England warm-up under way in Sri Lanka

England were given the green light to step up their preparations in Sri Lanka on Friday morning, beginning an intra-squad warm-up match in Hambantota after returning a second clear round of Covid-19 tests.
All-rounder Moeen Ali tested positive on arrival in the country last weekend and is continuing to observe a 10-day quarantine period having started to show mild symptoms, while Chris Woakes is also in isolation having been identified as a close contact.
But the remaining 22 players and backroom team have now tested negative twice in four days and have been allowed to take to the pitch for some head to head practice in the middle, with an XI led by Test captain Joe Root taking on Jos Buttler’s side.
The teams for our intra-squad warm-up starting tomorrow 👌
🇱🇰 #SLvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/t3Gtlt22JR
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 7, 2021
In the absence of Moeen and Woakes, Surrey’s Ollie Pope was drafted in to make up the numbers despite only travelling with the squad to build up his fitness following a dislocated shoulder. He was scheduled to open the batting for Team Buttler but has not been added to the official squad or reserve list.
England plan to play for 100 overs on Friday, and could choose to give both sides equal batting time with the possibility of rain in the region on Saturday. The first Test begins in Galle on January 14.
Latest
-
The Hundred
Will Jacks century leads Oval Invincibles to comfortable victory
Jacks hammered an unbeaten 108 from 48 balls.
-
News
Darren Stevens ‘looking forward to the ‘next chapter’ as his Kent innings ends
The all-rounder will leave Kent after 17 years at the end of the season.
-
News
Darren Stevens announces his retirement at the age of 46
The all-rounder’s 17-year stint at Kent will end later this year.
-
The Hundred
Hundred history-maker Will Smeed: ‘I very much still want to play everything’
The rising star of the white-ball game could be on England’s radar.
-
The Hundred
Lauren Winfield-Hill stars as Oval Invincibles begin title defence with big win
The home side defeated the Northern Superchargers by nine wickets.
-
News
Sam Curran the main man as Oval Invincibles beat Northern Superchargers
Curran scored 60 in his side’s three-wicket win at the Kia Oval.
-
England
England opener Alex Lees keen to see aggressive approach adopted in county game
The Durham batter has used the break in Test cricket to spread the word.
-
The Hundred
‘It was awesome’ – Will Smeed ends his 90s curse to hit Hundred’s first century
The youngster had fallen short of a maiden century on multiple occasions during the first half of 2022.
-
The Hundred
Will Smeed becomes first batter to hit ton in Hundred during Birmingham win
The opener cracked an unbeaten 101 off 50 balls.