England vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test Playing 11: Hosts Hand Debut as Visitors Make Two Changes

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A debut and two changes as England and Sri Lanka both named their playing 11 for the third and final Test match, scheduled to be held at the Oval in London from Friday (September 6).

England have named left-arm quick Josh Hull in place of Matthew Potts in their only change to the team that beat the Lankans in the second Test at the home of cricket - Lord's in London last week.

The 20-year-old pace sensation, who stands at six feet seven inches tall, has only played ten first-class matches in his career. The youngster was initially focussed on rugby in his career, but an injury forced him to take interest in cricket.

Hull only got into cricket during the COVID lockdown in 2020 when he suffered an arm injury at 15. Known for bowling over 90mph, Hull took five wickets across two innings for England Lions against the touring Sri Lankan side in their only warm-up game.

Sri Lanka have also named their XI for the Test with Kusal Mendis returning in place of Nishan Madushka, who makes way after scores of 7 and 13 in the Lord's Test.

The visitors have also opted for a pace-heavy attack with Prabath Jayasuriya sitting out for Vishwa Fernando. Jayasuriya had claimed only three wickets in the second Test, while Fernando returns, having picked 2 wickets in the series opener.

England lead 2-0 in the series after wins in Manchester and Lord's and will have the chance to make it a series whitewash when they take on Sri Lanka on Friday in the final Test.

England vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test Playing 11

England XI: Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Hary Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Josh Hull, Shoaib Bashir.

Sri Lanka XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.