The England National Cricket Team has unveiled their squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Ben Stokes will lead the team, but opener Zak Crawley has been sidelined due to a fractured right little finger, an injury he sustained during the third Test against the West Indies.
The three-match series will commence on August 21 at Emirates Old Trafford, followed by the second Test at Lord’s on August 29, and concluding at The Kia Oval in London. The squad closely mirrors the one that recently faced the West Indies, with a few notable changes.
Young batter Jordan Cox has been called up for the first time, replacing Crawley. Cox’s selection is a reward for his outstanding performances with Essex this season. He was also part of England’s white-ball squad in Pakistan in 2022. Dan Lawrence is expected to open the innings in Crawley’s absence.
Fast bowler Dillon Pennington, who was part of the West Indies series, will miss the Sri Lanka Tests due to a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred. In his place, Olly Stone has been recalled to the squad. Stone, who last played a Test in June 2021, is looking to make a significant impact upon his return.
The full England Test squad for the Sri Lanka series is as follows:
Ben Stokes (C), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
