The final Test of the three-match series between England and Sri Lanka is set to take place at the Kennington Oval Stadium in London. As the series comes an end, both teams will be eager to leave a lasting impression and secure a victory.
England will be looking to build on their dominant performance in the second Test at Lord’s. The inclusion of 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull in the playing XI adds an exciting dimension to their bowling attack. Hull, who replaces Matthew Potts, has impressed with his performances for Leicestershire and will be eager to make an immediate impact on the international stage.
The English batting lineup has been in fine form, with the likes of Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Duckett consistently contributing valuable runs. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat at Lord’s and find a way to challenge England’s dominance.
ENG vs SL: Head to Head Record in Tests
Matches played: 37 | England won: 18 | Sri Lanka won: 8 | Draw: 11
Tests Stats and Records at Kennington Oval Stadium
Matches played: 110
Matches won batting first: 41
Matches won bowling first: 29
Average 1st innings scores: 339
Average 2nd innings scores: 302
Average 3rd innings Score: 238
Average 4th innings Score: 156
Highest total recorded: 903/7 (335.2 Ovs) By ENG vs AUS
Lowest total recorded: 44/10 (26 Ovs) By AUS vs ENG
Highest score chased: 263/9 (66.5 Ovs) By ENG vs AUS
Lowest score defended: 77/10 (55 Ovs) By ENG vs AUS
ENG vs SL: Kennington Oval Stadium Pitch Report
The Kennington Oval pitch, known for its traditional English characteristics, is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The pitch is likely to provide some assistance for the seamers, especially early on in the innings, with the ball swinging and seaming. As the match progresses, the pitch may offer some turn for the spinners, although it is not expected to be overly conducive to spin bowling. Overall, the pitch is expected to be a good one for batting, with the potential for high scores if the batsmen can adapt to the conditions and play patiently.
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ENG vs SL: London Weather Forecast
London, known for its unpredictable weather, is likely to provide a backdrop of varying conditions for the final Test match. The week during the match will see a mix of sunshine, clouds and potential showers.
On Friday, the day of the match, one can expect a partly cloudy sky with highs in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius). There is a chance of showers throughout the day, which could potentially disrupt play. The wind speeds are expected to be moderate, which may influence the swing of the ball and the conditions for the bowlers.
Second and third day are likely to see similar weather conditions, with partly cloudy skies and chances of showers. The temperatures will remain in the mid-70s throughout the weekend.
Fourth and fifth day may offer a slightly more settled picture, with mostly sunny skies and higher temperatures reaching into the upper 70s (mid-20s Celsius). However, there is still a possibility of isolated showers.
The fluctuating weather conditions could have a significant impact on the match. If the showers become heavy or frequent, it could lead to interruptions in play and potentially affect the pitch conditions. The wind speeds could also influence the swing of the ball, providing an advantage to the bowlers. However, if the weather remains relatively settled, we can expect a more traditional English Test match with conditions favouring both batters and bowlers.
ENG vs SL 2024: Playing XI of both teams for the third Test
England: Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook (vc), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Josh Hull, Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake
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