England Men v Sri Lanka - 3 Test Match Series Aug/Sept 2024

Ben Stokes to miss rest of summer with hamstring injury..by Jack Skelton, BBC Sport Senior Journalist.

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England Test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the rest of the summer after tearing his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred.

The all-rounder will miss England's three-Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts on 21 August, with vice-captain Ollie Pope to lead the side in Stokes' absence.

Stokes, 33, was left on crutches following the injury while batting for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals at Old Trafford on Sunday.

He is aiming to be fit in time for England's three-Test tour of Pakistan, which begins on 7 October.

Stokes, who was playing in The Hundred for the first time in three years this season, pulled up after running a single and had to be carried off the field.

He had appeared to have returned to full fitness this summer after recovering from surgery on a left knee injury that had limited his ability to bowl.

Stokes opted out of the Indian Premier League and T20 World Cup to assist with his recovery, then led England to a 3-0 series victory over the West Indies, taking five wickets at an average of 34.20 in three Tests.

He played three times for Northern Superchargers during The Hundred, scoring just four runs and taking no wickets.

England host Sri Lanka in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford from 21-25 August, followed by matches at Lord's and the Kia Oval.

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"It's a big blow for Ben and England as he's captained the Test team remarkably well," former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Two.

"Let's hope he can get fit for Pakistan, then New Zealand, then everyone will be thinking about next year - fingers crossed Ben can get this injury right and have a fully fit 2025."

Vaughan added it is "certainly not The Hundred's fault" that Stokes got injured playing in the competition.

He said: "He could've torn his hamstring any time, it could've happened on the first day against Sri Lanka and affected the outcome of that match."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said Stokes' injury is especially disappointing because the captain has been "transformed" by being able to bowl again this summer.

"He's been a completely different character, really enjoying himself," Agnew told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive.

"This is really bad news, not just for him but the whole momentum England were gaining."

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Matthew Potts named in England team for first Sri Lanka Test..Stephan Shemilt, Chief Cricket Writer at Emirates Old Trafford.

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England have recalled Durham seamer Matthew Potts for the first Test against Sri Lanka

England have named Matthew Potts in their side as an extra seamer for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old comes in for his first Test in more than year in place of injured captain Ben Stokes, who misses the three-match series with a hamstring injury.

It means England have chosen to cover for all-rounder Stokes with a fourth specialist fast bowler, rather than a batter.

As a result, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith moves up to number six, followed by Chris Woakes at seven, then Gus Atkinson, Potts, Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir.

In Stokes' absence, Ollie Pope will lead England for the first time, becoming their 82nd men's Test captain.

Harry Brook has been promoted to vice-captain, while Dan Lawrence returns for his first Test in more than two years, taking the place of injured opener Zak Crawley.


England XI for first Test v Sri Lanka: Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir


Crawley will miss the series after breaking his finger attempting a slip catch on the final day of the third-Test win against West Indies last month.

Both Crawley and Stokes are hoping to be fit for the tour of Pakistan in October.

Stokes was at England's training session on Monday and is likely to remain with the team throughout the series against Sri Lanka, but it was Pope and coach Brendon McCullum who addressed the squad.

In the absence of injured pace bowler Dillon Pennington, who was in the squad for the West Indies series, Potts gets the nod ahead of Nottinghamshire's Olly Stone.

The Durham man won the last of his six caps against Ireland at Lord's more than a year ago and has 23 wickets at an average of 29.

Surrey's Lawrence has not played for England since Stokes and McCullum took charge, the most recent of his 11 Tests coming on the 2022 tour of the West Indies.

The 27-year-old averages 27 with the bat and has not previously opened in Test cricket.

However, Lawrence - who came through the ranks at Essex as an opener - has often opened in white-ball cricket, and done so five times in first-class matches.

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Dan Lawrence will replace the injured Zak Crawley at the top of the order for England

"One of the biggest strengths of my game is being fairly adaptable to whatever position I need to bat in," Lawrence told BBC Sport.

"I've been up and down the order for the last few years. Opening, I haven't done it for a while, but I'm really excited to get out there with Ben Duckett and hopefully put on a show."

Lawrence has been around the England squad for most of Stokes' time in charge. He was a reserve batter in the Ashes, on the tour of India and again for the first part of this summer.

While it is likely Crawley will come straight back into the side when he is fit, Lawrence could take inspiration from Brook, whose form when he replaced the injured Jonny Bairstow made him a fixture in the England Test side.

"I'm not actually looking that far ahead," said Lawrence. "I would obviously love to score loads of runs and give Baz [McCullum] a headache, but I fully understand that the top six for 18 to 24 months have been fantastic and I'm sure as soon as Zak’s fit again, he'll come back in.

"I'm just trying to create an impression in these three weeks, really trying to enjoy it and not think about what's going to happen in the future."

Pope, 26, has been deputy to Stokes for most of the past two years. The last time England needed a stand-in Test captain was when Stokes deputised for Joe Root on paternity leave in 2020. An England captain has not missed a Test through injury since Michael Vaughan in 2007.

Pope has led Surrey in one County Championship match in 2021 and eight times in the T20 Blast this season, skippering a side including Lawrence.

"He's very good," said Lawrence. "I don't think he's done a tremendous amount of it for Surrey, but he's obviously a very impressive character and I'm sure he's going to take this week in his stride and really enjoy it.

"He's been a very good player for England over the last couple of years, but I'm sure as a leader he'll be just as good."

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Ollie Pope will take charge of a Test match for the first time due to Stokes' hamstring injury

Slow outfield, any sort of lead for England should be enough I reckon.

What a talent Jamie Smith is. Safe as houses behind the stumps, and a prodigious accumulator of runs with the bat.
I couldn`t believe it when they drooped Ben Foakes. Now I know why.

Super Saturday 24th August 2024 - International Test Match Series - Day 4 of 5 - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester - Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat.

Sri Lanka - 236 all out (74 overs) de Silva 74, Rathnayake 74, BKG Mendis 24, Woakes 3-32, Bashir 3-55

England - 358 all out (85.3 overs) Smith 111, Lawrence 30, Brook 56, Root 42, AM Fernando 4-103, Jayasuriya 3-85

Sri Lanka - 326 all out (89.3 overs) Matthews 65, PHKD Mendis 113, Chandimal 79, Karunaratne 27, Woakes 3-58, Potts 3-47

England - 205-5 (57.2 overs) Root 62 not out, Smith 39, Lawrence 34, Brook 32, AM Fernando 2-25, Jayasuriya 2-98

England win by 5 wickets


Match report by Stephan Shemilt, Chief Cricket Writer at Emirates Old Trafford

Joe Root’s nerveless half-century helped England overcome some significant scares to defeat Sri Lanka on a tense fourth day of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

Set 205 for the lead in the three-match series, England were wobbling at 70-3 following the dismissals of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence.

Root and Harry Brook were required to show the utmost caution as spinner Prabath Jayasuriya caused problems from one end and the seamers probed from the other. Brook could have been caught by flying sub fielder Ramesh Mendis on four when England had 78.

The Yorkshire pair added 49 for the fourth wicket, but England still needed 85 when Brook was caught and bowled by Jayasuriya for 32.

Root was immaculate, while Jamie Smith provided momentum with 39 from 48 balls. Though Smith was bowled with 22 required, Root was joined by the dependable Chris Woakes and the former captain was 62 not out when a five-wicket win was sealed at 19:16 BST.

All this after England endured a concerning morning when Sri Lanka looked primed to post an even larger target.

Kamindu Mendis moved to a fine 113 and Dinesh Chandimal 79, their stand for the seventh wicket worth 117 as England struggled without the injured Mark Wood.

The second new ball came to the hosts’ rescue, Sri Lanka losing their last four wickets for only 19 runs to be bowled out for 326.

Wood, who has a thigh problem, seems likely to miss the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday, leaving Olly Stone set for his first cap in more than three years.

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Atkinson`s innings was good to watch. Powerful hitter of the ball. Would love to see him get a 100.

Great stuff from Atkinson. Went from his overnight 73 to a 100, pretty nervelessly. Took an unbelievable catch to dismiss him.
Nice to see England bat again, rather than enforce the follow on. Means an extra day`s entertainment for the fans.

Saturday 3st Aug 2024 - International Test Match Series - Day 3 of 5 - Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood - Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field

England - 427 all out (102 overs) Root 143, Atkinson 118, Duckett 40, Brook 33, AM Fernando 5-105, Kumara 2-101

Sri Lanka - 196 all out (55.3 overs) Mendis 74, Chandimal 23, Matthews 22, Potts 2-19, Woakes 2-21

England - 251 all out (54.3 overs) Root 103, Brook 37, Smith 26, AM Fernando 3-52, Kumara 3-53

Sri Lanka - 53-2 (20 overs) Karunaratne 23 not out, Silva 14, Stone 1-1

Close: Sri Lanka require 430 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining

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Match report by Stephan Shemilt, Chief Cricket Writer at Lord's

Joe Root further cemented his status as England’s greatest batter with a record-breaking 34th Test century in the march towards victory over Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Root’s second century of the second Test took him past Sir Alastair Cook for the most tons by an England batter.

His 103, made across the third morning and afternoon, was both effortless and inevitable. Made from 111 deliveries, it was also Root’s quickest in Test cricket.

When Root became the last wicket to fall, England were 251 all out and Sri Lanka left an improbable record 483 to level the series.

In dark and difficult conditions in the evening session, Gus Atkinson accounted for Nishan Madushka and Olly Stone had Pathum Nissanka, both caught by Root at first slip, taking him to 200 Test catches.

The gloom closed in. England were forced to bowl the spin of Shoaib Bashir and Root. As the umpires fiddled with their lightmeters, an interruption was so predictable that Sri Lanka promoted Prabath Jayasuriya to number four to see them to the delay.

When it came, Sri Lanka had reached 53-2, 430 adrift, with Dimuth Karunaratne on 23 and Jayasuriya on three. Play was finally called off for the day at 18:00 BST.

England will return on Sunday knowing they have two full days to take the eight wickets they need for an unassailable 2-0 series lead.


England batter Joe Root, speaking to Test Match Special: "That was good fun.
"I wasn't nervous. I didn't want the game to stand still, that was the main thing on my mind."

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell: "I don't think making Ollie Pope skipper has done him any favours.
"He is a great chap and I reckon he is a great vice-captain, but I don't know whether it suits him being captain."

Sunday 1st September 2024 - International Test Match Series - Day 4 of 5 - Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood - Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field

England - 427 all out (102 overs) Root 143, Atkinson 118, Duckett 40, Brook 33, AM Fernando 5-105, Kumara 2-101

Sri Lanka - 196 all out (55.3 overs) Mendis 74, Chandimal 23, Matthews 22, Potts 2-19, Woakes 2-21

England - 251 all out (54.3 overs) Root 103, Brook 37, Smith 26, AM Fernando 3-52, Kumara 3-53

Sri Lanka - 292 all out (86.4 overs) Karunaratne 55, Chandimal 58, di Silva 50, Rathnayake 43, Atkinson 5-62

England win by 190 runs

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Match report by Stephan Shemilt, Chief Cricket Writer at Lord's

Gus Atkinson’s five-wicket haul eventually broke Sri Lanka’s resistance to give England victory in the second Test and the series with a match to spare.

After making his maiden hundred in the first innings, Atkinson became only the third England player to score a century and take five wickets in a Test, and first since Lord Botham in 1984.

In front of a sparse fourth-day crowd at Lord’s, the home side were held up by half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and captain Dhananjaya de Silva.

England had the luxury of a mountain of runs – Sri Lanka were chasing a record 483 to win – but had to overcome some benign conditions, belated application from the tourists and two Joe Root dropped catches.

The tourists battled past tea, when Atkinson grasped the second new ball to hustle through the tail. He ended with 5-62 to leave Sri Lanka 292 all out and beaten by 190 runs.

The victory is England’s fifth in succession and gives them a second series triumph of the summer, following the 3-0 clean sweep against West Indies in July.

For Sri Lanka, this is a first defeat in six visits to Lord’s, following five draws stretching back to 2002. It is England's seventh straight Test win over Sri Lanka since the drawn 2016 Lord's Test.

The final Test at The Oval begins on Friday, with England looking for their first 100% Test summer since they earned seven wins in 2004.



England captain Ollie Pope on Test Match Special: "A good win and some special individual performances from Gus and Joe.
"In an ideal world you want to lead from the front with the bat but we're 2-0 up in the series. I haven't contributed in the way I'd have liked but I'd still take that every day of the week."

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva: "We are a much better team than we have shown.
"I would have batted first [if I had my time again at the toss]. I got it wrong. But we did really well in the first innings when we were bowling."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "I hope Gus Atkinson never changes and sticks to that deadpan attitude, I love it. He will have tougher challenges but he's just being himself and enjoying the game."

Player of the match, England bowler Gus Atkinson, speaking to BBC Sport: "I have had a good few games here, I don't know what it is. I enjoy bowling down the slope but the batting, I'm not sure!"