England to embark on Test tour of Sri Lanka in January
The teams will contest two matches as part of the ICC World Test Championship, with the first match beginning on Thursday, 14 January and the second on Friday, 22 January.
The touring party will depart on a chartered flight on Saturday, 2 January and will be subject to quarantine in Hambantota. During this period, the team will be able to train and prepare for five days from Tuesday, 5 January to Saturday, 9 January at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
JUST IN: England's tour of Sri Lanka, which was postponed in March 2020 due to COVID-19, has been rescheduled for January 2021 🏏
— ICC (@ICC) December 9, 2020
The teams will play 2️⃣ Tests, which form a part of the ICC World Test Championship.#SLvENG | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/NiL4EsFmms
The ECB and SLC have agreed to biosecurity and travel plans for the rearranged tour following the postponement in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For England, who are third in the World Test Championship table, this will be their penultimate series in the inaugural tournament, while they hope to conclude their campaign against India in February, subject to confirmation of the India tour schedule.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka sit in sixth place in the standings, as they look to increase their win percentage and push up the table ahead of the tournament final at Lord’s in June 2021.
England tour of Sri Lanka schedule – January 2021
**Saturday, 2 January:**Touring party departs from London to Hambantota
**Tuesday, 5-9 January:**Training and preparation at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
**Thursday, 14-18 January:**1st Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
**Friday, 22-26 January:**2nd Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
**Wednesday, 27 January:**Touring party departs Sri Lanka