The legendary Geoffrey Boycott believes prolific England captain Joe Root has the potential and talent to surpass Indian great Sachin Tendulkar as the all-time run-scorer in Test cricket.Root, 30, amassed 426 runs in four innings at an average of 106.50 including two centuries with a high score of 228 in the just-concluded 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka.Root, whose next assignment is the four-Test series India starting February 5, also became the fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket for England and the first ever captain to hit two double-hundreds.&quot;Forget just scoring more Test runs for England than David Gower, Kevin Pietersen and myself. Joe Root has the potential to play 200 Tests and score more runs than even Sachin Tendulkar,&quot; Boycott wrote in a column for &#39;The Telegraph&#39;.&quot;Root is only 30. He has played 99 Tests and scored 8249 runs already. As long as he does not suffer serious injury there is no reason why he cannot beat Tendulkar&#39;s all-time record of 15,921.&quot;Boycott, however, doesn&#39;t want people to compare Root with stars of bygone eras, saying he should be judged only with his contemporaries.&quot;His contemporaries, such as Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, are wonderful players as well who could also score that many runs. We should enjoy Root and only judge him alongside those guys, not great names of the past because every player is a product of their environment,&quot; he said.The 80-year-old England batting great observed that Root has worked on his batting during the COVID-enforced break but said the right-hander will face his biggest test on Australia soil.&quot;Until this tour Joe had not been making the big scores that influence matches. Perhaps the COVID-19 lockdowns allowed him time to take stock of his batting. For too long he appeared to be influenced by Twenty20 cricket. He was trying to force his way back into England&#39;s T20 side, but that frenetic type of batting is not for him,&quot; Boycott said.&quot;I felt that when playing Test cricket his subconscious was telling him to try to score off almost every ball. He was opening the face of the bat to good length balls trying to run it to third man, working straight balls to leg and even when he defended a really good ball he would set off for a run. In other words, he was trying to avoid a dot ball. Against top-class Test bowlers that is not possible.&quot;Joe&#39;s biggest test will be against pace in Australia but, right now, by not batting in a gung-ho style, he has settled down and is giving himself a chance to bat big.&quot;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

The 80-year-old England batting great observed that Root has worked on his batting during the COVID-enforced break but said the right-hander will face his biggest test on Australia soil

Joe Root

England tour of Sri Lanka, 2021

England

Prolific Root has potential to surpass Tendulkar''s Test record: Boycott

&nbsp;In awe of Joe Root&#39;s performance in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara said the way the England Test skipper handled himself on day three of the second Test was &quot;a great learning experience for everyone&quot;.After notching up a double century in the series opener, Root continued his brilliant run by hitting 186 in the second Test to lift his side from a spot of bother.&quot;Outstanding. Everyone has been amazed at how easy he has made it look. Not just in this innings, which is probably an easier pitch at this stage, but also the first Test,&quot; Sangakkara said on &#39;Sky Sports&#39;.&quot;Magnificent gameplan, execution was clinical, the use of the sweep, the reverse sweep, the rotation of strike, the technique, the poise, the calmness, everything was incredible. It was brilliant to watch and to learn from,&quot; he added.Asked what he had learned from watching Root bat, Sangakkara said: &quot;You can score runs but maybe not have that same poise or ease that Joe Root had.&quot;He has worked on it and read the situation and pitch and he was in total control. For me or anyone batting or a coach, the execution and way he handled himself all throughout the day was a great learning experience.&quot;Root and Jos Buttler (55) stitched a 97-run stand, helping England register 344 in their first innings. The skipper faced 309 balls and was also struggling with a cramp before he was run out in the final over of the third day.Teammate Buttler termed Root&#39;s innings as a &quot;masterclass against spin&quot;, adding that it was a &quot;great education&quot; to watch the 30-year-old bat. &quot;To back up his double hundred in the first Test, to show the physical and mental application to go and do it again it was a masterclass in batting against spin.&quot;It has been a great education for all of us and we have thoroughly enjoyed watching him and gutted for him to get out in that fashion at the end of the day,&quot; Buttler added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

After notching up a double century in the series opener, the England captain continued his brilliant run by hitting 186 in the second Test 

Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lanka

 Everyone is amazed at how easy Root has made batting look: Sangakkara

When the day started, a draw was the biggest probability according to <a href="https://www.cricket.com/criclytics/199338/sl-vs-eng-2nd-test-england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2021/match-reel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Criclytics</a> but after three slow but absorbing days of Test cricket, things went into the fifth gear and we have a result on our hands on Day 4. Dom Sibley and Jos Buttler arrested the intractable fall of wickets - 15 in the day&rsquo;s play - to forge an unbeaten 75-run stand, seeing England home to a 2-0 series win by the end of the day&rsquo;s play. With this win, England have become the first overseas side to win six consecutive Tests in Sri Lanka.All of it was derived by a characteristic Sri Lankan batting implosion. It was as characteristic as it was bizarre. A constant tussle for the bragging rights in the Test seemed to have fallen in Sri Lanka&rsquo;s favor when they sealed an important 37-run lead in the first innings. However, by the time they added another 37 to it, they were four wickets down. It extended to 67 for six by lunch and Sri Lanka, for the umpteenth time in the series, squandered an advantage as soon as they gained it.&nbsp;The pitch showcased sharp turn. The English spinners bowled tighter than they did in the first innings. But there were poor shots intertwined with panic, handing three wickets to both spinners - Jack Leach and Dom Bess.&nbsp;The fall started with a wild swipe from Kusal Perera in search of a sweep shot that was not there. Rapped on the pads by Leach, he was given out by the umpire and sent the decision upstairs unsuccessfully. Sri Lanka&rsquo;s rotten luck with their number 3 - Oshada Fernando out for 3 - brought Lahiru Thirmanne and Angelo Mathews in the together.&nbsp;The due had forged two significant partnerships in the Test series and Sri Lanka one final effort from them but unfortunately, today was not the day. Thirimanne flicked the ball but Zak Crawley, instead of turning his back to the shot at short-leg, snaffled an excellent catch to give widen the opening.&nbsp;Mathews and Chandimal threw their wickets within the next 13 balls to confirm Sri Lanka&rsquo;s slump in the Test match. Mathews swept the ball onto his stumps while Chandimal went for one shot too many in his counter-attacking approach. Niroshan Dickwella played an aerial shot in the last over before lunch to gift his wicket.&nbsp;The spinners turned up for England. Despite neither of Leach or Bess in the wickets column in the first innings, England brought them on as early as the fifth over and continued with them for the rest of the innings. Leach, taking the ball after Bess, struck with his second delivery - Kusal Perera - and then it was one-way traffic. Both picked up three wickets each till lunch and added one more to their tally, extending Sri Lanka&rsquo;s misery to 78 for eight.A two-digit total was on cards when Lasith Embuldeniya came to the rescue again, this time with the bat. Like the top-order batsmen of his side, Embuldeniya also went after the spinners but showed the assurance in his strokeplay which was missing from the specialist batsmen. He added 48 runs for the ninth wicket, stretching Sri Lanka&rsquo;s lead to 163, hence giving Sri Lanka something to bowl at.&nbsp;As Embuldeniya pushed the target into an uncomfortable territory for England, Joe Root brought himself to bowl. Root versus Embuldeniya was the gist of this Test match but here, they were up against each other in an unexpected manner. Root won the contest, breaking the partnership. Embuldeniya played a full delivery from Root straight into Bairstow&rsquo;s hands at first slip. Next ball, Root wrapped up Sri Lanka&rsquo;s innings. Asitha Fernando, in a classical number 11 dismissal, brought a harmless delivery outside the off pole onto his stumps off the middle of his bat. &nbsp;Embuldeniya, after picking a 7-wicket haul, had to score runs to hand Sri Lanka an outside chance and Root, who scored 186 in the first innings, had to contribute with the ball to end Sri Lanka&rsquo;s late surge.&nbsp;164 was going to be tricky and Sri Lanka must have hoped for Embuldeniya to get rid of the opposition openers for the fourth time in the series. He snaffled Crawley to keep hosts&rsquo; hopes alive. Sibley, however, found his way through. Batting alongside Bairstow, he settled the nerves for England, bringing the visitors within 118 runs of the target.A final burst of jitters awaited England post tea. Three wickets fell for 27 runs. Embuldeniya dismissed Bairstow and Dan Lawrence to complete his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. In between, there was Root, who after sweeping so well throughout the innings, under-edged a miscued sweeps stroke onto his stumps, lending Ramesh Mendis a moment to remember on his debut.&nbsp;When Lawrence was out, England were 75 runs away from the target and given Root was not in the picture, it was Sri Lanka&rsquo;s last chance. But Buttler and Sibley nibbled the deficit in 111 balls. Buttler remained unbeaten on 46 while Sibley scored a confidence boosting 56.Root won the player-of-the-match and player-of-the-series awards. Along with six successive Test wins in Sri Lanka, England are also on a five-match streak of wins overseas, which will face a stern test in India.Cover Image Credits: England Cricket

All out for 126, Sri Lanka set a target of 164 in front of England

Joseph Edward Root

Lasith Embuldeniya

Dominic Mark Bess

Matthew Jack Leach

Dominic Peter Sibley

Joseph Charles Buttler

Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal

Angelo Davis Mathews

Sibley, Buttler complete series win after 15 wickets in the day

It was a day of tussle between two individuals who hustled to get their side ahead in a riveting Test match. Joe Root stood tall for England throughout the day - after batting almost through the evening session yesterday - to score 186 and Lasith Embuldeniya picked seven out of the nine wickets to fall in the innings in what gave the impression of lone-man battles from both camps. The Test match, although, refused to favor either camps at stumps on Day 3. An anticlimactic end to Root&rsquo;s marathon effort, however, promises Sri Lanka a first innings lead. England are 42 runs behind Sri Lanka but have only one wicket remaining in the tank.&nbsp;Root frustrated Sri Lanka through the entirety of the day, looking invincible with his defence, sweeps and footwork. The only hope for Sri Lanka to get him out of their way was when he held his hamstring in the afternoon session but that was just a passing niggle. The wickets at the other end kept coming at a manageable rate but Root was unmoved, pacing his innings as he felt suitable.&nbsp;He was berserk last evening, taking only 77 balls to score 67, shifting the pressure on the home side. Today, he absorbed it all, moving his innings inch by inch. He completed his hundred in the morning session itself, adding 38 runs to his overnight score off 76 balls. Sri Lanka opted for some whimsical measures to unsettle him. Embuldeniya came over the wicket to Root, pitching the ball outside the leg-stump. But such has been the finesse of Root on this tour, he implemented the switch-hit to perfection to find another boundary. A single off the next delivery ended Embuldeniya&rsquo;s brief experiment.In the second session, Root scored only 32 runs with a solitary boundary and in the evening session, he brought himself 49 runs, striking at 56.3. When it appeared he will come back tomorrow to complete his second double hundred of the series in as many games and nibble the deficit, his innings came to a halt in a baffling way. Oshada Fernando at short-leg was too quick to allow an exhausted Root to head back into his crease who had overbalanced himself while whipping the ball towards the on-side. A run out was the only possible way to see the back of Root and it came in an abysmal fashion, even more so given it happened in the last over of the day.&nbsp;Root found brief supporting acts through the day. None was more important than his 97-run stand with Jos Buttler. Buttler joined in after the customary two early morning wickets at Galle this series. The duo arrested a potential collapse. Buttler was the aggressor in the partnership while Root focussed on batting for long.&nbsp;Buttler&rsquo;s innings was cut short by a miscued reverse sweep. On 55, Buttler ballooned up a reverse sweep off his boot to Fernando at short-leg, becoming Ramesh Mendis&rsquo; first Test wicket. Sam Curran stayed in for nearly 11 overs but fell at the stroke of tea. Six down with 149 runs behind, Sri Lanka had an opening to fetch a sizeable lead.&nbsp;Dom Bess then stuck around for 95 deliveries. The seventh wicket stand was slow but added 81 runs to the England&rsquo;s total. The pitch showcased turn but it was not troublesome. It was a stand reminiscent of Dilruwan Perera&rsquo;s strive with the lower-order on Day 2.&nbsp;Like most partnerships in the day, this was also broken by Embuldeniya when Bess and Root threatened to see England through to stumps without any further damage. Lahiru Thirimanne, who became the first Sri Lankan fielder to take five catches in a Test innings, accepted a straight forward chance from Bess after a couple of earlier opportunities had fallen short.&nbsp;With his left-arm spin, Embuldeniya bowled in consistent areas from around the wicket, leaving England&rsquo;s right-hander&rsquo;s bewildered with the turn or the lack of it. In the morning session, he picked Jonny Bairstow with the one which went straight and then grasped Dan Lawrence with the one that turned. His only left-handed scalp was Curran who was his fifth victim of the innings. With Bess and Mark Wood, he completed a 7-wicket haul, his best bowling figures in a Test innings as yet.&nbsp;While Embuldeniya picked seven, Dilruwan Perera was unlucky not to be in the wickets column. Bowling brilliantly otherwise, Perera was let down by the umpires giving the benefit of doubt to the batsmen and Niroshan Dickwella missing out a stumping chance against Lawrence.&nbsp;After three days of action, the match is still in balance. Root&rsquo;s departure was inarguably a big event to cap off the day. England will hope for their 10th wicket pair to accumulate as many runs as possible. Sri Lanka will aim to cease the same as any amount of lead can prove to be substantial in the longer run.&nbsp;Cover Image Credits: SLC

Joe Root completed his 19th Test hundred and second of the series 

Root and Embuldeniya star on a tussling day

Both teams headed into Day 2 of the Test match with different challenges, both teams toiled hard and there is little you can complaint from either camps and yet it is <a href="https://www.cricket.com/criclytics/199338/sl-vs-eng-2nd-test-england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2021/team-score-projection" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tough to decide which team has the advantage.</a>It was that kind of a day in Test cricket when the pendulum swung both ways but ultimately, the honours were shared. At one point, Sri Lanka had their nose ahead when they posted 381 on the board and Lasith Embuldeniya - for the third time in the series - dismissed both the England openers for single-digit scores but Joe Root, yet again, saved the day caressing his way to an unbeaten half-century. From 5 for two at one point, England finished the day 98 without any further damage, thanks to Root and Jonny Bairstow&rsquo;s incumbent stand of 93.&nbsp;Bairstow was lucky to survive a close lbw call towards the end of the day. On 23, he was late to judge the extent of turn on Dilruwan Perera&rsquo;s off-break and was rapped on the pads. Bairstow survived only on the umpire&rsquo;s call as the tracker showed the a majority of the ball to be hitting the leg-stump.&nbsp;Root, on the other end, never looked in any trouble. It was his wide array of sweep shots which bailed England out of early jitters and did it quite swiftly as the skipper reached his half-century in 65 balls, his fastest Test fifty away from home. His 67 runs at a strike-rate of 87 in a match where the other batsmen have collectively scored at a strike-rate of 43.2 dictates why he is a cut above the rest. Eight out of his 10 boundaries today came via sweeps. Overall, it was an extended version of the masterclass Root displayed in the first Test. If anything, today, he made it look like a child&rsquo;s play where he was toying with the Sri Lankan bowlers.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2Fed7531dc28c2826ae3f31b8e4d9863eaac47080a.jpg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-code="200">That was, however, not the only masterclass from the visitor&rsquo;s camp. Earlier in the day, it was James Anderson, the most experience active Test cricketer right now double his wicket tally from yesterday. To start off, he won his overnight dual against Angelo Mathews. Mathews had survived Anderson&rsquo;s tight spell on Day 1. Sri Lanka wanted him to bat for as long as possible to reach an imposing total. Those hopes sunk when Anderson took only six balls today to go through Mathews&#39; defence.&nbsp;It was a sharp in-swinger that kissed the inside edge of Mathews&rsquo; bat through to the wicketkeeper. The umpire adjudged Mathews not out before Root went for the DRS hesitantly to get their first prey of the day. Mathews added only 3 runs to his overnight score and England sensed an opening. They were further encouraged when the debutant, Ramesh Mendis was holed down the leg-side by a Mark Wood delivery to bag a duck on debut.&nbsp;At this point, Sri Lanka, 243/6, found an unlikely hero in Niroshan Dickwella. Known for being brashy at times, Dickwella shed that image today, carrying Sri Lanka&rsquo;s hopes of an imposing first innings total. Though he continued to add to the scoreboard, there were no irresponsible shots. He found encouraging support in Perera who went to lunch with him unbeaten at 21 from 77 balls.Dickwella on 78 at tea had a golden opportunity to notch up his maiden Test hundred. Having batted with perseverance for his 92, he eventually played one in the air to be holed out by Jack Leach at mid-off. Anderson then extended his wicket tally by snaffling Suranga Lakmal two balls later.<img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2F4f4c98db05cb3631bc2e827d55e4c6d3aa17d648.jpg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-code="200">It felt as if the end is near for Sri Lanka&rsquo;s innings but Perera ensured England required the extra 30-minute phase in the session to get the remaining wickets. He kept England in the park for another 20 overs with the last two batsmen in the order. In the process, he amassed his seventh Test fifty and fourth at Galle.&nbsp;Mark Wood and Sam Curran accounted for the last two wickets to complete the first instance of pacers picking all 10 wickets in a Test innings at Galle. As much as this stat spoke for the appreciable toil of England pacers, 64 wicketless overs between their spinners - Dom Bess and Jack Leach - is a worrying sign for England.&nbsp;England had a familiar start with the bat. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley failed to get into the double digit and once again, succumbed to the left-arm spin of Lasith Embuldeniya.&nbsp;Sibley, out for a duck, was caught in front of the stumps in a similar setup to that of the first Test. Crawley edged a delivery that straightened on the off-stump line after angling in towards him. Earlier, it had taken England five overs to get off the mark. The slumber for England was broken when Root swept Embuldeniya in the 10th over for the first boundary of his innings.&nbsp;The match hangs by a thread and it is no rocket-science that a lot will depend on Root on Day 3, given the pitch has started deteriorate.&nbsp;

James Michael Anderson

Dickwella Patabandige Dilantha Niroshan Dickwella

Mahawaduge Dilruwan Kamalaneth Perera

Root's half-century saves the day for England 

For the second time in this two-match Test series, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. The idea was to make first use of the pitch which is anticipated to deteriorate and to correct their biggest mistake from the first Test - 135 all out in the first innings - which made them chase the eight-ball throughout the course of the game.&nbsp;Their start, however, was a firm reminder of that horror on Day 1 itself. Kusal Perera, for the third time in three innings gifted his wicket. James Anderson, accounting for Perera&rsquo;s wicket, soon sent back their new number three, Oshada Fernando for a duck to strike for the second time in the same over, much like Stuart Broad did on Day 1 of the first Test. But one of their few positives from the that defeat, Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews&rsquo; defiance, showed up again to resurrect the innings and ensure Sri Lanka don&rsquo;t leave it too late again.While Thirimanne was outclassed by Anderson on the second ball of the afternoon session, Mathews carried on, remaining unbeaten till stumps, notching up his 11th Test hundred. This is also his first Test ton at Galle, third versus England and first in Sri Lanka since 2015.&nbsp;Fresh from a resolute 71 off 219 balls in his previous innings, which came to an end because he was running out of partners, Mathews carried on with the same resilience today. He was patient throughout, solid in defence and smart enough not to miss out on any loose deliveries which were rare as England, despite not much of assistance from the track, bowled in tight areas. Mathews also did not fall into any of the traps set to bring about his downfall.&nbsp;Mark Wood bowled many deliveries angling into him, inviting a glance with a leg-slip in place, but Mathews didn&rsquo;t give in to the temptation, letting the ball go down the leg side. Similarly, when Anderson bowled an in-swinger after four out-swingers with the second new ball, Mathews was again up to the task. While he had a 50-plus strike-rate against other bowlers, he was happy to have only four scoring shots against Anderson off 42 balls - two fours through the on-side and two singles.Unlike the first Test, Mathews found assuring support throughout the day. Thirimanne hung around with him to add 69 runs for the fourth wicket. For the fifth wicket, he had his first 100-run partnership with Dinesh Chandimal at Galle. The duo kept England at bay throughout the second session. With a false-shot percentage of only 4.9 in his 121-ball 52, Chandimal also looked set for a big innings, before Mark Wood&rsquo;s angled-in delivery loaded with reverse trapped him in front of the stumps. With the wicket, Wood not only broke the 117-run partnership but also fetched his first wicket of the series, after bowling 38 overs.Niroshan Dickwella stood with Mathews for the remainder of the day. The incumbent duo focused on heading back unbeaten - adding only 36 runs in 18 overs. Dickwella contributed 19 of those while Mathews, completed his ton in the process, with a cut shot to point. Both Mathews&rsquo; hundred and Wood&rsquo;s wicket (of Chandimal) carried silent celebrations with a sigh of relief, narrating how satisfying it felt as it came after so long and such hard toil.While Sri Lanka did well to reach 229 for four, it is not sure if England will be entirely disappointed. With no help from the pitch - only a handful of balls turning - their bowlers did well to keep it tough for Sri Lanka to sc<span style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">ore. Anderson, replacing Broad in the side, bowled with similar mastery, conceding only 24 runs in his 19 overs, including three wickets. His constant exploitation of corridor of uncertainty allowed Root to keep Sri Lanka&rsquo;s progress under check in spite of big partnerships. <img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2Ffe23102f9aecc98523dfedf821d0bea27b7a0b2e.jpg" data-code="200" style="width: 900px;">James Anderson, tough to get awayAnderson exhibited his dexterity with the wicket of Thirimanne for 43. Bowling from around-the-wicket angle, he took one away from the left-hander with outward seam movement, after bringing many towards him before lunch.Spinners received little to no succour from the pitch and as a result, pacers bowled majority of the overs - a rarity when Galle is the venue in contention.&nbsp;At the end of the day&rsquo;s play, Mathews appreciated the effort of England bowlers to make it tough for Sri Lanka without any assistance from the pitch. He also said the pitch was slow and he is not sure what would be a good first innings score here. But it would be fair to say that Sri Lanka would be satisfied with their day, having put themselves into a position where they can test England a lot more than they did in the first innings of the previous Test.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cover Image Credits: Sri Lanka Cricket

Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews added 117 runs for the fourth wicket

Mathews' hundred hands Sri Lanka a satisfying day

It has been only been three days since England clinched a 1-0 lead in the series, registering their fifth consecutive Test win in Sri Lanka and now the two teams are within 24 hours of toss in the second Test. International cricket is tough now then it has ever been with the bio-bubbles in operation and breaks between Test matches smaller than the duration of the game.&nbsp;There is no time for recovery, there is no time for further practice and there is only a handful of time to develop new strategies. There is no time for travel as well which means the second Test is also at the Galle International Stadium. Both sides are familiar with the pitch and the conditions.&nbsp;The first Test was a pretty satisfying result for England. Though, skipper Joe Root said it was not a perfect game for his side, it felt like one. The biggest plus point was the way England batted against the Sri Lankan spinner, on pitch which was not the toughest to negate spin but it was not a cakewalk either. Jonny Bairstow and the debutant, Dan Lawrence instilled confidence. Moreover, the real Joe Root stood up, carrying the fortunes of the England side with his bat, as it was expected from him in his early days as a professional cricketer.&nbsp;Both their spinners picked a five-wicket haul. Jos Buttler did well behind the stumps. Stuart Broad was the most impressive pacer in the match. Though Root believes it was not a perfect game owing to the hard toil in the second innings with the ball, a roll over would have revealed little about their character. They ticked a lot of boxes knowing a bigger battle awaits in India. The only unchecked box was the openers - Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley - both of whom could not reach the double figures in either innings but Root has shown confidence in them to get through.&nbsp;Though, it is also true that their job became relatively easier once Sri Lanka were all out on Day 1, after opting to bat first. Sri Lanka have been all out under 250 12 times in 11 Tests since 2019 (excluding Zimbabwe). The bowling has not been inspirational either but it is the batting which has let Sri Lanka down incessantly. &nbsp;The second innings performance showed the ingredients are there if the players apply themselves. No doubt, the Sri Lankan batsmen will be under the radar in the second Test.&nbsp;Another concern for Sri Lanka is the injury department. Both Dimuth Karunaratne and Suranga Lakmal were deemed unavailable on the morning of the first Test. Karunaratne remains to be unavailable and there is no news on Lakmal yet. However, Asitha Fernando did well in the first Test and Sri Lanka may want to persist with him.&nbsp;Even a draw would be a good result for Sri Lanka, given it is not heavily influenced by rain, but nothing except a win would satiate England. Outside of the prospects of a tough India tour, England must also have the World Test Championship final in mind - a race in which they have fallen behind. &nbsp;Pitch and conditions23 out of the 30 wickets to fall in the first Test (excluding three run-outs) were pouched by the spinners and a similar kind of percentage is expected in the second Test as well. The venue has now hosted four Tests since the start of 2018 and the batsmen here have scored at an average of 26.9, the least amongst all the four stadiums in the country to have hosted Test cricket in this time frame.&nbsp;Rain is expected to stay away from this contest, although clouds may hover over the Galle International Stadium, giving pacers something going their way.&nbsp;Probable XIsSri Lanka:Wanindu Hasaranga was the only front-line spinner to have gone wicketless in the first match. Although, he still has a lot to offer against an England batting line-up full of right-handers. Also, he contributes with the bat which takes pressure from their main core of batsmen. In other news, Kusal Mendis has been dropped by Sri Lanka and will be replaced by Oshada Fernando.&nbsp;Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya.England:England have announced their XI on the eve of the Test match. With 17 Tests scheduled this year and Ashes right at the end, it is a no-brainer that they have rested Stuart Broad, though he was spectacular in the first Test. James Anderson comes in the XI and the rest of the side remains the same.&nbsp;Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (c), Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson&nbsp;

Both sides are expected to make changes but for different reasons 

England eye 2-0 victory while Sri Lanka aim to hold their fort

After a gap of three days, England is set to take on Sri Lanka in the second Test of the series, at the Galle International Stadium, starting from Friday (January 22). England are on a winning streak. They have four overseas Tests in a row and have also leveled India&rsquo;s record of most consecutive Test wins in Sri Lanka - Five. Bringing England&rsquo;s streak to a halt will be a tough task for Sri Lanka who have lost three Tests in a row but the fight they shown Day 3 onwards in the first game hints a good contest in the second and last Test of the series.&nbsp;Pitch, conditions and team combinationWith both Tests scheduled to play at the Galle International Stadium, judging the nature of the pitch - an important aspect of Fantasy cricket - should not be tough after the first Test. Especially knowing it&rsquo;s Galle, a paradise for the spinners. The venue has now hosted four Tests since the start of 2018 and the batsmen here have scored at an average of 26.9, the least amongst all the four stadiums in the country to have hosted Test cricket in this time frame.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2Fb7cb059523c81a0ad9ae58a4def49ab4d62f35ca.png" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-code="200">As many as 74.1 percent of the 143 wickets to have fallen here have gone to the spinners. The first Test had 23 out of the 30 wickets in the match (excluding run outs) go to the spinners. They bowled 72.6 percent of the overs and things are not expected to change much in the second Test as well, hence, giving pacers a lot less of a chance to cause an impact. Yes, the likes of Stuart Broad and Asitha Fernando impressed but it will still be more beneficial to pick all the five spinners who are expected to play the second Test, instead of going to any pacer.&nbsp;Three of the five spinners expected to take part in the match - Lasith Embuldeniya, Dilruwan Perera and Dom Bess - can contribute with the bat as well making them a priceless asset.&nbsp;Suggested Team<img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2Fb9f0ef82dddf97c41d2247750a664b609ad8145a.jpeg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-code="200">While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from cricket.com <a href="https://www.cricket.com/fantasy-research-center/199338/sl-vs-eng-2nd-test-england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fantasy Research Centre</a>. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.Captain selectionJoe Root&nbsp;didn&#39;t score a single Test century in 2020 but made amends in style, scoring a match-winning double hundred in the first Test. Root showed the apt technique to tackle spin bowling on the Galle track. He swept the ball consistently to keep his score ticking over and displayed precise footwork to defend the ball. He is now back in top five of ICC Men&#39;s Test Batting Rankings with 738 rating points, his best in last two years.&nbsp;Given how helpless Sri Lankan bowlers appeared in front of Root and his familiarity with the Galle track - he faced 324 balls in the Test - it is hard to look past the England skipper to be the captain of your Fantasy side.&nbsp;Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cricket.com/criclytics/199338/sl-vs-eng-2nd-test-england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2021/player-projection" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Criclytics player projector&nbsp;</a>predicts Root could score 112-168 runs in this match.X-FactorsDom Bess picked more wickets but Jack Leach looked more threatening in the first Test. His left-arm angle, constantly taking the ball away from the Sri Lankan right-handers helped him challenge the outside edge of the bat more than any other spinner did in the first Test. Leach was back in his elements in the later half of the second innings and snaffled his second five-for in Test cricket.&nbsp;Our Criclytics player projector predicts Leach could take 4-6 wickets in this match.Since 2018, no other bowler has taken more wickets than Dilruwan Perera in Sri Lanka. The 38-year-old has become Sri Lanka&#39;s premier spinner ever since Rangana Herath announced his retirement. Perera has taken 45 wickets at an average of 22, studded with four four-wicket hauls and as many five-wicket hauls, in Sri Lanka since the start of 2018. The veteran offspinner took 22 wickets in three games when England last toured Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Our Criclytics player projector predicts Perera could score 16-25 runs and could take 2-4 wickets in this match.Lahiru Thirimanne&rsquo;s&nbsp;resilient innings led Sri Lanka&rsquo;s fightback. The southpaw was brilliant in the second innings to bring up his second Test ton, scoring 111 from 251 balls. It could not save the match for Sri Lanka but the left-hander certainly saved his What stood out was Thirimanne&rsquo;s clarity. His innings was based on resolute defence but he did not miss out any scoring opportunities as well, making him a must pick batsman in your XI.&nbsp;Our Criclytics player projector predicts Thirimanne could score 47-70 runs in this match.

Here are a few tips that might help you in creating your fantasy team for the second Test between Sri Lanka and England

Hettige Don Rumesh Lahiru Thirimanne

Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd Test: Fantasy Preview

Sri Lanka on Tuesday (19 January 2021) dropped out-of-form Kusal Mendis from an upcoming second Test against England while injured skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was replaced by stand-in Dinesh Chandimal.The cricket board said Mendis and Karunaratne were among a total of five players left out of the squad for the second Test against England starting Friday at Galle.Mendis was out for a duck in the first innings and scored 15 in the second.&nbsp;In last month&#39;s South Africa tour, he scored ducks in both innings of the second Test.&nbsp;He scored 12 in the first innings of the first Test, but got out for a duck in the second innings.&quot;In the absence of Karunaratne, Chandimal will continue to captain the team in the 2nd test match, as well,&quot; the board said in a statement, without giving details of the skipper&#39;s injuries.Karunaratne was named captain for the first Test, but he stayed out of the match which Sri Lanka lost by seven wickets.The other three players dropped from the squad are Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep. None of them had played in the first Test.

Meanwhile injured skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was replaced by stand-in Dinesh Chandimal

Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis

Frank Dimuth Madushanka Karunaratne

Sri Lanka drops Kusal Mendis for 2nd England Test

England were only 36 runs away from the target with seven wickets in hand. It was supposed to be a straightforward job but there was an air of uncertainty around, induced by the three quick wickets in the chase towards the end of Day 4.&nbsp;However, Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence didn&rsquo;t give any opening to Sri Lanka and made it a straightforward job, thus clinching a seven-wicket win as England now lead the series 1-0. Sri Lanka had only one chance when they missed out a DRS call which could have fetched them their fourth wicket. Lawrence was struck on the pads by Dilruwan Perera, on 9, beaten by turn. Had Sri Lanka gone upstairs, they would have had a wicket in the third over of the day.&nbsp;It was not to be and it took England 9.2 overs to get over the finish line, with Bairstow unbeaten on 35 and Lawrence adding 21 to his first innings&rsquo; 73 on a successful Test debut. This is now England&rsquo;s fifth consecutive Test victory in Sri Lanka, Joe Root&rsquo;s fourth in as many matches as captain here.<img src="https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/image.cricket.com/temp%2Fe576dbb83830d2d9468637261cfdfc69a4a9ead1.jpg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-code="200">Sri Lanka will rue not having the cushion of those extra 50 runs which could have created the pressure on England when they were 14 for three last evening. They had the chance when they went into the lead with five wickets in hand but Niroshan Dickwella and Dasun Shanaka departing in quick succession left Angelo Mathews as the lone man in the battlefield.&nbsp;It was a pleasing result for England, not only in the terms of the seven-wicket win but also the process. Both their spinners were amongst wickets with each of Dom Bess and Jack Leach picking a five-wicket haul. Their batting was tested. Joe Root was back in the leading role with the bat. Jos Buttler kept well. Even the fast bowlers survived the hardships of bowling grueling Sri Lankan conditions, except Mark Wood who bowled his heart out but remained wicketless. Sri Lanka&rsquo;s fight back also trialed England&rsquo;s ability to change the course of the match. Not to forget, Lawrence&rsquo;s debut. Overall, it was a perfect game to kick start a tour, without much match practice under their belt and a sterner test on Indian shores waiting for them.The only aspect that went unchecked is the openers. Both Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley were out for single-digit scores but England will hope they will get their act together soon. Sri Lanka simply need to pick themselves up and will take positives from the resilience they showed from Day 3 onwards. They showed heart and would want to materialize it into a better result for them to level the series, and break a disappointing run of three consecutive Test defeats.The second Test begins on Friday (January 22), at the same venue - the Galle International Stadium

England were only 36 runs behind the target to start the day

ENGLAND TOUR OF SRI LANKA 2021

England tour of Sri Lanka, 2021 | home

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