England Name New-Look Squad for Sri Lanka Tests, Rory Burns Earns Maiden Call-up
Sep 27, 2018 at 4:47 PM
The England national selectors have named the Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour. The 16-man squad will play a three-match Test series, starting in November.
Joe Root-led ‘Three Lions’ are fresh from a series win against India. The hosts humiliated Virat Kohli’s men in what turned out to be a 4-1 victory. Alastair Cook played his last Test in the whites, and the side will look to start fresh with some new faces in the line-up. Surrey opener, Rory Burns, Kent’s, Joe Denly and Warwickshire quickie, Olly Stone have featured in the squad for the very first time.
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Burns was prolific in the domestic circuit. He led Surrey to the Specsavers County Championship Division One title this summer. Also, he scored 1,319 runs at a staggering average of over 69.
32-year-old Denly made a comeback in England colours after almost eight years. He last turned up for his national side in 2010. He has turned out for his team in nine ODIs and five T20Is.
The batter prefers batting top of the order and has been prolific for Kent in the domestic competition. England will also have an added advantage with him bowling leg spin.
On the other hand, Stone, who was named in the England ODI squad earlier this week, has done exceptionally well for Warwickshire in Specsavers County Championship Division Two. The 24-year-old pacer has bagged 37 wickets. On the current squad, the national selector, Ed Smith said,
“Joe Denly has had an excellent season with bat and ball and has matured into one of the leading players in county cricket. He has that all-round touch of class that can help at the highest level”.
England Test squad-
Keaton Jennings, Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (C), Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Olly Stone, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach.