Sri Lanka v England: Five to watch ahead of three-match Test series

By Press Association

Cricket

Fri November 02, 2018 · 6y ago

Press Association Sport profile five players to keep a close eye on as England prepare to face Sri Lanka in their three-match Test series.

England take on Sri Lanka in three Tests starting next week following a successful limited-overs leg of the tour.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at five players to watch in the upcoming series.

Keaton Jennings

Despite his ongoing struggles with the bat - averaging just 19.2 in Tests this year - Keaton Jennings has previously performed well in the difficult subcontinent conditions.

During the 2016 tour of India, the Lancashire batsman averaged 41.75 in four innings, including a century and a half-century.

The England selectors have decided to stick with Jennings after his struggles this summer and could be rewarded if he repeats his previous outings in the spinning conditions.

Rory Burns

England's ongoing struggle to find an opening pair has become more significant since Alastair Cook's decision to retire, and many hope Burns can fill the gap.

The opener worked his way into the side after scoring 1,319 runs at an average of 64.71 to help Surrey win the County Championship.

Burns has next to no international experience, only making his debut for the England Lions in July 2018.

Adil Rashid

The England selectors showed their faith in Rashid's bowling this summer, picking him for five Test matches this summer against India despite his white-ball only contract at Yorkshire.

The leg-spinner has visited the subcontinent before, in 2015 and 2016 when he played a total of 10 matches and took 38 wickets.

England have persevered with Rashid despite the introduction of Mason Crane in the Ashes series and will be hoping it pays off in conditions which should suit the spinner.

Dinesh Chandimal

The Sri Lanka captain has enjoyed a good record in home Tests, with an average of 45.68.

Chandimal has also previously scored a century against England - in very different circumstances to the upcoming series - at Durham's Chester-le-Street in 2016.

Chandimal missed his country's previous two Test matches against South Africa after being banned for ball-tampering and conduct "contrary to the spirit of the game", and will have to avoid further infractions in the upcoming series to avoid a lengthier ban.

Rangana Herath

Although the 40-year-old is only set to play one Test against England, his impact in Sri Lanka should not be underestimated.

Herath has played 48 Test matches in his home country and has averaged just 23.41 with the ball, and taken a staggering 275 wickets in 48 matches.

The Sri Lankan spinner also currently stands in 10th place in the list of all-time wicket takers in the game's longest format and, if he retires after the opener as he has said is the case, will do so at the same ground he made his international debut 19 years ago.