Sri Lanka vs England 2018, 2nd Test – Dream11 Fantasy Tips

The win in Galle was a much-needed one for England as they hadn’t won an away Test match for two years and recorded their longest winless streak in Test cricket away from home of 13 matches. Some good aggressive intent with the bat and bowling performances ensured the England team spoiled Rangana Herath‘s farewell game. They are set to go with the winning combination in the second game in Pallekele.

After Herath’s retirement, Sri Lanka could struggle in the home Test series which has been their most productive part in the last couple of years. Without Muralitharan and Herath, Sri Lanka have won only four of the 65 Test matches they ever played. In the last 30 years, Lanka won only two Test matches without both Murali and Herath – 2002 Colombo Test against Bangladesh and this year’s Bridgetown Test against the Windies. Sri Lanka will be taking the field without Dinesh Chandimal as well, who got injured in the previous game.

Match Details:

The second Test match between Sri Lanka and England will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

The match will begin on 14th November 2018 at 10:00 AM Local Time (4:30 AM GMT) (10:00 AM IST).

Recent Form:

Results of Sri Lanka’s last five Tests – L, W, W, W, D.

Results of England’s last five Tests – W, W, W, L, W.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The pitch at Galle didn’t witness any extreme turn as expected. Pallakele might also be far from being a turner as the pitch at this venue usually has something for the seamers. This could force Sri Lanka to rope in a pacer for Herath.

Squads:

Sri Lanka:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal (c), Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Pushpakumara, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Charith Asalanka.

England:

Joe Root (c), Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, James Anderson, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Joe Denly, Olly Stone, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Rory Burns, Ben Foakes.

Probable XI:

Sri Lanka:

Suranga Lakmal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Pushpakumara/Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya.

England:

Joe Root (c), Keaton Jennings, Rory Burns, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler, Ben Foakes (wk), Adil Rashid, James Anderson, Sam Curran, Jack Leach.

Power Picks:

In the ten Test innings, Sam Curran has scored more than 20 runs on nine occasions and the once he failed was a second-ball duck. Curran is at his best when he takes the new ball which he is going to get in this series. Ben Stokes’ promotion to No.3 could also push him to better himself and gain confidence after the recent off-field incidents.

Best Playing XI:

Ben Foakes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ben Stokes/Sam Curran, Dilruwan Perera, Moeen Ali, Suranga Lakmal, Adil Rashid, James Anderson.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Joe Root was dismissed by Herath in both the innings of the first Test but the England skipper will be eager to make one count in the second game. Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne will be a crucial man for his team given the way he has performed in the last 1-2 years in this format. Dilruwan Perera, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes can be picked up as multipliers for their dual roles.

Expert Advice:

There is a possibility of selecting only three players from the all-rounders’ category which contains the likes of Stokes, Curran, Ali, Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva. Perera could be an automatic pick while Stokes must be picked as he is going to bat at No.3 in this game. Ali could be the 3rd player due to his performance in the previous game.

Probable Winners:

England should seal the series with a second straight win but a Sri Lankan fight-back cannot be ruled out.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

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