England secured a win in the first Test of the series against Sri Lanka, taking a 1-0 lead. Despite early dominance, they had to work hard for the victory after a late challenge from Sri Lanka. Joe Root was instrumental, scoring 62 runs to guide England to the win.
The second Test begins on Thursday at Lord’s, with England as the clear favourites. However, they will be without fast bowler Mark Wood, who is out due to injury. Josh Hull, a 20-year-old left-arm pacer, has been called up as his replacement.
Joe Root is expected to perform well again, with odds favouring him to score 50 or more runs. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando showed promise with the ball and could be their top bowler, while Kamindu Mendis, who scored 113 in the first Test, is a strong contender in the batting lineup.