England make one change for second Sri Lanka Test

The tourists will stick with the same batting and spin bowling line-ups which brought them victory in Galle in the first Test

England have made one change ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, with James Anderson replacing Stuart Broad.

Broad, who recorded match figures of 3 for 34 from 26 overs in Galle during England’s seven-wicket victory, is being rested.

England have mooted at various stages already this winter that regular changes among the seam bowling attack would be necessary in order to cope with a packed schedule also featuring four Tests in India following the end of the series in Sri Lanka.

“It's highly likely that there will be rotation and rest within the seamers' line-up,” England head coach Chris Silverwood explained on Tuesday.

^{Stuart Broad has been rested}

Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews lauded Broad’s display in the first Test, describing it as “like I was playing in England against him”.

He added: "We all know what kind of a bowler Broad is – he's taken over 500 Test wickets and he's one of the best fast bowlers going around. On any kind of surface, the wicket was not offering anything for the fast bowlers, but he was moving the ball.

“One spell I felt like I was playing in England against him because he was moving the ball. That's very difficult for a fast bowler to do in these conditions in Galle.”

It had been rumoured that Warwickshire pair Chris Woakes and Olly Stone might come in for the second Test, but the solitary change means that fellow seamers Sam Curran and Mark Wood will continue; no seamer on either side bowled more overs than the 27 sent down by Wood last week.

Team: Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (c), Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson

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