England vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 1: Sri Lanka wins the toss and opts to bat. © Twitter (@FlashCric)
England and Sri Lanka are playing their first Test match at Greater Manchester’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat. The game began on August 21, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. IST.
England’s playing XI includes Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook (vice-captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, and Shoaib Bashir. Sri Lanka’s team features Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and Milan Rathnayake.
England is missing captain Ben Stokes due to a hamstring injury, with Ollie Pope stepping up as the captain. England’s lineup includes a five-person attack, with Matthew Potts making a return. Dan Lawrence is back in the squad after a two-and-a-half-year absence.
Sri Lanka relies on experienced players such as Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne. Interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya and Ian Bell, part of the backroom staff, provide local knowledge for Sri Lanka’s first series in England in eight years.
The game will be streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website and shown on the Sony Sports Network.
