1st Test XIs
Sri Lanka Atapattu, Jayasuriya, Tharanga(wk), Jayawardene(c), Samarawerra, Tillakarante, Vandort, Fernando, Vaas, Laka(s)itha, Muralitharan
England Trescothick, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Vaughan(c), Cook, Prior, Giles, Jones, Hamison, Hoggard
Even after a below par performance in their tour match against Durham, Sri Lanka have gone with the same XI that played that tour match with Sangakkara failing to be fit for the match.
But the big surprise was the non selection of Andrew Flintoff in the England XI with youngster Cook preferred to both him Collingwood. Gerient Jones was also dropped as keeper with Matt Prior being given the nod.
There was still another surprise from the English selectors with Kevin Pietersen choosen to bat at three and Micheal Vaughan moving down to five. The talk around the English camp is Pietersen wants to play a more commanding role with the bat this series. But the Sri Lanka believe they are just shielding him from starting his innings against Murali.