Josh hull

Ollie Pope: Stand-in captain Ollie Pope hailed England’s adaptability as they battled to a hard-earned victory over Sri Lanka, showing they are no longer a "one-dimensional" side known solely for their explosive Bazball aggression.

England’s approach, under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, has been characterised by rapid run-scoring, but the conditions at Old Trafford demanded a different approach as they chased down 205 in the first Test of the series.

In a patient display that went against the usual Bazball script, England took 58 overs to seal the win, with Joe Root anchoring the innings with a gritty 62 off 128 balls. England’s scoring rate dipped to as low as two runs per over at times, demonstrating a clear shift in their mindset from their swashbuckling style.