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England and Sri Lanka have both revealed their playing XIs ahead of the first Test in Manchester, set to begin on August 21, 2024. This match marks the start of a crucial ICC World Test Championship series, with both teams making strategic selections to bolster their chances.
For England, Ollie Pope will lead the side in the absence of regular captain Ben Stokes, who is out with a hamstring injury. Dan Lawrence makes a return to the team after more than two years, replacing Zak Crawley, who is sidelined with a finger injury. Matthew Potts is included as an additional fast bowler, rounding out a strong pace attack alongside Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and debutant Shoaib Bashir. Jamie Smith takes up the wicketkeeping duties, while Chris Woakes is expected to contribute as an all-rounder.
England’s Playing XI:
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Ben Duckett
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Dan Lawrence
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Ollie Pope (c)
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Joe Root
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Harry Brook
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Jamie Smith (wk)
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Chris Woakes
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Gus Atkinson
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Matthew Potts
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Mark Wood
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Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has made a bold move by including Milan Rathnayake, a 28-year-old fast bowler making his Test debut. Dhananjaya de Silva will captain the side, with experienced players like Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal providing stability. The team is without Lahiru Kumara, with Rathnayake stepping in to strengthen the pace attack alongside Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s Playing XI:
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Dimuth Karunaratne
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Nishan Madushka
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Kusal Mendis
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Angelo Mathews
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Dinesh Chandimal (wk)
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Dhananjaya de Silva (c)
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Kamindu Mendis
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Prabath Jayasuriya
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Asitha Fernando
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Vishwa Fernando
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Milan Rathnayake
Both teams are looking to make a strong start in this series, which is vital for their standings in the World Test Championship.