Joe Root, Gus Atkinson propel England to commanding position against Sri Lanka on Day 1 of the 2nd Test

England’s initial difficulties against the new ball were overshadowed by Joe Root’s 33rd Test century and Gus Atkinson’s robust 74 on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Sri Lanka’s pace trio – Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Rathnayake – each claimed a couple of wickets, demonstrating their effectiveness on a challenging pitch.

England’s early struggles and Joe Root’s resilience

England, having lost the toss and being asked to bat first, faced early challenges as the Sri Lankan bowlers exploited the conditions. Although welcoming the chance to bat first, England’s captain Ollie Pope saw his top-order falter. Lahiru Kumara dismissed Dan Lawrence in the seventh over, and Asitha Fernando’s change of ends led to the removal of Pope within the first hour. Despite these setbacks, Ben Duckett scored a solid 40 before being dismissed while attempting a reverse sweep against the spin. The introduction of Harry Brook alongside Root steadied the innings, as the duo added 97 runs in 23 overs before lunch, navigating the team to 97 for three.

Also READ: ENG vs SL: Fans go wild as Joe Root equals Alastair Cook’s record for England with 33rd Test century at Lord’s

Harry Brook and Root’s stand and subsequent dismissals

In the second session, Brook and Root’s partnership appeared steady until Fernando’s swinging delivery deceived Brook, who was out for 33. Root, however, continued to anchor the innings, marking his 65th fifty in Test cricket. Jamie Smith, despite struggling at times, was dismissed for 21 by Milan Rathnayake, leaving England at 200/ five by tea, with Chris Woakes joining Root.

Root’s milestone and Gus Atkinson’s flourish

Woakes and Root faced a barrage of short deliveries from Lahiru Kumara, with Kumara eventually dismissing Woakes in the 59th over. Root, having faced twelve dot balls, reached his 33rd Test century, matching Sir Alastair Cook’s record for most Test centuries by an English batters. Atkinson then showcased his batting prowess with impressive lofted shots, cover drives, and powerful hits. The pair added 92 runs for the seventh wicket, propelling England past the 300-run mark. Root’s innings came to an end for 143 after an attempted reverse scoop just before the second new ball became available. Despite this, the Sri Lankan bowlers failed to capitalize on the new ball, and Matthew Potts and Atkinson added a further 50 runs before stumps, leaving England at 358/7.