After establishing a 1-0 lead in this series with the most understated win of the Bazball era, England will this week aim to do something they haven’t achieved for 33 years – beat Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
Victory in Manchester last Saturday was, as Joe Root admitted afterwards, “ugly”. England were nowhere near their best in the first Test as they grafted to a hard-fought win in four days.
The absence of captain Ben Stokes, and the inexperience of his stand-in Ollie Pope, was part of the reason for the lack of their usual aggression and swagger. A low, slow Old Trafford pitch was another, particularly during a long, drawn-out chase of 205 that required all of Root’s nous to get his team over the line.
The series-ending injury to Mark Wood that robbed the hosts of their fastest bowler for the final day didn’t help either. But the manner of victory was not what England fans have become accustomed to in the two years since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took over the team with an attacking philosophy that has produced some of the most exhilarating Test cricket of the modern era.
Lord’s is, of course, where Bazball started back in 2022, with Root again the man who got England over the line in a tense run chase against New Zealand.
From humble beginnings, the team grew under the leadership of Stokes and McCullum. Overall there have now been 18 victories from 27 Tests – an impressive win percentage of 66.66.
Yet this team is changing. It might have only been a little over two years ago but there are just three survivors from that first Bazball Test playing this week: Root, Pope and Matthew Potts.
Stokes and Zak Crawley are injured but others, notably wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow, have fallen out of favour while Stuart Broad and James Anderson, England’s two greatest bowlers, have retired.
An attack this week of Potts, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone and Shoaib Bashir will have to work hard for the 20 Sri Lankan wickets England need to wrap up the series.
England's Lord's Hoodoo
But history is not on England’s side given they have not beaten Sri Lanka at Lord’s since 1991. Back then Graham Gooch, Robin Smith, Ian Botham and Phil Tufnell were part of an England team that won by 137 runs.
In five Tests since, England have drawn a blank – with every match finishing in a stalemate, most recently in 2016.
Other than their 43-year drought against Australia at Old Trafford, where they have not won in eight games stretching back to 1981, it is England’s longest winless run at a single home ground against any opponent.
Sri Lanka's Confidence
While history will not determine the outcome of this second Test, Sri Lanka will take confidence from their proud Lord’s record – losing just two of eight Tests overall – and from the way they battled so hard in Manchester after losing a clutch of early wickets in both innings.
It suggests that they may take this game even deeper given they have an extra week’s preparation in the bank.
England cannot expect a walkover like they had against the West Indies at this venue earlier this summer, hustling out their opponents for 121 and 136 as they steamrollered their way to victory in little more than two days.
A Battle Ahead
A truer pitch will help the hosts, with the bowlers hoping to find more swing and seam when the ball gets older than they did in Manchester. Drier weather in the South and a forecast for sun on all five scheduled days may aid reverse swing.
In terms of batting, this will be another chance for Dan Lawrence to show what he can do as a makeshift opener after his pair of thirties last week in Manchester. Jamie Smith, fresh from his maiden Test century, and Harry Brook, who has not yet properly caught fire this summer, will also be looking to kick on.
And Pope, with two scores of six last week, is aware he needs runs to quieten down chat about whether he really is the man to bat at No 3 long term. To that end, he has sought advice from Root, whose returns with the bat were phenomenal during his five years as Test captain.
“The runs didn’t come for me but for the team to get the win, that’s the most important thing,” said Pope.
“That’s something I’ve spoken to Joe Root about as well – a very successful England captain who did Joe Root things with the bat throughout. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I can go and put some good scores together with the team.”
For England, another win would not only wrap up the series but put them one away from a perfect Test summer of seven victories from seven. First, though, they will need to bury their Lord’s hoodoo against Sri Lanka.
The Road Ahead for England
England’s 33-year Lord’s curse against Sri Lanka will be a test of their mettle. Can they overcome history and secure a dominant win? This will be a key indicator of their ability to maintain their Bazball momentum and finish the summer on a high note. The upcoming days will reveal if this team can rise to the occasion and break free from the shadow of their past.
