The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England
The second Test in a two-match series between Sri Lanka and England.
The second Test is scheduled to start on January 22, with play beginning at 4:30am (GMT).
The second Test, like the first, will be played in Galle.
England secured a seven-wicket victory on day five in Galle to extend their run of consecutive away Test match wins to four.
After bowling Sri Lanka out for a poor first-innings total of 135, England posted 421 in reply to set their hosts a tricky target of 286. Joe Root starred for England, recording his fourth daddy-hundred with an impressive knock of 228, while Dan Lawrence scored a half-century on debut.
However, gutsy performances from openers Kusal Perera (62) and Lahiru Thirimanne (111) dragged Sri Lanka back into contention before a Jack Leach five-fer left England chasing 73 to win.
Losing Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Root late on day four had England wobbling on 38/3 overnight, but Jonny Bairstow and Lawrence steadied the ship and steered their side to a convincing victory.
Dan Lawrence and Jonny Bairstow are all smiles after steering England to a seven-wicket victory.
England head into the second Test with one eye on their upcoming four-match Test series against India, scheduled to begin in Chennai on February 5. Speaking in Tuesday’s (January 19) press conference, Chris Silverwood suggested England would field a much-changed bowling line-up in order to rest their seam bowlers.
Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Sam Curran bowled a combined 68 overs during the first Test and Sri Lanka’s batsman will be pleased to see the back of them – particularly Broad who took 3-36 off his 26 overs.
However, with James Anderson and Chris Woakes, who have taken a combined 712 Test wickets, waiting in the wings, it won’t be any easier for the hosts. 27-year old seamer Olly Stone could also feature in the bowling attack for the first time since his Test debut against Ireland in July 2019.
Chris Woakes available for selection as Chris Silverwood hints at seamer rotation
One concerning area for England is the performances of openers Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. The pair were dismissed for single figure totals by Lasith Embuldeniya in both innings, piling the pressure on Bairstow, Root and Lawrence. Largely thanks to Root’s stellar batting in the first innings, their early departures didn’t cause England too many headaches. However, Root’s dismissal for one in the second demonstrated England’s top order vulnerability and could have easily kickstarted a collapse if the total had been higher. Both Sibley and Crawley need to get runs on the board to guarantee their spot in India.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are again deprived of the services of their captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, who has left the bio-bubble after failing to recover from a broken thumb. Out of form number three, Kusal Mendis has also been dropped. The 25-year old recorded his fourth consecutive duck when he was dismissed by Stuart Broad in the first innings before departing for 15 in the second.
However, the hosts are buoyed by the return to form of opening pair Perera and Thirimanne. After being dismissed for 20 in the first innings, Perera bounced back to record his third half-century in six innings while Thirimanne hit just his second Test century as Sri Lanka produced a spirited fight-back.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne ruled out of second Test
Another positive for Sri Lanka heading in the second Test is the effectiveness of spin in Galle. Spinners accounted for 22 of the 33 wickets to fall during the first Test and, after an expensive first innings performance, Embuldeniya demonstrated the threat posed by Sri Lanka’s bowling attack. The 24-year old had the measure of England’s openers and had the Three Lions panicking, albeit briefly, on day four.
In short, if Sri Lanka play like they did in the first innings, England can expect to extend their winning away record. But, if they come out fighting, as in the second, England will have a far trickier battle on their hands.
Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Oshada Fernando, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Santhush Gunathilake
England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi
Sky Sports have the rights for the second Test and will show all of the action via Sky Sports Main Event (Sky 401, Virgin 501) and Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Virgin 504).
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra, accessible through the BBC Sport website and app or BBC Sounds, will have ball-by-ball coverage of the second Test.
Sri Lanka’s YouTube channel will be showing the match for home fans. Channel Eye will be providing coverage on TV while mobile streaming can be accessed via Dialog.
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation will supply radio commentary of the second Test.
Followers in India can catch the action on Sony Ten 2. In South Africa, the Supersport network have the rights to the Test while Willow TV is the place to go for fans in the United States.
The first two days of the Test match could be disrupted by rain, with overnight storms forecast ahead of day one and the possibility of afternoon rain on both days. However, the final three days look set to be clear and still, with temperatures hovering between 22oC and 29oC.
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