England tour of Sri Lanka 2021: Squads, Fixtures & Preview: All you need to know

Despite the Sri Lankan government imposing a temporary ban on commercial flights from the UK due to a new Covid-19 strain emerging in England, the England tour of Sri Lanka in January 2021 is expected to go ahead as planned.

The England players and support staff will fly to Sri Lanka on a chartered flight on January 2 and will have to undergo a three-day isolated quarantine. If the PCR tests return negative, they will be allowed to begin training individually. After six days, they will begin training as a group.

The first match of the two-match test series will begin on January 14 at the Galle International Stadium. The second test will also be played at Galle between January 22 and 26, after which the England contingent will fly directly to India.

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have been rested from the England test squad to avoid bubble fatigue with the tour of India in mind. Another highlight of the 16-member squad is the recall of Jonny Bairstow as Ollie Pope hasn't yet completely recovered from his shoulder injury.

While Ben Foakes has been picked as the back-up wicket-keeper, James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson and Amar Virdi are part of the touring party as reserves.

Angelo Mathews, who missed out on the Sri Lanka tour of South Africa, due to a hamstring injury will be part of the England test series. Wanindu Hasaranga, Minod Bhanuka, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Santhush Gunathilaka have also been added to the squad.

 

Let's have a look at the squads of both teams:

 

Sri Lanka - Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Oshada Fernando, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Santhush Gunathilake, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

 

England - Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

 

England reserves - James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi

 

Here's the schedule of the tour:

 

Jan 14, Thu - Jan 18, Mon

Sri Lanka vs England, 1st Test

Galle International Stadium, Galle

04:30 AM GMT / 10:00 AM LOCAL

 

Jan 22, Fri - Jan 26, Tue

Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd Test

Galle International Stadium, Galle

04:30 AM GMT / 10:00 AM LOCAL

 

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