England sealed a series victory over Sri Lanka after a comfortable win in the second test last week. McCullum’s men were looking to secure a whitewash over Sanath Jayasuriya’s side, completing a perfect summer of test matches.
However, England’s erratic batting performance in the second innings of the third test gave the tourists a low target of 219. Jamie Smith provided a useful cameo with 67 from just 50 balls, but it was not enough.
A stellar batting performance from Pathum Nissanka was enough to win the test with over a day of play remaining. His unbeaten 127 earned him the Player of the Match award.
A fine knock from Pathum Nissanka gets Sri Lanka over the line in south London.
Well played, @OfficialSLC 🤝 pic.twitter.com/QXUuohIMTE
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 9, 2024
England hoped to leave for their winter tour of Pakistan with six victories in their back pocket. However, this latest defeat puts a spanner in the works.
England Batting Woes
Batting was the most significant issue in this test. The batters went out all guns blazing, hoping to score quickly on the third day of a test they believed they had won.
The usually reliable Joe Root scored 12 in the second innings, while his favourite ‘Bazball’ partner Harry Brook only managed 3. In the first innings, Sri Lanka struggled with consistency and bowling to the conditions. By the second, they were frustrating the world-class English batters before eventually skittling them for only 156.
The second-inning performance may raise slight concerns regarding the consistency of England’s batting lineup. The ‘score-quickly-or-score-nothing-at-all’ tactic may work well against the weaker bowling attacks, but how will it fair against a lineup like Australia’s?
Key Injuries
It is essential to remember that England is missing several key players. Captain Ben Stokes missed the series with a hamstring injury, while opener Zak Crawley is out with a broken finger. The return of these two will add much-needed batting depth.
In addition to those who missed the series altogether, several players suffered injuries against Sri Lanka. Key bowler Mark Wood injured his elbow in the second test and is ruled out until 2025, while Gus Atkinson struggled through his overs with a thigh injury.
The injuries which have impacted the team are understandable. After a lot of cricket this summer, the players will undoubtedly be suffering niggles and sore bodies. England hopes to have everyone back soon to heal the squad’s weaknesses.
A slight downturn in form is expected in the last game of the summer, particularly one that has little consequence on the series’ outcome. Mark Butcher suggested that England’s second-inning batting performance was reminiscent of a last-day term, with the England setup keeping one eye on the future.
Hope for the Future
This series has demonstrated that there is depth within the ranks. Josh Hull looked lively and dangerous, if a little inconsistent. Some polishing from the England coaching staff could lead to Hull sticking around for years.
Although underperforming in this series, Dan Lawrence showed flashes of skill, proving himself a valuable extra batting option.
Jamie Smith also impressed, with the 24-year-old making a serious claim for himself as England’s test wicketkeeper for the future.
The result today will not be viewed in a negative light. Although a slightly disappointing end to a dominant summer, this series has shown England’s strength in the absence of pivotal test match players. England travels to Pakistan expecting good results, hoping to go from strength to strength.
