ENG vs SL | 1st Test | Fantasy Tips, Prediction & Preview

England will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the 1st Test of a three-match series. The Test series will form part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship Cycle. Both sides aim to win the upcoming series to bolster preparations for the 2025 WTC Final. England will head into the standings, sitting sixth in the WTC standings, while Sri Lanka is fourth in the standings.

England will kick off their campaign without their talismanic captain Ben Stokes who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will lead the side in his absence, with Harry Brook as his deputy. They have opted for a pace-heavy attack, including four seamers and just one spinner, Shoaib Bashir. With Zak Crawley also sidelined due to injury, Dan Lawrence is set to open alongside Ben Duckett. The hosts will be looking to build on their recent Test series win over West Indies and climb the World Test Championship standings.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva, are coming off a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh. The visitors have made changes to their squad with Lahiru Udara and Chamika Gunasekara being dropped. They will rely on the experience of Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal. Their spin duo of Prabath Jayasuriya and Lasith Embuldeniya will be crucial. The visitors boast a solid batting order capable of grinding out runs. Moreover, their spin-friendly conditions could pose a challenge for the English batters.

Match Timings

Match Toss Time - 03:00 PM IST (09:30 AM GMT)

Match Start Time - 03:30 PM IST (10:00 AM GMT)

Match Venue - Old Trafford, Manchester

Head to Head

Matches Played - 36

England won - 17      Sri Lanka won - 08

Draws - 11

Last 5 meetings

England won - 05      Sri Lanka won - 00

Pitch Report

The surface at Old Trafford in Manchester is ideal for the fast bowlers with good bounce and seam movement here. It tends to offer considerable seam and bounce to fast bowlers with the new-ball. Overcast conditions at the venue will also assist bowlers to generate enough swing to trouble batters. 

Weather Report

The weather forecast is expected to be misty and windy. Rain is predicted on the second, third, and fifth days of the game. The temperature is likely to hover around 16°C  with 85% humidity.

Probable Playing XI  

England (ENG) - Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook(vc), Jamie Smith(wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts

Sri Lanka (SL) - Dimuth Karunaratne, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(wk), Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Must Picks

ENG - Joe Root, Chris Woakes

SL - Angelo Mathews, Pathum Nissanka

ENG vs SL Fantasy Team

Wicket-Keeper : Ben Duckett

Batters : Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Pathum Nissanka

All-rounder : Angelo Mathews, Chris Woakes, Dhananjaya de Silva, Joe Root, Kamindu Mendis

Bowlers : Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson

Captain and Vice-Captain picks

Captain : Chris Woakes

Vice-Captain : Joe Root

Prediction

England has been terrific at home in the Bazball era. They have better pacers for the conditions than Sri Lanka. Hence, England are favourites to win this clash.

Sportco predicts England to beat Sri Lanka in the first game of the three-match Test series.

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Cover Credits - ICC Official