Ollie Pope-led England are gearing up for their three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with the first match scheduled to begin on August 21 at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. England will be without their regular captain Ben Stokes, who has been ruled out for the entire summer due to a hamstring injury. This places Pope in a crucial leadership role as he attempts to guide the team against a determined Sri Lankan side led by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Sri Lanka’s momentum and resurgence

Sri Lanka enters this series with renewed confidence, especially after their recent ODI series win over India. Following a disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, the Sri Lankan team has been eager to reverse their fortunes, and their success against India has only fueled their determination. The team will look to carry this momentum into the Test series as they aim to challenge England on their home turf.

England’s recent success and the Bazball approach

England comes into the series riding high on the back of a dominant 3-0 whitewash against the West Indies in their previous Test series. The Bazball approach, characterized by aggressive and fearless cricket, has been a hallmark of their recent performances. However, it will be intriguing to see how this strategy holds up against a rejuvenated Sri Lankan team that is eager to make its mark in this series.

Also READ: ENG vs SL 2024, 1st Test: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips & Pitch Report | England vs Sri Lanka

England vs Sri Lanka 2024, Test series:

August 21 to August 25: First Test at Old Trafford, Manchester – 3:30 pm IST/ 10:00 am GMT / 11:00 am local
August 29 to September 02: Second Test at Lord’s, London- 3:30 pm IST / 10:00 am GMT / 11:00 am local
September 06 to September 10: Second Test at Kennington Oval, London – 3:30 pm IST / 10:00 am GMT / 11:00 am local

Squads:

England: Ollie Pope (c), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook (vc), Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vc), 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

Broadcasting & Live Streaming Details:

India: Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD, Sony Liv, Fan Code
UK:  Sky Sports, TNT, Sky Go, NOW
Australia: Foxtel, Kayo Sports
Sri Lanka: Dialog TV, Sri Lanka Cricket Youtube channel
South Africa: SuperSport
Pakistan: Tapmad
USA and Canada: Willow HD, Willow Xtra

Also READ: ENG vs SL, 1st Test: Old Trafford Pitch Report, Manchester Weather Forecast, Head to Head Record | England vs Sri Lanka 2024

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