England make one change for second Test with Sri Lanka

Anderson returns to the side for the second Test

(Sri Lanka Cricket)

England have made one change to their side for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

James Anderson returns to the team in place of Stuart Broad in the only alteration to the side that claimed a seven-wicket win over the hosts last weekend.

Anderson, 38, comes in for his 157th Test having become the first paceman to 600 Test wickets in his previous appearance.

Moeen Ali, who tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Sri Lanka, had already been ruled out while quicks Chris Woakes and Olly Stone again miss out.

Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley will open the batting with Joe Root, fresh from a fine double hundred in the first Test, anchoring the middle order with Ben Stokes missing the series following the death of his father.

Sri Lanka performance improved sharply after a slow start to the match and Root expects that trend to continue.

"There are a proud team and they have a great record at this ground. Not only that, they have some very talented players," said Root ahead of final practice.

"We already saw that throughout the game with how it unfolded in the second innings. The way that they played with the bat in the second innings was very different to the first and showed that in those conditions, they are a very hard side to break down.

"We know that this isn't going to be an easy game for us."