Form favouring England but are the tourists exposed at the top… the key battles as England face Sri Lanka

ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY looks ahead to some of the major match-ups that could decide the Test series between England and Sri Lanka

England have travelled to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in Galle, scheduled to start on January 14. Here are the key battles that could decide the series.

Form guide favours England

England have played seven Test series in Sri Lanka since 1981, with either side taking three victories while one series was drawn. However, when the two sides last met in 2018/19, England cruised to a 3-0 victory and on current form, England appear to have the upper hand - despite playing away in Asia.

England are the fourth-ranked side in the ICC Test standings and lost just one of the nine matches they played in 2020. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, played their first Tests for 12 months over new year – a two-match series in South Africa – and were comfortably beaten in both.

After posting a respectable 396 during the first Test in Centurion, Sri Lanka were skittled for a measly 180 in response to South Africa’s first-innings total of 621. In Johannesburg a week later, South Africa cruised to a 10-wicket victory after limiting Sri Lanka’s batters to 157 and 211.

Across their four innings Sri Lanka’s top six posted 10 single-figure knocks, four half-centuries and just one century. Given the strength and depth of England’s bowling attack, the chances of either match lasting the full five days appears highly unlikely.

^{Dimuth Karunaratne leaves the pitch after being dismissed during the second Test in Johannesburg}

The Ben Foakes conundrum

It has been over two years since Ben Foakes burst onto the international scene in Sri Lanka. Making his Test debut in Galle, Foakes took to the Test stage like a duck to water with an impressive first-innings knock of 107 from 202 balls. In doing so, the then-25-year-old joined Matt Prior as one of only two England wicketkeepers to hit a century on debut.

Foakes continued his stellar work with the bat throughout the series, posting scores of 37, 19, 65 not out, 13 and 36 not out to finish his maiden tour with an average of 69.25. Equally impressive with the gloves, the Surrey keeper recorded eight catches and two stumpings and was named player of the series for his efforts.

Unfortunately, international opportunities have proved to be few and far between for Foakes in the past 26 months. Selected for the West Indies tour immediately following his Sri Lanka heroics, he hasn’t made a Test appearance since February 2019 despite being included in several bio-bubble squads.

However, with both Tests scheduled to be played in Galle, Foakes has his best opportunity for years to return to the Test XI. Despite Joe Root publicly backing Jos Buttler to retain the gloves, his poor record against spin puts him under considerable pressure on the sub-continent. Add in Foakes’ superior batting average in Sri Lanka – 69.25 to 41.66 – and all of a sudden, Buttler’s position looks vulnerable.

One factor which could work in favour of both players is the absence of Ben Stokes. With an additional slot up for grabs in the middle order, either man could feature as a specialist batter to accommodate both of their names on the teamsheet.

^{Ben Foakes batting against the President's XI in Sri Lanka in 2018/19}

Bowler heavy squad leaves England’s openers vulnerable

For the Sri Lanka batsmen, a quick glance through England’s 16-man squad is enough to induce a panic attack.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Jack Leach, Dom Bess and the relatively unfamiliar Olly Stone. Pick five at random and most batting line-ups will consider themselves in danger.

The Sri Lankan bowlers, however, must be licking their lips because England appear to have left their reserve of opening batters at home. There are only two recognised openers in the squad – Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley – and, perhaps of greater concern, they have only played a combined 20 Test matches.

Admittedly, Crawley was the find of 2020 for England. Averaging 48.41, including three half-centuries and a superb 267 against Pakistan in August, Crawley is quickly establishing himself as an assured Test batsman and the possible heir to Jonathan Trott. Sibley, meanwhile finished 2020 with 615 runs – a total bettered only by Kane Williamson (736) and Ben Stokes (641).

However, owing to their relative inexperience on the international scene, neither batter has been tested on the sub-continent and Sibley in particular struggled to score against spin over the summer.

Without Ben Stokes to anchor the middle order and with Jonny Bairstow the only other option to open the batting, Joe Root and Jos Buttler could find themselves under enormous pressure if either Sibley or Crawley are struggling for form.