30 mins. Session times will be confirmed in the morning.
 
Second Test, Lord's (day three of five)
England 427 (Root 143, Atkinson 118; A Fernando 5-102) & 251 (Root 103)
Sri Lanka 196 (Kamindu 74; Potts 2-19, Woakes 2-21) & 53-2
Sri Lanka need 430 runs to win
====

Joe Root further cemented his status as England’s greatest batter with a record-breaking 34th Test century in the march towards victory over Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Root’s second century of the second Test took him past Sir Alastair Cook for the most tons by an England batter.His 103, made across the third morning and afternoon, was both effortless and inevitable. Made from 111 deliveries, it was also Root’s quickest in Test cricket.

When Root became the last wicket to fall, England were 251 all out and Sri Lanka left an improbable record 483 to level the series. In dark and difficult conditions in the evening session, Gus Atkinson accounted for Nishan Madushka and Olly Stone had Pathum Nissanka, both caught by Root at first slip, taking him to 200 Test catches.

The gloom closed in. England were forced to bowl the spin of Shoaib Bashir and Root. As the umpires fiddled with their lightmeters, an interruption was so predictable that Sri Lanka promoted Prabath Jayasuriya to number four to see them to the delay.

When it came, Sri Lanka had reached 53-2, 430 adrift, with Dimuth Karunaratne on 23 and Jayasuriya on three. Play was finally called off for the day at 18:00 BST.

England will return on Sunday knowing they have two full days to take the eight wickets they need for an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Source: BBC
 
Sri Lanka need 388 runs with Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews on the crease, will their experience pay off?
 
why do i feel like sri lanka can pull this off? weird feeling.
 
Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain:

"Sri Lanka are a proud cricketing nation and they wouldn't want to roll over and give England the match and the series victory."

"Angelo Mathews has 7000 Test runs and they currently have Dinesh Chandimal at the crease. They're showing some fight and character."

"Sri Lanka have played nicely. There's been some farcical running but Dimuth Karunaratne played really well, he was put down by Joe Root."

"England will learn more from today than if they roll them out for 150 or so."

"When it does get flat and slower you need bowlers like Olly Stone who are able to get good players out."

"Everything seems to be looking forward to Australia and the Ashes."

"The worst thing that could happen is to have really easy games in the summer and then you get out to Australia."

This is what it is going to be like. It's going to be flat, the sun will be out, the ball is going to be soft, you're going to need that extra pace."

"If it's not Archer, it's Wood. If it's not Wood, who is it after? Stone has shown that on a flat pitch he can find a way to get wicket."

"Bashir, what can he do when it isn't spinning? Can he challenge both edges of the bat?"

"Stokes' captaincy in these sorts of conditions would be imaginative, what extra factor can Pope bring?"

"I would be in the England dressing room enjoying the toil on a day like today."
 
said it so many times here , Gus A is the deal ... Test over , SL 292/10
 

ENGLAND WIN BY 190 RUNS​

England's fine summer continues.

It is a 2-0 lead and definite series win against Sri Lanka.

It is Stone who takes the catch from Woakes' delivery, Kumara sending it high in the air.

Atkinson leads them off after adding another five-fer to his name.

RVj6H0R.jpg
 
FearlessRoar said:

ENGLAND WIN BY 190 RUNS​

England's fine summer continues.

It is a 2-0 lead and definite series win against Sri Lanka.

It is Stone who takes the catch from Woakes' delivery, Kumara sending it high in the air.

Atkinson leads them off after adding another five-fer to his name.

RVj6H0R.jpg
Click to expand...

Atkinson seals England series win over Sri Lanka​


Gus Atkinson’s five-wicket haul eventually broke Sri Lanka’s resistance to give England victory in the second Test and the series with a match to spare.

After making his maiden hundred in the first innings, Atkinson became only the third England player to score a century and take five wickets in a Test, and first since Lord Botham in 1984.

In front of a sparse fourth-day crowd at Lord’s, the home side were held up by half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and captain Dhananjaya de Silva.

England had the luxury of a mountain of runs – Sri Lanka were chasing a record 483 to win – but had to overcome some benign conditions, belated application from the tourists and two Joe Root dropped catches.

The tourists battled past tea, when Atkinson grasped the second new ball to hustle through the tail. He ended with 5-62 to leave Sri Lanka 292 all out and beaten by 190 runs.

The victory is England’s fifth in succession and gives them a second series triumph of the summer, following the 3-0 clean sweep against West Indies in July.

For Sri Lanka, this is a first defeat in six visits to Lord’s, following five draws stretching back to 2002.

The final Test at The Oval begins on Friday, with England looking for their first 100% Test summer since they earned seven wins in 2004.

BBC Sport
 
After playing 6 Tests at Lord's in the 21st century, Sri Lanka has finally suffered a defeat here (without winning any)
During this period, every other team that played at Lord's has lost at least once, with all other Asian teams losing multiple times.
 
Josh Hull to make Test debut in the third Rothesay Men's Test against Sri Lanka

England have announced their XI for the third Rothesay Men's Test match against Sri Lanka, starting at Kia Oval on Friday, 6 September

Leicestershire seamer Josh Hull, who was added to the squad ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, will make his Test debut. The 20-year-old left-armer replaces Matthew Potts.

England Team

1. Dan Lawrence
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope (captain)
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook (vice-captain)
6. Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
7. Chris Woakes
8. Gus Atkinson
9. Olly Stone
10. Josh Hull
11. Shoaib Bashir
 
FearlessRoar said:
Josh Hull to make Test debut in the third Rothesay Men's Test against Sri Lanka

England have announced their XI for the third Rothesay Men's Test match against Sri Lanka, starting at Kia Oval on Friday, 6 September

Leicestershire seamer Josh Hull, who was added to the squad ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, will make his Test debut. The 20-year-old left-armer replaces Matthew Potts.

England Team

1. Dan Lawrence
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope (captain)
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook (vice-captain)
6. Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
7. Chris Woakes
8. Gus Atkinson
9. Olly Stone
10. Josh Hull
11. Shoaib Bashir
Click to expand...
Hull is rather inexperienced . Weather forecast for day 1 & 4 seems dicey .
 
Lol, this has to be bazball era's most ridiculous seletion. Hull averages 182 in this season's county championship.
He did get 5 wickets vs Sri Lanka in their warm up, but is only picked because of he has a 6'7 left armer who can occasionally bowl 90 mph.
 
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