As they prepare to fly home from their aborted tour of South Africa, England have confirmed they next assignment, two Test matches against Sri Lanka in Galle in January.
England fly back from Cape Town tomorrow after the postponement of their ODI series against South Africa due to a lack of confidence in the robustness of the biosecure bubble for the series.
They have finally confirmed their plans for the trip to Sri Lanka in January for two World Test Championship matches delayed from March by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Joe Root’s team depart on a charter flight on January 2 and will quarantine in Hambantota in the south of the island. They will be able to train for five days, from the 5th to the 9th, at the stadium in Hambantota in preparation for the series before travelling to Galle.
They will then play two Tests, beginning on the 14th and 22nd, behind closed doors at the iconic Galle International Stadium.
After Sri Lanka, England will face India in a four-Test series.
England could name a squad for Sri Lanka as soon as Friday. As Standard Sport revealed last week, Jonny Bairstow is set for a recall, Jofra Archer will be rested, while Rory Burns could miss some or all of the trip for the birth of his first child.
Before England travel to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka are due to visit South Africa, but the postponement of the ODIs there has thrown into some doubt the future of that series.
On their last visit to Sri Lanka, in 2018, England won 3-0.
