ENG vs SL Dream11 Prediction: England vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Preview, Playing XI, Pitch Report

The much-anticipated three-Test series between England and Sri Lanka is set to kick off on 21 August at Old Trafford. Both teams will be eager to start strong, with England currently in sixth place in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) standings, while Sri Lanka sits in fourth.

Table of Contents

England vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Preview

After a three-week hiatus, England returns to red-ball cricket, facing Sri Lanka in what promises to be a challenging series. However, they will be without their regular captain, Ben Stokes, who is sidelined due to an injury sustained during The Hundred tournament.

England comes into this series riding high after a 3-0 sweep over the West Indies last month. They capped off the series with a dominant 10-wicket win at Edgbaston, finishing the match by the second session on Day 3. Throughout the series, England appeared to have perfected their Bazball approach, striking a balance between aggression and caution, adapting their style to the match situation.

For Sri Lanka, this match marks their first Test tour to England since 2016, and it presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The team arrives with a mix of optimism and caution, bolstered by the appointment of former England batter Ian Bell as their batting coach for the tour.

Under the leadership of Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka has been in fine form, winning Tests against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The team’s confidence has been further boosted by a historic 2-1 ODI series win against India earlier this month, their first such victory over their neighbors in 27 years. This result has reinvigorated Sri Lankan cricket, bringing a renewed sense of pride.

However, the team’s recent history against stronger opposition is less encouraging. Over the past 18 months, Sri Lanka has struggled against top-tier teams, losing all four of their Test matches against New Zealand and Pakistan.

Old Trafford Pitch Report

Old Trafford is one of England’s iconic Test venues, known for its passionate support of the home team. It is one of the fastest in the country.

England Playing 11

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

England will be without Ben Stokes, who is out for the remainder of the summer due to a left hamstring tear suffered during The Hundred. In his absence, vice-captain Ollie Pope will lead the side, stepping into the captaincy role for the first time in international cricket.

The England squad sees the return of Matthew Potts and Dan Lawrence for the first Test, while Zak Crawley is likely to miss the series due to injury.

Sri Lanka Playing XI

Dimuth Karunaratne
Nishan Madushka
Kusal Mendis
Dhananjaya de Silva
Dinesh Chandimal
Angelo Mathews
Kamindu Mendis
Prabath Jayasuriya
Asitha Fernando
Vishwa Fernando
Milan Rathnayake

ENG vs SL Dream11 Prediction

WK: Kusal Mendis, Jamie Smith

BAT: Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne/Dinesh Chandimal

ALL: Dhananjaya de Silva, Chris Woakes

BOWL: Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson

Who will win 1st Test between England and Sri Lanka?

England’s depth and home advantage make them the favorites to win the series opener. While Sri Lanka has the potential to pull off a victory in one of the later matches, possibly at Lord’s or The Oval, England is expected to come out on top in this first Test.

ENG vs SL Dream11 Team Top Fantasy Picks

A standout performer from the West Indies series was Gus Atkinson, who claimed 22 wickets, including a remarkable 12 for 106. Atkinson will be supported by the fiery Mark Wood, who clocked speeds of up to 97.1 mph and delivered England’s fastest over since 2006. Wood was also lethal in the final Test, taking five wickets for just nine runs during a six-over spell. Among the batters, Joe Root and Ben Duckett have been the most consistent of late.

For daily fantasy sports tips on your mobile phone, Fill out the form below