ENG vs SL 1st Test: ‘Undercooked’ Sri Lanka Face Steep Challenge as Pope Leads Stokes-Less England in Tests

A fantastic Test series awaits fans in England as the hosts take on Sri Lanka in a three-match series which begins at the lovely Old Trafford ground. England are making adjustments following the injury to captain Ben Stokes, which is a significant loss in terms of both as player and captain. However, this situation presents a huge opportunity for Ollie Pope to step in as captain and cement himself as the potential long-term leader in Tests for England. He is a very fine player with a good cricket brain. We have seen how Stokes has consulted the vice-captain Pope on the field, which gives you an indication that the 26-year-old is indeed someone who reads the game well and has deep interest in the sport he plays.

Over the past year or two, Pope has worked closely with Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, gaining valuable experience. While the focus for a young captain often centers on their leadership abilities, it is crucial for Pope to also prioritise his batting. Fortunately, he has been in good form recently, which should serve him well as he prepares for his captaincy debut.

England will have to rejig their top-order batting as well with injury to Zak Crawley. Dan Lawrence, who has been a backup batter for some time, now has the opportunity to open in Crawley’s absence. Similar to how they have utilised Ben Duckett, who was not a natural opener, England aim to give Lawrence the same chance. The team is not one to panic when it comes to placing a batter in an unfamiliar position. When they value a player’s skills and approach to the game, they will field him in whatever position is available at that time. This flexibility reflects England’s confidence in their players and their ability to adapt to the circumstances.

It will be different challenge for Lawrence but he is more than capable to do justice to the job. He is an attacking player, who likes to put pressure back on the opposition. Not to forget, Lawrence had made his debut vs Sri Lanka at Galle in 2021 and as he embarks on another journey to cement his place in the side, he faces the Lankans again. He had been among runs straightaway in his Test career and that reflects his attacking mindset when he comes in to bat. He likes to score runs and will hope to make a bigger impact this time.

Lawrence has been scoring runs consistently in County cricket, batting primarily at numbers 5 and 6 for Surrey. Transitioning to the role of opener will require some adjustment, but I have no doubt that Lawrence will rise to the occasion.

England’s batting lineup appears well-established despite recent injuries. The players have a clear understanding of their roles. Gus Atkinson, who was rested during The Hundred, will be eager to make an impact. The pace attack will be formidable, featuring Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Atkinson, with Shoaib Bashir as the off-spinner. Additionally, England has opted to include Matthew Potts as an extra bowler, while Jamie Smith will take the number 6 spot as the keeper-batter, which is a sensible decision. This combination should provide the team with both depth and flexibility in their batting order.

Old Trafford has a fantastic wicket for cricket. It offers good carry, allowing players to play their shots effectively. As the match progresses, spinners will benefit from some bounce and turn as the pitch wears. Overall, it is an excellent playing surface.

England will also look to continue to evolve and refine their approach to Bazball, developing a more mature version that emerges from pushing boundaries and learning from past extremes. This evolution aims for a more consistent and sustainable style of play.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka look a little undercooked to me. They played warm-up game against England Lions which did not go well for them. Sri Lankans do have an experienced batting lineup. Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal have all toured England before and know the English conditions and they will know what to expect in this series. 

But what concerns me the most about them is their bowling. They look short on experience on this front and whether they can trouble England batting lineup in English conditions would be something to watch out for. That might be where the nub of the contest might be. A lot will rely on former skipper Karunaratne. He is among the best openers in the past five years, standing out as a rare Test opener with an average exceeding 50. The stat reveals his class. Nishan Madushka scored the runs against the Lions and would be player to watch out for from Sri Lanka in the series.

It will be a tall order for Sri Lanka to compete against England in these conditions. England are difficult to beat at home, having recently secured a convincing victory over the West Indies. Scoring runs and containing this England side will be a major test for this Sri Lankan team. Let’s see how they go.