SL vs ENG Match Preview
International cricket finally resumes in Asia after COVID-19 break with Sri Lanka hosting England for a couple of Test matches. England last played a Test series against West Indies back in August while Sri Lanka is coming fresh after a Test series in South Africa. As the first Test begins in just few hours, we bring you SL vs ENG Dream11 Team Prediction post where you will get all the information related to fantasy for the 1st Test. In this article, we bring you Playing 11, pitch report and best players to pick in your Dream11 for Sri Lanka vs England match.
- Match Venue : Galle International Stadium, Galle
- Match Time : 10:00 AM IST
Sri Lanka Team News
Sri Lanka will feel much more happier playing at their home which reduces the chances of their players getting injured. On a serious note, they have played only 2 Tests at home in last 25 months and they deserve this relief. However, they’d be up against a quality side. Sri Lanka is no easy touring side for teams belonging to SENA as we have seen them losing to Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka quite frequently. England though, had beaten them in the last series in 2018.
The experienced trio of Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal and Suranga Lakmal will be back into the Sri Lankan side. They’d missed the second Test (Matthews had missed the series) against South Africa due to injuries and their comeback provides solidity to the Sri Lankan side.
England Team NewsÂ
After being hit by Corona virus and losing both Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes for the first Test, England had to revise their plan for their first Test in this overseas cycle where they will play Sri Lanka first and India later. Even though Galle is a spin favoring venue, in the absence of Moeen Ali, England will only play with 2 spinners and not 3 which was expected before. Root and Lawrence will perform the duty of 3rd spinner.
Only one of Stuart Broad and James Anderson can play since England will need extra pace on these slow wickets and even though they will miss Jofra Archer, they have got Mark Wood who is likely to be their second pacer along with all rounder Sam Curran being the third. Dom Bess and Jack Leach will be the two spinners while Jonny Bairstow also returns to the team as a batsman only.
SL vs ENG Playing 11
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suranga Lakmal
England
Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (C), Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson
SL vs ENG Pitch Report
Galle is a typical subcontinent wicket which is known for its slow nature and the assistance for spinners. However, first two days are much better for batting so the captain winning the toss would definitely bat first.
The dominance of spin can in Galle can be accounted from the fact that the ratio of wickets between spinners and fast bowlers since 2016 is 2:1. There will be lot of conventional and reverse sweeps played in this game, particularly by English batsmen. This is how they’d got success on their last tour of Sri Lanka.
SL vs ENG Head to Head
Overall
England : 15 wins
Sri Lanka : 8 wins
Players to pick from both sides
Sri Lanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Angelo Matthews
- Kusal Perera
- Dilruwan Perera (Spin all rounder)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (spinner)
- Lasith Embuldeniya (spinner)
England
- Jos Buttler
- Dan Lawrence
- Jonny Bairstow
- Joe Root
- Sam Curran
- Jack Leach (spinner)
- Dom Bess (spinner)
Also read : Tim Paine publicly apologizes for his behavior during Sydney Test
SL vs ENG Dream11 Team Prediction
Wicket Keepers
- Jos Buttler
- Kusal Perera
Batsmen
- Dan Lawrence/Jonny Bairstow
- Joe Root (Vice Captain)
- Angelo Matthews
All Rounders
- Sam Curran
- Dilruwan Perera
- Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers
- Dom Bess (Captain)
- Jack Leach
- Lasith Embuldeniya