The first test match of the Sri Lankan team's tour of England is scheduled to start tomorrow (21st) at 3.30 pm.

It will be held at the Old Trafford International Cricket Stadium in Manchester, England. There are 3 Test matches included in this Sri Lanka-England Test series which is held in relation to the World Championship Test Cricket Series.

Accordingly, there is no mistake in introducing this 3-match Test series as the most difficult challenge that Sri Lanka faces on the Test field in recent times. Also, England enters this tournament after recording a 3-0 victory against the West Indies in the recently concluded Test series. However, the absence of England's regular Ben Stokes for this tournament is a somewhat precarious situation from England's side.

Ollie Pope has been given the responsibility of leading the England Test team against Sri Lanka.

There is no doubt that the fate of Sri Lanka in this tournament will be decided on the performance of the batsmen. As seniors, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva have a responsibility that cannot be shirked. Also, Nishan Madushka and Kamindu Mendis will also have a decisive impact on Sri Lanka's success in this tournament.

Also, the Sri Lankan team had to experience a bitter defeat in the training match held before this tournament. It was seen that the weakness of the batsmen was the main reason for its defeat. Accordingly, it is an essential factor to overcome those weaknesses and enter the first test match. Moreover, if the Sri Lankan batsmen are able to score a large number of runs in the first innings in the Old Trafford pitch, which is suitable for the batsmen, it will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the remaining matches of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the England team for the first match was announced yesterday (20th). The addition of fast bowlers Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts and Mark Wood to the England team shows the extent of the tough challenge England is preparing to throw at Sri Lanka.

However, while addressing the press conference held before the match, Sri Lankan middle batsman Angelo Mathews said that the England tour is a big challenge. Mathews, who further commented, 'This tournament is definitely a challenge for us. But if we play good cricket in those 5 days, we can finish the match with a victory.'

Also, commenting on this test series, Sri Lanka's acting coach Sanath Jayasuriya had said that the 'baseball' game pattern that England is implementing in the test field these days is not a beginner's pattern for Sri Lanka in any way. Accordingly, Sanath Jayasuriya had said that Sri Lanka has several plans against it.

Meanwhile, former England batsman Ian Bell is working as the batting coach of the Sri Lankan team in this tournament. It is no secret that it will bring some advantage to the Sri Lankan batsmen. His services will help the batsmen to get a clear understanding of the conditions there.