Ollie Pope to lead England against Sri Lanka

Manchester, Aug 19: England wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Pope will lead England in their first Test match against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester.

The first Test match will be starting from Wednesday and will go on till Sunday.

England Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday stated that Matthew Potts and Dan Lawrence have been included in the playing after the injury of Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley.

"England Men have announced their XI for the first Rothesay Men's Test match against Sri Lanka, starting at Emirates Old Trafford starting on Wednesday, 21 August. With Ben Stokes (hamstring) and Zak Crawley (finger) both missing through injury, Durham seamer Matthew Potts returns to the side for the first time since June 2023. Surrey batter Dan Lawrence will open the batting in Crawley's absence," ECB stated.

A tear in his left hamstring, sustained during The Hundred, has ruled Stokes out for the remainder of the English summer. Consequently, he will miss the two-match series against Sri Lanka.