England and Sri Lanka are set to lock horns in the second Test of the three-match series at Lord’s in London on Thursday (August 29). England won the series opener by five wickets and will now look to clinch the series to boost their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
As usual, England announced their Playing XI a day before the match. They have named fast bowler Olly Stone as a replacement for Mark Wood, who suffered a right muscle strain and has been ruled out of the complete series. Can England continue to dominate or will Sri Lanka stage a comeback?
Here are the top three players to watch out for from the England team
3. Jamie Smith
Jamie Smith has played only four matches in this format so far, including the first Test against Sri Lanka. However, within this limited period, the keeper-batter has impressed everyone with his scintillating form. He slammed a match-winning century (111) in the first innings and contributed 39 more runs to help England chase down a target of 295. Smith is expected to continue his fine form in the upcoming match.
2. Olly Stone
England have made only one change to their Playing XI from the previous Test. They replaced the injured Mark Wood with Olly Stone. The right-arm speedster last played for England in June 2021 in a home series against New Zealand. Having only played three Tests so far, he will be eager to cement his place in the Test team after receiving another opportunity.
1. Harry Brook
Harry Brook is a vital asset to the English team across formats. He is one of those players who keeps the pace of ‘Bazball’ with aggressive batting. The right-hander played a key role in England’s victory in the first match, scoring 56 and 32 in the first and second innings, respectively.
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