England has announced their playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook appointed as vice-captain for the series. The match is scheduled to start on August 21 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Brook, who made a return to the squad during the West Indies series, steps into the leadership role in the absence of regular captain Ben Stokes, who is out due to injury. Ollie Pope will lead the team, while Brook will serve as his deputy throughout the three-match series.
England’s lineup has undergone key changes due to injuries. Zak Crawley misses out with a finger injury, paving the way for Dan Lawrence to open the innings. Matthew Potts returns to the squad for the first time since June 2023, while Shoaib Bashir remains the main spinner, following his impressive performance against the West Indies.
Here’s the England XI for the first Test:
- Dan Lawrence
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope (captain)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook (vice-captain)
- Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Matthew Potts
- Mark Wood
- Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka’s squad:
- Dhananjaya De Silva (captain)
- Kusal Mendis (vice-captain)
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Nishan Madushka
- Pathum Nissanka
- Angelo Mathews
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Kamindu Mendis
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Asitha Fernando
- Vishwa Fernando
- Kasun Rajitha
- Lahiru Kumara
- Nisala Tharaka
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Ramesh Mendis
- Jeffrey Vandersay
- Milan Rathnayake
With the first Test about to commence, both teams are keen to set the tone in this crucial series.