England vs Sri Lanka: Ben Stokes to bat at three in second Test as Jonny Bairstow misses out on recall
The Durham all-rounder will move up the order as Joe Root praises England's 'adaptability'
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Your support makes all the difference.England will keep the same personnel who won their first overseas Test in two years for the second Test against Sri Lanka at Pallekele starting on Wednesday, but Joe Root has shuffled his pack slightly and promoted Ben Stokes to number three after Moeen Ali failed to score runs in the series opener.
Head coach Trevor Bayliss admitted in the wake of Ali's struggles with the bat at Galle that the all-rounder would likely have to settle for a place further down the order this week and he will drop to six, but England had the option of reinstating the fit-again Jonny Bairstow, bringing in Joe Denly or shifting Stokes or Jos Buttler up the order.
Stokes was confirmed on Tuesday as the man for the job, with Root "pretty clear" that the Durham all-rounder was his man. Buttler, who Bayliss revealed was going to bat at three in Galle if England had bowled first, said on Monday that he was happy to bat anywhere regardless, but added that in sub-continental conditions it made precious little difference where you batted.
"I think the style of cricket is very similar because you've probably got a 90% chance of starting your innings against spin.
"For me personally you're just trying to read the game and play accordingly."
Bairstow was passed fit by England and was desperate to play, haring his way around fielding drills in training and batting solidly in the nets. But while Root was really pleased that he had been able to recover so quickly, an injury needlessly sustained in a game of football last month has ultimately robbed Bairstow of his place in the team with Ben Foakes shining on debut after stepping in.
Root confirmed on Monday that Foakes would retain his place, with his impeccable glovework and maiden Test century rendering him undroppable. Stuart Broad had been told before the tour that he would play at Pallekele after possibly sitting out the opener, but with Sri Lankan skipper Suranga Lakmal requesting - and receiving - a spin-friendly pitch for the second Test, England have kept faith with their spin trio of Ali, Jack Leach and Adil Rashid.
"We’ve asked for a pitch that favours the spinners, and I think that’s basically what we have got here," Lakmal said.
England team: Burns, Jennings, Stokes, Root (c), Buttler, Ali, Foakes (wk), Curran, Rashid, Leach, Anderson.
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