Sportsmail charges each England and Sri Lanka participant after the guests wrapped up a 2-Zero win in Galle

England launched their busy 2021 schedule with a victorious Check sequence win over Sri Lanka, finishing a 2-Zero victory on Monday morning in Galle.

It’s their fourth sequence win in a row and Joe Root’s aspect are actually unbeaten in 10 successive Check matches underneath his management as they now flip their consideration to a troublesome tour of India, which begins on February 5.

Right here, Sportsmail’s Lawrence Sales space charges the performances of every member of Root’s squad and the hosts over the course of the two-match sequence.

England 

Joe Root – 9.5

Barely made a mistake in opposition to a bowler till he obtained too far throughout his stumps to Ramesh Mendis. In any other case, one of many nice performances by a visiting batsman in Asia. 

His sweeping was elegant, and he scored 200 runs within the sequence off Embuldeniya, Sri Lanka’s solely bowling menace, with out being dismissed.

Joe Root has proven his class by scoring 228 and 186 on a turning pitch in Sri Lanka

James Anderson – 9

What number of extra occasions can we hold saying he will get higher with age? In Sri Lanka’s first innings of the second Check, he took six for 40 whereas 4 team-mates managed 4 for 339. 

England’s recreation plan was easy: look ahead to Anderson to recuperate between five-over spells.

Jos Buttler – 8.5

Excellent with bat and gloves, scoring 101 for as soon as out within the second recreation, and finishing his first Check stumping. He appears, finally, to have discovered his tempo. India will likely be thrilled he is going residence after the primary Check in Chennai.

Stuart Broad – 8

Bowled brilliantly in his solely Check, setting the tone on the primary day with three wickets in Sri Lanka’s high 4. 

Has by no means been extra economical than he was within the second innings, when his 17 overs price simply 14. England should be tempted to pair him with Anderson in India.

Jonny Bairstow – 7

Did not attain 50, however made a helpful contribution in every of his 4 innings, and performed spin higher than any of his team-mates bar Root. England might miss him within the first two Checks in India.

England’s Jonny Bairstow performed spin higher than any of his team-mates bar captain Root

Dom Bess – 7

Twelve wickets at 21 sounds world-class, and he performed his half with the ball in each video games, in addition to with the bat within the second. However he nonetheless serves up too many free deliveries: India’s batsmen could also be much less beneficiant than Sri Lanka’s.

Jack Leach – 7

Could not all the time shake off the rust that accrued in 2020, however contributed in each second innings, which is exactly the spinner’s job in Asia. His sluggish left-armers have an vital position to play in India, whose high 5 are all right-handers.

Dan Lawrence – 6.5

A extremely promising Check debut (73 and 21 not out) adopted by a return to earth (Three and a pair of). However he was hardly the one batsman to battle in opposition to Embuldeniya. Improved within the discipline because the sequence progressed.

Dom Bess carried out properly however he nonetheless serves up too many free deliveries

Dom Sibley – 6

Appeared clueless for 3 innings in opposition to Embuldeniya, then tailored his recreation, and defended in direction of mid-off slightly than mid-on. Had a little bit of luck with three umpire’s calls going his manner on the DRS, however the tweak allowed him to anchor a probably nervy chase with a hard-earned unbeaten 56.

Mark Wooden – 6

Tireless, and deserved greater than three costly wickets. He was the one bowler on both aspect who posed a bodily menace on Galle’s spin-friendly surfaces. It helped that he was capable of bowl flat out, figuring out he’ll miss the primary two Checks in India.

Sam Curran – 5.5

Quiet with the ball, and nameless with the bat, though he did take away each Sri Lankan openers after a century stand within the second innings of the primary Check.

Zak Crawley – 3

From cloud 9 to terra firma. 4 failures out of 4, and each dismissal to Embuldeniya. Work to do on his recreation in opposition to spin earlier than the India sequence: he ought to gorge on movies of Root’s batting between at times. Two sharp short-leg catches yesterday.

Zak Crawley has loads of work to do on his recreation in opposition to spin earlier than the India sequence

Sri Lanka

Lasith Embuldeniya – 8.5

A star within the making. Took 15 of the 24 wickets claimed by Sri Lankan bowlers, together with 10 within the second Check. And his 40 from No 10 on the final morning gave them hope.

Lasith Embuldeniya is a star within the making after taking 15 of the 24 wickets by Sri Lanka

Angelo Mathews – 8

The category act in Sri Lanka’s batting line-up. His century on the primary day of the second Check appeared to have given them the sting, and England by no means felt safe till he was out.

Niroshan Dickwella – 7

Cricket’s chattiest wicketkeeper contributed extra with the bat than with the gloves, holding England up with a skilful 92 within the second Check.

Lahiru Thirimanne – 7

Deserved higher for his second-innings century within the first Check, when he seemed something aside from a batsman with a median of 23.

Lahiru Thirimanne deserved higher for his second-innings century within the first Check

Dinesh Chandimal – 6

Sri Lanka wanted greater than a lone half-century from their captain, a participant with 60 Checks and over 4,000 runs. Was even sledged out by Root on the ultimate day.

Asith Fernando – 6

The seamer bowled solely 24 overs throughout the 2 Checks, however did discover himself on a hat-trick within the first after dismissing Buttler and Curran.

Suranga Lakmal – 6

Skilled seamer who went for lower than two an over in his solely look, however not often seemed like taking a wicket.

Ramesh Mendis – 6

Claimed two massive scalps – Buttler and Root – together with his off-breaks, however added little with the bat.

Ramesh Mendis claimed scalps in Root and Buttler however added little with the bat

Dilruwan Perera – 5

Could not present Embuldeniya with the assist he wanted. His off-breaks had been typically too straight to the right-handers, however he confirmed guts with the bat.

Kusal Perera – 5

Might be harmful, however did not all the time give himself an opportunity. His massive wipe at Anderson on the primary morning of the second Check was the filthiest shot of the sequence.

Wanindu Hasaranga – 4

One other Sri Lankan who got here and went after the primary Check, when his leg-breaks had been too hittable.

Kusal Mendis – 4

Dropped after the primary recreation, when he made his fourth successive Check duck, however at the very least averted equalling the world file of 5 by making 15 within the second innings.

Dasun Shanaka – 4

A wasted area within the first Check, when he bowled seven overs of medium-pace and batted at No 8. Rightly omitted from the second.

Oshada Fernando – 3

Changed Mendis, and instantly emulated him by making a duck, adopted by one other failure. However he was sharp within the discipline across the bat.

Dasun Shanaka bowled seven overs of medium-pace and batted at No 8