Sanath Jayasuriya & Co. leave for England ahead of Test series amid security threat

Sri Lanka (Twitter)

The upcoming series between England and Sri Lanka which was originally set to proceed as per the scheduled itinerary, had become embroiled in controversy as its commencement drew near. The players had voiced significant security concerns due to the ongoing anti-immigrant riots currently unfolding in England.

The series was teetering on the brink of uncertainty, with speculation rife about whether it would materialize at all. Safety concerns had even gripped several Sri Lankan players, some of whom were already in the UK for The Hundred 2024, casting further doubt on the series’ future.

However, all previous speculation was laid to rest when various media outlets and social media platforms released images of interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, and the rest of the team en route to the airport, confirming their departure and putting an end to the uncertainty.

Check the post below:

Sri Lanka Team Departure – Sri Lanka tour of England 2024#ENGvSL

Full Album 👉 https://t.co/IMmEwVyYde pic.twitter.com/0BjsvPYxGM

— ThePapare (@ThePapareSports) August 11, 2024

It is now reasonable to conclude that the tour will move forward as originally scheduled.

Ian Bell to join Sri Lanka’s support staff for England tour

There are speculations, bolstered by reports from Newswire, suggesting that former English cricketer, Ian Bell, is set to join the support staff of the Sri Lankan team. This move, reportedly at the behest of Jayasuriya, sees Bell being enlisted to primarily assist the Lankan batters in gaining a deeper and more nuanced understanding of English conditions.

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Historically, Sri Lanka has faced significant challenges in the red-ball format on English soil. However, the inclusion of Bell, renowned for his technical proficiency and vast experience on England’s challenging pitches, could potentially herald a marked improvement in their performance. The Lankans would be particularly buoyed by the momentum from their recent series triumph over India, albeit in the 50-over format.