The third Test match between England and Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on September 6, 2024, at the Oval Cricket Ground, promises to be a fascinating contest.
Team Overviews
England:
England has a strong batting lineup led by the world-class Joe Root. Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook have also been in good form. The bowling attack is led by the pace trio of Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, and Mark Wood, who can be a potent force on any surface.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka has a talented batting group, with Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis capable of scoring runs. Their spin bowling attack, led by Prabath Jayasuriya, is a significant strength.
Key Players
England:
- Joe Root: The world-class batter is England’s most valuable asset.
- Gus Atkinson: The young pacer has shown immense promise and can be a match-winner.
- Mark Wood: The express pacer can generate pace and bounce, making him a difficult bowler to face.
Sri Lanka:
- Prabath Jayasuriya: The left-arm spinner has been in impressive form and can be a match-winner on spin-friendly pitches.
- Dimuth Karunaratne: The experienced opener is a rock-solid presence at the top of the Sri Lankan batting order.
- Kusal Mendis: The stylish batter has been in good form and can be a crucial player for Sri Lanka.
Head-to-Head in Test Cricket
England and Sri Lanka have a long-standing rivalry in Test cricket, with England historically holding the upper hand. Of the 38 Test matches played between the two sides, England won 19, Sri Lanka won 8, and 11 games ended in a draw. However, recent encounters have shown that Sri Lanka can challenge England, especially in conditions that support spin bowling.
Oval Pitch Report
The Oval Cricket Ground pitch is typically good for batting, with a decent amount of pace and bounce. However, the pitch for this match may assist the pace bowlers, especially in the first innings.
Probable Playing XIs
England:
Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook (VC), Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka:
Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vc), Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando
Match Scenarios
- England Dominance: If England’s batters can score big runs and their bowlers can take wickets at regular intervals, they could secure a comfortable victory and clinch the series.
- Sri Lanka Surprise: Sri Lanka can cause an upset if their batters can bat responsibly and their bowlers can take wickets at crucial moments.
- Close Contest: Given the strengths of both teams, a close and competitive match is a distinct possibility.
Live streaming
Live Telecast in India: Viewers in India can watch the England vs Sri Lanka Test series on Sony Sports Network.
English Commentary: The live telecast with English commentary will be available on Sony Ten 5.
Hindi Commentary: For Hindi commentary, the matches will be live telecast on Sony Ten 3.
Match Details:
The Third Test of the three-match Test series between England and Sri Lanka will be played on September 6 at Oval Cricket Ground at 3:00 pm (PST), 3:30 pm (IST), and 10:00 am (IST).
Match Prediction
They will likely start as favourites, given England’s home advantage and strong squad. However, Sri Lanka has shown that it can compete against any team. The match is expected to be closely contested, with the result likely to depend on which team performs better in critical moments.
Probable Scenarios:
Scenario 1:
England won the Toss and decided to bat first:
First inning- 350-400
SL First inning- 250-300
ENG second inning- 300-350
SL second inning- 250-270
Scenario 2:
England won the Toss and decided to bowl first:
First inning- 250-270
ENG First inning- 370-400
SL second inning- 240-260
ENG wins the match
