Eoin Morgan believes issues are aligning properly for England after the hosts accomplished a complete 190-run victory over Sri Lanka to steer the collection 2-0 forward of the ultimate Take a look at.
Joe Root scored centuries in each innings of the second Take a look at, changing into the primary participant to take action at Lord’s since Michael Vaughan in 2004. Gus Atkinson scored his maiden Take a look at ton and in addition completed with a five-wicket haul, whereas Matthew Potts and Olly Stone made an impression on their return to the Take a look at aspect, taking wickets at essential moments within the recreation.
England’s victory was all of the extra important as a result of three of their key gamers – Ben Stokes (hamstring), Zak Crawley (finger), and Mark Wooden (thigh) – are absent by means of numerous accidents.
Stokes’ aspect are set to play India in a five-match Take a look at collection between June 20 and August 4 in 2025 at residence as they sit up for the 2025-26 winter Ashes tour in Australia and up to now, their Take a look at summer time has proven optimistic indicators.
“When England reflect, they will be hugely optimistic,” mentioned former England captain Eoin Morgan on Sky Sports activities Cricket.
“They have played some outstanding cricket so far this summer and they have plans looking ahead to next year against India and the following winter in Australia.”
“Issues are aligning fairly properly, with gamers coming by means of and placing in performances like Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone absolutely match, Matthew Potts coming again in as properly.
“That is without three of your main players – Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, and Zak Crawley.
“So, issues are going alongside fairly properly for England.”
Atkinson completed the second Take a look at on figures of 5-62, changing into solely the third participant, alongside Vinoo Mankad and Ian Botham, to take a five-for and rating a century in the identical Take a look at.
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Watch Gus Atkinson’s second innings five-fer which means he will get his identify on the Lord’s honours board as soon as once more!
Morgan mentioned: “I think the control elements and the pace at which Atkinson bowls are two of his biggest strengths.
“It’s truly the strongest level he has on flatter wickets. He appears very comfortable bowling wobble seam deliveries.
“A bit of extra responsibility, taking the new ball in this Test match, he has taken every bit of it in his stride.
“There was once this stigma of who would take the brand new ball. He can be a first-change bowler in earlier generations.
“But he has just been outstanding so far and he just loves bowling on this ground because he can create opportunities and he can get the ball to move around.”
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Chris Woakes picked up the ultimate wicket as England beat Sri Lanka by 190 runs
Sri Lanka confirmed nice resistance to England’s bowling assault, creating formidable partnerships with Dimuth Karunaratne (55), Dinesh Chandimal (58) and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (50) all reaching half-centuries.
Kamindu Mendis additionally starred for Sri Lanka, top-scoring together with his 74 off 120 balls within the first innings. On condition that he is simply 25 years of age, he provides the vacationers hope for his or her Take a look at future.
“Sri Lanka showed a lot of fight, a lot of character,” mentioned Morgan. “They got here again and took benefit of fine circumstances.
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Watch the second Joe Root made historical past by hitting his thirty fourth Take a look at 100, taking him to probably the most England centuries of all time
“They countered England’s short ball plan and played good, smart cricket.
“They constructed partnerships properly and confirmed a little bit of basis and spine to how they performed.
“But England were far too superior. I think the damage had been done coming into today.”
Watch the third and closing Take a look at of the collection between England and Sri Lanka at The Oval, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10am on Friday September 6 (first ball, 11am).
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