The spotlight turns to The Oval, a traditional venue for the final Test of England’s summer, as Sri Lanka gears up for a difficult challenge against the hosts. While this might be the end of England’s Test commitments, their cricket schedule continues with eight white-ball matches against Australia, beginning just a day after this Test concludes.
At the moment, the focus remains firmly on the Test match, though England coach Brendon McCullum may already have one eye on his forthcoming role as white-ball coach. England seeks to complete their first clean sweep in a home summer since 2004. Back then, Michael Vaughan's side swept New Zealand and West Indies 7-0, setting the tone for their famous Ashes win the following year. McCullum and stand-in captain Ollie Pope, who is filling in for the injured Ben Stokes, would be hoping to build similar momentum ahead of England's 2025 marquee series against India and Australia.
England’s recovery after their 4-1 defeat in India earlier this year has been smooth sailing, with minimal resistance from West Indies and Sri Lanka. Gus Atkinson has been the breakout star in the post-Broad-Anderson era, taking 33 wickets in just five games, complemented by a maiden century at Lord’s. Jamie Smith has solidified his place as a wicketkeeper, and with the series already secured, McCullum has decided to give young Leicestershire left-armer Josh Hull a debut. Standing at 6’7’ and capable of bowling at 90mph, Hull’s inclusion might already be preparation for the 2025-26 Ashes series Down Under. His first-class stats (16 wickets at 62.75) may not be dazzling, but his performance against Sri Lanka in a warm-up game, where he took five wickets, makes him a promising addition.
For Ollie Pope, this Test represents a final opportunity to improve his captaincy record before Stokes returns for the Pakistan series. Pope's four innings as captain have yielded just 30 runs, and while winning three Tests would enhance his leadership credentials, he will be keen to boost his personal batting statistics.
Sri Lanka’s long-awaited multi-match Test tour in England has not gone as hoped. Despite some moments of promise at Lord’s, including resistance from Asitha Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, as well as half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka finds itself fighting merely for pride. Two first-innings collapses have left them too much to recover, while Dhananjaya’s decision to bowl first at Lord’s exposed their inexperienced bowling attack. However, returning to The Oval, where they famously won in 1998, may provide a morale boost. Sri Lanka also holds the distinction of never being whitewashed in a three-Test series in England, offering additional motivation.
Key Players to Watch
Towering at 6’7”, Josh Hull is hard to miss. Despite being a newcomer to county cricket, Hull has rapidly risen in the ranks. His pace, clocking in at nearly 90mph, caught the attention of the selectors, and after impressing in a Lions match, he now stands ready for his England debut. If selected, Hull will be only the second left-arm seamer to represent England in Tests since Ryan Sidebottom in 2010.
On the Sri Lankan side, Asitha Fernando has been a standout performer, topping the wicket-takers' list for the series with 14 wickets at an average of 20.14. His efforts earned him a place on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul, joining the likes of Rumesh Ratnayake. With pace expected to play a crucial role at The Oval, Fernando’s ability to deliver conventional and reverse swing will be essential if Sri Lanka is to post a competitive score.
Form Guide
England: WWWWW (last five Tests)
Sri Lanka: LLWWW