The playing XI for England’s second Test match against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, which begins on August 29, will feature right-arm fast bowler Olly Stone in place of the injured Mark Wood. The hosts made this adjustment in an effort to keep up their momentum after winning the series opener at Old Trafford.
Stone was brought in after Wood suffered a thigh injury on the third day of the first Test that ended his series.
In order to replace Wood, England first called up Josh Hull, a quick bowler from Leicestershire, to their Test team. In contrast to Hull, who is yet to be tested, the team management has chosen Stone’s expertise for the pivotal Lord’s Test.
Olly Stone’s final Test match was in 2021.
Though he was cut before the series began, Stone was a member of the original team and adds a wealth of knowledge to the lineup.
After participating in three Test matches, the 30-year-old has taken 10 wickets at an average of 19.40. Especially on the Lord’s surface, which is well-known for supporting seamen, his ability to create pace and extract bounce from the pitch makes him a formidable weapon.
With Dan Lawrence continuing to start at number one after scoring 30 and 34 in the last game, the remainder of England’s lineup is the same as it was for the first Test.
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With usual captain Ben Stokes and opener Zak Crawley out with injuries, the team is still getting used to their new roles.
England’s playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka
Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir