Sri Lanka has rewarded Kamindu Mendis for his profitable tour of England by moving him up the batting order for the two-test series against New Zealand starting on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka batter closes in on Don Bradman and major Test records - Kamindu Mendis has the second-highest Test average after Don Bradman for batters with a minimum of 10 innings

Follow live coverage of England vs Sri Lanka from the Sri Lanka in England 2024 today. The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.

Prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred to rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious position as the hosts reached 302-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the first test against New Zealand.

A sensational spell of fast bowling by New Zealand rookie William O’Rourke rocked Sri Lanka as the home side was bowled out for 305 runs in the first innings of the first cricket test on Thursday. O’Rourke,

Will O'Rourke removed three of Sri Lanka’s top four on the opening day of the first test.

Rookie New Zealand fast bowler William O'Rourke took two wickets to rattle Sri Lanka's top order as the hosts reached 88 at lunch Wednesday on day one of the first Test. Sri Lanka last won a Test series against New Zealand in 2009.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat after winning the toss in the first test against New Zealand at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. Both teams opted to play two spinners with Sri Lanka going for the left-arm spin of Prabath Jayasuriya and off-spin of Ramesh Mendis.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the first Test against New Zealand in Galle. The hosts had confirmed their playing XI in the lead-up to the game, and made two changes from the side that last played in the final Test against England,