Live Cricket Score: England vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test Day 1

Done with the pre-match formalities!

We are moments away from the start of the game but before that, players from both sides make their way out to the middle and line up for their respective national anthems. It will be Sri Lanka's first followed by the national anthem of England.

PITCH REPORT - Stuart Broad and Mark Butcher are inspecting the deck. Butcher reckons that with overhead conditions being grey, batting might be a bit challenging. Mentions that the groundsmen have cut down the grass to 4mm which is less than the usual county games. Adds that it will be all about using the conditions. Broad joins him and adds that the ball will move here and it is all about seam movement. Says if you are a bowler, you got to hit the hard lengths to generate success. Also adds that the bowlers should aim the top of the off stump and bring the slip fielders in play.

Ollie Pope, the captain of England says that they would have bowled first as well but it will be a nice challenge for them to bat. Adds that he trusts the abilities of Josh Hull who plays his first Test. States that the youngster enjoys every moment and he bowled beautifully in the nets, so looking forward to seeing him in the game. He reckons he has been short of runs but hopes to change that in this match. Ends up saying that the Joe Root is making the best out of his highs and he would love to see him replicate the same.

Dhananjaya de Silva, the skipper of Sri Lanka says they cannot control the weather and just focus on what they can do and control with while on the field. Informs they are going with 4 regular seamers. Is hopeful that the workload will be shared equally in this Test. Informs Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando come in place of Nishan Madushka and Prabath Jayasuriya.

A big day for 20-year old Josh Hull as he makes his Test debut. Just before the toss, he was presented with the cap by none other than the legendary Andrew Flintoff. 

England (Playing XI) - Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Josh Hull (In place of Matthew Potts and On Debut), Shoaib Bashir. 

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK) (In place of Nishan Madushka), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Vishwa Fernando (In place of Prabath Jayasuriya), Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of Dhananjaya de Silva. Sri Lanka have elected to BOWL first for the second time in a row in this series.