England began this summer’s Test series against Sri Lanka with a five-wicket win at Old Trafford.
A gritty display of batting from Joe Root, who hit an unbeaten 62 of 128, got England over the line on day four.
This was Ollie Pope’s first Test match as England skipper.
But despite getting off the a winning start, Pope scored a very modest 4/10 in LAWRENCE BOOTH’s Test ratings.
Read on to discover how the rest of the players fared.
Joe Root hit an unbeaten 62 as England beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first Test
England
Ben Duckett 5
Twice reached double figures, twice was outwitted by Asitha Fernando, taking his career average a fraction below 40.
Dan Lawrence 6.5
Had his moments during a pair of thirties on his Test return, but never looked fully comfortable in his new role as opener.
Ollie Pope 4
Two single-figure dismissals in his first Test as captain and occasionally looked lost in the field, not least when Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal held England up with their fine efforts yesterday.
This was Ollie Pope’s first Test match as captain and he struggled with the bat and in the field
Joe Root 8
Disappointed to fall on the drive for 42 first time round, but made amends by marshalling England’s chase to victory on the fourth day. Chipped in with a cheap wicket as well.
Harry Brook 7
Moved classily to 56 and 32, only to be surprised twice by Prabath Jayasuriya.
Jamie Smith 9
Dug England out of a small hole with his maiden Test hundred, then injected a nervy chase with vital impetus on the final evening. What a find.
Jamie Smith was England’s star player after hitting 111 in the first innings and 39 in the second
Chris Woakes 7.5
Match figures of six for 90 and a handy 25 from No 7 confirmed his all-round value. Quietly having a very good summer.
Gus Atkinson 7
Struck with the new ball in both innings and took the big wicket of the impressive Mendis in the second, when he at times bowled too full. Made a useful 20 with the bat too.
Matthew Potts 7
Struggled for rhythm on his first day back in Test cricket, but looked England’s best bowler in the second innings — even as things got tough for the hosts — when the fielders let him down.
Matthew Potts was England’s best bowler during Sri Lanka’s second innings at Old Trafford
Mark Wood 7
Only two wickets, but forced Chandimal to retire hurt and still box office, until he left the field on the second evening with a worrying thigh problem.
Shoaib Bashir 6.5
Made three vital breakthroughs in Sri Lanka’s first innings to help England get on top, but he was significantly less effective when they attacked him in the second.
Sri Lanka
Nishan Madushka 1
Dimuth Karunaratne 4
Kusal Mendis 4
Angelo Mathews 6.5
Dhananjaya de Silva 7
Dinesh Chandimal 7.5
Kamindu Mendis 8.5
Prabath Jayasuriya 7
Milan Ratnayake 7
Vishwa Fernando 5
Asitha Fernando 7.5
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