shares
Toss England chose to bat v Sri Lanka
Joe Root has won the toss for the eighth successive Test – a 256-1 chance, apparently – and chosen to bat first in the final Test of the series in Colombo.
It could be an important toss, too. The pitch looks full of runs at this stage but is dry and could well provide more assistance to spin as the match wears on. It is not expected to break up, however, so bowlers from both sides could be in for some hard work in hot conditions.
So hot has it become in Colombo that England, who have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, decided to forego their usual game of football as part of their warm-up routine.
England, who are seeking their first away-series whitewash (in a series of at least three Tests) since 1963 and a first ever against Sri Lanka, have made two changes to their side. Stuart Broad comes in for his first game of the series in place of the rested James Anderson, while Jonny Bairstow becomes the latest man to have an opportunity to make the No. 3 position his own (he is England’s fourth No. 3 of the
series), having won a recall in place of injured all-rounder Sam Curran.
Sri Lanka have also made two changes. Left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan comes into the side in place of Akila Dananjaya, who has gone to Australia for tests of his bowling action, while Danushka Gunathilaka has replaced Kaushal Silva.
Only two teams – Australia and India – have ever completed a whitewash in a series of three or more Tests in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka , 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Roshen Silva, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal (capt), 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Malinda Pushpakumara
England: 1 Rory Burns, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Ben Foakes (wk), 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Jack Leach
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
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