Ben Stokes to Bat at No.3 in Pallekele Test

England have announced their playing XI for the 2nd Test match against Sri Lanka which starts on Wednesday (Nov 14). Visitors England don’t seem to be very fond of tinkering with the winning side as they retained the same playing XI that featured in the 1st Test match in Galle while they are in-line to make changes to their batting positions, the most important being that of Ben Stokes.

All-rounder Ben Stokes is expected to bat at no. 3 while Moeen Ali who batted at no. 3 in Galle is likely to bat at no. 6 and will come to bat just before the new wicket keeper Ben Foakes. Moeen Ali has registered scores of naught and 3 in the 1st Test match at Galle and that might have prompted England to make changes to their line-up.

Also, England have earlier stated that Foakes is set to take the gloves in the 2nd Test match as well. Though their regular wicket keeper Jonny Bairstow is fit for this game, England have decided to give him another week to rest before getting into action.

An unchanged playing XI implies that Stuart Broad has to wait a little longer to play a Test match in this series against Sri Lanka! Looking at the current balance of the England side and the pitch conditions, it is almost certain that the bowler could go without a Test match in this tour of Sri Lanka.

“England have named an unchanged side for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting in Kandy on Wednesday. Ben Stokes is expected to bat at No.3, with Moeen Ali coming in at No. 6,” stated England Cricket Board (ECB) in a press release.

England won the 1st Test match by a margin of 211 runs and are currently leading the 3-match Test series by a margin of 1-0. The 2nd Test match will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

England (Playing XI for Kandy Test match): Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson.

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