5 things to know ahead of England vs Sri Lanka tests

LONDON: After England's humiliating whitewash against Australia in the Ashes, heads have rolled. Peter Moores has replaced Andy Flower as England coach for the second time in his career and he'll lead the squad in its first test since the Ashes against Sri Lanka at Lords. Here are five things to know heading into the test starting Thursday: 1) NEW LOOK ENGLAND SIDE: There are three uncapped players in the England squad taking on Sri Lanka. Following the retirement of Andrew Strauss, captain Alistair Cook has a fourth partner to open the batting with in Sam Robson. Chris Jordan, who impressed in the one-day series against Sri Lanka, also joins the four-man pace attack of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Liam Plunkett, who returns to the England side after a seven-year absence. And Moeen Ali replaces Graeme Swann as the spin option. Even though he is predominantly a batsman, he believes he can make a difference with the ball in his hand. "I think a lot of people haven't seen me bowl in the longer format so hopefully I can surprise a few people," he said. "If I just be myself, bowl how I bowl, I'm pretty happy no matter what the outcome." 2) SECOND CHANCES: Peter Moores will be hoping his second stint as coach goes better than his first. After taking charge of the team in 2007, he lost test series against both of England's summer opponents, away to Sri Lanka and home to India. Moores' first coaching stint, marked by a difficult relationship with then-captain Kevin Pietersen, ended in 2009. He should take confidence, however, from England's 1-0 win over Sri Lanka in three tests on their own turf in 2011. His new assistant, Paul Farbrace, also controversially left his role as Sri Lanka head coach in April after only four months to join Moores. 3) EXPERIENCE MATTERS: With three players making their international test debuts, a bowler returning to the fold after seven years and two batsmen who have played 16 tests between them in Joe Root and Gary Balance, England's senior players will need to make their experience felt. Ian Bell, one of the only players to emerge with any credibility from the Ashes tour in Australia, will look to continue his fine batting form in his 99th test match, while wicketkeeper Matt Prior will hope an Achilles injury is behind him and won't hinder his performance. After the acrimonious exit of Pietersen and the loss of Swann, these two will play a vital role in settling the newcomers to Moores' team, along with bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. "They (the debutants) will want to make an impact because they want to prove they deserve to be international players," Cook said. "But you need a bit of experience to know how it works. All the senior guys have had their ups and downs to get to where they are now." 4) MANKADING ROW ADDS EXTRA SPICE: The dismissal of Jos Buttler by Sachithra Senanayake in the one-day match between the two sides at Edgbaston caused an uproar in the England camp. Senanayake twice warned Buttler, who had scored 121 off 74 balls in the previous game at Lords, about straying early from his crease as he was about to bowl, and eventually removed his stumps to run him out from the non-striker's end when Buttler wandered for a third time. According to the espncricinfo website, it was the first instance of "Mankading" in international cricket in 22 years. The term refers to how Vinoo Mankad of India dismissed Bill Brown of Australia in a similar manner in 1947. England felt Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews should have recalled Buttler, but he refused and Sri Lanka won that match by six wickets, taking the series 3-2. Before the start of the first test, Mathews seemed intent to put the matter to rest. "I don't want to see that happening again," he said. "We just want to put that thing to bed and concentrate on what we can control." 5) CHANCE FOR MATHEWS AND SRI LANKA?: With a new-look England side in place, there is arguably not a better time for Sri Lanka to record its first series victory over England away. The side should also be encouraged by its win in the one-day series. Mathews has captained Sri Lanka since February 2013, but this will be the first time he leads the team outside Asia. Sri Lanka is without right-arm bowler Suranga Lakmal, who has a tear in his right hamstring, but it hopes to have him back for the second test at Headingly. The 33-year old Chanaka Welegedara, a left-arm seamer, should replace him.

5 things to know ahead of England vs Sri Lanka tests

LONDON: After England's humiliating whitewash against Australia in the Ashes, heads have rolled. Peter Moores has replaced Andy Flower as England coach for the second time in his career and he'll lead the squad in

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