Who are the spinners? Who takes the gloves? Our writers pick their XIs for England's first Test against Sri Lanka

As England begin their Test winter, which includes two games in Sri Lanka and four in India, The Cricketer's writers have made their selections for England's XI in the first Test in Galle. Let us know yours in the comments section...

Nick Friend

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad/James Anderson

A difficult side to settle upon, given the number of combinations available to England from the 16-man squad they’ve picked. Let’s start with the spinners: I think Jack Leach has to play, with Dom Bess and Moeen Ali both traditional off-spinners and part-time options Joe Root and Dan Lawrence likewise.

Beyond Leach, I am troubled by the thought of leaving out Bess – not as a slight against Moeen, whose 188 Test wickets are testament to his class. But for Bess, having toiled away since his Test debut on pitches offering little encouragement, he surely deserves a chance in conditions that might actually assist him.

To date, his 10 Tests have been played in London, Leeds, Manchester, Southampton, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Two matches in Galle should tell England significantly more about where his game currently stands.

In the pace department, England are well stocked: I’d like to find space for Chris Woakes, but one suspects the variety offered by Sam Curran – not least in digging a crater in his follow-through for Bess to utilise against right-handers – might give him the nod.

Ed Smith expects Jos Buttler to retain wicketkeeping duties in Sri Lanka

One Test each for Stuart Broad and James Anderson would make sense unless the surfaces are noticeably seam-friendly. That is a possibility, however, given the health of Sri Lanka’s own fast-bowling stocks. On that note, it’s pleasing to see Olly Stone back in an England Test squad.

With the bat, England’s top six picks itself, such is the absence of a specialist back-up batsman, though James Bracey is in the tour’s reserve group. The option does exist for Root to pick Moeen over Dan Lawrence, with Jos Buttler batting at No.5, but that might be looked upon as an unnecessary risk.

Ben Foakes was named man of the series when England last toured Sri Lanka and spent most of his summer in the bio-secure bubble. Listening to Ed Smith, however, it appears that his time will come, though more likely in February when England travel to India. On the back of Buttler’s rich summer form, that looks a fair compromise, even if it means the microscope will descend once more upon his glovework in a country where Foakes’ precision so excelled two years ago.

^{Jonny Bairstow made a century in his last Test in Sri Lanka}

Huw Turbervill

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad/James Anderson, Jack Leach

It’s good to see Dan Lawrence be given his chance. He bats No.4 for Essex, but could well go in first drop to give Joe Root a bit more time. I have been a fan since I saw him score a high-class 141 not out against Lancashire at Chelmsford in April 2017.

Some say Jonny Bairstow is lucky to be back, after averaging 18 in his last 19 innings. He has scored three centuries in six Test innings against the Sri Lankans, though. He’s a brilliant player and let’s hope those technical flaws have been ironed out. Maybe family friend Boycs has been showing him how to keep bat and pad together.

Sri Lanka is a seamers’ graveyard. I really don’t see the point flogging Mark Wood or Olly Stone into the ground, especially with next winter’s Ashes on the horizon.

I’d play Chris Woakes (as the best batsman of the three) plus Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad for a Test each.

It’s down to the three spinners to take 20 wickets – can they rise to the challenge, like Robert Croft and Ashely Giles did in Sri Lanka 20 winters ago?

Dom Bess should listen to the brilliant technical advice given by Graeme Swann in the January edition of The Cricketer, out this week.

Jack Leach will love to get some overs under his belt after his baffling treatment last summer.

It’s a shame Adil Rashid isn’t around for England to have an offie, leftie and a leggie, but Moeen Ali is a pretty decent option as a third spinner.

Dan Lawrence: "Playing Test cricket has always been my No.1 goal"

Nick Howson

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Dom Bess

Few of this squad will arrive in Sri Lanka as an automatic choice in the XI. That either highlights the strength in depth England possess or the failure to establish a first-choice line-up. Possibly both.

There are players selected who badly need regular cricket, but Sri Lanka won’t be the place to get it. Jack Leach, Olly Stone and Mark Wood lack miles on the clock and I'd hesitate before throwing them into a competitive environment yet.

Zak Crawley has found a home at No.3 but is virtually guaranteed to open. It leaves the door ajar for Dan Lawrence to make his Test debut and the re-inclusion of Jonny Bairstow, who is a horses for courses pick.

Moeen Ali can't keep being reconsidered for a red-ball return and then be overlooked. If he doesn't figure much in the first three months of 2021 he may as well fully focus on the white ball. Alongside Sam Curran and Chris Woakes there is a nicely balanced allrounder battery to cover Ben Stokes' absence.

Dom Bess is the man in possession in the spin department and I see no need to change that. He'll have decent support from Lawrence, Joe Root and Ali. Rotating Stuart Broad and James Anderson seems the most sensible option for both Tests.

^{Ben Foakes was man of the series when England toured in 2018}

James Coyne

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali/Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Jack Leach

The big decision for England is whether you need three frontline spinners, as they did last time. If you don’t have a wrist-spinner, which England don’t in Adil Rashid’s absence, I’m not convinced it’s worth picking all three… unless the pitch really is a raging turner. And rumour has it there could be more pace in the pitches than two years ago, mercy be.

I’m picking Jack Leach as my first spinner and – just about – Dom Bess as my offie ahead of Moeen Ali. I’d rather play the extra seamer in Sam Curran, who will have learned a lot about bowling in Asian conditions after his time in the IPL; Joe Root can fill in overs if necessary.

Sad though I am to say it, I have more faith with Curran, Ben Foakes and Bess with the bat than I do with Moeen right now. I’d wait until late on to make a final call.

There's much to admire about James Bracey, who's determined to make the most of the potential seen by England

It’s quite clear that Stuart Broad is ahead of James Anderson in the pecking order now, and I suspect he’s a more resourceful bowler in Sri Lankan conditions. I’d pair him with a genuine quick to bowl very short impact spells – Mark Wood gets first dibs if he’s fit, then Olly Stone. Chris Woakes is getting better and better in alien conditions, though, so it’s close.

England made a last-minute decision to select Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper the last time they played Tests in Sri Lanka, and I would do the same this time – though I will be surprised if they do again. In a series where there is so much standing up, I just think you need the best keeper. I’m happy to start the series with Jos Buttler as a specialist batsman and put more responsibility on him there.

I’d have been tempted to pick Keaton Jennings for these six Tests in Asia, but his absence has cleared the way for Dan Lawrence to play – probably at No.3 – though Jonny Bairstow did score a hundred from that position on the last tour. It’s tight between those two. Whichever of them plays will probably be at Boot Hill, the poor soul.

^{Moeen Ali is back in the Test fold for the first time since the 2019 Ashes}

Oliver Thorpe

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Dan Lawrence, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

With Jofra Archer, Rory Burns and Ben Stokes all absent, it is a chance for England to try a new combination on the subcontinent.

I didn’t want to move Zak Crawley away from three, having seemingly found his spot. However, with Burns absent, it made sense to promote him to open the batting with Sibley.

Similarly, with Joe Root, I didn’t want to move him either. Although, that being said, I would rather see Dan Lawrence bat where he bats for Essex, just to see how he fairs in a position that he is au fait with. Jonny Bairstow returns; however, Jos Buttler will retain the gloves.

It would be terrific to see Moeen Ali back in the side, wouldn’t it? He’s one of the nicest guys in cricket and we all want to see him do well and thrive on the international stage. I believe that he has a key role as a second spinner to Dom Bess and on pitches that will offer assistance – he should do just fine. I’ll have my fingers crossed anyway… 

On the seamer front – I could have gone with Olly Stone and rotated Broad or Anderson but after a miserable 2020, we want to see this legendary partnership do their thing to start the new year on a high. Don’t we? Although, I think a rotation policy will be adopted for the two of them. SIGH.

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