Islamabad, Sep 10: In the last game of the Sri Lanka vs England series, the bowlers from Sri Lanka pulled off an incredible comeback after losing the first two matches of the series. With a brilliant century to spearhead the visitors, Pathum Nissanka saw the series out 2-1 in England’s advantage.The home team had a 62-run advantage after one inning, but in the second, their batting order broke down, going from 35/1 to 82/7, and they were eventually bowled out for 156. Sri Lanka now had a 219-run target to meet.Pathum Nissanka, who finished unbeaten at 127 off 124 balls, performed a match-winning performance. He scored two sixes and 13 boundaries as he helped the visitors win by eight wickets.
The hosts won the series despite this defeat, because to Joe Root’s five-wicket opening match victory and a decisive 190-run victory in the second.We examine the three most important lessons learned from Sri Lanka’s 2024 Test match against England.
England vs. Sri Lanka first Positive indications from Sri Lanka’s youthful talent
The younger players on Sri Lanka’s roster made a significant impact, since they were a blend of experience and youth. After being excluded from the first game, opener Pathum Nissanka made a big influence on the next two by amassing 217 runs in four innings, including a vital century at The Oval in London during the fourth innings.
Kamindu Mendis, a rising talent, batted steadily throughout the series. In five innings, the left-handed hitter scored 267 runs, including two fifty-score and a century. Throughout the series, he was crucial in keeping the Sri Lankan batting lineup steady.With 17 scalps to her name, Asitha Fernando emerged as the series’ top wicket-taker. The right-arm bowler showed promise for a bright future for Sri Lanka. Milan Rathnayake, meanwhile, made an impression in his first series, taking ten wickets and amassing 151 runs, including one half-century.
England vs. Sri Lanka, 2nd England’s bowlers gave a respectable effort in their first complete series without James Anderson.
After the first game of the three-game series against the West Indies in July 2024, famed pacer James Anderson announced his retirement. This was England’s first complete series without him.With the help of their combined bowling efforts, the hosts defeated Sri Lanka in three games, with veteran player Chris Woakes taking the most wickets with 13.
Gus Atkinson, who claimed 22 wickets in three games during his thrilling debut series against the West Indies, maintained his strong form in the series against Sri Lanka, claiming 12 wickets.In the meantime, Josh Hull, 20, made his debut in the final game and got three wickets. Olly Stone, who was making his comeback to the national squad after three years, claimed seven wickets in two games.In their first series without James Anderson, England’s pacers fared well, even though Ben Stokes was missing and Mark Wood was injured after the opening game.
England vs. Sri Lanka, third The over-reliance of England on Joe Root
Throughout the series, England had one loss and two victories, both of which were largely due to Joe Root. He was instrumental in helping England chase down 205 in the opening game, finishing undefeated at 62 to give England a five-wicket victory.Root broke all previous records by becoming England’s all-time leading century-maker with 34 runs in both innings of the second Test, which laid the groundwork for a 190-run victory.
But in the third game, Root experienced a rare decline in form, scoring just 13 and 12 in two innings, which led to England’s batting collapse in the second innings.Although Root provided stability during the previous games, England’s collapse after his dismissal in the final game exposed their over-reliance on him, especially without Ben Stokes.
