Jamie Smith starred in ENG's win in the first Test (X)
England is all set to square off against Sri Lanka in the second Test of the ongoing three-match series on Thursday, August 29 at the Lord’s in London.
After clinching a five-wicket victory in the first Test, England will be looking to tighten their grip on the series, whereas the Lankans will look to bounce back and level the scores.
ENG vs SL 2nd Test: Team Previews
England
England enters the second Test riding high on confidence after a solid performance in the series opener. Their batting lineup, led by Jamie Smith’s exceptional hundred and Joe Root’s consistent contributions across both innings has shown their depth.
Smith, who was named Man of the Match for his 111 in the first innings, will be crucial again at Lord's. Joe Root’s ability to anchor the innings, along with his knack for accumulating runs under pressure, adds stability to England's middle order.
Openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence failed to convert their starts into big scores, something they will aim to rectify in this match. Stand-in skipper Ollie Pope will also look to be back among the runs after getting dismissed for identical scores of 6 in both the innings.
On the bowling front, Chris Woakes was the standout performer, taking 6 wickets across both innings. His ability to exploit the conditions at Lord’s will be crucial. Gus Atkinson, who supported Woakes with 4 wickets, will also be looking to make further inroads against Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
With the home advantage and a well-rounded team, England will aim to press home their advantage and seal the series with a game to spare.
Sri Lanka
On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be looking to regroup and rectify the mistakes that led to their downfall in the 1st Test. Their batting lineup showed flashes of brilliance, with Kamindu Mendis standing out with a magnificent 113 in the second innings.
However, the lack of consistency from the openers Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne, and the middle order’s inability to build on starts left them with an uphill task.
Sri Lankan captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, who led from the front with 74 runs in the first innings, will need more support from the rest of the batting order. Milan Rathanayake’s contribution of 72 in the first innings was a positive sign, but more will be required from the top order to challenge England’s bowling attack.
On the bowling side, Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya were the key performers, taking 6 and 5 wickets, respectively. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t prevent England from chasing down the target.
For Sri Lanka to bounce back in the series, they will need to put in a collective performance both with bat and ball.
ENG vs SL 2nd Test: Match Details And Streaming
| Date & Time | August 29, 3:30 PM (IST) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Lord's Cricket Ground, London |
| Broadcast& Live Streaming | Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv App & Fancode |
ENG vs SL 2nd Test: Lord’s Pitch Report
The pitch at Lord’s is expected to be a paradise for batsmen, especially during the early stages of the match. The fast outfield will further aid the batters, making run-scoring relatively easier. However, fast bowlers shouldn’t lose heart, as the new ball is likely to offer some early swing and bounce, giving them a chance to make early inroads. As the match progresses, spinners could come into play, particularly on the final two days when the surface begins to wear down.
Historically, Lord’s has favoured teams batting first, with 52 wins out of 146 Tests played here going to the side that opts to bat first as compared to teams batting second who have won 43 matches. As a result, the captain winning the toss is likely to bat first.
ENG vs SL 2nd Test: Probable Playing XIs
England's Confirmed XI: Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando
ENG vs SL 2nd Test: Winner Prediction
Considering the current form, overall team composition, and familiarity with the conditions, England are the favourites to win the match.
